A Simple Guide To Budgies

A Simple Guide To Budgies

Budgies are cheerful, social birds full of personality and charm. They thrive on interaction – either with other budgies or with their human keeper – and bring a lively, colourful presence to any home. With regular enrichment and space to fly, they make delightful companions for beginners and bird-lovers alike.

Lifespan: 7-10 years

Size: 7in (18cm)

Activity: Very active. Diurnal

Sociability: Highly sociable – best in pairs or small groups. Single birds need high levels of interaction from their owner

Suitability: Beginner

🏡Enclosure

• Wire bar with bottom tray
• Climbing birds that need height, though room to spread their wings and make short flights is most important
• Narrow bar spacing to prevent escape
• Bigger is better
• Do not place in draughts, direct sunlight, near a radiator, or humid conditions

🛏️Substrate

• Newspaper or paper pellets

🥦Diet

• Budgie seed mix
• Small amounts of fresh veg, such as spinach, carrot, broccoli, and pepper
• Occasional small amounts of fruit, such as apple, banana, strawberry, and melon
• Avoid avocado, onion, salty and fatty foods
• Cuttlefish bone for calcium and to trim the beak
• Budgies de-husk seeds before they eat them, and therefore do not need an insoluble grit to be provided
• Fresh water should be permanently available

🧩Enrichment

• Intelligent animals that need plenty of stimulation
• Avoid overcrowding their cage with toys – rotate regularly instead
• Perches of varying sizes, including natural branches of safe wood (such as apple)
• Enjoy playing with toys, bells, swings, shreddables, foraging toys
• Seed bars and millet spray
• Shallow water bath

🤲Handling & Behaviour

• Gentle and intelligent
• Tame well with calm, daily interaction
• Happy to perch on shoulders and fingers

🧽Cleaning

• If using newspaper, change daily, wash cage trays weekly, and full clean once a month
• If using paper pellets, spot clean daily and full clean once every 2-3 weeks
• Blow husk from food bowls daily; wash and replace food if soiled
• Wash perches weekly

🩺Quick Health Check

• Healthy signs: smooth feathers, bright eyes, active and interested
• Concerns: pronounced tail bobbing (minor bobbing is part of maintaining balance), wheezing, dirty vent, constantly fluffed up
• Vet: breathing changes, weight loss, lethargy, crusty cere (the fleshy covering at the base of the upper beak)

🧺Shopping List

• Cage
• Newspaper or paper pellets
• Food bowls
• Water bottles or bowls
• Budgie seed mix
• Shallow bath
• Enrichment items
• Perches
• Cuttlefish bone
• Millet spray and seed bars
• Pet safe disinfectant