Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Become a credit card member today!Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!APPLY NOWLearn More About Petco Pay Benefits
Vitakraft Parakeet Treats
Get It Today
Related Articles & Questions
- New Pet
How to Socialize Your Pet Bird: A Step-by-Step Guide
Welcoming a new pet into your family is exciting! But it can be stressful for your new bird. Use these steps to help socialize your bird and welcome them into your home.
Updated on July 17th, 2026
- New Pet
Bird Grooming Basics: Feathers, Nails & Wings
Read more to learn some basics of bird grooming that include bathing, nail trimming, and wing clipping.
Updated on July 17th, 2026
- Care Sheets
Your Cat's Best Life: Feeding, Health, Behavior & Home Guide
Learn how to care for your cat, recommended diet and grooming care. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
- Care Sheets
Reptile Feeding: Live Insect Selection & Care for Optimal Health
Learn about live insects for reptile feeding, recommended diet & habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
Health & WellnessUnlock Optimal Health: Best Pet Supplements for Your Dog & Cat
Discover how to choose the best supplements for your pet’s health, from essential vitamins to joint support and digestion aids. Learn age-specific and seasonal supplement tips for cats and dogs.
Updated on June 19th, 2026
- 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
- Training & Behavior
My bird doesn't trust me. What are the best treats to help us bond?
Hi, and thank you for this question. If jim was not hand fed as a baby, he will likely never be truly tame. If you feed him pellets rather tnan seeds as his main diet, then things like sunflower seeds can become very effective treats.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Food & Nutrition
My parakeet is thin. What high-calorie food or supplement can I give?
Thanks for reaching out about your budgies. Offering vegetables, cooked beans/legumes are important components of the avian diet. Weight loss due to muscle atrophy or resorption is often related to unbalance amino acid (protein) consumption but correction is more difficult in older animals. With the swollen foot, make sure it is not a condition of gout, as this is a kidney ailment and meloxicam could be hard on the kidneys. Monitor water consumption and urination. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Health & Wellness
Why is my parakeet's tail bobbing and cere dry? Is it vitamin A?
The tail bobbing may also be indicative or respiratory distress or infection. This can be bacterial, fungal, viral or parasitic in nature. The condition of the cere can be due to mites, malnutrition or simply low humidity. Ideally, they should both be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to diagnose and treat the underlying condition. Offer a balanced diet including commercial pellets ( Roudybush, Lafeber, Pretty Bird, Exact or Harrison's), a small amount of a fortified seed mix, fresh greens and vegetables and cooked grains, cooked beans and plain pastas. They can even eat a bit of scrambled eggs (shells included). You can get them to eat greens and vegetables by offering them in small amounts. Offer a variety since they do have preferences, but offer one at a time. If they are tame, you can offer food from your plate. Seeing you eat may interest them.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Training & Behavior
Why is my parakeet biting me? How can I get her to stop biting?
Biting can happen if Bright is feeling stressed or scared, or just isn't tame enough yet to be handled. If she lives with other birds, it could be she is more bonded to them so may not bond with you as closely. A good start is to offer her favorite treat every time you approach the cage, by tossing it inside. Once she is more used to you coming by, you can then start to offer it from your hand, and then continue working on taming her from there. If at any time she becomes stressed out or bites, taking a break to let her relax and trying again later can help. It can take time for a bird to get used to their owner, so patience is key. Making sure Bright isn't too stressed out from her cagemates, and that she has plenty of fresh food, water, and toys to play with can help as well.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
