Your Parakeet's Health
There are many factors which contribute to a happy, healthy bird. Probably one of the most important things is sleep. A parakeet need about 12 hours of sleep a night. Just like humans, if she doesn't get enough sleep at night, she is more likely to be crabby the next day. Believe me, I know how crabby birds work and it is not fun! In addition to sleeping at night, keets often like to take naps at quiet times in the day. Most parakeets sleep with one leg tucked up underneath their feathers and their head tucked behind their wing. However, when taking naps, some keets will not do this; they simply fluff themselves up comfortably and go to sleep. When going to sleep at night, most budgies prefer a dark, quiet environment. Putting a blanket over your keet's cage at night will help block out the noise and light, and will also make her feel more secure. If your house is noisy at night, move her cage to a dark quiet room. This is what I do with Clarabelle every night, then I tell her good night before covering her up with the blanket. Try to put your keet to bed around 8 or 8:30 every night, but during the summer months, I usually wait until the sun goes down.
In order to stay healthy, parakeets need a balanced diet. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables are needed in the meal as well as seeds. Clean water is needed every day, and there are also certain foods that you shouldn't give your budgie. Click here to find more details about feeding your budgie.
Even though it doesn't happen very often, a parakeet can get sick. Clarabelle has never gotten sick on me, so I haven't had any experience with a sick bird. Basically, if your bird is way quieter than usual, or if she sits in the bottom corner of her cage all day instead of running around and playing, or if she won't eat, she may be sick. It is recommended that you take your bird to a vet if you notice any of these symptoms. However, as long as you take good care of your budgie, she most likely will remain healthy throughout her lifetime. Click here to learn about some of the diseases parakeets can get.