All About Slaty Headed Parakeet (The Bird Profile)
Diet
Slaty Headed Parakeets feed on Fruits, nuts, nectar, agriculturally grown pine nuts, seeds, grass seeds, berries, and acorns. In Captivity, these budgies can eat pellets, whole seed mix, chopped veggies & dark leafy greens, etc.
Size & Weight
Slaty-Headed Parakeet comes In 15-16 inches long with 4-5 inches long tail. These cute little Slaty-Headed budgies differ in size & weight depending upon age, diet, varying conditions, surroundings, and traits. They usually weigh around 112-125 g.
Table of Contents
Lifespan
In the wild, various factors cause a budgie’s lifespan to be shortened. A slaty-headed parakeet has a typical lifespan of 15-17 years. They usually live up to 5-7 years because of illness, predation, & more. With better protection, security, diet, and reasonable care, their average lifespan is 16 years in captivity.
Slaty-Headed Parakeets Origin
The slaty-headed parakeet is a cute budgie native to the Himalayas and surrounding areas. They are widely spread throughout Nepal, western Bhutan, and Indian states. They also thrive in some parts of Pakistan and Islamabad. These cute little small pocket fit budgies are also found in Paktia and Kabul in Afghanistan.
Slaty-Headed Parakeets Scientific Name
The scientific name of slaty headed parakeet is Psittacula Himalayana. They are also popular as slaty-headed budgies or slaty-headed budgerigars. In the book – “parrots of the world”, parakeets are mentioned as Budgerigar.
Slaty-Headed Parakeets Price
The slaty-headed parakeet can be priced between $900 to $1500 depending upon its age, size, quality, origin, and feature. The price will also vary according to locality. At Petco, they are usually priced between $600 to $1,200. At PetSmart, the slaty-headed parakeet was priced at $900. It is hard to find a reputable breeder of slaty-headed parakeet in the United States. You may also have to import one to keep it.
Can Slaty-Headed Parakeets Talk?
It has been researched and found that a slatt-headed parakeet can talk if appropriately trained. The males of these species can be great talkers. They talk best when raised alone. Depending on the owner’s understanding and the slaty-headed parakeet personality, some may learn to speak. Here You Can Learn All About Parakeets Talking & Which Parakeets Talk? “In Detail”
Can Slaty-Headed Parakeets Live Alone?
Slaty-headed parakeets are very social animals and are widely observed in small family groups when they search for food. In captivity, they can live alone, but owner interaction is needed to keep them out of stress. Here You Can Learn All About Parakeets Living Alone “In Detail”
Can Slaty-Headed Parakeets Tolerate Heat?
This light-headed parakeet can tolerate heat, but they usually like winter. They are best in cold weather and are not suitable for keeping in hot weather. Here You Can Learn All About How Parakeet Handle Heat “In Detail”
Are Slaty-Headed Parakeets Good Pets?
A slaty-headed parakeet can be a good pet and can also talk if raised alone. They are best for kids as well. They are suitable for winter and can also tolerate warm conditions for weeks. They are great with families and are ideal for entertaining. Here You Can Learn Parakeets As Pets “In Detail”
Can Slaty-Headed Parakeets Fly?
Slaty-headed parakeets fly very fast and are often seen in the Himalayas valley during winter. They can fly very high while keeping their tails intact. Here You Can Learn All About Parakeet Flying “In Detail”
Can Slaty-Headed Parakeets Tolerate Cold?
Slaty-headed parakeets are best in cold weather. There are suitable for keeping in places with lower temperatures. They usually descend into the valleys during winter to mingle. Here You Can Learn Can Parakeets Get Cold? & Can Parakeets Handle Cold Weather? “In Detail”
Are Slaty-Headed Parakeets Illegal?
Slaty-headed parakeets are illegal to keep & sell by many countries. India lists them illegal to trap, keep, hunt, and sell. Possessing or selling slaty-headed parakeets is a punishable offense and will be imprisoned for up to three years. Here You Can Learn Are Parakeets Illegal? “In Detail”
Are Slaty-Headed Parakeets Endangered?
Slaty-headed parakeets are not endangered species. They are listed as the least concerned species. Although they are not threatened, they are illegal to keep or sell in many countries. Here You Can Learn Why The Parakeet Is Endangered? “In Detail”
Are Slaty-Headed Parakeets Noisy?
Slaty-headed parakeets are not noisy alone. They sound very gentle and pleasant when relaxed at night. However, keeping them in a flock can make the chatter noisy for most of the day. Slaty-headed parakeets are quiet at night as long as they are not exposed or disturbed by any alarming loud sound or bright light. Here You Can Learn Are Parakeets Noisy? “In Detail“.
When Is Slaty-Headed Parakeets Mating Season?
The mating season for slaty-headed parakeets is between March and May. Male usually fluff its feather and bobbleheads to get into the mood. In captivity, you should provide them with some water to encourage their mindset. Here You Can Learn When Is Parakeet Mating Season “In Detail“.
What Cage Size For Slaty-Headed Parakeets?
