BASIC INFO
Budgies are beautiful and intelligent animals which makes for a wonderful companion and live for approximately 5-10 years.
There are a variety of colours of budgies, with the most common has a green body and yellow face.
Budgies grow an average of 17cm (including tail).
All budgies love daily interaction with people.
Every budgie will have their own unique personality, but common behaviours include preening themselves, stretching, using their beaks to scratch, singing, bathing themselves, grinding their beaks, and being playful and curious.
Budgies are beautiful and intelligent animals which makes for a wonderful companion and live for approximately 5-10 years.
There are a variety of colours of budgies, with the most common has a green body and yellow face.
Budgies grow an average of 17cm (including tail).
All budgies love daily interaction with people.
Every budgie will have their own unique personality, but common behaviours include preening themselves, stretching, using their beaks to scratch, singing, bathing themselves, grinding their beaks, and being playful and curious.
FEEDING
It is important that your budgie gets the required nutrition for growth, health, and adult development.
Choose a good quality bird seed to provide all the nutrients and vitamins required for healthy development, and the prevention of disease.
Feeding the right food throughout your budgie’s life will assist in fighting various health problems.
Provide cuttlefish for your budgie as it’s a great source of calcium and helps with your budgie’s beak health and shape.
Grit is essential in your budgies diet to help breakdown seeds in it’s gut, and help with egg shell formation when breeding.
Always keep fresh water available for your budgie and change daily.
It is important that your budgie gets the required nutrition for growth, health, and adult development.
Choose a good quality bird seed to provide all the nutrients and vitamins required for healthy development, and the prevention of disease.
Feeding the right food throughout your budgie’s life will assist in fighting various health problems.
Provide cuttlefish for your budgie as it’s a great source of calcium and helps with your budgie’s beak health and shape.
Grit is essential in your budgies diet to help breakdown seeds in it’s gut, and help with egg shell formation when breeding.
Always keep fresh water available for your budgie and change daily.
AVIARIES AND PERCHES
Budgies are usually housed in aviaries or cages, however, aviaries are the preferred housing option as they provide a lot more room for a budgie to exercise. When choosing a cage, try and choose the biggest cage there is space for, and enough room for a budgie to stretch it’s wings. A budgie shouldn’t be able to fit it’s head through the bars, and the cage should be strong enough so the bird won’t be able to bend or chew through the bars. Make sure the aviary or cage is placed in a well ventilated area and away from any drafts and direct sunlight. Cover the flooring of the budgie’s aviary with grit and clean the aviary at least once a week, including emptying and replacing the grit. Most cages and aviaries come with a perch, but usually the perches are smooth so it’s good to add a perch that is fairly rough to help nails from over growing. A strong stick from the garden could be used. |
TOYS AND EXERCISE
It is important to provide budgies with toys and puzzles within their housing. As budgies are very intelligent animals, they need stimulation to keep them from boredom. For tame budgies, it is vital to let them out of the enclosure to help maintain fitness and keep them from becoming overweight. |
HANDLING
As budgies can get stressed quite easily, it is ideal for your budgie to get used to you over several days.
Don’t try and grab your budgie straight away, instead put your hand in the aviary or cage with some food, and eventually your budgie will step on your finger.
As budgies can get stressed quite easily, it is ideal for your budgie to get used to you over several days.
Don’t try and grab your budgie straight away, instead put your hand in the aviary or cage with some food, and eventually your budgie will step on your finger.
HEALTH
Budgies that live in aviaries should be wormed every three months, and indoor budgies need to be wormed at least twice a year.
To prevent mites and lice, treat your budgie every 6 weeks with a mite and lice spray.
Vet visits may be required when your budgie is looking ill.
Keep a close eye on your budgie for any of the following symptoms: not eating, puffed up feathers, sleeping excessively, throwing up, abnormal droppings, sitting low or at the bottom of the aviary/cage, and discharge from nostrils, eyes or beak.
Budgies that live in aviaries should be wormed every three months, and indoor budgies need to be wormed at least twice a year.
To prevent mites and lice, treat your budgie every 6 weeks with a mite and lice spray.
Vet visits may be required when your budgie is looking ill.
Keep a close eye on your budgie for any of the following symptoms: not eating, puffed up feathers, sleeping excessively, throwing up, abnormal droppings, sitting low or at the bottom of the aviary/cage, and discharge from nostrils, eyes or beak.
Images Credit in order of appearance
https://www.u-vet.com.au/news/accommodating-your-pet-bird
https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/budgies/budgie_food/food_list
https://www.alenaxp.com/best-bird-cage-sizes-and-shapes/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=6dkegFTYk0Y
https://lakerdvet.com.au/pet-of-the-week-bailey-the-albino-budgie/