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Related Articles & Questions
- Care Sheets
Lovebird Care: Your Complete Guide to Food, Habitat & Health
Learn how to take care of your Lovebirds, recommended cage size, diet and housing setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your local Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
- Care Sheets
How to Care for Pet Doves: Food, Habitat, & Health for Happy Birds
Learn how to care for your pet dove, recommended diet and cage setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
- Care Sheets
Green-Cheek Conure Care: Essential Food, Habitat & Health Guide
Green-cheek conures are highly inquisitive, bold, and engaging birds. Learn how to care for Green-cheek conures, what to feed them, habitat setup, and more.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
- Care Sheets
Ultimate Ferret Care: Food, Habitat, Health & Behavior Guide
Learn how to care for a Ferret, recommended diet and habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on December 21st, 2025
- Care Sheets
Cricket Care: Habitat, Feeding & Gut Loading Tips for Healthy Pets
Learn how to care for crickets, recommended diet & habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
- Vet Q & A
Do pet stores take back parakeets or other birds I can't keep?
You can just remove any newly laid eggs and discard them if you don't want to hatch any more babies. Many captive birds will continuously lay eggs, so just removing them is fine. If you are looking to rehome some birds, it would be best to put an ad in a local paper, or contact any local stores near you. Most pet stores already have contracts in place with breeders, so you may need to find another option for rehoming them.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Training & Behavior
New to parakeets? Essential care tips for first-time owners.
Parakeets, also called Budgerigars, are small members of the parrot family and they can become good mimics. The average adult size is 7 inches long, head to end of tail. The average life span is between 10 to 20 years with proper care. A well-balanced Parakeet diet consists of: Specialized pellets should make up 60-70% of diet, fresh vegetables and fruits and small amounts of fortified seeds Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily. Do not feed birds: avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol; it can cause serious medical conditions. Avoid sugar and high fat treats. Things to remember when feeding your Parakeet: Fresh food and water should always be available. Vegetables and fruits not eaten within a few hours should be discarded. Remember, treats should not exceed 10% of total food intake. Housing Parakeets acclimate well to average household temperatures, not to exceed 80°F; be cautious of extreme temperature changes. The habitat should area that is well-lit and away from drafts. A habitat approximately 18"W x 18"D x 18"H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 1-2" apart, makes a good home for one Parakeet. A flight habitat is strongly recommended. It is best to provide the largest habitat possible. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. A metal grate over the droppings tray will keep the bird away from droppings; line the droppings tray with habitat paper or appropriate substrate for easier cleaning. To avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches. Parakeets can be kept alone to bond with pet parent or in pairs to bond with each other. Different birds she not be housed together. Normal Behavior Parakeets are talkers, but their little voices are sometimes hard to hear. Active and need daily time out of their habitats to interact with family. Keep in pairs if unable to devote daily interaction time. Provide foraging toys, which provide important mental stimulation. Housing Maintenance Clean and disinfect the habitat and perches regularly; replace substrate or habitat liner weekly or more often as needed. Replace perches, dishes, and toys when worn or damaged; rotate new toys into the habitat regularly. Ensure that there are no habitat parts or toys with lead, zinc or lead-based paints or galvanized parts as these can cause serious medical issues if ingested by your bird. Do not use a lot of cleaning agents around your bird a natural cleaner. Grooming & Hygiene Provide filtered, chlorine-free, lukewarm water regularly for bathing; remove the water when done. As an alternative, mist the bird with water. Clipping flight feathers is not necessary, but when done correctly it can help prevent injury or escape; consult an avian veterinarian on what is best for your bird. Nails should be trimmed by a qualified person to prevent injury to the bird. Signs of a Healthy Animal: Active, alert, and sociable Eats and drinks throughout the day Dry nares and bright, dry eyes Beak, legs and feet normal in appearance Clean, dry vent Smooth, well-groomed feathers Common Health Issues Chlamydiosis: Appetite loss, fluffed feathers, nasal discharge, green stool. Seek immediate avian veterinary attention. Diarrhea: Fecal portion of stool is not formed. Multiple causes from diet change to internal parasites. Consult with an avian veterinarian and ensure proper diet. Feather plucking: Bird plucks own feathers; may be due to boredom, poor diet or other illness. Consult your veterinarian and relieve boredom with attention, new toys or new space. Mites (scaly face and leg disease): White deposits on eyes, beak, legs, and feet. Consult your veterinarian. Red Flags Beak swelling or accumulations Fluffed, plucked, or soiled feathers Sitting on floor
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Food & Nutrition
What cockatiel food and hand-feeding formula is available in Egypt?
If you have a local pet store in your location, that's a great place to check for commercial bird foods. You may also need to check online if you don't have anything available. Cockatiel foods are often a blend of seeds and pellets that are nutritionally balanced. Millet seeds, and other small seeds, and some dried fruits and vegetables can also be substituted to balance the diet if a commercial brand isn't available. Fruits such as dried berries, applies, peach, can be tasty, and dried veggies such as spinach and other leafy greens make a great treat.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Health & Wellness
Are backyard bird feeders really safe for the health of wild birds?
Hello. No, I do not think so. The biggest concern about birdfeeders is how they attract predators including sparrow hawks & cats. Some folks claim we are turning wild birds into seed junkies & this is very bad for their livers ( I am always telling my clients to get their caged budgies & cockatiels off of an all seed diet ). But most wild birds do supplement their diets & do migrate after fueling up on the energy filling seeds. Bad seed ( moldy ) can kill birds with aflatoxin. And the spilled seed can attract vermin which can carry disease. Some folks recommend only feeding during the cold weather to help migratory birds & to only buy the best & freshest seed you can. Cost matters, so stay away from the crappy dollar store bags of bird seed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Food & Nutrition
Bird food has mouse droppings. What can I feed my bird temporarily?
If the food is full of mouse droppings it is best to purchase new food ASAP. While treats can be given, they are not a balanced diet, and a new food should be purchased and given as soon as possible to avoid any illness or GI upset. In the future, placing their food in an airtight storage container made from plastic can help prevent rodents from getting to it.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
