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How Do I Care for a Baby Parakeet?

Jennifer Voight
Jennifer Voight

When caring for a baby parakeet, the parents will do most of the work. Still, it’s important to prepare by providing a nest box, bedding, and plenty of food for the breeding pair of adult parakeets. Parakeet owners can check periodically to make sure the parents are caring for the baby parakeet and that it is developing normally.

A nest box can be purchased at pet stores and bird supply stores. Many of these can be found online. The nest box ideally should be mounted outside the cage for free-roaming parakeets. If the birds are not free-roaming, the box can be mounted on the outside of the cage with cage wires cut so budgies can access the nesting box without leaving the cage.

A baby parakeet should only be handled with clean, washed hands.
A baby parakeet should only be handled with clean, washed hands.

Parakeets should have access to bedding material, like pine chips, to build their nest. Proper amounts of bedding will prevent a baby parakeet from developing splayed legs. A wooden insert with a concave bottom for the nest box will also help prevent this problem.

Like the cage, the nest box should have adequate amounts of light during the day and should be covered at night. Adult parakeets will be hungry while caring for a baby parakeet. It’s important to provide them with extra food and fresh water during this time. Bird seed, vegetables, and fruit can be offered, but must be organic.

Baby parrots require a suitable cage, proper feeding and a quiet place.
Baby parrots require a suitable cage, proper feeding and a quiet place.

For the first few weeks of the baby parakeet's life, the mother will do most of the care, providing warmth from her body and feeding the chick pre-chewed food. After hatching, chicks will be completely helpless and blind. The chick will develop quickly and stay with the mother in the nest for three to six weeks.

The nest box should be checked periodically for debris and dead chicks. If a chick dies, it should be removed immediately to prevent disease. Living chicks can be checked for splayed legs. If this developmental problem happens, it can be corrected if caught early because the chick’s bones are still developing.

Many budgerigars, or parakeets, have distinctive black and white stripes on the back of the neck and wings.
Many budgerigars, or parakeets, have distinctive black and white stripes on the back of the neck and wings.

A baby parakeet may be handled with clean, washed hands, but it should be touched as little as possible. If the adults reject the baby parakeet, it may be hand-fed using a syringe and commercially prepared parakeet chick food. Younger baby parakeets may be fed five times a day, while older ones need to be fed only twice a day.

After several weeks, the parents will stop feeding the chick and leave the nest. They will attempt to call the babies out of the nest. If the budgie chicks do not leave within about two days, they are at risk of starving to death. They may be gently removed at this point and should begin to behave much like adult parakeets.

What Do Baby Parakeets Eat?

In the wild, baby parakeets eat fruit and insects that their parents provide. Adult parakeets eat a variety of seeds, grasses, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and insects; the exact combination differs by species and habitat.

When Do Baby Parakeets Open Their Eyes?

Breeders can inform new owners on how to feed and care for their baby parrots.
Breeders can inform new owners on how to feed and care for their baby parrots.

Baby parakeets open their eyes when they are nine or 10 days old, which is when they imprint on their parents or human caretakers. By this age, they are also moving around and interacting with other chicks and their parents more than they did when newly hatched.

When Do Baby Parakeets Leave the Nest?

Most baby parakeets leave the nest when they are between 30 and 40 days old. At this stage in their development, they can eat solid food and fly, and they have all their feathers. However, they are still not completely grown.

What Do Baby Parakeets Look Like?

When they first hatch, baby parakeets have no feathers at all and their eyes are closed. By the time their eyes open, they have grown some down. When they are about two weeks old they start growing pin feathers, which are small, stiff “roots” that eventually develop into full-sized feathers. Although these feathers are fully developed when the parakeet is 30 to 40 days old, they aren’t the same colors that the bird will have as an adult. At 10 to 12 weeks old, a parakeet has its first molt, which is the natural process of losing feathers and replacing them with new ones. This process usually takes several weeks and happens in patches across the bird’s body. Shed feathers are replaced by pin feathers which develop into mature ones. After its first molt is complete, a baby parakeet will have its adult colors. Before the first molt, a parakeet will have wavy black lines across its entire head; afterward, the head is a solid color. Domestic parakeets can be blue, green, white, or yellow; some have more than one color.

How Long Do Parakeets Live?

Different species of parakeets have different lifespans. For example, the budgerigar (“budgie”) parakeet, which is one of the most popular species for pets, usually lives for five to eight years in captivity, while monk parakeets typically live between 20 and 30 years. Other species have life spans ranging anywhere from five to 30 years. A pet parakeet’s care and diet can make a big difference to how long it lives, although there are also genetic factors at play.

Can Parakeets Talk?

Many species of parakeets, including budgies, are capable of learning human words, though not all species are equally talented, and parakeets' "speaking voices" are usually not as clear as those of larger birds such as macaws. Adult parakeets naturally communicate with a variety of chirps, squawks, tweets, and other sounds, and they often combine their favorite noises into a rough sort of song. Parakeets are more likely to learn human words if they hear them frequently before they are a full year old. Some pick up words on their own while others need specific coaching, and males are more likely to learn human words than females. It's generally agreed that birds don't understand the meanings of human words, but many can be trained to speak a particular word or phrase in response to gestures or verbal commands.

