Buzz
Budgerigars are fascinating and delightful birds to keep as pets. In fact, they rank as the third most popular pet species, following dogs and cats. Originating from Australia, these birds require minimal upkeep, thrive in indoor environments, and even begin to mimic human speech over time. If you've recently acquired a budgerigar, you likely want to ensure your pet remains healthy and happy.
Steps
Prepare a Habitat for the Budgerigar
Buy a spacious birdcage. Birds need room to play and stretch their wings. To keep your budgerigar happy and healthy, choose a cage that allows light to pass through. The cage should be at least 50 cm in width, 60 cm in height, and 80 cm in length.
- Opt for a cage where the width exceeds the height and the roof is square. Budgerigars typically fly horizontally, not vertically like quails, so cages with a stylish roof design will waste space.
- Avoid round cages as they don’t allow budgerigars to fully extend their wings or fly comfortably. Additionally, these cages can make the birds feel unsafe and fearful due to the lack of corners for hiding.
- Make sure the cage provides enough room for the budgerigar to stretch and fly. Don’t overcrowd the cage with excessive toys, perches, or other birds.
- Check a few cages and choose one that's easy to clean. Can you easily reach inside the cage? Can you wipe the interior of the cage easily? Remember, budgerigars tend to defecate every ten to fifteen minutes!
- If you plan to house multiple budgerigars, consider purchasing a larger cage.
Set up a bathing area. Budgerigars are active birds that relieve themselves frequently, yet they also enjoy staying clean. They love splashing in water for fun. Visit pet stores to find a small, durable plastic bathing dish that can be attached to the birdcage. Ensure the dish is easily accessible for the bird to step into and that it can be refilled from the outside.
- Do not overfill the water. You don't want the water to spill out when the bird enters the bath.
- The bath should be wide enough for the bird to soak comfortably.
- A bath is a wonderful treat for your budgerigar, but make sure it doesn't take up too much space in the cage. Budgerigars can bathe when you spray them with water, so a bath dish inside the cage is not mandatory.
Provide a variety of toys and perches with different shapes, thicknesses, and textures. Natural wooden perches are ideal compared to those made from dowels or plastic sticks, and they also look more attractive. Ensure that the perches are sturdy to prevent injury to the bird.
- There is a wide range of bird toys. Look for ladders, bells, balls, etc. These toys will excite your budgerigar.
- Choose safe woods for birds, like eucalyptus. Plastic perches can cause foot problems due to lack of foot exercise.
- Avoid perches made from apricot wood as it contains cyanogenic glycosides. Also, steer clear of oak wood due to the tannins. While there have been no known fatalities from these woods, it's best to err on the side of caution.
- Do not use concrete perches as they are too harsh on the bird's feet, but if they are your only option, place them as low as possible in the cage.
- Avoid overcrowding the cage with too many toys or perches. Two or three different toys are ideal for one budgerigar. Filling the cage with unnecessary toys can make the bird feel cramped. Budgerigars need enrichment to stay mentally stimulated. Without toys, they may become bored and exhibit feather-plucking behaviors.
Consider the room where the birdcage will be placed. Aim to place your budgerigar in a warm room with a stable temperature. A bright room will keep the bird happy, and a location near family activity will prevent loneliness, especially for untamed birds who are becoming accustomed to people.
- Avoid placing the cage in front of a window with direct sunlight or near doors that frequently open. Birds can suffer heatstroke or hypothermia from exposure to excessive sunlight or drafts.
Budgerigar Care
Feed your bird properly. The ideal diet for budgerigars mainly consists of seeds, fresh fruits, and vegetables. You can purchase specialized budgerigar food at pet stores for their main diet, but also supplement with fresh herbs like coriander and leafy greens. Try to introduce pellet food to your bird, as a seed-only diet can lead to obesity.
- Never feed your budgerigar avocado, chocolate, onions, garlic, caffeine, alcohol, or human junk food. These are toxic to birds.
- Ensure your budgerigar always has access to clean drinking water. They will drink as much as they need. Change the water daily to prevent bacteria build-up.
- Provide a cuttlebone in the cage. It’s a great natural source of calcium for budgerigars. You can also purchase mineral blocks for birds. Some people also use liquid vitamins and mineral supplements, but birds can get these nutrients through fresh fruits and vegetables as well.
Clean the budgerigar's cage at least once a week. This will help prevent harmful bacteria from building up. Use only mild soap and water, and avoid any cleaning products unless you're certain they are safe for birds.
- Try using a fine mist spray bottle to cool your bird down.
Create a comfortable environment for your budgerigar to sleep. When it's bedtime, simply cover the birdcage with a light cloth or blanket. Make sure the cage remains ventilated – you don’t want to risk suffocating your new bird! Ensure the bird’s feet won’t get caught in the fabric.
- This is particularly helpful in noisy environments. The blanket can block out most sounds and shield the bird from cold drafts.
- If your budgerigar is afraid of the dark, consider adding a small nightlight. Avoid startling your bird, as it might fly erratically within the cage and hurt itself.
Monitor your bird's health. Take your bird to the vet for an annual check-up. If your budgerigar displays any strange behavior or you notice any unusual symptoms, visit the vet as soon as possible.
- Watch for abnormal breathing, discharge from the eyes or beak, mucus on the feathers, unusual behavior, or weight loss. If you notice any of these signs, contact the vet immediately.
Settle the parrot's living space
Ensure your budgerigar feels at home in its new environment. Allow it time to adjust to the new surroundings – at least three to four days. Never rush your budgerigar; it will adapt in its own time.
