Ok, i've had my parakeet Mickey for like 11 years but unfortunately i never really took the time to train him to get on my finger and stuff like that. When i used to let him out of his cage when i was younger, he would just fly around in circles until he fell on the floor or into the wall and then he wouldnt go back in his cage. It was very difficult to get him back in to his cage because he would NOT get on my finger. My question is, should i try and let him fly aroung the room or will he fly into something and snap his little neck? He's an old little guy but i want gim to be able to fly around a bit without getting hurt. He bites me now also because people used to stick their fingers in his cage and taunt him, which he HATED. I moved him but he still pecks at me. Any advice?

when was the last time he flew? I would think that would be the deciding factor considering his age. I do not have any experience with a keet that old, but there are those here that do. So if your post does not get answered right away keep coming back to check

I think the last time i took him out was like a year or a little more ago and he wouldn't land anywhere, so he flew into the stairwell. He's still really healthy from what i can tell but i just dont know what he'll do when he's loose.

well if he was mine and at that age under those conditions I wouldn't do it. Whose to know how his eyesight is now or his hearing. I think it would just be too risky. If he had been flying all long he would probably be ok, but after a year and @11. No.

Yeah, i was afraid of that:( Maybe i should pad the entire room so he wont fly into anything hard and have a heart attack.

I've always fed Mickey just the regular parakeet seeds from the pet store, i think its called bonanza, but i also buy him treats like those millet sprays and stuff like that. I got him when i was like 9 and i had no idea he would live for so long! He even outlived his little mate, Noodles. Is it important to feed them something other than seed. If so, than what else should i give him??

I actually just found out on this board that its good for them to eats fruits and veggies, i never knew they could eat that stuff before. My question is- how do you feed them those things, like apples? How big do you cut up the pieces...will he choke on them if they're too big? i definately want to try some fruit or lettuce, he loves to eat.
Mick has a HUGE cage that i got for him and Noodles a long time ago. Noodles died about 3 years ago and i was worried that Mick would be depressed, so i moved him from my room to the livingroom so he could be around people and he LOVES it in there and is still happy and loud. i thought about getting him another friend but he was perfectly happy on his own so i decided not to. They definately were very close. It's pretty pathetic, but i actually dont even know if Mickey is a boy, i just always call him "him"...

ps. Just curious, what do you feed you parakeet?

I have no idea about the percentages - but esso eats mostly seed, but is offerred daily a variety of veggies - broccoli, romaine lettuce, and fresh spinach are most popular, and sometimes sprouted seeds, and sometimes life cereal if i think of it.
He also likes to forrage (? spelling) around on the ground for "dri-greens" which are dried veggies - they actually look like something you'd find in your spice rack.

if you want to start - i recommend -
1. try something like cereal because it is similar to seeds and most birds like it.
2. start with a veggie not a fruit - at least based on esso - and go VERY VERY small - like the very tips of broccoli - like the size of seeds. i started off hand feeding him by putting these on the tip of my finger and once he tried it, he like it.

ps mickey sounds very happy, so you don't need to recreate the wheel at age 10 ! (IMHO)

Do you mean regular cereal like humans eat? Do you crunch it up first? i was thinking about putting a piece of lettuce in his cage at first maybe. Are you supposed mix broccoli seeds in with their food?
He used to hop on my finger and let me pet his belly, but like i said, when i moved him in the livingroom, people would put their finger through his cage and taunt him. Now, whenever i stick my hand near him even to feed him he bites me really hard and i cant get him to trust me anymore. Sometimes i wonder if he's too old to change. He does want to come out of his cage though, because sometimes he just jumps out when im not looking =)

can you post a pic of Mickey I would love to see what he/she looks like and maybe we can help you finally know which it is. If that bird had lived to 11 years old, I wouldn't change a thing. If you want to try and offer him some fruit and veg, do it very slowly and in very tiny amts. Like a thimbles worth. Do not feed him iceberg lettuce, try a leafy variety like kale or romaine. I just hang it from the top of the cage. Brocolli, just the little buds on the very tip and like I said very slowly-1 new thing at a time-and very small amts'until you see how his system reacts to it.
PLEASE POST A PICTURE