The budgerigar, also known as the budgie or parakeet, is an ideal pet if you’re living alone or if you don’t have much experience with birds before. Its small size and cleanliness make it suitable for even the most simple apartment, and its lovely coloring can be quite cheerful when you’re home alone on a rainy day. However, the budgie should not be neglected. Though they don’t need much space to live in, their emotional needs are very complex, and not meeting them will result in behavioral problems that can cause serious harm to your budgie.
What are budgies?
Budgies are also known as parakeets. They are one of the most popular pet birds, especially with owners who can’t afford more expensive parrots and cockatiels. Budgies are active, curious, and affectionate creatures that require a lot of attention. Luckily for them, they have numerous behavioral traits that make it easy to love them. If you think a budgie is right for you, here’s what you should know about these delicate little pets.
Are budgies a good choice?
Budgies can make wonderful pets, but they have a couple of issues that you should be aware of. First, many people think budgies are good starter birds for children because they’re small and inexpensive, but experts say that’s a bad idea: budgies don’t generally like being handled by kids, so kids will usually lose interest in them quickly. Second, budgies need to live in pairs or larger groups; if you get just one bird, it will likely become depressed and lonely.
Feeding budgies
Give your budgies a varied diet. While we are not saying to give them a full-scale balanced diet, budgies need to get different types of seeds and fruits as well as vegetables. This will help ensure that they don’t develop any nutritional deficiencies. Just make sure you buy from quality pet stores or reputable wholesalers so you can be sure that what you are feeding them is good for them, nutritionally speaking.
Housing your budgie
One of your first concerns as a budgie owner will be where you will house your little friend. You have many options, but choosing one that best fits your situation is important to keep her happy and healthy. Let’s take a look at some different types of housing, along with their benefits and disadvantages.
If space is an issue in your home, there are plenty of budgies who don’t need very much room at all! For example, check out our adorable dwarf budgie – these birds can be kept in small bird cages!
Keeping your budgie happy and healthy
The budgerigar or budgie is one of those wonderful bird species that can adapt to living with humans. But they do have a few special requirements. Here are some tips for caring for your little friend and keeping him happy and healthy :
The importance of exercise
Just like people, budgies need regular exercise. But it’s not as simple as letting your budgie run around on its own; you need to keep it in a safe environment so that it can’t harm itself. A budgie’s cage is its home base, so make sure there are lots of toys in there to encourage physical activity—but also monitor your budgie closely while it’s out and about, as they tend to get into mischief. You might find yourself taking multiple trips back and forth between its cage with toys or treats in your hands! Don’t be discouraged if your budgie doesn’t take to exercising right away; just give it time and space for exploration, and don’t forget to reward good behavior. The more fun you both have together, the healthier your bird will be!
What do you feed them?
Providing a proper diet for your budgies is essential if you’re hoping to keep them in good health. However, most of us tend to feed our birds too much (excess can cause obesity), so be careful, not over-feed your bird.
Why are many budgies overweight?
If you want your budgie to live a long, healthy life, it’s essential that you keep him or her trim and fit. If a bird is overweight, its feathers become wet, leading to mold and yeast infections. These can be fatal if left untreated. To combat obesity in your pet bird, make sure he or she gets plenty of exercise through free flying—not only does it burn extra calories but it helps maintain muscle tone as well.
How can you keep the cage clean?
One of your first steps will be to determine how often you need to clean your budgie’s cage. This depends on how many budgies you own, their age, and their overall health. Regardless of these factors, try not to put off cleaning for too long since a messy cage is more likely to cause illness in your pet. As such, schedule time each week for cleaning—this can be quick if you do it daily or spread out over several days if it’s a less frequent task. A good rule of thumb is that whenever you notice things getting dirty, add one extra day onto your standard schedule so that you can make sure everything is fresh and clean by the next time around.
What toys should I provide my bird?
Toys are essential when it comes to keeping your bird happy and healthy. Without toys, your budgerigar could get bored, which can lead to behavioral issues such as plucking or screaming. Toys come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. Most commonly you’ll see birds enjoying toys made of wood or paper materials like vine twigs or palm leaves. You must change toys frequently as a toy that becomes boring can easily become destroyed in no time at all by inquisitive beaks!