Your parakeet may be puffed up for a variety of reasons. It could be ill, scared, or angry.
Finding out the cause is essential to getting your bird back to its normal state. In this blog post, we will cover the most common reasons why a parakeet becomes puffed up and what you can do about it.
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Can I keep a parakeet as a pet?
Parakeets are wonderful pets; they are intelligent, friendly and extremely social birds that make excellent companions for kids and adults alike. But before you go out to purchase your first parakeet, there are a few things you should know.
First of all, if you have small children or other pets, it’s important to note that parakeets can become stressed very easily by loud noises or sudden movements.
It is not recommended to keep any bird in an environment where there are young children or active pets because although most parrots take well to gentle handling by people who know how to handle them properly, they will bite if frightened or threatened.
Another consideration is whether or not your home provides enough for a single bird or if you’re better off getting a pair. Most parakeets do well when kept in pairs, as they are very social birds and enjoy the company of their own kind.
If you decide that a parakeet is the right pet for you, there are some things you can do to make sure he or she is happy and healthy.
Parakeets need plenty of stimulation and exercise, so make sure to provide them with plenty of toys (both inside and outside of their cage) as well as plenty of time out of their cage to explore. They also need a high-quality diet that consists of fresh fruits, vegetables and seeds.
Why is my parakeet puffed up?
There are some suspicions that there might be an abnormal mass in the throat of your parakeet, which is why it is puffed up.
If you have been able to palpate this mass and feel a hard object inside its mouth, then indeed it could be a tumor present inside the mouth.
In such conditions the bird may not be able to eat or drink due to lack of space in its mouth for food or water ingestion.
In case if you have been able to identify a tumor-like growth in the upper part of your parrot’s mouth without being able to feel any irregularities present within its throat, then most probably you need to take it to a professional veterinarian who knows about these things better than yourself.
The main reason why a tumor in the mouth of a parakeet should never be ignored is because it might spread to other parts of the body and result in death.
There are other reasons as well why your parakeet might look puffed up. For instance, if your bird has been suffering from respiratory infection, then it will try to puff itself up in order to make breathing easier.
In such cases, you may also notice that your parakeet’s feathers have become matted and its eyes might be watery and swollen.
If you suspect that your bird might be suffering from some respiratory infection, then it is best to take it to a veterinarian for treatment.
How to take care of a parakeet?
Parakeets can be wonderful pets, but they do require some care. Here are some tips to help you take care of your parakeet:
1. Make sure your parakeet has a healthy diet. Parakeets should have a diet that consists mostly of fresh fruits and vegetables.
2. Provide plenty of toys for your parakeet to play with. Parakeets need plenty of stimulation to stay healthy and happy.
3. Clean your parakeet’s cage regularly. The cage should be cleaned at least once a week to ensure your parakeet stays healthy and comfortable.
4. Get your parakeet vaccinated and checked by a veterinarian regularly. Parakeets should receive yearly vaccinations to help protect them from common illnesses.
5. Be patient with your parakeet. It may take some time for your parakeet to adjust to its new home. Be sure to provide plenty of love and attention during this time.
10 Benefits of keeping parakeet
1) Parakeets are very friendly, loving and social animals that love being around humans which makes it easier to keep them as pets.
2) These are very intelligent creatures that can learn tricks and play with toys very quickly.
You will be able to teach your parakeet different words, phrases and even songs if you spend some time with it daily. Just like humans, parakeets also need mental stimulation for their brains as well as an active lifestyle.
3) They go through a complete molting stage twice a year i.e., during April/May and September/October which means they shed all the feathers on their body including those on wings, tails, feet etc., which is not harmful or painful for them in any way and they will regrow new and beautiful feathers within few weeks time making it look like they have just changed their wardrobe for the season.
4) They are very healthy creatures that require minimal attention to stay healthy and free from diseases if kept properly.
5) They love eating almost everything you eat which makes it easier than having to buy special bird feeders or bird food. You can just keep your bird’s food bowl next to yours while eating so they also get something to nibble on.
However, it is important to note that proper care should be taken regarding the quality of what you feed your pet parakeet as overfeeding could lead to health issues like obesity etc.
Also try not giving high fat content foods like cheese, butter etc., because fats take longer time for absorption resulting in more poop production which means you will have to clean its droppings more often.
6) Parakeets are wonderful creatures to have around children as they are very gentle, playful and loving with them.
They can also learn to say a few words in kids’ language which will make the experience of keeping a pet bird even more fun for the little ones.
7) These birds are quite loud and tend to make a lot of noise when they are happy or excited.
So if you live in an apartment and don’t want your neighbors to get irritated by the non-stop chirping sound then parakeet might not be the best pet for you.
8) They love to play and bathe in water which makes it necessary to give them a bath at least twice a week in a shallow bowl filled with water.
9) Parakeets love to climb and perch on things and therefore should be provided with plenty of objects like branches, bamboo poles, ropes etc., to climb around and play on.
10) Lastly, they are one of the cheapest pet birds available in the market that can be bought for as low as $15-$25 depending upon their breed and color.
So if you are looking for an affordable, intelligent and entertaining pet bird then keeping a parakeet is definitely the way to go.
Conclusion
With the right knowledge and resources, you can have a happy pet parakeet.
Parakeets are fun to watch as they fly around your home or office while making lots of noise! You should know how to take care of them though before getting one for yourself.
Our other articles on Pet Birds: How big does a parakeet get? [Birder’s Guide]
Hi there! My name is Sarah, and I’m the author behind “Bird Sector,” a website dedicated to helping bird owners learn more about their pets and how to take good care of them. I’m passionate about birds and love sharing my knowledge and experiences with others.