Are Parakeets Good With Kids?

Allowing a child to own a pet is a major decision, whether a bird, dog or any other living creature. After all, with any luck, a household pet can be in a child's life for years and years on end. Parakeets are definitely no exception there, with many living up to 12 years. Safety is a vital consideration in successful and responsible pet ownership.

  1. Older Kids

    • Parakeets are safe and suitable pets for kids that are between 5 and 11 years old, according to SPCA International. This always depends on a variety of things, however, including the attention and care members of a household can devote to ensuring a parakeet is content and healthy. If a parakeet is fully tame and has plenty of good outlets -- think play pens, toys and the like -- he should be a positive addition to a family with older kids.

    Younger Kids

    • If a child is less than 5 years old, a parakeet may not be the most appropriate pet. If a wee child is even just a little aggressive with a parakeet, it could end up in harm of the bird -- not good at all. Because of this possibility, you definitely want to restrict parakeet ownership to the "older kids" crowd.

    Caretaker

    • Properly caring for parakeets is a commitment, just like with any other pet. This care involves everything from regular feedings to routine veterinary appointments. Even if a parakeet technically "belongs" to a child, it is also vital for the adults in the child's life to remember that many -- and sometimes all -- of the duties may fall on them. If a parakeet feels under the weather, it is up to the adult to drive the poor thing to his veterinary checkup, after all. Even if a child provides the bird's H20, a lot more goes into keeping a parakeet healthy and happy.

    Caution

    • Until a parakeet is 100 percent tamed, it is important to never, ever allow a child of any age to deal with one without strict and close adult monitoring. Without sufficient taming, an apprehensive, irked or unsettled parakeet may bite or attempt to fly away. Although parakeets are usually mild-mannered birds, you can never be too cautious. Rapid body motions are particularly anxiety-inducing for birds, so it is important for children -- and parents -- to be aware of that.