What a pretty boy

Photo by Gary Scott
http://www.crossworksmedia.com/

As docile as they generally are, parakeets are often the target of abuse, neglect, and malnutrition. One such case made headlines in New York and surroundings states in 2003 when a teenager doused a parakeet with hairspray then set the bird on fire. The parakeet’s painful death was captured on video as the teenager laughed and gave the camera a thumb’s up.

Not all parakeet abuse is so extreme. Some have simply been let out of their cages to survive on their own in the wild while others suffer from malnutrition at the hands of an inattentive owner.

The good news is parakeets tend to be extremely resilient birds who can typically be rehabilitated with the right amount of love and patience. But, it’s important to understand, when adopting a rescued parakeet, that it will take time to gain your new family member’s trust.

First, it is essential that your rescued parakeet have a cage that is big enough for her to spread her wings and fly. A cage that is too small can result in psychological problems, including your parakeet pulling her feathers out.

If a parakeet has been confined to a cage her whole life, you’ll want to introduce her to time out of the cage slowly. Clipping her wings, at least while she’s still getting adjusted to her new home, may be a good idea at first. (There is debate among parakeet owners and avian vets, however, over whether parakeets should have their wings clipped. Parakeets can be safe flying around a house if they are supervised and if the home has first been bird-proofed.)

To encourage your rescued parakeet to begin trusting you, take her into the bathroom or a very small room and put her onto your finger. Teach her how to climb your finger as you talk softly to her. She may fly away, which is why clipped wings are good at first, but keep practicing with her every day. She will become used to you and begin to trust you this way.

Allowing your parakeet time out of her cage is also very important. Be sure to supervise her and give her things to play with, such as a table with bird toys, while she’s out. Don’t be surprised if, in time, she starts sitting on your shoulder or sitting next to you as you watch TV or go about your daily activities.

Diet is also extremely important, especially if the parakeet you have rescued is underweight or even overweight due to an improper diet. Contrary to what most pet stores would like you to believe, the main staple in a parakeet’s diet should not be seeds. Seeds are to parakeets like steak is to humans: It’s good once in a while but is unhealthy if it is eaten every day.

Your parakeet should be given fresh pellets like ZuPreem every day and she should have access to her pellets at all times. In addition to pellets, parakeets should have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, such as green leaf lettuce.

Your rescued parakeet may be used to a seed diet, so making the transition will take some time. Start by putting both seeds and pellets in your parakeet’s dish. Don’t be surprised if your parakeet picks out the seeds and ignores the pellets. As time goes on, start giving fewer and fewer seeds until she is eating only pellets.

If she still won’t eat pellets, consider mixing applesauce or something that tastes good with the pellets to encourage her to eat them. It takes time, but eventually your parakeet will transition both to her new diet and to her new home.