How to Care for Your Pet Budgie Parakeet

Budgie parakeets are one of the easiest pet birds to care for but a lot of false information does exist. Get the scoop on how to take good care of your feathered pet.

Instructions

1. Obtain a bird cage of adequate size. They should be able to comfortably flit about the cage and not be able to get their heads out through the bars of the cage. 18" x 18" x 24" is the smallest you should consider.

2. Toys. Get your budgie parakeet a variety of toys. Rotate them now and then to avoid boredom. Their favorites are likely to be things they can brush up on and those things they can shred safely. Bells and other noisemakers are usually a big hit as well.

3. Avoid giving your budgie parakeet a mirror. Mirrors make the budgie believe that the reflection is a mate and they can become hesitant to bond with you or to leave their cage. Note the appearance of bird vomit on mirrors in parakeet cages. Budgies will regurgitate their food as 'love offerings' to their mate. Let them out of their cage and enjoy your household mirrors now and then instead of a full time 'companion' mirror.

4. NO GRIT! I get angry every time I see grit advertised and pushed on loving budgie owners. Budgie parakeets can not digest this grit, nor do their bodies require it. Thus, it can build up in their systems and cause medical issues. Save the grit for soft billed birds (those without hooked beaks).

5. Give your bird a spritz of water now and then from a small spray bottle. They will then groom themselves. Never do this when a draft is present or if they won't have sufficient time to dry thoroughly before roosting at night.

6. Purchase a variety of sizes in perches to keep their feet from being in the same position all the time. Concrete perches are best as they also offer a natural way of grinding down nails and beaks.

7. NEVER cover their perches with sandpaper!!! This is just plain mean and can cause nasty sores. I know they are sold for them but it's just wrong! Imagine being barefoot on sandpaper day in and day out.

8. Give your budgie pet daily attention. Take them from their cage and interact with them. Let them play on top of their cage or buy them a bird playground to use.

9. If you have more than one budgie, it is even more vital you give them hands on attention OFTEN throughout the day to keep them as your buddy. Budgies can become 'monogamous' to the extreme and give you the heave-ho in preference to their budgie buddy, even if they are same sex.

10. Don't expect a pair of budgie parakeets to lay eggs and rear young in your living room. Budgies generally require large colonies to have a successful breeding environment.

11. If your budgie ever acts 'off' such as sitting at the bottom of the cage or looking fluffed up and depressed, take them to your vet asap.

12. Keep your parakeet food and millet sprays in the freezer to keep it fresh and bug free. Do not buy too large of quantities at a time.

13. Avoid citrus (damages feather shafts), chocolate (toxic) and various fruit seeds.

14. Remove your bird from the home if you will be running a carpet cleaner or using bug sprays.