I now have a beautiful group of bright turquoise blue parakeets.
I hope you saw my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48 debuting the latest addition to my farm menagerie - 14 gorgeous and colorful birds. Parakeets are indigenous to Australia, where they are known as budgerigars or budgies. They are very social, both with each other and with people. My parakeets are in one of two large wooden cages I designed after a 1900 French antique that was originally used to house doves or quails. In the other cage are my vibrant and melodious red factor canaries and two Combassou finches. All of them are singing and communicating with each other and enjoying their days from my airy, light-filled porch.
Enjoy these photos.
Parakeets, Melopsittacus undulatus, are members of the Parrot family. They are relatively small and light birds, but with unusually long, tapered tails. I recently acquired 14 parakeets. They enjoy perching on this long branch in their cage, where they can see all the activity around them.
The budgie is one of the most popular parakeet species. Besides being very friendly and playful, it is hardy and easy to maintain.
Parakeets prefer to be kept in pairs or small groups. I am sure this group will be very happy here at the farm.
Parakeets who are harmonious and live together will bond and mate for life. They also love interacting with humans, playing games and chirping.
Look closely – the cere, located right above a parakeet’s beak, reveals the bird’s gender. A fully mature male parakeet has a blue cere, while a female’s is brown.
Parakeets have a very active metabolism and should be provided with a staple diet of fresh parakeet seed or pellets daily. In addition to a pellet diet, parakeets should be offered chopped dark green and yellow veggies as well as a variety of fruits, and hard cooked eggs.
A parakeet has an average life expectancy of six to 10 years, and if well-cared for, even longer.
Parakeets acclimate well to average household temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The cage should be placed off the floor in an area that is well-lit and away from drafts. I am glad their large cage fits perfectly on my indoor porch – there is always so much to see outside the windows.
Parakeets often come in green-yellow or blue-green combinations. These blue colors come in many shades from gray to bright cobalt.
My red factor canaries are on the other side of the front door. I move the cage around the room, so their views can vary from time to time. They love this location. I also keep classical music on for them every day. The branches are also changed often. Canaries do not need special toys like some other birds, but they do need strong perches with multiple branches.
Red factor canaries were developed in the early 1900s by crossing a Venezuelan Black-Hooded Red Siskin with a yellow canary. In order to maintain their rich red plumage, red factors must be fed foods rich in beta-carotene, or a supplement of half pure beta-carotene and half pure canthaxanthin.
Every morning, the birds are given a fresh buffet of seeds, leafy greens, and fruits. Seed blends are designed to support the birds’ seasonal needs with a wide range of micronutrients for nesting, breeding, and molting seasons. The greens are always freshly picked from my gardens.
The red factor canary, Serinus canaria domestica, is one of the most popular canary breeds. They are prized for their color rather than their song, but they are also very happy singers.
The bold colors of these red factor canaries can range in shades of light peach to apricot to orange to red.
This is one of two Combassou finches. These small, friendly finches are native to South Africa. The finches get along very well with all the canaries. Combassou finches are members of the Whydah family of birds.
A canary’s metabolism is very fast, so it’s important to be observant of their eating needs and habits. I love trying different seeds and seed blends to see which ones they like best.
The canaries are generally good-natured and social creatures. Healthy canaries will always have clear, bright eyes, clean, smooth feathers, and curious, active dispositions.
In general, canaries don’t like lots of handling, but my canaries are used to all the activity around them, so they are never scared when visitors approach.
The corn cob litter on the floor of the cage is changed daily, so the birds are always in a fresh, clean environment.
If you choose to keep canaries, finches or parakeets, be sure to get the largest cage your budget allows, so they have ample room to exercise, spread their wings, and perch on different levels and surfaces. It is always such a joy to come down every morning to hear their cheerful chirping and singing.