keets

Keets are the informal term used to describe young birds, particularly young parrots and parakeets, in everyday English. The word is not a formal scientific classification; in avian biology, the developmental stages of birds are described as eggs, hatchlings, nestlings, fledglings, juveniles, and adults.

Within the pet-keeping and aviary communities, keets typically refers to individuals that have recently hatched or fledged and are still dependent on parental care or humans for food and socialization. Keets require appropriate nutrition, warmth, and enrichment as they grow; in captivity, breeders or owners may hand-feed during early life and gradually introduce solid foods and social interaction.

Care considerations for keets include ensuring a safe-environment, monitoring for health, timely veterinary checkups, and providing social contact with other birds or humans to support normal behavior. The term's usage varies by region and community; outside of these contexts, more precise terms such as nestling, hatchling, or juvenile are used in scientific or veterinary settings.

Beyond pet-keeping, keets may appear as a surname or place name in some regions, but usage is uncommon in formal discourse.