I have two budgies, Peter and Sky

Common Diseases: Scaly face disease - This is caused by Cnemodocoptes mites. These mites cause scales to appear on the affected area, usually the face, cere, eyelids and legs, and can cause beak deformities.

Respiratory Disorders - This is usually caused by living in a dusty environment or by mites. Make sure the bird's cage is cleaned regularly (every week). Respiratory disorders can be treated with Biomycin Antibiotic, available in pet stores.

Signs of Illness: Sudden changes in behaviour, fluffed up feathers, difficulty breathing, glassy eyes, poor reaction to stimuli, submissiveness, drinking more than usual, lost of appetite, weight loss.

Caring for your New Parakeet

A parakeet is just about the PERFECT pet for a first-time owner. They're very easy to take care of. They're very intelligent and can even learn how to talk. And they're inexpensive, going from between $20 to $50 depending on the type you wish to purchase.

Make sure you read about Buying a Parakeet first for suggestions on how to choose this little bird, and what sort of cage to bring home with it. So now you have a nice, big cage, with fresh food and fresh water in it, some newspapers lining the bottom of it, and a nervous but alert little feathered creature within. What do you do now?

Well first, think of your first day of school. Wasn't it scary? You didn't know anybody and didn't know what you should do. It's just like that for this little bird. It's afraid, everything is new, and it doesn't have anywhere "safe" to run. So let it learn that its cage is safe. Put the cage in the room you're in most of the time - not off in a corner somewhere that people only go when they sleep. So if you're always in the kitchen, put the cage in the kitchen. If you're always in the computer room, put it in the computer room. But put it in a corner of the room where it can both see and hear everything, and also have a 'nook' that feels safe. Drape a cloth over the wall-side of the cage to give it even more safety. Birds like to be 'up high' to be safe from cats and predators, so now your bird can sit high in the cage and have the cloth around it on a few sides. That is very safe feeling. It also keeps out drafts for when the bird sleeps.