Oahu Pet

Pet Tips: Caring for Parakeets

Submitted By: Nancy Richards

Caring for parakeets is the most important step in keeping parakeets as pets. Remember their immune systems can be touchy. This means that at the first sign of illness, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Even a simple virus can turn deadly overnight. A regular care and checkup of your parakeet can keep you away from visiting the vet too frequently. Caring for parakeets means:

A regular checkup of their plumage - birds keep their plumage in peak condition by preening. You can encourage this by occasionally misting it with warm water.
Selecting the right cage for your parakeet - choose a cage that is large enough to allow it plenty of exercise. Most cages come with 2 perches. For more specialized caring for parakeets, you can attach a cuttlebone to the side of the cage. It will help keep the bird’s beak in good condition and will serve as a source of calcium and other minerals.
A proper and adequate diet – this is the single most notable aspect in shaping the health, vitality, and permanence of your parakeet. Give them leafy green vegetables, rice, tofu, some seeds and fruits like orange and papaya. These would give them all the required nutrients to keep them healthy.
Regular bathing of your parakeet – give your parakeet a regular shower of 5-7 times a week in the summer and 3-5 times a week during the winter. This routine will help you keep your parakeet clean and avoid skin related diseases.
Proper grooming of your parakeet – proper and regular trimming of the toenails is very essential. Consult a veterinarian if you wish to clip its wings.

Lack of parakeet care can result in feather plucking, moody and ill-trained parakeets at home. It is always a good idea to know what injuries and what diseases can affect your parakeet, what is the ideal diet for a parakeet, how many times a week should you give it a bath. These would help you undertake foolproof caring for your pet parakeets.

A healthy parakeet is more likely to be immune to diseases and can stay around for a long time to make you laugh, make you entertained and give you a moment to smile…

Latest Visits: Pets Discount – Hawaii Kai

Hawaii Kai Towne Center (395-0448)

Located at the Hawaii Kai Towne Center. Beautiful location. Decent size shop, carrying a variety of pet supplies concentrating on Cat and Dog supples, but they also have a little bit of everything else.

Some live stock available also: a white rabbit and a couple of Labrador Retrievers were the main event, with a Cocker Spaniel napping across from the counter. Opposite of the counter a Sulcata tortoise was on display. A few parakeets and a small selection of freshwater fish and plants could be found toward the back of the shop.

Like the look of the shop, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is missing when I leave it.

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Latest Visits: Enchanted Lake Pet Center

Enchanted Lake Shopping Ctr (262-2219)

Pet Shop Located across the Cinema at the Enchanted Lake Shopping Center. Good size, a little empty, but nice assortment of supplies. First shop that actually had live rocks for sale. (If your thinking about nabbing these, be sure you can control the temperature in you aquarium. A cooler than room temperature is important.).

No dogs or cats here, but bunnies, guinea pig, and mice could be found here. As well as a nice selection of Jackson Chameleons, with a variety of lovebirds, cockatiels, parakeets, and finches displayed toward the back. Along the side of the shop were aquariums stocked with Freshwater and Saltwater fish.

Also, one of the few shops that had Crown Betta fish available (Yes, I’m still in to that. Even more so as the betta I bought at Pets Plus is content in sticking its head in its marble stones all day like an cartoon ostrich- and no its not dead.). I have to say, even though small, they had the best selection of betta’s I’ve seen thus far. (Although the water they’re contained in could be changed)

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