The Basics:

Bourke’s Parakeets are hardy, even-tempered birds that do well sharing a cage or aviary with compatible species like cockatiels and finches, however, their easy-going nature also means they are an easy target for other birds, even smaller ones. Their small size and appealing voice and vivid plumage have made them popular pets.

Cage:

Although relatively sedentary, the Bourke’s Parakeet likes to fly at dawn and dusk. His cage should provide him with room enough to spread his wings. A minimum size of 36” long, by 24” wide, by 24” high is recommended, with spacing between the bars being no more than 3/8” wide. When expanding the size of a cage, length is always more important than height, because it gives the bird more room to exercise his wings, and they do not climb like other birds.  The most desirable housing for a Bourke’s Parakeet is an indoor aviary.

CAUTION

In most cases, more space is more desirable for birds. However, when increasing the size of a Bourke’s Parakeet’s cage, the bird’s human companion must be careful to maintain a safe (narrow) space between the bars. The bars of a cage have to be narrow enough to prevent a bird from sticking his head in between. Bars that are spaced too far apart for the bird’s size can result in serious and even fatal injuries.

Positioning The Cage:

The friendly Bourke’s Parakeet will enjoy having her cage placed in an area where there is family activity. However, the cage should also offer enough privacy to provide the bird with a sense of security. So, rather than being located directly in the path of heavy household traffic, the cage should be positioned in an alcove or area that has a wall on one or two sides of the cage. As a good rule of thumb, no family member should be able to walk all the way around the cage.

If there is a lot of night-time activity in the room that houses the cage, such as a TV going after 9 pm, the Bourke’s Parakeet should be provided with a small sleeping cage in another, quieter room. Another alternative is to have a cage on wheels, so it can be moved to a quiet area at night. It is critically important that the bird be provided with at least 10-12 hours of quiet undisturbed sleep time each night.  The cage can be covered at night. This cover should be washed weekly, since it will accumulate feather dust.

A Bourke’s Parakeet’s cage should never be placed in the kitchen, since fumes from cooking can prove fatal. The cage should also never be placed in direct sunlight or draft.

Playthings:

Flying is the main source of activity and stimulation for Bourke’s Parakeets, so toys are less essential for this little bird than they are for most other avian pets.  However, a Bourke’s cage should still contain a good selection of appropriately sized toys. Most Bourke’s Parakeets tend to enjoy avian swings.

Perches:

A Bourke’s Parakeet needs to have at least two or three perches with different diameters in her cage. The perches serve many important purposes. In addition to providing the bird with an area for standing, they help keep her beak and nails trim. The perches in a Bourke’s Parakeet’s cage should be between ½” and 5/8” thick. A perch should be placed in front of, but not above, food and water dishes.

Play Time Outside The Cage:

Since they are most active at dusk and dawn, a Bourke’s Parakeet will be the loudest and most active at a time when an owner may be trying to sleep. However, these birds still sleep during most of the night, and usually take naps during the day. Time out of the cage is not required (as long as the cage is large enough), but is appreciated, as long as it is a safe, secure environment.  Bourke’s Parakeets do not require as much social interaction as many other birds and they may not bond as closely with their owners, but they can still be affectionate.

Grooming:

Consult veterinarian or literature about trimming nails and possibly flight feathers.

Bathing:

Bird should have daily access to a shallow bowl of chlorine-free water for supervised bathing for one to two hours. Remove bath bowl when finished. Water must be lukewarm to room temperature. Avoid drafts. Individual birds may also appreciate misting.

Diet:

Variety is an important ingredient in the diet of a Bourke’s Parakeet. High quality pellets, a small amount of seed mix, dark leafy vegetables and other vegetables, as well as grains, should be included on this bird’s menu.  Vegetables should be rinsed, dried and cut into appropriately sized pieces before being offered to this bird. Fruit should not be offered to these birds because of its high sugar and calorie content. Bourke’s Parakeets should always have access to clean fresh chlorine-free water. The water must be checked regularly throughout the day to ensure that it is free of droppings.

A Note About Water:

All water given to birds for drinking, as well as water used for misting, soaking or bathing must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals.  (Not all home water filtration systems remove 100% of the chlorine and heavy metals from tap water, so check your system's specifications before using it to filter water for your pet.) We recommend that you use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water and never untreated tap water. Do not use distilled water, which can cause severe medical problems, since it lacks minerals that are essential to important body functions.