Help and advice for Budgies
For a bird whose name translates as "good bird," it can hardly fail to impress us
as a pet. The Budgerigar, also known as parakeet in USA, is indeed a good bird to
have around the home. Its refined manners and cheerful disposition keeps the whole
family chirpy while its resilient nature and straightforward feeding makes it an
easily maintained pet. Despite this fact, millions of budgies die every year through
unnecessary disease caused by poor feeding and unsuitable husbandry. Budgies can
easily become overweight if they have inadequate exercise. If they are kept in draughty
areas, they develop colds and respiratory problems, which if untreated can prove
fatal. Likewise if they are not supplied with clean fresh water, enteritis will develop,
killing the bird.
Company
Pet budgies remain very similar to their native Australian counterparts and mimic
their behaviour. In the wild budgies are sociable creatures, and enjoy the company
of the group. When brought to captivity and forced to live solitary lives, the birds
do suffer -
Buying a budgie
Males and females are distinguishable by their ceres (waxy skin at the top of the
beak). With females the cere is usually brown while males tend to have blue or violet
ceres.
If hoping for a tame bird then it's best to opt for a young bird, anywhere
from 2 -
Healthy birds are agile and alert,
and hop from perch to perch. Budgies will show natural shyness but if the bird appears
extrovert, it may be a sign of illness as opposed to tameness. If healthy the bird
will have a regular pattern of breathing -
The feathers should be smooth
and glossy (except during moulting). Be wary if the head feathers are arched or the
plumage is fluffed. These are signs of illness. Such symptoms indicate the bird is
trying to conserve heat. Vent feathers should be clean and dry; if soiled, it could
indicate intestinal or kidney disease. A healthy budgie will have green droppings,
which solidify quickly and are topped with white, an excretion from the kidneys.
Ideally your budgie should move quickly, preen itself frequently, have active contact
with its companions, and eat and drink at short intervals. Showing every sign of
health, it is the bird for you.
What you will need
The most important thing for a budgie is its cage. A budgie's cage is its home and should promote the occupant's health and happiness; it should not be a prison cell. The bird, for example, needs a limited amount of freedom so the cage should be big enough to let the bird fly around. Recommended cage size is 20 inches long x 12 inches wide x 18 inches high. Obviously if there is more than one bird a bigger cage will be required. Decorate the cage with colourful accessories that offer plenty of stimulation.
Perches
Cages should be supplied with perches. These are needed for toe exercises and flexing
muscles in the feet. The perches must be wide enough so that the bird's feet do not
reach all the way round. Natural branches such as willow, elder and apple tree can
also be used. Be sure to wash them before putting them in the cage, and that they
are free from bird droppings. Natural branches have other advantages -
Sand and grit
Lining the birdcage with grit or pebbly sand guarantees effective digestion of food.
Birds do not have teeth so instead their food is processed in a muscular gizzard
which grinds the seed. Yet in order to function, the gizzard relies on grit swallowed
by the bird at an earlier stage.
Cage fittings Drinkers
Owners have a choice of spouted drinkers which can be attached to the sides of the
cage, or an open cup (which should not be placed on the floor of the cage). Initially,
both types should be provided as budgies may have difficulty using the spouted variety
of drinker in the early days.
The drinking water should be changed at least twice
daily because bacteria multiply rapidly, particularly under warm conditions. Contaminated
water could prove lethal and the birds may refuse to drink altogether, leading to
dehydration.
Cuttlefish Bone
This belongs in every cage. It is usually clipped to the cage wire. The bird uses
it for beak trimming and a source of calcium and phosphorous.
Budgies like swings
of all sorts, and solid plastic toys. Mirrors are also very popular but males may
become stressed by their reflection. Believing it to be a possible mate or a rival,
they sometimes react badly.
Feed
Budgerigars eat a mixture of seeds (canary seed, millet, linseed, and rape seed). They are also fond of sunflower seeds and a selection of seeding grasses. Budgerigars will also need fresh green feed. This can include sprouted feed, fruit and vegetables; spinach, dandelion, carrot, apple, etc. Wash them before putting them in the cage. Don't leave fresh foods in the cage for any more than a few hours as bacteria will quickly form on it. Never give junk food, strongly salted or spiced food, butter, crackers, crisps, soft drinks to budgies.
Location of cage
The budgie should feel safe and comfortable at all times and having established the cage, the next factor is its location. The cage must be kept away from direct sunlight, and in a draught free place. Budgies prefer to be at the same level as the human head or slightly higher so they can observe from above. Birds find this comforting; in the wild budgies must be on the alert for predators but in an elevated cage the view is less daunting and gives a feeling of control.
Cleaning
The bird's cage should be cleaned on a weekly to kill bacteria and ensure the continued health of the bird. Perches and containers should be cleaned, droppings cleared away and leftover seed removed. The cage should be completely dry before the bird is returned.
Joys of nature
In the wild budgies soak up sunshine as it provides vitamin D. In captivity it does
no harm to give budgies a short spell of sunbathing. When placing the cage in sunshine,
always be sure that the birds have shade and cool fresh water. Likewise, you can
provide them with a shower of rain. Wild budgies are acclimatised to dry arid climates
but when rain falls, they become very active. To provide some natural stimulation
for your budgie, let it experience a light shower. Remove bowls and cuttlebone from
the cage, and place it outdoors for 15 minutes. The budgie will stretch its whole
body to the rain but if it is frightened, give up and try again some other time.
Experts recommend that budgies be allowed free flight around a particular room in
the house. This is necessary for the bird's health; it boosts the muscular and heart
system and aids blood circulation. A bird will signal its desire to fly freely outside
its cage by shaking its plumage vigorously. However, before letting the bird loose
in the room, some caution is advised. Budgies will attack all manner of things, furniture,
walls, paper, so supervision may be required. Birds should also be kept away from
poisonous plants (daffodils, autumn crocus, azalea, nightshade), which they are liable
to eat. All doors and windows should be closed to prevent escape. To make the budgie
return to its cage, put some seed in the cage. The bird will eventually enter the
cage at will. Never lose your patience with your budgie as this will undo the bird's
trust in you.
Did you know...
The budgie's scientific name translates as "song parrot with undulations." The word
budgerigar is a corruption of the aboriginal Australian word betcherrigah which stands
for "good bird."
The most active organ in the budgie's body is its heart. It beats
at 300-
This material
is the copyright the JVP and is reproduced with permission.
