If you are planning to import a parakeet from another country, you should fulfill the requirements of the Health Inspection services that includes a health certificate from a government veterinarian. The bird will be kept in quarantine for a month, after which you could take it home. utrition for the bird N Seeds and pellets If given proper care and attention, parakeets in captivity can live long - anything between 15 and 30 years. One vital aspect of their health and longevity is the provision of proper nutrition, besides safety. One should realize that the aged birds are totally helpless, unless the pet lover takes regular steps, to fulfill their nutritional and social needs. The birds are naturally prone to eating healthy and fresh food. The keen eyesight of the parakeet can immediately discern whether a particular food item is fresh. If your choice of food for parakeets is fruits and vegetables, ensure that they are fresh. Seeds (millet seeds are their favorite) should constitute only a part of their diet, as they are high in fat content. Pellets are also a good choice as they are nutritionally balanced. Foods such as carrots, corn, spinach and sprouted seeds could also be included in their diet. Parakeets can at times be fussy like children, and it may take time Parakeet Diet Parakeets like spray millets; they also enjoy seed treats. for them, to like a particular food item. If a variety of foods are introduced to them as babies, they are likely to be less fussy when they are grown. Certain types of food are off-limits. Parakeets have small bodies, and even a wee bit of the wrong kind of food could prove fatal. Food items to be avoided include avocados, chocolates, fruit seeds and foods containing preservatives. Parakeets, like dogs, are allergic to chocolate which can even kill them. When feeding fruit pieces, check for seeds, as the seeds of certain fruits such as apples and cherries are poisonous to parakeets. If dairy products are included in their diet, it should form only a very small part of their food intake, as most parakeets find it difficult to digest milk, and milk products. But there is no harm in feeding them small pieces of fish, chicken, turkey, egg-yolk, potatoes, broccoli and zucchini. You should experiment with different types of food and find out what is your pet's favorite. You could also give them sprouted seed, that is considered very nutritious. Harmful food items Parakeet Diet Overfeeding Eucalyptus, real treat Overfeeding or providing a diet of only seeds is inadvisable, since the seeds with high fat content make them prone to fatty liver diseases. Similarly, keep sugar intake to the minimum. One school of thought holds that parakeets should only be fed when they are really hungry. But this theory does not really hold water, as parakeets seldom overeat. Do you give your parakeets one or two Eucalyptus leaves, every day? If yes, then there is no need to add other greens to its diet (as it gets all the trace elements, minerals and amino acids it requires). The required minerals and vitamins for your parakeet can also be got from fruits and veggies, such as apples, grapes, strawberries, guava, mangos, oranges, pomegranates, watermelons, blanched or grated carrots, lettuce, etc. |