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Rating: 
Summary: Very Practical
Review: Having been given a couple of parakeets and knowing absolutely nothing about them, this book has been invaluable. It covers everything from what to feed them, space needed, breeding, what to do for sickness, nesting materials, habits, etc. Has good photos throughout and a couple pages of shots with different kinds of parakeet breeds in the rear. Excellent resource, especially for the beginner.
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Summary: Everything you need to take care of your little Budgie...
Review: Matthew Vriends, consulting editor for THE COMPLETE BOOK OF PARAKEET CARE and a Veterinary and Bird Breeder from the Netherlands has written many books on Companion Parrots, as have authors Annette Wolter and Monika Wegler. Their book about parakeets really covers the "betcherrygah" or budgie, a type of Australian parakeet, and includes much more material than any of the other parakeet books I've read to date, and I believe it deserves the sobriquet `comprehensive'. The book includes a good deal of the information found in other books by Vriends and Wolters on basic bird care and breeding, as well as much specific information about parakeets or budgies divulged by Wolter and Wegler who appear to keep companion parakeets or budgies indoors (Vriends raises birds in an outdoor aviary).
The book includes dozens of beautiful photos and sections covering parakeets and human children, setting up parakeet accommodations for a pair (they hate to live alone) health care and diet, breeding and baby bird care. The photos show the various colors of budgies generated by breeders like Vriends as well as action shots of budgies in all phases of living in your home - from flying around a `bird-proof' room to courting rituals with a mate. The authors have created a `check list' the potential parakeet owner can use to determine if he or she can live with the requirements of keeping a companion budgie. Among other things, they stress that parakeets are probably better off spending more time outside the cage than in it, so if you are thinking about living with a parakeet you should consider whether or not you can put up with with the occasional bird dropping from a soaring feathered friend. Photos and text describe how to build a bird tree from which your birds can use to launch their explorations as well as return to enjoy a tasty snack of various vegetables and/or fruits.
If you can buy only one parakeet (budgie) book get this book before you buy your parakeet. The book is suitable for children ages 6-8 or older as it includes text in 10p. font and plenty of photos describing budgie behavior.
Rating: 
Summary: Some dangerous, outdated information
Review: Overall the book is okay.
The playtree idea was very helpful in constructing the massive tree I now have, the pictures are beautiful, and there's a lot of interesting trivia.HOWEVER, some of the advice given in this book is outdated and is now known to be rather dangerous. 1) The offering of grit. Budiges, and other hookbilled parrots, do NOT need grit as part of their diet, as they hull their seeds. If they are on a formulated diet they also do not need grit. Grit offered to these birds can cause crop impactions and death. Given that it's not necessary for digestion, there is no reason to use it. 2) Sandpaper perches. Big NO! Sandpaper perches are very hard on the feet and do not "keep nails trim". Sandpaper perches are one of the big causes of bumblefoot. 3) The use of "bird sand"...see grit. 4) The implication that clipping a bird's wings is cruel. The risks associated with free flight far outweigh the risks associated with clipping. Flighted birds are more likely to become injured by flying into walls, mirrors, windows, doors, etc..true, they may know the house layout, but if something should spook them and they take off in a panic, they are literally flying blind.
Full flight also carries the risk of escape; being nomadic birds, budgies have no homing instinct. Once your budgie flies away, your chances of seeing it alive again are next to zero.
The biggest risk of clipping is the bird being accidentally stepped on, but if you keep your bird off the floor (and you should) this isn't an issue. 5) The advocation of a mainly seed or seed only diet. Seed only diets are dangerous to the point of being lethal in the terms of long term health. Budgies, when well cared for and on a good diet, can easily live 10-15 years. On a poor diet, cut that in half for the average lifespan. For more information on any of the above:
http://budgies-n-tiels.com When this book was written in 1994, much of the now erroneous information was thought to be correct. Avian medical science has proven a lot of it very, dangerously wrong since the time this book was published.
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Summary: Excelent Book a need to have for novice and pro.
Review: Thank you Barrons for printing this book. It covered the subject very well Has subjects that were not coveredin outher books extremely helpful.
Rating:
Summary: great book!
Review: This book covers everything about budgies.It has wonderfull pictures throught the book that are really helpfull.It talks about budgies in the wild and their behaviors.it talks all about how to take care of your new pet. This is a great book for beginners and experts alike.
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Summary: This is probably the best guide to parakeet care I've seen.
Review: This is probably the best guide to parakeet care I've seen so far. When you first open this book, you'll be captivated by the amazing photos. Some of them are truly masterpieces, and show details of the budgie life you've never seen. It includes a budgie mating session, incredible photos of wild Australian budgies, color varieties that may help you identify your bird and much more. This book is divided in eleven chapters: 1. At Home in Australia. In this first chapter we are introduced in the budgie homeland. Here we learn their habits in the wild and so we can have a better understanding of their behavior. It includes breeding habits, diet in the wild, their history as pets birds and explains in detail why a lonely budgie can easily turn to an unhappy bird. 2. Parakeets as pets for children. A very important chapter that helps a parent to guide a child to be a responsible pet owner/guardian. 3. A bird joins you household. The important chapter for new budgie owners/guardians. It starts with the basics: where to place the cage, what to feed, a recommended shopping list, where to get a budgie, how a healthy budgie looks like and much useful info. In the end of the chapter you'll find two useful guides on the right cage and how to built play gyms and outside perches. 4. Gentle acclimation. The first days in your home and how to help your new friend get used to a new home. It includes useful tips on how to bird-proof the room and how to introduce a new bird to an already existing pet-bird in your home. In the end of the chapter a series of questions concerning free flying are listed. 5. Life with your parakeet. Tips and info on a happier life for your bird and your family. It includes useful tips on taming and talking. 6. The proper diet. No human can live on bread and water alone. Neither can budgies. This chapter will teach you ways to improve your bird's health and life just by feeding it right. 7. If your bird gets sick. The nightmare of every bird owner/guardian. Unfortunately, our feathered friends can hide their illnesses pretty well until it's too late. This chapter will help you identify the first signs of disease, first aid tips, how to set up a hospital cage for a sick bird and how to administer medication prescribed by your avian vet. 8. Parakeet offspring. Do you want to breed your budgies? This is an excellent chapter for new breeders. Here you can learn the budgie mating signs, how to determine fertile eggs, proper nest conditions and many, much more useful info accompanied by incredible photos. 9. Breeding Parakeets. Ok, now that you've got eggs, what do you do? This chapter is here to help you out, especially if you need to take up breeding budgies a bit further. 10. Genetics. Color varieties, how budgie colors originate, and useful info for breeders who want to achieve beautifully colored birds. 11. Watching and understanding Parakeets. Body language, budgie talk, social behavior and much more info, that helps you realize that a budgie is much more than a "bird-brain". It's a very intelligent little creature that can be a true friend and bring joy to your life.
Rating:
Summary: Very Practical and Easy to read for all ages
Review: We bought a couple of parakeets for our 11 year old daughter (a real Southern Belle). The birds and book were a birthday present and knowing absolutely nothing about them, this book has been a great help. Our daughter read it and enjoyed it. Easy to read, for all ages. It helped us buy the cage, the toys, and the birds' nutrition and so on... She still reads it when she has a question (as we do also). It helped us when organizing our home decoration and candles to fit the flights of the birds. Being in a small southern town away from pet stores, we refer to this book often. Gurley Community & Town History http://gurleyalabama.contactez.net
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