Things You'll Need
- Bird Cages
- Bird Food
- Bird Food/water Bowls
- Bird Perches
Instructions
Talk to other bird owners before you buy. You can get referrals for pet stores or find a discussion group for parakeet owners online.
Meet with several breeders to find one you like.
Visit local pet shops to see some parakeets up close.
Consider buying a pre-owned bird, but remember that is may be harder to train than one that was weaned recently.
Expect to pay about $20 for an American budgie. (Older birds cost less.)
Check the sex of the bird by its markings if it is over 6 months old. Females have a brown cere (the fleshy area above the beak where the nostrils appear), while males have a deep-blue cere.
Select a male parakeet if you want a more playful bird, or a female if you prefer one that will be quieter.
Opt for a hand-raised bird, since these usually make the best pets.
Find out if the bird you select is likely to talk (hand-raised birds are more chatty).
Be prepared for the fact that parakeets can live for 10 years or more, so buying this bird requires a long-term commitment.