Need some Parakeet info...

[RastasPeace23]

So I am new to this site and joined because I just got a Jenday Conure as my first bird. My sister however has 3 Parakeets and I have helped her with them as I like to research on all my animals, but my sister doesn't really bother to research. She got them when she was young, around 13 she is 16 now. Now because of me they are in a better cage than before. She first got one of those small parakeet cages for her first one then when she got two more I found a cage a craigslist. It is 17x17x36. For a while I have been reading that length and width should be at least 18 inches. So for a late birthday present I bought her a cage that is 22x22x36 (not the inside dimensions). Their wings are not clipped so they don't get outside cage time and they are not tame.

I myself consider all my animals family and live for them where she just has them, I am not trying to bash my own sister, but I do think she needs to do better at caring for them. The food and water is changed daily and the cage is kept cleaned. I have tried to give them fruits and veggies, but they won't eat it. They eat Harrison bird food that I got them on to that last year and some kaytee seed mix that my sister gives them I believe it is Eggcite or something. (a step up from bird food she would buy at the dollar store) They have a variety of toys and perches in their cage.

What else can I do for them? How can I train them or can I? I have had my bird only for a few days, but my appreciation for all birds has grown. I have been researching everything for my little guy and this forum has helped a lot. I don't want any negative comments or hate because they are not my birds and over the years I have done what I can to help. I am willing to train them for her so she can learn to enjoy them and so they can live a longer, better life. Any advice would be great. Thanks!

 

[weco]

If you want to train them, you will need to get their wings clipped or do it yourself, though birds sometimes will be mad at you for a while for restricting their mobility.....

The next thing you'll need to do is get the to some degree of habitability or you'll just be flapping your wings (pun intended), then you will need to watch some youtube videos and/or read some training books or both, and train them on a one-on-one basis.....

There was a post on the forum earlier about a bird (budgie I believe) that had just learned to roll over & something else ! ! !

You say your sister is 16, having daughters, step daughters & nieces, I know that 13-17 year old girls often change their priorities & interests.....

Good luck.....

 

[RastasPeace23]

If you want to train them, you will need to get their wings clipped or do it yourself, though birds sometimes will be mad at you for a while for restricting their mobility.....

The next thing you'll need to do is get the to some degree of habitability or you'll just be flapping your wings (pun intended), then you will need to watch some youtube videos and/or read some training books or both, and train them on a one-on-one basis.....

There was a post on the forum earlier about a bird (budgie I believe) that had just learned to roll over & something else ! ! !

You say your sister is 16, having daughters, step daughters & nieces, I know that 13-17 year old girls often change their priorities & interests.....

Good luck.....

I am probably going to have them clipped by someone who knows what they are doing until I learn. I will definitely start watching videos and reading books. Yes her priorities are all over the place. I am 19 now, but even at that age my pets were my first priority then sleeping. :09:

 

[Birdlover11]

Pepsi and sprite are clipped , which is how I started training them. They trust you more when they are clipped and out in the open. I never saw any quality bird food in dollar stores, do you have a petco or petsmart ? Try to remove seed as a main diet and switch it to completely pellets , like your Harrison's . For treats I reccomend nutriberries and / or avicakes. Remeber how small a parakeets body is. First , get them used to your hand, and stepping up. When they are completely used to your hand, THEN take them out.For training , it also affects how old the parakeet is. The bigger the cage the better. Here are some websites ,

Bird Cages 4 Less - Bird Cages, Flight Cages, Aviaries - Free Shipping
Large Bird Cages, Small Bird Cages, Bird Aviaries and Stainless Steel Bird Cages

This is me absolute favorite website!
http://www.budgieplace.com

 

[MonicaMc]

:54:


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUx81WHTUwk]1 Bird in hand Leads to Many - YouTube[/ame]


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlSm4uFZzVU]More Budgies!!!! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[RastasPeace23]

Pepsi and sprite are clipped , which is how I started training them. They trust you more when they are clipped and out in the open. I never saw any quality bird food in dollar stores, do you have a petco or petsmart ? Try to remove seed as a main diet and switch it to completely pellets , like your Harrison's . For treats I reccomend nutriberries and / or avicakes. Remeber how small a parakeets body is. First , get them used to your hand, and stepping up. When they are completely used to your hand, THEN take them out.For training , it also affects how old the parakeet is. The bigger the cage the better. Here are some websites ,

Bird Cages 4 Less - Bird Cages, Flight Cages, Aviaries - Free Shipping
Large Bird Cages, Small Bird Cages, Bird Aviaries and Stainless Steel Bird Cages

This is me absolute favorite website!
http://www.budgieplace.com

They do eat mainly pellets, but she does give them a little seed mix that she bought from petsmart. She used to feed a seed mix from the dollar store not anymore though. I was going to try and use millet on my hand to see if they will take it and start there.

 

[RastasPeace23]

:54:


1 Bird in hand Leads to Many - YouTube


More Budgies!!!! - YouTube

I hope I can eventually get them eating out of my hand. Thank you.

 

[Birdlover11]

Pepsi and sprite are clipped , which is how I started training them. They trust you more when they are clipped and out in the open. I never saw any quality bird food in dollar stores, do you have a petco or petsmart ? Try to remove seed as a main diet and switch it to completely pellets , like your Harrison's . For treats I reccomend nutriberries and / or avicakes. Remeber how small a parakeets body is. First , get them used to your hand, and stepping up. When they are completely used to your hand, THEN take them out.For training , it also affects how old the parakeet is. The bigger the cage the better. Here are some websites ,

Bird Cages 4 Less - Bird Cages, Flight Cages, Aviaries - Free Shipping
Large Bird Cages, Small Bird Cages, Bird Aviaries and Stainless Steel Bird Cages

This is me absolute favorite website!
http://www.budgieplace.com

They do eat mainly pellets, but she does give them a little seed mix that she bought from petsmart. She used to feed a seed mix from the dollar store not anymore though. I was going to try and use millet on my hand to see if they will take it and start there.

Millet is GREAT for training . You would want to take the seed out, but not completly. A great treat mix for training is mixing kaytee fiesta with seeds of millet. When mixed parakeets would do anything for it.