My parakeet is making funny noises

Question
I recently bought a baby parakeet.  It has all its head stripes and has not molted at all yet.  Today, it has started making a tiny sneeze or hiccup noise.  I was wondering what this might be a sign of.  Its cere is starting to look a little bit dry, as well.  Could it have a cold?  I am keeping it on top of a bookshelf in a corner.  It is still eating normally and is fairly active in the morning.  

It has also started to scream for a bit when its cage is first uncovered in the morning.  I have slowly been trying to hand train it, but I'm afraid I might have gone about it the wrong way.  It doesn't run from my hand unless I try to touch it, and it also accepts a small perch that I move around slowly, unless I try to nudge it gently with the perch to get it to step up.  My bird is fairly talkative, but seems to be a bit bored.  I have a colorful toy and a swinging perch, as well as a cuttlebone that stay in the cage.  I plan to get a toy with a bell and a birdbath tomorrow, as well as more varied foods for it to eat.

Sorry for asking so many questions.  Any information you have is appreciated.  Thanks!

Answer
Hi, Jane,

It is impossible for me to "diagnose" if this bird is ill based on the information you have provided.  Birds make lots of noises and unless you are sure your bird is sneezing, there's not much help I can provide.  If you think your bird is sneezing or if your bird has anything such as liquid coming from its nostrils or around its mouth, then you need to seek certified avian vet assistance for your baby bird.  

Sounds to me like this baby bird is not tame.  Also sounds like it is scared of humans.  Do you know if this baby was handfed or parent raised?  Where did you purchase it from...a breeder or pet store?  

Keets like swings and toys they can climb on/in/through, etc.  Avoid toys with bells...they really don't play with them.  Regarding foods...you should offer your bird a variety of healthy, nutritious human foods to eat, as well as pelleted food and a small amount of seed.  Seed is high in fat and low in nutritional value, therefore, feed as little as possible.  Also offer spray millet, which is nutritious for your bird.  You can use spray millet to help tame your bird.

Visit my website and read the section on taming for help in getting your bird used to you:  www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html.  www.birdchannel.com is also a good website.

It's not necessary to apologize for asking questions.  If you don't ask, how are you to learn!

Chrys