The slaty-headed parakeet should be kept in a cage with space that suits their needs. They are best housed in a relatively large cell of around 18 inches wide, 20 inches long, & 18 inches deep. Here You Can Learn What Size Cage Do Parakeets Need “In Detail“.
11 Interesting Facts About Slaty-headed Parakeet
- The Identity of pure breed slaty headed parakeet is its mostly green plumage. Slaty-headed Parakeet extends from the Western Himalayan foothills to Indian state Arunachal Pradesh.
- They are banned in India for keeping and selling.
- Slaty-head budgies are available in different variety of mutations, including lutino and albino.
- Slaty-headed Parakeets are more expensive compared to Plum-headed Parakeets.
- They can talk and are less demanding than their other species.
- They are easy-going, easy to care for, and beginner friendly budgies.
- They tend to be very active who enjoy playing and climbing on tree branches and obstacles.
- They can be fed a variety of sprouted and germinated seeds, fruits, vegetables, beans, sweets, and flowers.
- Slaty head parakeet clutch size is approx 6-8.
- They lack parenting skills in some cases.
How To Care For Slaty-Headed Parakeet?
Diet
Caring for slaty-headed Parakeets means knowing what you should feed them. Without proper research, you might put your slaty-guided parakeet life at risk. Slaty-headed Parakeets need a varied diet for their health and well-being. Keeping them on a pelleted diet or an all-seed diet can be unhealthy. Avoid giving just any fruit because some of its seeds can be toxic for them.
Avoid giving them any human food that can endanger their health because most human food doesn’t address their need. Slaty-headed Parakeets should be fed various vegetables, standard nuts, treats, fruits, and seeds. A significant portion of their diet should be seeds and pellets.
It is always recommended to mix up their food because, like humans, parakeets can also get bored of eating the same thing day in and day out. To prevent boredom, there are lots of parakeet treats and foods to check out. Here you can learn what parakeets can eat?
Grooming
Every pet bird needs to be groomed once in a while, so be ready to groom your slaty-headed Parakeet as well. It is always better to ask your veterinarian how to do that. However, you can also use some nail clippers and some instruments to achieve the task. Generally, grooming in birds is usually referred to as wing trimming, and it’s nail clipping.
I would highly recommend you to avoid trimming or clipping their nails at all because there are lots of perches available, making it possible for their nail to be filed down. On the other hand, trimming their wings can be complicated, so getting them to experts with experience is better.
Health
Overall, health condition tends to be very good due to their better appetite. If they are facing any issue in the desire, there is something wrong with them.
This slaty-headed Parakeet tends to be very acrobatic and active; if they become calm suddenly or unresponsive for too long, look for professional advice. A healthy slaty-headed parakeet will always look to spend time grooming themselves.
A healthy bird will have a very smooth fluffy feather without any change in its grooming habits. Slaty-headed parakeets are prone to many diseases, which is why you should keep an eye on them.
They are vulnerable around the areas of their feet and claws. The temperature of the regular healthy slaty-headed budgie should be between 102-112° F. Here, and you can learn the signs of an unhealthy Parakeet.
Every pet bird needs to be visited a veterinarian’s office occasionally for check-ups and testing. Professional veterinarians should do the grooming and periodic testing, not you or pet parents themselves. Here you can learn common diseases of parakeets. Also, read red flags for parakeet health and well-being.
Maintenance
It is essential to pay close attention to their maintenance because when you buy the equipment and housing they need, maintenance becomes a big part of their care routine and your responsibility.
In bird care, you can count cleaning their cage, food bowl, droppings, and surroundings. Here you can learn how to clean a parakeet cage.
Handling
It is better to start socializing with your slaty-headed Parakeet when they are still young. Before handling them, It is important to properly socialize them with the new environment, people, objects, and places.
These Parakeets need constant socializing to build trust and feel safe. Adding to that, they will learn the most when they are young. If you don’t tame your slaty-headed Parakeet or give any interaction, they will suffer during handling.
Here you can learn tips for socializing a parakeet. You should have a firm grip if you are holding them. During handling, practice positive reinforcement as well. Here you can learn how to handle a parakeet.
Bonding
No doubt that bonding with our pets tends to be the most exciting and fun part. To bond with them better, you need first to build trust and fill their life with happiness. You can do that by letting your Parakeet out of the cage once in a while.
Parakeets love swinging & flying out of the enclosure, but training is needed before you let them out. Letting them fly around only in a secured room without any chance of escape is better. Here you can learn some tips for letting a parakeet fly around the room or house.
Training
To train them properly, consider starting early. Teaching a young budgie is always accessible. In the case of slaty-headed Parakeets, they can talk, but it can be challenging. Training a slaty-headed parakeet to talk can be challenging and usually takes a lot of time. With hard work and some patience, you can make them speak a few words.
Keeping and training a slaty-headed parakeet alone is always better because they are not otherwise distracted or anxious. Be sure to train them in a very calm atmosphere. Introducing them in the morning is advised. Here is how to prepare a parakeet to speak.
