How long do parakeets live in captivity

This small member of the parrot family makes a great companion for any pet parent beginner that would like to adopt a bird. They are easy to tame and probably the easiest pet bird to care for. If you own a parakeet, or if you are thinking about adopting one, this article will answer a few questions you may have. I will also help you with a few basics on budgie ownership. These birds are native from Australia and live in colonies in the wild.

To differentiate male and female, look at their cere, right above their beak. How long do parakeets live? They are fragile little creatures, but as a member of the parrot family, they can live for a surprisingly long time. Wild budgerigars have a lifespan of around 5 years. In captivity, they have access to a better diet, a safer environment and veterinary care. All this, along with other factors such as genetics and exercise, can significantly increase their lifespan.

An average lifespan of 6 to 12 years is reported when parakeets are kept in captivity as pets. Although, with excellent care, budgies can possibly live up to 20 years! Adding a parakeet to your family will definitely brighten your day to day life.

They greet you with the most beautiful songs and can produce sounds that you would have never even imagined they could do. They pick up most of their sounds and melodies from their environment and even from human speech. They will mimic the telephone ringtone, television, music, birds outside, other pets, etc. They are also very imaginative and creative in the melodies they produce. I have rescued a male budgie myself, named Albert, two years ago.

I noticed he likes to sing the same melody over and over again. Obviously he prefers to be quiet and alone after that time. He will also scream if his bowl of food is empty during the day. Junior, the Hyacinth Macaw I worked with, would scream when no one is looking at him and I mean produce the loudest sound you have ever heard.

He loves to be the center of attention. Parakeets and parrots in general have very different bubbly personalities and you will learn with time what various sounds mean for your own bird. Some males can. It needs a LOT of patience and it may never happen, but some males have been reported to have the ability to learn a few words.

Parakeets are not famous for their talking skills. African grey parrots probably are. Albert is definitely not one of those special budgies who can talk! So let us find out how long do budgies live in order for you to make the right choice in their care. On average, a parakeet lives for about 6 to 12 years in captivity 1. This number, of course, depends on the type of care you give your bird.

The lifespan also depends on the overall health, lineage of the bird, the kind of diet and exercise it receives, etc. In the wild, the average budgie lifespan is around years.

The average lifespan of common parakeet species in the wild is years. This number drastically reduces to about 10 years in captivity. However, how long do pet birds live entirely depends on the owners: the kind of care they are willing to give their pets. With proper nutrition and exercise, a pet parakeet can easily live to years or longer. Wild happy parakeets singing and flying about all day in search of food and water have a lesser risk of obesity.

This is one of the reasons why they live longer, healthier lives compared to their captive counterparts. They also flock in numbers of 20, to 30, and this too might keep them safe from predators. How long can parakeets live in captivity depends mainly on the kind of nourishment they receive, their safety from environmental hazards, as well as physical and mental health care.

It is very important that owners ask themselves: how do I know if my bird is happy since depression is a leading indirect cause of premature death in captive parakeets. Thus, apart from diet and exercise, you can increase the life expectancy of a parakeet by keeping it mentally stimulated as well. Inbreeding is another cause of reduced lifespan in captive or pet parakeets. How can you tell how old a parakeet is dependent on some factors which we will discuss shortly.

Indoor parakeets go through different life stages. How can you tell how old a parakeet is can be based on the characteristics they normally depict at that age. Here are some age-wise characteristics of indoor or captive birds:. Also read : How to Sex a Parakeet?

Step-by-Step Guide. What do parakeets eat in the wild? Fruits, veggies, and grains. Though, yes, it is perfectly fine to give them bird seeds every day but you have to supplement their diet with fruits, veggies, and grains like cooked rice. Safe examples of fresh produce that are good for them include mango, grapes, bananas, and spinach. In case you want to give them cooked food, a hard-boiled egg is acceptable but limit it to once a week only. Also, make sure that when you are introducing new food to your parakeets, do it gradually and watch out if they can tolerate the food or not.

Parakeets are social creatures. In fact, the more, the merrier is their motto in life. Parakeets will sing happier tunes if you will place them in a location with the perfect lighting. By this, it means that they prefer to live in a room where the room is perfectly lit.

Take note though that the cage must not be placed in a direct sunlight area. Because too much exposure to UV lighting is detrimental to their health. Parakeets have a thin layer of skin and this is why controlled lighting is of utmost importance for their longevity. In the wild, they are used to getting long hours of natural light which the captive birds do not have access to. But, you can structure their environment so they can enjoy the health benefits of right exposure to light.

However, if you fail to provide the correct lighting, your parakeets will suffer from the following:. Expose them to outside light for about 15 to 40 minutes three times a week. A clean cage makes your parakeets happy and happy parakeets make a happy tune. Since it is normal for them to poop every so often, you should make an effort to clean the cage at least twice a week.

Also, parakeets love to play with water so we recommend that you place a small container with water inside its cage. You may also mist them using a spray bottle. They love water activities and it helps stimulate their grooming behaviors. Yes, you read it correctly. Parakeets need toys, too to be happy and live longer. Since they spend a significant amount of time inside the cage, they need toys to keep them active and fit.

A parakeet lifespan also depends on the number of cardio exercises that they do. If they are idle all the time, they can suffer from muscle dystrophy. Exercise through the use of toys keeps their heart in good condition. What are the toys recommended for parakeets? When choosing toys, look for those that have shiny colors and those that make noise.