Last updated on April 15th, 2023 at 09:47 am
When a pet parakeet escapes outside, it can be quite distressing for both the bird and the owner. It’s important to be aware of the survival challenges parakeets face outside and how long they can live.
A parakeet can survive about 48 hours outside before dying of starvation. In some cases, predators like foxes, cats, and large birds can kill an escaped parakeet in even less time. If your parakeet flies away into the wild, you should do your best to retrieve it as soon as possible.
Outside Survival Chances For a Parakeet
When a parakeet is let loose outside, it faces many survival challenges and is unlikely to survive for long.
Most parakeets released from captivity into the wild die within 48 hours unless they’ve been trained to find food and fend off predators in that environment.
Factors Influencing How Long a Parakeet Will Live Outside
Several factors influence how long a parakeet will live once it’s escaped outside, including food, water, predators, and cold temperatures.
Food
Parakeets have such a high metabolism that it’s difficult to go even a day without food.
After 24 hours without food, a parakeet will suffer and start to become sick, and they can starve to death within two days.
When parakeets are raised in captivity, they are usually not taught how to forage for food, so they are susceptible to starvation.
They typically learn from other birds where to find food in the wild, but when they escape from captivity, they’re on their own.
Water
Parakeets face the same challenges in finding food as they do in finding water.
Without other birds to rely on, they are left to explore a foreign landscape without clues as to where to find a vital resource.
However, parakeets can live for several weeks without drinking water, so dehydration is unlikely to be the cause of death for an escaped parakeet.
Other, more pressing needs are likely to impact the parakeet first.
Predators
Predation is another factor that plays into the low survival rate of escaped parakeets.
Parakeets may be hunted by larger birds, cats, raccoons, foxes, or other mammals.
And when they’re raised in captivity, they don’t learn how to defend themselves against any of these predators.
Predators may reduce the length of time a parakeet survives in the wild to even less than two days, but it depends on which animals are active in your area.
Cold
If you live in a climate with cold winters, an escaped parakeet will have even lower chances of survival.
A parakeet can tolerate the cold for about six hours before suffering, and severe hypothermia can set in within 12-24 hours.
The weather can easily be the first cause of death for an escaped parakeet in cold climates.
What To Do if Your Parakeet Escapes Outside
If your parakeet escapes outside, you need to act quickly. The sooner you can draw your parakeet back inside, the greater the odds are that it will survive without harm.
Thankfully, there are several methods you can use that make it more likely that your bird will return quickly to safety.
Play Recordings of Parakeet Sounds
One of the best things you can do to draw in an escaped parakeet is play sound recordings of parakeets.
Even better, play recordings of your parakeet taken from before it escaped.
If your parakeet is close enough to hear recordings of itself chirping, it will likely come by to investigate the sound.
Lure With Treats
Another way to get an escaped parakeet to return home is to use treats. If your parakeet hasn’t moved too far away yet, you can set out some millet, pellets, or fresh fruit and wait for it to come back.
Parakeets need to eat often, so using food to draw them in is a good strategy. Just make sure that the food is easily visible.
Solicit Help From Neighbors
If time goes on and you still haven’t located your parakeet, ask your neighbors for help.
With many people in the neighborhood keeping an eye out for your bird, you’re more likely to have success finding it.
Make sure you have an up-to-date photo ready that you can share with your neighbors just in case.
Check Shelters and Veterinarians
After some time has passed, consider contacting local animal shelters and veterinarians to see if any parakeets have been turned in recently.
Sometimes these places will allow you to put up flyers about your lost bird and keep an eye out for you just in case someone finds or reports the missing bird.
Some pet stores and breeders will put numbered bands on birds’ legs just in case they escape.
If your parakeet has one of these, make sure that you know what the number is so that you can share it with potential rescuers.
Use Your Bird’s Name
If you’ve trained your bird to respond to its name, the chances are that you’ll have an easier time luring it back to its home.
Keep this in mind when you first adopt your parakeet, and you’ll be glad later.
It may help to call your parakeet’s name while also playing recordings of parakeet chirping, as described above.
How To Prevent Your Parakeet From Escaping
When it comes to handling parakeet escapes, prevention is key. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to make a parakeet escape less likely to happen.
Close or Install Screens in Doors and Windows
The most important and basic tip to consider is simply checking that all doors and windows are closed before letting your parakeet out of the cage.
If you don’t already have them, consider adding screens to your windows and doors.
This way, you can still enjoy a breeze without the risk that you’ll accidentally leave the window or door open at an inopportune time.
Clip Your Parakeet’s Wings
Another thing you can do to prevent fatal escapes is clipping your parakeet’s wings.
Keeping your bird’s wings clipped will keep it from being able to fly too far away, making it easier to catch your parakeet if it does escape.
You should consult with an avian veterinarian first and let a professional handle the clipping process.