As well as being attractive a Budgerigar is an easy pet to care for and lives for seven to eight years. In the wild they live in groups so one in a cage needs lots of attention so it doesn't get lonely. The more they are handled and talked to the friendlier and tame they become.
All Budgies can be taught to talk although some will take longer than others. When buying a budgie it is important to get one at about six weeks, as this age group will tame more easily than an older one. Budgies can be solid colours, green, blue, yellow and white or come in unusual combinations.
Keeping a bird healthy in captivity requires serious consideration of its accommodation and environment. It is not at all difficult to provide a proper situation for most birds but their requirements must be thoroughly understood. Both the physical and psychological needs of a Budgerigar must be met if it is to be kept healthy and comfortable.
It is important to the development and health of the budgie that it has adequate exercise space and it needs to be placed where there is plenty of light and fresh air. It also likes to be placed where it receives plenty of attention. The minimum space in which a Budgerigar can be successfully kept is one, which allows it to fly easily from perch to perch. As a member of the parrot family, the Budgerigar likes to climb, and a wire cage should have horizontal wire bars to allow this.
Natural wooden perches are better than plastic as they are uncomfortable for the budgie to hold. Budgies claws sometimes require clipping to help them perch more comfortably. To prevent contamination from droppings, perches should never be positioned above food or water dishes.
Budgies like toys such as a ladder and bell and they will spend a lot of time talking to itself in a mirror. Sand or sandpaper flooring enables them to scratch and use their claws and cages need regular cleaning. The cage should have a slide-out tray in the bottom to make cleaning easy and the floor should be covered with a sand sheet, or sheet of newspaper. Never used paper with coloured newsprint as it is often toxic. Bathing or showering your budgie provides a treat for it.
Specially prepared seed mixes are available to feed your budgie and millet sprays are a favourite. They need some green food to supply vitamins and grit is required to grind their food. They also like to chew on cuttlefish bone, which is a source of calcium.
Budgerigars require a constant room temperature. Rapid or extreme changes of temperature must be avoided, as these can be fatal. A Budgerigar's cage should be placed in. a draught free area. Air-conditioned rooms are acceptable so long as the bird is kept away from direct airflow.
If buying a Budgerigar for a pet the main requirement is that it is healthy. It should have closely fitting feathers, a bright, clear eye and no scaly growths around the eyes, cere, or legs and feet. The area under the tail (vent) should be clean. Sick birds will often have their feathers "fluffed up" and the breathing may be laboured or rapid.
A healthy Budgerigar is alert, active and interested in its surroundings. Be wary of a bird, which appears sleepy or lethargic.
There are a number of diseases and afflictions, which can affect budgerigars, and if you suspect that your bird is unwell you should seek veterinary assistance immediately as birds often do not show signs of illness until they are almost at the point of no recovery. |
