Tips and ideas for a beginner owner of a parakeet

I just got a female yellow parakeet and i need tips and ideas on how to be a good owner.

I have budgies. Here is a basic checklist for your birds:

Calcium bone a.k.a cuttle bone

Good seed mix (preferably a 'premium' seed mix).

daily greens for health

An arrangement to toys including ones with leather, rope, acrylic, wood, mirrors, and bells.

Variety of perches with different textures (for healthy feet)

Nail clippers (or get your vet to do it)

Large enough cage for bird to fly a bit in.

Fresh water

Lots of newspapers for the bottom of the cage!

Besides the basic items listed above, be sure to play with your parakeet every day, and let it fly out of the cage daily. Be sure that when you let the bird out of the cage, that all heaters, fans, and possibly dangerous things be hidden or turned off (e.g. don't cook food while the bird it out of the cage).

If you plan to let your birds play out of the cage all the time when you are home, you could consider putting perches outside of the cage. This worked for me, because my birds liked to always stick near the cage.

At night time put a cloth over the cage. Like people, birds need a good deal of sleep, the morning sun or lights in the house kept on late will disturb your birds rest. Also, the cloth put over the cage can be used for a very short 'time out' if your bird misbehaves (say. they bite you).