How to Care for Parakeet's Feet

Parakeets, also known as budgies, are a moderate-sized species of parrots that have playful, curious personalities and stunning, bright feathers. These birds maintain their colorful feathers by preening for hours daily; some parakeets even bathe themselves when provided dishes of water. Despite this squeaky-clean behavior, pet parakeets need special care to keep their feet clean and healthy. Without your care, pet parakeets can develop infections and become overrun with parasites.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft perches
  • Nail-trimming perches
  • Washcloth
  • Soapy water
  • Legumes
  • Green vegetables
  • Dettol disinfectant
  • Cotton swab
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide soft perches for your parakeet; the perches should be made of cotton rope or soft woods.

    • 2

      Provide mineral, concrete or cement perches for your parakeet. These perches will safely trim down the nails of your bird so that they do not become overgrown.

    • 3

      Clean out feces from the parakeet's cage on a daily basis, making sure to wipe down soiled perches with a washcloth and warm, soapy water. Clean out the entire cage weekly. Dirty cages contribute to most of parakeet foot problems.

    • 4

      Feed your parakeet a healthy, balanced diet of vitamins, legumes and greens to maintain foot health.

    • 5

      Wipe down your parakeet's legs three times er day with dettol disinfectant applied to a cotton swab if they develop scaly feet. Scaly feet is a parasitic attack stemming from soiled cages and perches; it manifests in dry, scaly skin and small, red dots. This condition takes up to three weeks to heal when the disinfectant is applied correctly.