How to Raise Bourke Parakeets
- 1). Buy the right cage. Have the proper home ready before your Bourke's comes home,. A cage should be 24-by-24-by-24 inches if at all possible. Place the cage away from drafts. Bourke's need plenty of room to exercise. You will also need to let your Bourke's out of the cage for at least an hour daily. Provide your Bourke's with a perch or play stand to exercise on when out of the cage. Put a lightweight cover over the cage at night to encourage your Bourke's to sleep.
- 2). Feed your Bourke parakeet a healthy diet. Fresh water should be available at all times. Offer a mix of pellets and seeds prepared for parakeets. In addition, offer fresh fruits and vegetables, excluding avocados and chocolate, which are poisonous to Bourke's. Avoid canned foods, as their salt content will be too high for your bird. Your Bourke's will enjoy a millet spray, but only offer it once or twice a week.
- 3). Teach your bird manners. When raising a Bourke's, it is important that you be able to get the bird to step on and off your finger, so that you can transport him to the vet or another cage. Slowly move your hand, with your finger extended, and place your fingers below the bird's abdomen, right above its feet. Use a command like "step up" and prod the bird lightly in his belly. The bird will instinctively step on your finger. If you have difficulty getting the bird on your finger, substitute an unsharpened pencil as a perch. After your bird is accustomed to stepping on the pencil, try again using your finger.
- 4). Protect your Bourke parakeet. Before allowing your Bourke's out of the cage, check and make certain all windows and outside doors are closed. Put away sharp objects. Verify that the stove and oven are turned off. Never use non-stick cookware around your Bourke's -- the fumes can be fatal.
- 5). Visit an avian vet. Birds are not like cats and dogs -- they don't need yearly shots. However, a visit to the vet is important for blood tests and a general health check. The vet can also safely clip your Bourke's wings, should you desire it, and trim its claws.
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