Considerations before you buy
Does a parakeet fit your way of life?
The budgie is on of the most commonly kept caged birds, this is most likley, because they are tiny, not expencive, come in a varitly of beautiful colours, and are very cute! In the past it was upsetting to know that hundreds of thousands these birds were being sold to people who were unaware of how to treat these beautiful little creatures. So they were forced to lead sad and unhealthy lives do to the lack of knowledge most people had know about this bird. Yet luckily has the popularity of budgies has increased the level of knowledge has increaced aswell. And now many books are available on how to properly care for these tiny little birds.
   Before you decide to buy a budgie , you should consider the fact that they could interfere with your way of life. Many people think that they do not take much work and that all you have to do is give it food and water daily, and shove a cupple of toys in their cage and they'll be happy. Because they take much more work then that. Here is a list of some points you should ask yourself before considering buying a budgie:
-If you would like to buy a pair of birds (a male and a female) they will most likley try to start a family. You should then have an idea of what to do with these baby birds, since you will most likley not be able to keep them all.
- A budgie can live 10-15 years, so you should also consider the fact that, that's how long you will have to take care of the bird. And you can't just sell it to someone else in a few years once you don't want it anymore, they get very attached and would go throught deep mourning if you would permantly serperate from it.
- Very good care and a varied diet are very important to keep a parakeet healthy. both of those things require time  and money on the part of the keeper.
- What will happen to the bird when you go on vacation
- Do you have other pets? Are you sure a bird will fit in with them?
- Many people who buy budgies, hope that their bird will be able to talk. Many budgies can  say many words, yet there are some that never develop the want to talk other then their own language. Ask yourself would you not be intrested anymore if the bird was unable to talk?
How many Birds?
Most parakeets are kept singly, and many people say that a parakeet kept alone can be content, because they are given a lot of attention and are fed and cared for properly. Yet some people think that a budgie that lives alone in captivityis not the  animal it is meant to be. It will never have a chance to fulfill it's unborn need for a society by flying in a large flock, and it will never be able to perform that ritual programmed in it's genes that  precedes the formation of a lifelong bond with the chosen ppartner. Yet as a pet it will accept a himan as a surrpgate partner and develop a tender attachement tothis person, but in most cases the bird still has to spend many hours alone, unable to engage in it's natural activites
   Anyone who decides on getting a single bird, should have plenty of time and patience to make sure the bird will get all the attention it needs. If you live alon this is usually not so simple. A parakeets instinctive need for sociability is perhaps met more  easily by a family, assuming that all the members enjoy spending time with the bird and are considerate of it. Even if all the family members play with it, it will still proaby pick a favorite, and develop a special closefriendship with that person.
   If you eant your budgie not only to be tame and responsive but also truly happy, yu have to provide it with a partner. If you were reluctant to start out with two birds you can still change your mind. I have added new birds in with other birds many times, and at first they may fight a bit, but in a few days they will start to play with eachother. Also once yo have to birds you can have the pleasure of observing the two birds. They can be very fun to watch as they play together. They are very entertaning. Also if you have two parakeets then you can leave them alone, for a day and not hve to worry, as long as their basic needs are taken care of. They may miss you, because without you the "flock" is incomplete, yet they will not suffer from boredom or loneliness.
   It is possible to put a male with a male, and a female  with a female, even though many books, and people say that two males will fight or two females will that is not true. At first they will probably fight a bit, unless you bought both of them at the same time from the same place. But after a few days they will learn to accept eachother and become friends. At the moment we have three female budgies together and they are getting along fne. Yet do not but two males in with one female or two females with one male, then they may really fight.
Male or Female?
This question only needs to be considered if you are buying a mate for another bird. If you are going to have only one bird, chances are that it will develop into a friendly, affectionate pet, perhapes even with a passion for talking  whether it is male or female. It does not matter if it is male or female, they both have the equal ability to become tame, and talk if properl trained. Even though may people say that males are more likley to, I do not believe that, that is true. The only thing that is true about the differences in behaviour between males and females is that the female may bite or gnaw more then males.
Kids and Budgies
Many children either want or already have a budgie. That is perfectly fine, as long as the parents are prepared to take over, and not leave it just up to the kid to do all of the work. The parents have to be prepared to take care of it, if the child doesn't have time, or would perfer to go out and play. Also parents must also consider that children lose intrest in things very easily. They may at first take full responsibility for the pet, but when they get bored with it and no longer want to play with it, then what? Are you prepared to take full responsibility for it? Yet i'm not trying to discourage people from buying budgies for their children, they make wonderful pets for kids, it's just people should always be prepared.
Parakeets and Other Pets
Well-behaved dogs generally acccept birds, and wont bother them much. But a cats usually can't co-exist with birds. I have a cat, so when ever we take the birds out to play we always make sure that she is in a room with a door. And the room that the bird cages are in also has a door on it so that the cat can't get in.
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