Learning about parakeets!

Well, as the title says, I'm learning about parakeets. Of course I'm on a website for fish

List of what I need to know

• Can they live in an outside aviary?
• How many can I keep in a 5 x 10 x 8 ft aviary?
• I have a cage, which is about 20 x 20 x 60, can that be used as a sleeping area, and home for colder times?
• In Maryland right now it is 60 f, and is going to decrease to 32 F - 40 f, what can I do about that if I get parakeets?
• How to build an aviary? Right now I'm watching some YouTube videos and reading articles, but I'd like your opinion! Video I watched
• What about feathers? I read they shed them every 6 weeks, would that be bad for health? I have an small allergy to dust, anything I can do?
• My local bird store is a Petco, and I need a list of items to get(if I can convince my parents)
• How do I convince my parents? I have volunteered to build the aviary, but I to make some more points than that(they said "We have too many birds" and my chickens are staying).

Thanks you!

 

Well, Ghelfaire has a parrot in their pic, so maybe that can be helpful .

 

They are commonly kept in outside aviaries here but I don't know about your area, are there any local breeders or clubs that you can get in contact with? In the northern hemisphere you would want to face the aviary south east so they can get some sun especially morning sun. Perhaps even directly south if you don't have hot summers. The main thing is that there is an enclosed area that they can retreat to for sleeping and to escape cold wind and draughts.

A drawback with keeping them in aviaries as opposed to breeding or flight cages is that you have no control over who breeds with who. They don't have a molting season like canaries do. They are always losing and replacing feathers so there's always a few feathers on the bottom of a cage or aviary, unlike canaries where for most of the year there are no feathers then all of a sudden there are piles of them.

 

I used to have budgies.
By parakeets I'm guessing you mean budgies? Parakeets cover a broad range of parrots.
They could be fine outside in the summer but I wouldn't try it in the winter.
If you do keep them indoors year round then you have to make sure they get plenty of "out of cage" time.
Parrots are not domesticated like chickens or other pets. They can and will try to escape if given the slightest opportunity.

If you are allergic to dust maybe birds aren't the right pet. They are also extremely messy. They will throw their food everywhere and poop in their water. Make sure you REALLY REALLY want them before buying.

 

I used to have budgies.
By parakeets I'm guessing you mean budgies? Parakeets cover a broad range of parrots.
They could be fine outside in the summer but I wouldn't try it in the winter.
If you do keep them indoors year round then you have to make sure they get plenty of "out of cage" time.
Parrots are not domesticated like chickens or other pets. They can and will try to escape if given the slightest opportunity.

If you are allergic to dust maybe birds aren't the right pet. They are also extremely messy. They will throw their food everywhere and poop in their water. Make sure you REALLY REALLY want them before buying.

I do have some experience with them, I have kept them for a few years, and figured that the less time I could have around the budgies = less time I get shed on. My area is slowly getting warmer do to climate change, and if they shed every 6 weeks then I would only have to be around shedding 3-4 times a year. I also have a plan for their messiness, don't worry.

They are commonly kept in outside aviaries here but I don't know about your area, are there any local breeders or clubs that you can get in contact with? In the northern hemisphere you would want to face the aviary south east so they can get some sun especially morning sun. Perhaps even directly south if you don't have hot summers. The main thing is that there is an enclosed area that they can retreat to for sleeping and to escape cold wind and draughts.

A drawback with keeping them in aviaries as opposed to breeding or flight cages is that you have no control over who breeds with who. They don't have a molting season like canaries do. They are always losing and replacing feathers so there's always a few feathers on the bottom of a cage or aviary, unlike canaries where for most of the year there are no feathers then all of a sudden there are piles of them.

Thank you! I do have a few plans, though I don't think I have any local bird club though. Do you have any good material ideas for the structure? Will normal pine wood work?