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Parakeets, Love Birds & Budgerigars

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Shell Parakeets
Size—about 11/2 times the Canary.
This little Parakeet is a bird known by a great many names. In Europe it is called the "Budgerigar," meaning pretty bird. While in America it is commonly called "Love Bird" although it is not the true Love Bird. The Love Bird family all have short broad tails while the Parakeet family nearly all have long pointed tails. Nevertheless, "Love Bird" is a very appropriate name for them as they make delightful little companions and learn quickly to love their owners, and will within a short time, watch for one at feeding time, especially at times when green food is fed. They will cling to the side of the cage and chatter at one apparently saying, "hurry with dinner." The Shell Parakeet can be trained to do many interesting tricks, like its larger relative the parrot. They have a delightful little song and some of them, with patience can be taught to talk a little.

The name "Love Bird" was given to them because of their loving disposition toward each other. They spend much of their time in love making, kissing and talking to each other. very much the same as two human lovers would do.

In size the Shell Parakeet is only a little larger than the Canary, although they appear to be very much larger. This is because of their long tails and wings.

A pair of Parakeets may be kept very nicely in a roomy Canary cage where they will be comfortable and happy. They should always be kept in pairs as they appear to be very lonesome when kept singly and show plainly their appreciation when given a mate.

Color
The original color of the Shell Parakeet in the wild state is a beautiful grass-green like the color plate shown on the next page. As usual, however, science has stepped in with its bag of tricks so that now this little Parakeet may be had in a large assortment of brilliant colors. These varied colors have been produced by man © Azure Blue Parakeet. after a great many years of experimental breeding. They can be had in the following colors, listed in the order of their rareness, the least rare being named first—Green, Yellow, Azure Blue, Cobalt Blue, Violet Blue, Mauve Gray, Olive Green, White, Black. The White birds all have a slight bluish tinge which adds greatly to their beauty.

Here at Bird Haven we breed all of the above colors except black, which is very tare but not particularly attractive.

Habitat
The Shell Parakeet is a native of Australia, being only one of the many types of beautiful Parakeets native to that continent. There they are seen in large flocks feeding on the wild grass seeds and green shrubs in the sparsely settled districts. Their migrating periods are irregular owing to the fact that they follow the rainy seasons to different parts of the continent. Instinct seems to tell them when the dry season is approaching and in which section the rainy season is then beginning. This foam of migrating enables them to be continually provided with an abundant supply of natural food.
The domesticated bird is quite a different bird in disposition and in color from the original wild bird. They are more docile and tame and make much better pets.

Breeding
Here at Bird Haven these Parakeets al e bred by the thousands in outdoor aviaries in order to supply our many customers located all over America and many foreign countries. Within the last few years these birds have become immensely popular as cage birds. It is difficult for us to supply the large demand. Many people prefer them to the Canary as a cage bird, owing to their beauty and loving and cheery dispositions.
They are quite easily bred in a roomy cage or outdoor aviary. They mate in single pairs and unless separated remain true to each other for life and will bring up family after family of youngsters for ten years or more. They will breed any month in the year. Here at Bird Haven we work two different shifts of breeders. One set we start breeding September first and breed until the following June and the other set of breeders we start breeding February first and breed until the following November. This method allows the birds a three months' rest period each year.

Parakeets must have a specially prepared box for nesting. This should be a covered box about eleven inches deep and six inches square with a concave bottom, as Parakeets build no nests themselves. This concave bottom is necessary to prevent the eggs from rolling around in the box. When breeding Parakeets in a cage the nest boxes should be hung on the outside of the cage so that easy access can be had for cleaning and caring for it. Most cages and indoor aviaries have several small doors. One of these doors can be tied open and the nest box placed against it so that the birds can pass in and out of the nest box easily. The nest boxes should be put in several months before they reach the breeding age so that the young birds may get used to the boxes as they mature. If this is done they will go to nest at once when the breeding age is reached.

Shell Parakeets bring their young up on seed alone so that there is not the usual mussy soft food to prepare as is necessary when breeding canaries. The parent birds are excellent feeders and keep the babies stuffed with food at all times and usually bring off the complete brood numbering from 4 to 8 youngsters.