This comprehensive care guide will show you how to look after Budgies in 3 easy steps
Fast Facts:
How long will my Budgie live? They can live up to 7-10 years
How big will it grow? They will grow up to 18cm in length
What size of enclosure is recommended for my Budgie? A wire enclosure of 20” X 15” X 25”
What does a Budgie eat? Predominantly a seed-eating species
How easy is it to look after a Budgie? Budgies are a beginner maintenance pet
Budgie Housing
Hand tamed Budgies have been handled and tamed by humans from a very early age, making then accustomed to frequent handling, cages and many noises that occur in everyday life.
A small gauge wire cage with dimensions of at least 20”(W) x 15”(D) x 25”(H) will give your Budgie enough room to spread out and exercise without risk of injury from hitting the wire sides.
Open top cages with perching areas are ideal for hand raised birds as they provide more freedom and interaction with their family.
At night the cage should be covered with a sheet or cage cover to prevent drafts and reduce visual stress.
Budgie Care
Budgies are predominantly a seed eating species so their captive diet should consist of a mix of budgie crumbles and seed. An appropriate seed would be a budgie mix, which should contain a variety of seeds such as french white millet, hulled oats, pannicum, and Japanese millet.
Grit assists with digestion so small amounts should be added to their daily seed.
Seed lacks important vitamins and minerals so their daily diet should be supplemented with small portions of fresh fruit and vegetables such as apple, carrot, beans, peas, corn, broccoli and spinach. Never feed Budgies lettuce or avocado, and always remove the seeds from apples.
Fruit and vegetables should not be left for prolonged periods of time as they will easily spoil and this can lead to illness from the bacteria and yeasts that grow on spoilt produce.
Vitamin supplements such as Soluvite D or Multivet can be added to your Budgies water two or three times a week. Calcium and Iodine can be provided through cuttlebone and iodine bells. Fresh water should always be available and should be changed on a daily basis.
Worming should be repeated every three months with a broadspectrum bird wormer.
Budgie Feeding
Enrichment is all about enhancing the quality of life for your Budgie and generally relates back to activities they would usually perform in the wild.
Foraging plays a big part in enrichment for birds. To search for food is a natural instinct all birds possess, so it is the perfect way to exercise both their body and mind. There is a vast range of foraging toys to suit all species of birds and keep them mentally stimulated for when you are not at home. It is a good idea to have several different types of foraging toys available, and to rotate them in the cage every couple of weeks.
Natural branches of varying lengths, shapes and thicknesses should also be provided.
There are many native branches that you could offer your budgie such as eucalyptus,
gum, grevillea, bottle brush and lilly pilly, many of which have natural nuts and flowers
that providing a foraging opportunity for your budgie.
This also allows budgies to properly exercise their feet and beak as they can chew
and strip the bark perches.
Did You Know?
Budgies are the most commonly kept animal in the world which is in no small part due to their versatility. Budgies give what they get so the more time you spend with them, the more they’ll want to spend with you.
This makes them great as both caged and pet birds and makes them suitable for any and all owners.
Sexing!
Mature male budgies will have a blue cere,whereas a mature females cere will be a tan-brown colour. Young budgies will display a mauve to purple cere, and as they mature the colour will gradually change, starting around the nostrils. The colour around the nostrils of a young male will begin to show blue, and the colour around a females will be white or tan.
We have created a Shopping list to show what you need to look after a Budgie:
Common health issues in Budgies
Psittacosis: A type of bacterial lung infection commonly carried by wild and domesticated birds, and able to be passed onto humans.
Respiratory Infections: Usually caused by bacteria infecting the respiratory system of birds due to vitamin A deficiency, however can be caused by many other factors such as fungi, parasites and environmental toxins.
Bacterial Infections: There are many common bacterial diseases birds are susceptible to and is usually caused by lack of hygiene or stress, especially when there is another factor compromising the birds immune system.
Red flags
Is your Budgie showing any of the signs of disease or illness? If yes, please contact your vet.
- Fluffed up feathers
- Nasal discharge
- Lethargy
- Out of character behaviour
- Discoloured poo or diarrhoea
At Kellyville Pets, we encourage responsible pet ownership.
CARE GUIDE © Copyright 2016 Kellyville Pets - All information found in this care guide is based upon our own experience. The information provided is not the only information available. In any medical situations, you should always consult your vet, including questions regarding your pet's diet.