How to Convince a Budgerigar to Groom Itself

A budgerigar, or budgie, is what most Americans call a parakeet. Parakeets are charming birds and relatively easy to live with, because given proper care, they will pitch in by taking good care of themselves. A happy, healthy parakeet will preen its feathers, bathe itself, clean its beak and tend to its nails.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Observe your bird's self-care behaviors. You should see it preening its feathers using oil from a gland back near its tail. Other behaviors you hope to see are scratching about on the bottom of the cage and wiping its beak back and forth on the perches.

2. Place a shallow bowl of lukewarm water in the bottom of the cage or in the bird's living area a couple of times a week so that it can take a bath. If your parakeet is hesitant about bathing, try putting some leaves of lettuce in the bowl.

3. Provide materials for the parakeet to scratch on. Bird grit paper on the floor of the cage and grit paper coverings for perches are excellent choices.

4. Give the parakeet something to file its beak on. Pet-supply stores offer items of this sort that attach to the side of the cage where the bird can peck and scrape at it with its beak. Your parakeet needs to keep its beak in shape so that it can preen its feathers properly.

5. Do your part of the grooming. In captivity, your parakeet will probably not be able to keep its nails filed down sufficiently, and you will have to trim them from time to time.

6. Feed your parakeet a healthy diet. Supplement commercial seed with fresh veggies. Like any other animal, a well-fed bird will better maintain healthy skin and coat.

7. Get your parakeet a companion. Parakeets are highly social birds, and one kept alone or with birds of other species may become depressed and stop caring for itself.

Tips & Warnings

• If your parakeet seems hesitant to get into the bath water, just keep offering it regularly. Make sure the surroundings are quiet and safe when you present the bath water.