hi

Question
hi my name is rachel. i need to know everything about tellin if the parakeets are boys or girls. i am gettin 2 after thanksgiving and i also wanted to know what should i do if they lay eggs? will they hatch? because i do not want to through them away........i would want to save the eggs if its possible. and tell me some things i should put in there.... a perch, a little nest, what kindof toys, and stuff like that.
thankyou
~Rachel

Answer
Hello Rachel.  Thank you for your post.
To tell a male from a female parakeet, take a look at the band on it's nose.  This is called a cere.  If it is blue, then it is a boy, if it is tan, or a very pale pink, then it is a female.
If the female lays eggs, she will sit on them for almost a month.  If they do not hatch in that time, then they will not hatch.  If she continues to sit on them, then there is a chance that they might.  The female will know in that time.  If she quits sitting on them all together, then they will not hatch.
Make sure that they have a large enough cage for them to fly around in.  This is the way they get exercise for their wings.  Make sure to put a couple of different sized and shaped perches into the cage.  This will help exercise their feet.  
For toys, a couple of hanging toys that are brightly colored that hang from the top of the cage with bells, hoops and ladders (also, a ladder that you can hang onto the side of the cage).  Just please do not put any mirrors into the cage.  Mirrors can frustrate a bird and make it mean.  Some parakeets like nests, but not all of them.  My parakeets do not like nests, but you can try.
Make sure that you have 2 sets of food and water dishes.  This way you can change the food and water daily and you will always have an extra set of dishes to be able to do this.

If I can help any further, please let me know.  Enjoy your new friends.

Good luck and God Bless.
Dianna