- Stay near the birdcage. Speak softly and sweetly to your bird while it adjusts, but avoid trying to control it. Your budgerigar will get used to you in a few days or weeks.
- If you're introducing new budgerigars, keep them separated for 4 weeks. Once you're sure they are healthy, you can place the cages near each other, but don't let them interact just yet. The new birds will gradually get accustomed to their companions.
- Avoid loud noises and shouting. Budgerigars can become stressed by such environments.
- Name your budgerigar. Call it by its name often, especially during feeding times, so it can become familiar with its new name.
Help your parrot get accustomed to everyone in the household. Your parrot may feel overwhelmed when there are too many people around. Let each person approach one by one and call the bird’s name. It’s a good idea for everyone to feed the parrot to build trust.
- Be cautious if you have other pets, especially dogs or cats. These animals are natural predators and might view your budgerigar as a tasty snack. Always keep dogs and/or cats in another room to avoid unnecessary stress. Dogs can be overly excited and might unintentionally or intentionally harm your bird. The barking of dogs can also frighten the budgerigar.
- Make sure children behave appropriately around the bird. Young children often get overly excited with a new pet. Always supervise them when they interact with the bird, ensuring they don’t hit the cage or try to grab the bird.
Earn your parrot's trust. After a few days, place your hand in the birdcage and leave it there quietly for a while. Repeat this for a few days to help the bird get used to your presence.
- When the bird seems comfortable with your hand, gently introduce your finger into the cage, pressing it softly against the bird’s chest. This will encourage the bird to step onto your finger. Repeat this for several days.
- Feed the bird on your finger. Dampen your finger and sprinkle a few millet seeds on it. The moisture will help the seeds stick. Place your finger near the bird's beak; it will eat once it is familiar with you.
- After doing this several times, you can start holding the budgerigar gently in your hand, beginning with a short time and gradually increasing the duration.
In the first two to three weeks, avoid holding your parrot for too long. Gradually, as the bird becomes accustomed to its new environment, you can start interacting more, and eventually, the bird will see you as a friend rather than a predator.
- If you're too hasty, the bird will become stressed, frightened, and will be unable to bond with you.
Always treat your budgerigar with care and affection. Remember that the bird is delicate when held by humans, so handle it gently.
- Be sure to teach others, especially those unfamiliar with handling birds, how to properly hold and interact with this small, fragile creature.
- Never kiss your budgerigar, as human saliva is toxic to birds and can spread easily transmitted diseases.
Excite your parrot
Weigh the pros and cons of using a mirror for your bird. A mirror placed in your parakeet's cage can keep your bird entertained for hours. The parrot will enjoy interacting with its reflection, but you should consider the potential psychological effects it could have.
- Instead of a mirror, you might want to think about adding another parakeet. Parakeets thrive on companionship and usually welcome a new friend.
- Mirrors can often lead to crop infections in both male and female parrots, as parrots regurgitate food to feed their mate. The mirror (acting as the mate) won't be able to return the favor of feeding, as real parakeet pairs do.
- If you choose to use a mirror, make sure it is securely fixed inside the cage and doesn't pose any danger to the bird.
Interact with your parakeet regularly. Your bird enjoys engaging, playing, and loves to talk. Try moving your finger in front of the bird – if it follows the movement with its head, it means the bird is playful and energetic.
Let your parakeet fly indoors. Once your bird feels comfortable in its surroundings, you can allow it to fly inside a room with the doors and windows closed. To catch it, turn off all the lights and open a curtain on one window (keeping the window closed). The bird will be drawn to the light, and you can gently catch it and return it to the cage.
- Ensure the safety of your bird. Keep pets like dogs and cats away and be cautious of any exits that the bird could slip through.
- Consider cleanliness. Parakeets often leave droppings on the floor, so avoid letting your bird fly in a room with carpet. If you find droppings on a hard surface, simply clean them up with a damp cloth.
Tips
- Schedule regular cleaning of the bird's cage, water, and the bird itself to maintain a routine.
- If you're worried about being bitten, consider wearing gloves.
- Be patient with your new parakeet. Even if you're frustrated, don't show it! Your bird may become stressed by your emotions.
- When you first bring a parakeet home, try to avoid talking to it until it has settled into its new space. Otherwise, the bird might associate your voice with stress.
- Never grip the parakeet too tightly against your chest. Unlike humans, parrots don't have a strong chest or diaphragm, and squeezing too hard can cause difficulty breathing. Instead, gently hold the bird within your cupped hands while you continue with your tasks.
- Fold your fingers around the bird in a way that shows relaxation, which will help the bird feel more comfortable.
- If you're too busy to talk to the bird often, you can record your voice and have someone play it for the bird when you're away.
- Read stories or sing to your parakeet. It will enjoy it and may even start to sing along. You can also share your day's events with the bird. This will strengthen the bond between you and your parakeet.
Warning
- Never trim the wings or nails of your parakeet unless you have experience and truly understand what you're doing.
- A parakeet might bite you as a warning if it feels threatened, so it's important to remain calm when holding the bird. Don't worry if you're bitten; parakeet bites rarely cause bleeding. Speak to the bird in a soft, calm voice. Never pull away abruptly when bitten; instead, gently tap the bird's beak or blow lightly, but don't yank your hand back. Avoid overreacting, as the bird might think it's a game.
- If you only house female parakeets in one cage, they are likely to fight a lot. It's better to have both male and female parakeets together to reduce fighting.
