I got him for my little boy and as much as I hate to see my son sad and Pete gone I am glad that my son got to go thru the whole "death" situation. Death is part of life and my boy got to bury Pete in a spot he picked out in the yard for him, we even made a little cross and stuck in the ground.

Pete has had crop problems for 3 years and it was time to go.......

RIP Pete

01/16/2013

In 1995 a budgerigar named Puck was credited by Guinness World records as having the largest vocabulary of any bird at 1728 words.

GO KEETS.

I was about 10 or 11 at that time and his or her name was hawk.

Back than when you bought a bird they gave you a paper that said give seed and fresh water daily and keep cage clean, that was it.

Back in the 50`s there was no internet and we lived in the country so it was a long trip to town that had a very small library with few books so you were on your own.

But we made it and had many years of fun and enjoyment and that was my start with parrots that has given me a lifetime of joy.

Unfortunately Davi, my budgie, is the only one who likes water.

This is how a budgie showers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J61MkPK9AUU

Greetings Bianca

For this forum I think the name to use should be budgie or budgerigar known as the common pet parakeet or Shell Parakeet and infoemally nicknamed Budgie.

They are found wild throughout the drier parts of Australia and have survived harsh inland conditions.

Budgies are popular around the world as pets because of their small size, low cost and their ability to mimic human speach and their playful nature.

Unfortunately these memories are tarnished because on one of the many family/community parties my parents had, which in the spring and summertime included large outdoor fire pit barbecues. Our feed shed full of nesting parakeets caught on fire while everyone was inside watching a boxing match on our new television (our first). By the time anyone noticed the burning shed and garage all my father and uncles could do was unlatch the large parakeet indoor aviary and watch my feathered friends fly away. At least this is how my mind wants to remember my birthday... my birdies all free, safe and flying away.

Thus my love of parrots began with both the loving and brokenhearted memories of my youth.....

My children's first birds were parakeets. Maybe sometime I'll tell you the story of taking one of their parakeet's to the vet to have it's broken leg pinned..... but that's another day.....

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab42/ParakeetPerson/parakeets.jpg

Being flock creatures these graceful, colorful and full-of vigor birds are very social among themselves and with people. There are over 120 species and subspecies of parakeets, some times called budgies or budgerigars.

Over thirty (30) species of some of the most remarkable colored parakeets are found in Australia. Over twenty-seven (27) species are found in the Central and South Americas, as well as many sub-species. The African parakeets, like those in the Americas live in tropical and subtropic regions. New Zealand has several exotic parakeets and some of the most unique characteristics are found in parakeets from Asia.

A parakeet is an ideal first bird for children or parrot novices. Parakeets are social and outgoing birds and have a lot of the qualities of the larger parrot and some unique characteristics of their own. They will bond easily with the care provider and if they get use to having a child around, they can successfully mix with a good-natured child. Parakeets love small toys and definitely provide a bell for your little bird. Parakeets also love to climb so provide both vertical and horizontal climbing bars/space.

Parakeets love baths so provide your little friend with a cool bathing spot at least twice a week in nice weather. Make sure to bathe your bird early enough so it can be completely dry before evening.

Parakeets are easily sexed. Just look at a parakeet's nose, or more accurately at the bump of flesh above its beak, the cere. A male has a bluish cere and the female has a brownish cere. Also males tend to be more talkative and easier to train and females tend to chew objects because of the instinct to carve out a nest for babies.

Parakeets in the wild live in colonies and are very sociable. Basically they do best as at least a pair if not a flock. The cage should be large enough for your bird to freely exercise and if possible fly around/flap its wings vigorously. Out of the cage time would be marvelous. Various perches of different shapes/sizes are a necessity. The cage should be covered at night and kept in a draft-free, low traffic atmosphere.

Food for your parakeet should consist of a variety of grain and millet seeds, plus some peas, carrots, broccoli, etc., as well as green leafy vegetables. Bean sprouts and alfalfa sprouts are great. A cuttlebone should be available to provide a calcium supplement for your parakeet.

Illness in a parakeet can be hard to spot. So watch your bird carefully and contact your avian veterinarian if signs of lack of activity, ruffled plumage, head tucked under a wing or rump, not eating and discharge from the nose/mouth or cloudy eyes appear with your parakeet. As with all birds strong smoke, scents or smells can be deadly to your feathered friend. Housing in a kitchen or bathroom is a definite no-no. The ideal room humidity for a parakeet should be in the 60-70 percentile.

Providing, a clean comfortable living space with lots of food, water and toys, and especially topped off with loving care makes for happy and healthy parakeets whose companionship can be enjoyed for 10 years or more.