Customer Reviews

The Essential Parakeet (Essential Guides Series)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very detailed little book with plenty of info on parakeet care. It guides the reader from bird purchase to pet care, even to the death of your pet. Great layout and great pictures. It will also make a great gift for children who keep budgies as pets. However, this book is almost identical to "The Budgie : An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet". If you already have this one, pass on, or you'll getting the same book twice!!!

Over the last week I have read several books and other writings on parakeets. This book was by far the best one that I have read. As I was preparing to buy a parakeet, I felt it was my responsibility to read all about them. And this book definitely provided some of the most useful information I have read on our little feathered friends.
The ten steps to better bird care was a great resource. I have already referred to this chapter several times since buying my new budgie, "Murray".
The fourth chapter of the book called, "Parakeet Particulars" is excellent! I loved the descriptions of what behaviors you will see in your new pet. I found this section quite interesting, a nice way to get into the head of my little feathered friend!
This book is jammed with practical tips on how to care for your bird and his cage. I have referenced it at least ten times since I bought my budgie... I'm sure he will benefit greatly from the knowledge I have gained in this great book!
If you have a pet parakeet or are planning to get one, read this book.

This is a great book! I think "The Essential Parakeet" is a invaluable resource for every parakeet owner. It has comprehensive information on all aspects of parakeet care including housing, feeding, taming, and breeding. I was very impressed with the content as well as the many full color photographs.

Although I had done a lot of research on the internet before purchasing my parakeet...I prefer to say adopt, actually...this book gave me so much more information! It told me what kind of parakeets you shouldn't get--the ones that hang back in the cage, make watery poops, and dash away from your hand. I got one that came up to me and cheeped. You should get this book for it is chock-full of information, but also try tons of other books and do research on the web. After all, you DO want to be the greatest pet owner for your parakeet, right? I suggest you take the little "quiz" in the front of the book to see if you're ready for a parakeet before taking further actions.

a good book for people who are just starting out with parakeets full of wonderfull Info & has great pictures
good price too

I used to have parakeets 0ver 20 years ago. When they passed on the "The Great Millet Stalk in the Sky", we had dogs, guinea pigs, a string of Quaker Parrots, then I received a parakeet from someone because she wasn't getting along with the other birds. I needed a book for a refresher course, and this one was very informative and good. It's an excellent book for a person just starting with budgies, or someone who needs their memory jogged, like me. I think it's important to get a book on whatever pet you are planning to get, just to make sure it's a good fit with your life-style, or to prepare your new companion's next home for him or her.

Very nice book. It is pretty thorough and has excellent advice for choosing a healthy happy pet and the correct cage and accessories you will need.

THE ESSENTIAL PARAKEET looks very much like an earlier book about Budgies by Julia Rach. Many of the photos are identical (Renee Stockdale). The publisher is the same publisher. The difference seems to be the book jacket and the word Parakeet instead of Budgie.

This Parakeet book includes much of the same material on cage specifications, diet, and other considerations concerning the health and maintenance of Budgies, found in the earlier book by Rach. So what is the difference between a Parakeet and a Budgie? According to the editor, Americans call Budgies "Parakeets." "Not all Parakeets are Budgies", says the editor, Budgies are a specific species with a Latin name `Melopsittacus undulatus' or the "song-parrot with wavy lines." Sometimes these little birds are called "grass parakeets" in their native Australia. I don't think the book is a very helpful source of information about why Parakeets are different from Budgies. Maybe their is no difference. Maybe a Budgie by any other name is still a swell bird. Get Rach's book and you won't need this book.

While I appreciate the psychological advice on just how to break the news of a dead parakeet to a family member, I really required more practical information - like what temperature is best for a healthy bird... or say... should I get a cuddle bone? The book does mention to keep your bird's cage out of direct sunlight (wouldn't the bird enjoy a little sun in the winter?) and to keep him out of drafts (in the summer wouldn't a nice breeze be appreciated?) I felt the book needed to concentrate more on actual facts instead of generalities & add more photos diagramming wing clipping & nail trimming.