Bird Keeping Series – Budgies

Budgie

Budgies are the perfect beginner birds to keep. People of all ages that enjoy the sight of birds will simply love to start out with budgies. They are colourful, attractive, sociable birds that are easy to keep and look after. They originate from Australia and can live up to 15 years - so choosing one as a pet is a long-term commitment. They can be kept alone but prefer the company of their own species as they are social as mentioned above. If kept indoors they will need regular daily exercise outside their cage and are at their most active during the daytime, sleeping once it gets dark.


Cage

Budgies are active and playful and should have a large cage to allow room for toys and exercise. The minimum cage size is 18 inches long by 18 inches wide and 20 inches tall, but larger is better. The spacing of the cage bars should be 1/2 inch or less. Horizontal cage bars offer the best opportunity for climbing and exercise. There should be space to place at least a couple of perches at different levels with enough space to comfortably move between them. Offering a variety of perch sizes will help keep the feet in good shape (using pesticide free, non-toxic tree branches for perches is another good option).
Even with a large cage, budgies need play and socialization time outside of the cage as well. Keeping the wings trimmed is a good idea though, to prevent escapes.

Feeding

Social Creatures - Budgies

Budgies in the wild eat a wide range of seeds, grains, and vegetation. A good-quality Budgerigar / Parakeet mix makes a good basic diet although supplements may also be required such as cuttlefish which acts as a vitamin supplement, environmental enrichment, and also helps grind the beak down. Small pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables may also be given as treats and fresh drinking water should always be available. Certain foods can be harmful to your Budgie - avoid giving your pet lettuce, avocado, lemon, potato, or any sweets or drinks designed for human consumption.

Sexing

It is quite easy to differentiate between a male and a female budgie. The females have blue on their becks where the nostrils are. The males have brown instead of blue. If you decide to keep two of them together remember that you should keep a male and a female as a female and female or a male and male will tend to fight especially in smaller cages.