Parakeets can be found in Asia, Australia, Africa, Central America, and South America. Though they belong to the parrot family, they look slightly different. They are smaller in size and have long, tapered tail feathers. They are lively and playful. If you plan to keep them as pets, make sure that you provide them with good food and a proper environment. Make them feel at home. Though the average life span of parakeets ranges from 5-9 years, it can vary depending on how well this bird is cared for. How to Care for Them The birds that have adjusted well to their surroundings and are well-fed might can even live up to 15 years. Here are tips on caring for this bird. Interaction Their playful behavior makes them very popular as pets. These birds are very affectionate and playful, so make sure you interact with them for at least half an hour daily. They love it when you stroke them and talk to them. Therefore, before you get one home, make sure that you are willing to spend time with your pet. If they begin to feel isolated or bored, it will have an adverse impact on them. So, talk to the bird in soft murmurs and play. Never let the surroundings be quiet or very loud, it might scare the bird. Also, get hold of some bird toys, bird swings, and bird cage ladders. Prepare the cage properly. It would be best to get a big airy birdhouse with numerous bird perches. The bird will feel claustrophobic if the birdhouse is small. Make sure you keep both the bird and its cage clean. Cover the cage with a cloth at night, so that your pet feels secure. Food Give fresh food and water to your pet everyday. Buy nutritious bird pellets. If you give the same food everyday, your pet might become disinterested. Besides 1-2 teaspoons of pellets, you can also give seeds, cottage cheese, peanuts, bean sprouts, or mealy worms. You can also give them ½ cup of fruits and vegetables such as mangoes, papaya, zucchini, carrots, green peppers, etc. Make sure that you don't give them any processed dried fruit. Breeding Their life cycle is divided into stages such as the laying and hatching of eggs, nestling and molting or shedding of the bird's feather. Molting marks the reaching of adulthood. Check with a veterinarian to ensure that the birds are healthy enough to breed. For breeding purpose, it must be ensured that both the birds are adults, and are older than a year. After mating, the eggs that are fertilized take about 18-20 days to hatch. It takes about 4 weeks of care before the chicks are fully feathered and ready to be on their own. If you are bringing a parakeet home, make sure you treat it as a part of your family. Never neglect this beautiful bird as that might have an adverse effect on its health.