Parakeets are active and playful and with encouragement, some types can become exceptional talkers with a reasonable vocabulary. They generally like to chatter and being smaller than parrots, usually make good pets for children. There are many varieties of parakeet available as pets or aviary birds. A few are discussed below but prospective keepers should research specific types depending on the keeper's requirements. The large number of varieties exhibit a wide range of characteristics including range of sounds, breeding ability in captivity, diet, etc.
Ringneck Parakeet and Alexandrine Parakeet
The ringneck parakeet is also known as the Indian ringneck or rose-fringed parakeet. It is green with a black collar, usually red at the rear of the neck. There is also an African version which has a darker upper bill. The Alexandrine parakeet is similar but is larger and has red patches on its shoulders. To be taught to speak, the Alexandrine needs to be kept in a cage rather than an aviary. These varieties will eat parrot mixture, grain, fruit and non-fatty seeds. They need a large cage with strong mesh. They can be kept in groups, are hardy and generally good talkers, but can be both noisy and destructive. Females tend to dominate in breeding pairs.
Lineolated Parakeet
Also known as the barred or Catherine parakeet, this type is small and has a green body with black wing and feather tips. It will eat a wide variety of foods, including oats, millet, canary seed, fruit, carrots, willow twigs and small insects, but the aviary needs to be kept clean. The claws of this variety grow quickly and need trimming. It likes to slide up and down strong branches, has a gentle, pleasant nature and will also be observed to run along the ground. It has a tendency to fan its tail when at its most active.
Plumheaded Parakeet
The plumheaded parakeet is green with a plum-colored head. The black neck ring present in males is more grey/purple in females. This type is not as noisy as others and has an almost musical natural call. It eats the most common parakeet diet of grain, fruit and greens. It can be kept with other small birds, e.g. finches, in an aviary but breeding pairs are best housed separately from others.
Rosella Parakeet
Rosella parakeets are a particular species that have a distinctive wavy patterning on their wings. The green or tasmanian rosella is less colorful than other types. The golden-mantled rosella and the crimson, or Pennant's, rosellas are very popular. The western rosella, also known as Stanley's parakeet, is the smallest parakeet, and bonds easily with its keeper. Long flights are needed in rosella aviaries. Breeding pairs should be housed on their own as they can become aggressive to other birds. Brown's rosella is really for an experienced keeper, as it needs to be kept warm and can be difficult to either keep or breed.
Monk Parakeet
Also known as the quaker parakeet or grey-breasted parakeet, being common in warm climates and known to damage crops, it is banned in some areas. It is the only parrot that builds a proper nest using twigs, as it will roost. This can be encouraged by placing mesh as shelf high in an aviary. More common as a pet in the US than the UK, it is fairly good talker with a good vocabulary but is often also noisy, loud and raucous, not suited to apartments. It likes to chew but is also untidy and will throw things out of its cage, which again should be large with strong mesh, but otherwise it is a friendly pet. There are a number of color mutations of this variety, blue being popular, but mutations can be expensive. It is naturally green with a grey chest and face, and likes to eat grain, fruit, greens and carrots.
Parakeet Care
Parakeet cages should be large to allow for exercise and flight. Some parakeet types are best housed in aviaries. A strong mesh is advisable as despite their size, some parakeets have strong enough beaks and a tendency to damage their surroundings. As parakeets are active birds, aside from particular considerations for specific types, toys are worth considering, especially for a single bird being kept as a pet. Most parakeets eat parakeet seed, fruit and greens but again, specific varieties have additional or particular dietary preferences. Though parakeets are generally easier to breed than parrots, if contemplating breeding parakeets, it is advisable to buy pairs already proven for compatibility and breeding.
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