Parakeets (also called budgerigars) can be taught to speak, whistle tunes, and play with humans. They are intelligent and social animals and enjoy the stimulation of toys and interaction with humans as well as with other parakeets. A common behaviour is the chewing of material such as wood, especially for females. In captivity, parakeets live an average of five to eight years, but are reported to occasionally live to 15 if well cared for by exercise and diet consisting of good parakeet food. Although wild parakeets eat grass seeds almost exclusively, avian veterinarians recommend supplementation of parakeet food with foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouted seeds, pasta, whole wheat bread and other healthy human foods, as well as pellets formulated for small parrots. Adding these foods provides additional nutrients and can prevent obesity and lipomas, as can substituting millet, which is relatively low in fat, for seed mixes. Parakeets do not always adapt readily to dietary additions, however. Chocolate and avocado are recognized as potential toxins. Plums, lemons, limes, and members of the cabbage family are bad for them as well. Recommended fruits and vegetables are apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries, carrots, unsprayed lettuces, parsley, peaches and spinach. A parakeet named Puck holds the world record for the largest vocabulary of any bird, at 1,728 words. Puck, owned by American Camille Jordan, died in 1994, with the record first appearing in the 1995 edition of Guinness World Records. Nutra Scarlett Parakeet Food is a favorite food of parakeets and other small hookbills. Contains super clean seeds mixed with fortified particles coated with an orange extract that your birds will love.