Outdoor Care for Budgies

Budgies -- also referred to as budgerigars or parakeets -- are small, brightly colored birds that are commonly kept as household pets. These intelligent little birds are relatively inexpensive to keep and when trained properly can learn to talk. If you have your pet budgies in an outdoor aviary, they will require similar care as indoor budgies. However, you will need to take special precautions to ensure they do not fall victim to cold climates or predators.

  1. Food

    • Regardless of the location of your budgies -- indoors or outdoors -- they will require a balanced diet to help them live a long and healthy life. Budgies should be supplied with a constant supply of water and seed mix. You can purchase budgie seed mix from your local pet store -- this mix is designed to contain all the nutrients your bird needs to stay healthy. Provide your birds with other treats such as fruits and millet hung in the cage.

    The Aviary

    • Your outdoor aviary should be placed in a low-traffic area so the birds have a peaceful living environment. If the temperatures drop at night or during winter months, you must bring the birds inside to a warmer environment. Make sure the inside of the cage has plenty of perches for birds to sit on. At night, cover the aviary with a large blanket so the birds can sleep peacefully. Place a large dish of water at the bottom of the cage to serve as a bird bath. One of the benefits of an outdoor cage is that your birds can splash around all they want.

    Toys

    • Like dogs, cats and other standard pets, budgies like to have toys to keep them occupied. Tie mirrors to the bars of the aviary or other toys specifically designed for budgies. Always purchase your toys from a pet store because other toys might be coated in toxic paint or contain unsafe parts your bird could swallow or choke on. Change the toys on a semi-regular basis so your budgies don't get bored. Since budgies love to bathe themselves, a pan of water in the bottom of their cage will double as a form of entertainment.

    Safety

    • The outdoor aviary itself should be very secure to prevent the birds from getting out and flying away. Also, it should be secure enough to keep unwanted guests out of the bird cage. Cats, raccoons and other pests can cause harm to your budgies when they are left unattended. If you know that predators lurk around outside at night, bring your birds into a smaller indoor cage overnight to keep them safe.