parakeets

do parakeets need grit ive looked on google some say yes some say no /
and do they like toys?
ive got my two not outside but there cage by the open door in the sunshine thats good i hope?

they don't need grit and yes toys are a must for any caged bird otherwise they will get pretty bored

as for the sunlight make sure there are shady parts of the cage they can go to if they get hot. It's best if possible to keep them in the corner of a room where they can see a window to look out but can hide away from the window if something scares them

LordTriggs said:

they don't need grit and yes toys are a must for any caged bird otherwise they will get pretty bored

as for the sunlight make sure there are shady parts of the cage they can go to if they get hot. It's best if possible to keep them in the corner of a room where they can see a window to look out but can hide away from the window if something scares them

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thank you for answering my question any other tips please let me know and yes they can get into the shade never had parakeets before used to bigger parrots

Yes to toys but no to grit. The reason some birds need grit is because they eat the seed with the Hull still on, and then the grit helps remove it internally. Parrots take off the hull before eating.


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SilverSage said:

Yes to toys but no to grit. The reason some birds need grit is because they eat the seed with the Hull still on, and then the grit helps remove it internally. Parrots take off the hull before eating.


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You learn something new from this forum everyday! I thought 'keets needed grit coz they didn't have a "gizzard"? to help with digesting. I always gave Wally grit (my first "parrot" when I was young)


Jim

Actually all birds have gizzards but the type of gizzard is different in different types of birds. Birds that need to consume gravel to fully digest the food usually have a much more muscular gizzard than those that remove the outer touch parts of their food before consuming it.


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gerry said:

Jaida and Jenna i know nothing much about splendids do they like toys? do they need grit , these two love apple
pictures posted via imgur

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Gerry, they are gorgeous!!! Specially love the looks of the one on the left!


You might try foraging toys that would be great for them, maybe even growing some grains or wheat grass for them, and "soft" toys. Things made out of balsa wood, yucca, palm fronds, etc.

These guys aren't likely to chew on hard wood very much but could still enjoy some form of enrichment. They might even enjoy toys with beads on them, or other small parts.

The closely related Bourke’s that I have, is about 12 years old now, and just the other day was the first time ever, that I’d seen him play with a toy. My mom kept him (and the Princess keet) until she could no longer care for them, but she provided a ton of toys and enrichment for them, and I never saw him play or even chew wicker or anything at her house. The toy he was playing with the other day, was tiny hard plastic objects (tiny tea cups) which hang and jingle on a little chain. He was pecking at it and swinging it with his beak. Of course each individual is different. Maybe some in the grass parakeet families do play. The Princess of Wales LOVES toys of all types. Provide toys of different kinds and textures to see what they prefer. Small birds also appreciate swings. Best wishes with you beauties.

Beautiful birds you have!! I have always loved these guys, all of the Bourke's, Linnies, etc. are just wonderful birds!

You said that you've always had "larger parrots" and aren't familiar with the smaller parakeets...Well that actually makes it easy in-terms of their wants and needs, as they are basically the same! Parakeets are every bit the parrot as an Amazon, and African Grey, etc. They are very intelligent and need to be stimulated just as much so that they don't get bored...LOTS AND LOTS OF TOYS!!!! And as mentioned some foraging activities and things to chew on, such as a Kabob...

The nice thing is that these guys can't go through wooden toys in a day like larger parrots can, so if you buy a bunch of different toys for them, they will last a long time. Make sure they have plenty of different types of toys, as they actually not only like wooden toys, rope toys, etc., but they also love the cheaper, plastic toys as well.

The grit thing is hilarious, as up until the late 90's-early 00's, everyone who had a Budgie bought boxes of grit and typically just poured some on the bottom of their cage, on top of the newspaper or cage liner. And from what I've heard, they actually will eat the grit, even though they don't need it to properly digest their food...Somewhere along the way it was made clear to the public in-general that Parakeets (all sub-species) do not need grit to digest their food, and people stopped buying it, although I STILL SEE BOXES OF GRIT SOLD IN EVERY GROCERY STORE, WALMART, ETC.! As little bird/parrot merchandise that your typical "Grocery Stores" sell, they all seem to carry those damn boxes of Grit!

And thankfully they do still all sell those cheap boxes of Grit, as I just recently brought home a Ringneck Dove, who DOES NEED GRIT!!! LOL, 3 weeks ago when I brought him home was the first time I've ever bought one of those little boxes of grit! I keep a little bowl of it on the floor of his cage next to his food (he eats from the type of feeder that chickens/ducks eat out of), and he does his thing...

Hi, and welcome.
Here's a great little read, by our very own budgie-whisperer reeb!
http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies-parakeets/72068-taming-bonding-budgerigars-tips-beginners.html