Budgies are best kept in pairs, or in aviaries as groups. They love
to live in outside aviaries, and mix happily with other birds.
Just some considerations: because of the dust they produce, birds
should not be kept in a bedroom or looked after by somebody
suffering from asthma; also people with impaired immune systems
should not keep birds as pets.
Most pet budgies live in indoor cages In the house, you can keep a
pair of the same or opposite sexes. However, if you keep a cock
(male) and hen (female) together, you may end up with a family!
A budgie kept alone is more likely to learn to speak and it is the
male bird who is usually more talkative. It is the absence of aviary
noise to mimic that causes budgies to copy noises in the home. Apart
from frequently heard names and phrases, a budgie will also mimic
telephone rings, door bells and other household noises.
Single budgies need plenty of attention and interaction from their
carer. It is also vital to allow your caged budgie to have freedom
from his cage to exercise and relieve boredom. Budgies should not be
confined totally to their cage, but handled regularly and allowed to
fly free in a controlled environment.
As with most caged birds, the budgie has a beautiful colourful
plumage. Over a hundred colour variations are seen, with light green
(similar to the wild bird) being the most popular. Blue, white,
green and yellow are the basic colours, and shades of each also
appear. Each bird displays the distinctive 6 throat spots and masked
head markings.
Purchasing your new budgerigar
It is advisable to buy a
budgie from a specialist outlet or a breeder. If you buy a young (6
- 7 week-old) bird you are more likely to be able to train him
easily. A bird from show stock may be wearing a metal identification
ring on his leg. Either have the ring removed, or keep a close eye
on it in case it becomes too tight.
Sexing a young budgie is not easy. With an adult bird, you should
check the colour of the waxy cere (the bare wax-like patch) around
the nostrils. An adult male bird will show a blue cere; and a female
will show a brown one. With a youngster, the male's cere is pink and
the female's is bluish-white. If the sex of your bird matters to
you, buy from an experienced breeder who will be able to sex the
bird for you.
The bird cage
It is important to provide as
big a cage as is practical for any bird kept inside. The width of
the cage is more important for the bird than the height, to give
room for flying. The bars must be vertical for climbing, and a
removable tray at the base will make cleaning simple and quick.
Your cage should be positioned out of direct sunlight and away from
drafts. At night, the cage should be covered for warmth and to avoid
the bird being startled when lights are turned on.
When your bird is allowed to fly free, be sure to close all windows,
guard open fires and shut all doors. In the early stages, it is a
good idea to close the curtains to avoid your budgie damaging
himself by flying into the windows.
Sand or sand sheets are a practical option for the base of the cage,
which should be thoroughly cleaned each week (including washing
perches and toys). Perches should be positioned near to the food and
water areas. Lengths of fruit tree branches make good perches as
they vary in thickness, which helps to exercise a bird's feet.
Budgies particularly like toys and ladders. A landing platform is
also helpful for use as they return to their cage. If you supply a
mirror for your budgie and he spends hours in front of it, he is
probably lonely and needs more attention - or a friend. To keep your
budgie from becoming bored, it is good to have a selection of toys
and change to a new one each day (in rotation). Wooden toys tend to
be safer for birds as small splinters can break off plastic toys if
they are pecked too much.
What's on the menu?
Choose a seed mix that
contains the standard canary seed and millet, as well as red rape,
linseed and niger seeds. You must blow away loose husks from your
budgie's seed daily. If empty husks litter the feed bowl, he will
not be able to find the complete seeds and will go hungry!
Your budgie will enjoy fresh food such as grass (that is going to
seed), chickweed, dandelion and salad plants. Some birds like to
peck on a piece of carrot or apple pressed between the bars of his
cage.
Grit is essential for a budgie to digest his food and they should be
provided with a fine grit at all times. Birds do not chew - they use
a gizzard or muscular grinding machine to break down their food.
Bird sand usually contains fine grit, as do sand sheets.
A piece of cuttlefish should be available as a source of calcium.
Iodine is also an essential mineral for a budgie. Most seed mixes
contain added iodine. To be sure, however, you can provide a mineral
block for your bird to peck on.
Time for a wash and brush up
Birds need water to preen
their feathers. A birdbath will be enjoyed by a budgie and some like
to be sprayed with luke-warm water from an atomiser.
A budgie's nails should wear down naturally from using a perch and
scratching on cuttlefish. It is advisable to keep a check on a
budgie's nails; if they need clipping, this can be done using
ordinary 'human' nail clippers. Care should be taken not to cut the
quick (blood vessel that runs through the nail) as this will cause
bleeding. If you are inexperienced, it is best to ask for help from
somebody who is, or visit your vet. Clipping a budgie's beak should
only be necessary if it is growing out of alignment and this should
only be carried out by a vet.
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