Having a pet bird at home can give you a new and exciting experience. And when talking about pet birds, which bird could be better than Parakeets? These little feathered creatures have bright and stunning plumage, are endlessly curious, and will never let you get bored. The most interesting feature of the Parakeets is their talkativeness.
If given an opportunity, these birds can talk your ears off. Even if you’re not around, they often chat with their cage-mates for hours. But can their chatting interrupt you?
Are Parakeets loud? Yes, parakeets are among the noisiest birds that are kept as household pets. Known for their chattering nature and mimicking abilities, these birds are quite talkative and vocal throughout the day. They make a series of different noises, all of which have different meanings.
Although there is no way to get rid of their noisiness, luckily, you can use certain methods to keep them quiet for a while.
Although most Parakeet-owners find the regular chattering of these birds most adorable, many people can find it a little trying. However, your pets are not a radio you can turn on and off as you please.
Therefore, your best alternative is to understand the reason behind their noise so that you keep them happy and pacified.
In this article, we are going to talk about why Parakeets are noisy and what do their sounds mean. Moreover, we will discuss some pointers on teaching them to talk and explore ways in which you can limit their talking.
Why Do Parakeets Make Noise?
Parakeets make noise for a number of different reasons.
Generally, these birds are the noisiest when they are happiest. However, not every noise made by them is a happy sign. They could also be trying to grab your attention or bring to light a serious concern.
In order to be a good pet parent to these birds, it is essential for you to be able to decode the different kinds of sounds they make, and the purpose behind them. Only then can you ensure their safety and well-being.
Types of Parakeet Sounds: Decoded
Just as we mentioned above, Parakeets are instinctively vocal and can produce a wide range of noise, each one carrying some meaning.
Let’s take a look at some of the common noises these birds make, and what they could mean:
Chirping
Out of all the noises Parakeets make, chirping is evidently heard most commonly. Their favorite chirp is a single, sharp tweet sound. However, these birds can also chirp to several tunes, ranging from soft, melodious tones to high-pitched tones.
The chirping of Parakeets is usually an indication of their contentedness. However, if you notice them chirping repetitively when their food or water bowl is empty, it might mean that they want it refilled.
Moreover, if your Parakeets have recently taken to chirp every single time when you enter the room, they could also be feeling lonely, asking you to spend some time with them. If you have been busy for the last couple of days, it’s time to make up to them for your absence.
Beak Grinding
The beak grinding of Parakeets could be compared to the purring of the cats: a noise they make when they are satisfied.
Beak grinding sounds like they chewing on something when they actually perching, gritting their beaks together. In general, this is not a noise you will find your Parakeets making very often.
Chattering
Chattering is an innate quality of the Parakeets. Once they start chattering, it is probably going to go on for at least an hour or two.
During their chattering, you can also hear a few words that they have picked up from your conversations here and there.
The more Parakeets you have at your home, the more chattering you’re likely to hear. Even if you have a single Parakeet, they’ll chatter with their own reflection.
Hissing
Hissing is a sound that is characteristic of the reptiles (snakes, crocodiles, alligators) as well as the members of the cat families; animals that are not otherwise loud or noisy.
Keeping it in mind, it seems that hissing is quite uncharacteristic of loud, social birds such as Parakeets, doesn’t it? You’re right. Parakeets do not hiss often. Even when they do, it is always a reaction to something unpleasant.
The most common reason behind Parakeets hissing is when they feel like their personal space is being invaded. This is particularly more common if you another pet in your house, such as a dog, cat, or even another bird.
If you hear your Parakeets hissing quite often, make sure they are getting enough space.
Tweeting
The sharp tweeting sound that we mentioned above in the chirping section can also indicate an angry or unhappy noise. Although the distinguishing line between the two is very fine, a general feature of an angry tweet is that it lasts for several minutes, much longer than a happy chirp.
Mostly, it just displays their irritation at the lack of food or water in their cage. However, if continued for longer, it could also mean that your feathered pet is in some kind of pain or discomfort. If you hear these noises, make sure to check upon them.
Squawking
Squawks are loud, unpleasant sounds that your Parakeet will make only when they are feeling a hormonal imbalance during the mating season. However, if you find them squawking in the non-breeding seasons, they might feel like a predator is approaching them. This doesn’t always mean a real threat but can also be an imaginary one.
When you hear your Parakeets squawking even if there’s no danger around, you can talk to them in a soothing voice so that they calm down. To make them feel safe, you can also cover their cage with a blanket or sheets.
Singing
For all the vocal qualities that your Parakeets possess, they are not good singers. They are, after all, the members of the parrot family, and not of the songbirds.
However, this has never stopped these little birds from singing. Their diverse songs include several kinds of chirrups, trills, whistles. They use all of these together, ending up producing a lovely, although off-tune, medley.
If you are playing music for them, they are most likely going to sing along to it in their own inventive method.
Other sounds (mimicry)
Although Parakeets are not great singers, in mimicry they are unbeatable. They have a great memory as well as pronunciation and can pick up words and sounds they are surrounded by instinctively, such as a few words from your telephone conversation, the wailing noise of your baby, even your laughter.
Mimicry is a healthy trait in Parakeets. If they are learning new words and sounds continually, it means that they are happy and entertained.
If you have more than one Parakeets at home, both of different genders, you will notice that the females are usually the quieter ones.
Is There A Way To Teach Parakeets To Be Quiet?
If you want a pet bird that can remain quiet, Parakeets are not the ones you should go for. With that being said, there are ways in which you can limit the extent of their talking in order to get some sleep or do your work in peace.
The best way to go about it is to provide them with entertainment so that they’re too busy to make noise.
This could be achieved by playing music for them (but they can start singing along as well), or giving them toys that keep them occupied. There are many bird toys available both online and offline for you to pick from.
You should also regularly refill their food and water bowl so that they don’t make noise when it is empty. If their chirping is disturbing your sleep, you can put a blanket on their cage, which will mean sleep time for them as well.
Teaching Parakeets To Talk: Things To Remember
You don’t need to follow a book to teach your pets how to talk, however, you can always do better with some tried-and-tested tips by other Parakeet-owners. Given below are some basic (and so basic) pointers that can help you while teaching your feathered pets to talk:
- You can only start their training once they are about 3-4 months old. Starting any younger is pointless since they wouldn’t be able to comprehend it.
- The language in which you teach them to talk should always be your first language, the language that you use most commonly at home.
- Talking to them in an enthusiastic, animated voice can catch their attention more than your regular voice.
- You should start by teaching them simple words, like your or their own names.
- If you have more than one Parakeets at home, start training only one of them initially; the others will take a cue on their own.
Conclusion: Are Parakeets loud?
To sum it up, Parakeets are loud birds that you cannot easily shut out. However, their noise can often mean a number of things, which is why it is essential for you to understand them better for the sake of their well-being.
You can also get them toys or play music to keep them quiet and distracted. But at the end of the day, you must make time for them, because these social birds need your company to thrive.