The Ups and Downs of Life with a Parakeet

Hello everyone!

I've always had a soft spot for parakeets, but my experiences with them as a kid weren't exactly what you'd call successful. I had three parakeets as a kid and teenager, and none of them lived very long or were particularly friendly. But about four years ago, I saw a new parakeet cage near the trash, and I thought it was a sign that it was time to give parakeets another shot.

So, just four days later, my husband and I went and bought a male parakeet, which we named Dexter. We also picked up a parakeet cage, Rio food, water bottles, feeders, toys, and a mineral stone with sepiolite.

Along with the cage, we bought Rio food, water bottles, feeders, toys, and a mineral stone with sepiolite.

Of course, after a couple of months, we realized we didn't have a Dexter... His light-colored beak turned brown, which means we actually had a female.So, our Dexus moved in.

Parakeets don't require a lot of maintenance, but it's still a big responsibility. You've got to feed them twice a day, change the water daily, and let them fly around. I clean the cage's tray twice a day - can't do it less often, it's just gross - and give the whole cage a deep clean under the shower once a week.Naturally, it sounds easy enough, but trust me, it's a challenge!

I'm not even talking about the fact that our feathered friend chewed through the balcony railing, walls, and a throw blanket. Since she's super affectionate and loves to perch on our shoulders, everything gets destroyed.Picking up food quietly? Forget it! She needs to try everything, and she's a bit of a foodie.

When molting season hits, it's a nightmare! Feathers everywhere. So, we have to bathe her frequently to help her deal with the itch. Parakeets love taking baths, by the way. I have to admit, our Dextera looked pretty rough during molting season. We were worried she was sick, but with a little help from Pivit, she's recovering quickly. We add a few drops of it to her water every day, and she's back to her old self in no time.

It's also a good idea to get a travel carrier if you plan on taking your parrot on the go. We thought we could just wing it and put her in a cage, but that didn't end well. Dextera got injured and had to spend a month in the vet's clinic. The bill was steep, but the carrier would've been a fraction of that cost – around 500 rubles! Thought she wasn't going to make it I know it's not recommended to put parrots on windowsills, but we're careful to avoid direct sunlight and drafts. We're not home all day, but she loves watching the world go by and keeping an eye on the neighborhood. She's always squawking at birds flying by and seems to have a pretty active life on the windowsill. With proper care and socialization, our feathered friends can live up to 20 years in captivity. Volitans parrots are super social and love interacting with their owners. When we're away for an extended period, Dextera gets really down. She starts clinging to her bell, and it's just heartbreaking. But, as soon as someone's home and spends time with her, she's the happiest bird in the world! To be honest, taking care of my pet parakeet isn't rocket science, but it's still a handful. You've got to pay attention to their health, because they metabolize quickly and get sick fast. I've had to deal with my fair share of vet visits, but it's all worth it to see Dextera happy and thriving.My bird is super affectionate and brings us so much joy. But, man, she makes a mess!

I've learned to love her quirks and imperfections, and I couldn't imagine life without her.