Bourke's Parakeet

• ExerciseLow

  Content with perch-hopping and a little out-of-cage time.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceSome experience helps

  A little know-how makes life smoother.

• Commitment10–15 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Respiratory issues · Obesity · Egg binding

Bourke's parakeet is the gentle introvert of the parakeet world — soft-spoken, calm and peaceful, and widely regarded as the quietest of the small parakeets, which makes it an ideal choice for apartments and noise-sensitive homes. Native to the Australian outback, it is crepuscular, most active and vocal at dawn and dusk, spending the middle of the day quietly. Placid and non-aggressive, it mixes well in a mixed aviary and is happy either as a gentle pet or in the company of its own kind, needing a roomy flight cage, perches and simple foraging. Diet is a good small-parakeet or budgie seed mix supplemented with pellets and fresh greens and vegetables. Bourke's parakeets are generally hardy and undemanding, but the usual small-bird care applies: guard against obesity, watch for respiratory disease, and in hens, egg binding, providing calcium via cuttlebone. As with every bird, keep the air free of non-stick fumes, aerosols and smoke, which are lethal. Provide a calm environment, a good diet and gentle company, and this peaceful pastel flier will be a soothing, low-key companion for ten to fifteen years.

• How much activity does a Bourke's Parakeet need?

  Low. Content with perch-hopping and a little out-of-cage time.

• How much feather care does a Bourke's Parakeet need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Bourke's Parakeet need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Bourke's Parakeet a good fit for first-time owners?

  Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.

• How long do Bourke's Parakeet live?

  10–15 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Bourke's Parakeet?

  Keep an eye out for Respiratory issues, Obesity, Egg binding. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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