Free Advice on Budgies

Hand-Raised Budgies Are Best

• It is always best to choose a young, hand-raised bird. A budgie that has been gently handled as a baby will be more easily finger trained, and will bond with you faster than a bird born in a large aviary setting. Many pet shop budgies are shipped straight from the aviary breeder, receiving little or no human handling, which can make it more difficult to tame them.

Healthy Budgie

• A healthy budgie will have bright eyes, tight feathering and no nasal or vent discharge. He should have an active, cheerful personality and want to interact with his flock; either avian or human. He is interested in what is going on in his environment and plays regularly with his toys. For best budgie health, visit your avian veterinarian for a first checkup immediately after purchase and once a year after that.

Watching for Illness

• Lethargy, watery droppings, a dirty vent or nasal discharge are all signs of illness in a bird. Wheezing, tail bobbing or sitting at the bottom of her cage are also signs that your bird needs veterinary assistance. If you notice your bird exhibiting signs of illness, but appearing to eat at her food bowl constantly, she may be attempting to mask the fact that she is sick. This is a survival tactic used by birds in order to keep from being picked on by others in the flock.

Budgie Diet

• A budgie's diet should consist of a high quality, fortified commercial parakeet/budgerigar seed mix. Fresh foods are important to a budgie's health. Try serving veggies like carrot tops, dark, leafy lettuces or kale by hanging them on the side of his cage. Serve these wet, as budgies seem to more likely to try them this way. Fruit like apples, strawberries and melon may be chopped small and served in a treat bowl. He will be slow to try each food.

Foods To Avoid

• There are several foods or food by-products that are considered toxic to birds. Do not feed your budgie avocado, onion, apple seeds or any fruit pits. Avoid rhubarb, chocolate, soda pop and caffeinated beverages. Do not feed her junk food like white bread, chips and fried foods.

Housing and Toys

• Buy the largest parakeet/budgie cage you can afford, even if you only have one bird. If you have more than one bird, make sure they have plenty of room in which to stretch their wings and fly around. Do not purchase a cage made for larger birds, as the budgie may be able to get his head caught in the bars, or may escape. Keep the cage away from drafts, and provide a cover at night.

  A few basic toys will keep him happy, but avoid those with mirrors. Mirrors encourage a budgie to bond with his reflection, rather than you, especially if you are trying to bond with him during training.