What Toys Do Parakeets Like?



Toys are important for keeping pet parakeets content, though individual birds have their own likes and dislikes just as humans do. Parakeets may enjoy swinging and climbing, perching at various heights, foraging for treats, chewing, ringing bells, or rolling balls.

Do Parakeets Need Baths?

Most parakeets enjoy bathing themselves by splashing around in a shallow dish of water, but if a particular bird is not inclined to do so, a human caretaker should provide regular showers by using a spray bottle set on mist and filled with lukewarm water. Soap is unnecessary and parakeets will dry themselves as long as they are in a warm room.

What Sort of Vet Care Do Parakeets Need?


Like dogs and cats, parakeets should have annual veterinary check-ups. A newly acquired parakeet should have an initial exam right away to check for any diseases or other health problems (this is especially important if the new bird will be introduced into a household with other pets). A baby parakeet should be able to leave the nest before having its first vet exam unless it is showing signs of illness or injury. All pet birds should be treated by vets who specialize in avian care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best diet for a baby parakeet?

A balanced diet is crucial for a baby parakeet's growth. Offer a mix of high-quality seed blends specifically formulated for parakeets, fresh fruits, and vegetables. According to the Association of Avian Veterinarians, young parakeets also benefit from a formulated pellet diet to ensure they receive all necessary nutrients for proper development.

How often should I feed my baby parakeet?

Baby parakeets, or chicks, need to be fed every 2-4 hours if they are not being fed by their parents. As they grow and begin eating solid food, you can gradually decrease the frequency. By the time they are 4-6 weeks old, they should be eating on their own and require feeding 2-3 times a day with a mix of seeds, pellets, and fresh food.

What type of cage and environment is suitable for a baby parakeet?

Choose a cage that is spacious, with horizontal bars for climbing, and provide perches of varying diameters to support foot health. The cage should be placed in a warm, draft-free area with natural light but not in direct sunlight. Cornell Lab of Ornithology suggests maintaining a temperature between 65-75°F (18-24°C) for optimal comfort.

How do I ensure my baby parakeet is socialized properly?

Socialization is key for a baby parakeet's development. Spend time daily interacting with your bird in a gentle and calm manner. Talk to it, offer treats from your hand, and encourage it to play with safe toys. Early, positive experiences with humans and other birds can help foster a well-adjusted and friendly adult parakeet.

What are the signs of illness in baby parakeets?

Signs of illness in baby parakeets include lethargy, fluffed-up feathers, changes in droppings, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing. The Merck Veterinary Manual highlights the importance of prompt veterinary attention if you notice any of these symptoms, as young birds can deteriorate quickly when ill.

How can I tell if my baby parakeet is comfortable and happy?

A comfortable and happy baby parakeet will be active, curious, and engaged with its surroundings. It will have a good appetite, smooth feathers, and clear, bright eyes. You may also notice it chirping or singing, which is a sign of contentment. Regular, healthy sleep patterns also indicate that a baby parakeet is well-adjusted to its environment.

Discussion Comments

Fa5t3r

@irontoenail - I don't actually think stress is all that bad for them, to be honest. Birds in the wild have to deal with predators and other animals all the time. As long as you make sure your birds are above eye-level so they feel like they are safe in a tree, you aren't going to be stressing them out too much.

Although if you are fiddling with the nest all the time and they aren't used to you that would definitely be a source of stress.

irontoenail

@browncoat - Actually, you can do this technique with a lot of parrots where you basically raise the chicks alongside the parents. It works particularly well if the parents are fairly tame and used to you and you need a special nest so you can get access to the chicks without disturbing anything.

Basically you let the birds alone for the bulk of the work, but you regularly block the birds out of the nest for a few minutes and feed the chicks a few mouthfuls. Then, when they are older and leaving the nest, you continue feeding them longer than the parents do and handle them a lot.

This works almost as well as raising them without the parents in terms of taming the chick and it means you don't have to worry about feeding the babies five times a day. And I would argue that it's better for their long term health to be tamed and happy around humans, because otherwise they could suffer from stress.

browncoat

Parakeets are one of those birds where it is very tempting to try and hand raise the chicks, because they will be much more friendly to humans if you do this and will probably sell for a higher price.

But you should never try to hand raise a chick unless you absolutely have to. There are just too many things that the parents can do for a chick that you can't, or at least, that you can't do properly. The chick may not survive, and even if it does, it may never live a normal life.

Birds can be tamed with a lot of patience when they are older and this is by far the best thing to do for their health.

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    • A baby parakeet should only be handled with clean, washed hands.
      By: Lasse Kristensen
      A baby parakeet should only be handled with clean, washed hands.
    • Baby parrots require a suitable cage, proper feeding and a quiet place.
      By: susan flashman
      Baby parrots require a suitable cage, proper feeding and a quiet place.
    • Many budgerigars, or parakeets, have distinctive black and white stripes on the back of the neck and wings.
      Many budgerigars, or parakeets, have distinctive black and white stripes on the back of the neck and wings.
    • Breeders can inform new owners on how to feed and care for their baby parrots.
      Breeders can inform new owners on how to feed and care for their baby parrots.