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Nikki Moustaki. Parakeets For Dummies
Parakeets For Dummies® To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Parakeets For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box. Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Illustrations
Guide
Pages
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Introducing the Parakeet
Parakeets: More Than Just Pretty, Whistling Birds
WHERE PARAKEETS COME FROM
The American Parakeet versus the English Budgie
The Anatomy of a Parakeet
Is a Parakeet Your Perfect Companion?
Knowing What to Expect from a Parakeet
A great personality
Noise and talking ability
Companionship
Mess and more mess
A decade or more of life — if you take care of the bird
Knowing What Your Parakeet Expects from You
A good home
Time
Routine
Deciding Whether a Parakeet Is Right for You
VACATIONING WITHOUT YOUR BIRD
Looking at why you’re getting the bird
Knowing how much keeping a parakeet will cost
Considering your other family members
THE “PITY” PURCHASE
One, Two — or More: Increasing Your Parakeet Population
LOOKING A GIFT PARAKEET IN THE BEAK
Finding and Selecting a Parakeet
Choosing a Parakeet: Exploring Your Options
English budgie or American parakeet
Fledgling or adult
Blue or green or …
Male or female
Finding a Parakeet
Pet shops
The swap meet or flea market
Online classifieds
Parakeet breeders
Bird rescue
Bird shows
Searching for a Healthy Parakeet
Home Tweet Home: Preparing for Your Parakeet
Your Parakeet’s Home
Size is everything
Flight cage, aviary, bird room, and habitat
Looking at shape
Considering cage materials
Keeping safety in mind
Deciding where to put your bird’s cage
Accessorizing Your Parakeet’s Abode
Perches, please!
Cups and bowls
Cage covers
Swings
Baths
You light up my life
Feeling hot hot hot
Recognizing the Importance of Toys
Typical toys for parakeets
Jungle gyms: Not just for gymnasts
Setting Up the Cage
Keeping Messes at Bay
Parakeet-Proofing Your Home
Make sure all windows are screened
Keep your windows and mirrors a little dirty
Get rid of (or at least turn off) the ceiling fan
Keep your house free of artificial scents
Avoid all products with nonstick coatings
Make sure your parakeet doesn’t have access to standing water
Remove all toxic houseplants from your parakeet’s reach
Other Pets and Your Parakeet
Other birds
Caring for Your Parakeet
Polly Want a Cracker? Feeding Your Parakeet Properly
Water, Water Everywhere …
FeedingYour Parakeet
What to feed your parakeet
Seeds
Pellets
Fruits and vegetables
Snacks
Table foods
Cooked foods
What not to feed your parakeet
Nutritional supplements: When food isn’t enough
KISS MY GRITS!
Making Some Fun and Nutritious Recipes for Your Parakeet
Budgie mash
Parakeet pancakes and waffles
Budgie muffins
Parakeet scramble
Parakeet juice and smoothies
Pretty Bird! Grooming Your Parakeet
Thinking about Feathers
Grooming Your Parakeet
Bathing your bird
Wing clipping
WHAT ABOUT THE BEAK?
MOLTING PARAKEETS
Toenail clipping
BEWARE BLOOD FEATHERS
Come Here Often? Getting to Know Your Parakeet
Understanding Parakeet Behavior
Cleaning and grinding the beak
Preening
Fluffing and shaking the feathers
Stretching
Yawning and sneezing
Resting on one leg
Tucking and bobbing the head
Scratching
Regurgitating
Flapping the wings
Playing
Dancing on the perch
Getting excited
Normal parakeet vocalizations
Getting scared
Egg laying
Recognizing Problem Behaviors
Putting Your Parakeet to Bed
Training and Breeding Your Parakeet
Good Bird! Taming and Training Your Parakeet
Handling Your Parakeet Safely
Taming Your Parakeet
Helping your parakeet feel comfortable around you
Showing your bird how to trust you
Talking to Your Parakeet — and Getting It to Talk to You
Dealing with Biting
Finding Fun in Potty Training
Learning Advanced Training Techniques
What is advanced training?
Preference training
Color training
Teaching yes and no
Keeping Your Parakeet Healthy and Handling Emergencies
Finding a Veterinarian
Regular examinations
Emergencies
What a Healthy Bird Looks Like
Eyes
Ears
Beak
Feet
Feathers
Respiratory system
Skeletal system
Digestive system
Helping Your Parakeet Get the Exercise It Needs
Cleaning Your Parakeet’s Housing
Signs of a Sick Parakeet
Emergencies: Knowing When to Get Help Immediately
Poisoning
MAKING A HOSPITAL CAGE
Overheating
Oil on the feathers
Frostbite
Unconsciousness
Egg binding
Foot injuries
Eye injuries
Seizures
Injury to the beak
Bouncing Baby Budgies: Breeding Your Parakeets
To Breed or Not to Breed?
Preventing Breeding
Conditioning Your Parent Parakeets
Breeding Equipment
Setting up for Breeding
Waiting Game: The Breeding Timeline
Handfeeding Baby Parakeets
Weaning the Babies
The Part of Tens
Ten Facts about Parakeets
Ten Fun and Informative Parakeet and Budgie Websites
Index. A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z
About the Author
Dedication
Author’s Acknowledgments
WILEY END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
Отрывок из книги
Many people remember having a parakeet when they were a kid, and many kids (and plenty of adults!) today either have one, want one, or will receive one as a gift. As a companion, the parakeet has it all. It’s little enough for even the smallest apartment, is as affectionate as any lapdog, and can out talk even the largest of parrots. What more could you ask for?
Parakeets For Dummies is for people interested in parakeets — whether you want to know more about parakeets before you acquire one, you have recently brought a parakeet (or two) into your home, you’re a parent buying this book your child, or you’re a young person buying it for yourself. Maybe you want to discover the essential scoop on getting your new bird set up properly, as well as general care information. Perhaps you simply need a refresher on the best way to take care of your feathered companion or want to understand it better and start some advanced training. Perhaps you’re ready for a new bird but aren’t sure if a parakeet is right for you and your family. If any of the above describes you, then you’ve come to the right place.
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Create a daily routine and try to stick with it. Your bird should know exactly when you’re going to feed him, when you’re going to clean his cage, when he’s coming out for playtime, and when it’s time for bed. If you keep a routine with your parakeet, it will eventually alert you when you’ve missed a step. If your life is hectic, just do the best you can. The good news is that parakeets aren’t as fussy about a daily routine as some of the larger parrots.
If you’re still not sure whether a parakeet is right for you, thinking about who you’re getting the bird for (yourself or someone else, like your son or daughter), how much money you’ll need to spend taking care of the bird, and what kind of home you can provide is a good place to start. Parakeets bring joy and happiness into millions of homes, and your bird can bring the same to yours if you’ve thought seriously about what you’ll need to give.
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