Parakeets can be your best buddy

[Bob]

To some people, parakeets are kind of like hamsters with wings: A good starter pet for a child or family.

In reality, though, both hamsters and parakeets require some specialized care to keep them happy and healthy. While it’s true that parakeets often don’t live very long if not properly cared for, in the right conditions a parakeet can live for 12 years. With decent care and no significant health problems, a parakeet will live to 5 to 7 years.

And, parakeets are more than a stepping stone to a larger bird or a dog — they have their own distinct personalities and can be wonderful companions if they are socialized and trained correctly. Also called a budgerigar or budgie, these birds actually belong to the family of true parrots and can even learn to talk under the right circumstances.