Keeping a Pet Parakeet: A Complete Guide

The budgie, often known as a parakeet, is one of the smallest parrot species maintained as pets. They are also one of the most popular pet birds in the world, because of their low price. These little parrots are extremely tameable and pleasant.

History and Origins

The budgie and other parakeet species are native to Australia, where large flocks of them can still be found in grasslands. These natural species, on the other hand, are slightly smaller than the birds commonly found in pet stores, which have been captivity bred for decades.

Around 1840, English scientist John Gould introduced the budgie to Europe, where it immediately became a popular pet. By 1894, Australia had restricted the export of budgies, resulting in a thriving breeding industry in Europe. The bird took a long time to make its way to America, arriving around 1920, but by the 1950s it had become extremely popular.

The American budgie or parakeet and the English budgie are the two most prevalent varieties of budgies in the pet trade. The American budgie is the most common in pet stores, whereas the larger English budgie is frequently seen in exhibitions and shows. Although English budgies differ from American budgies in appearance, they are both members of the same species.

Temperament

Budgies are calm, kind birds. They're also quite easy to train, especially if you get one when you're young. Birds make good companions, but when they're living together and entertaining one another, they might not bond as well with their owners or mimic speech as well. Budgies are also more energetic, lively, and quiet than other parrot species.

Vocalizations and Speech

While parakeets can be difficult to understand at times, they are also capable of imitating human speech. Although they aren't the easiest birds to teach to speak, you should be able to teach them a few simple phrases. In addition to being able to imitate human speech, parakeets are also adept at imitating a variety of other sounds. When your parakeet hears a creaking door, a squeaking chair, or the tone of a text message coming into a phone enough times, it will start mimicking these sounds as well.

Colors and Symbols

A budgie's natural coloration is bright green with black bars on the wings, back, and head. Males have a bluish cere, whereas adult females have a tan or brownish cere (the fleshy portion surrounding the nostrils). Budgies have bar marks on their foreheads that fade with age, and their eyes are normally dark with dark irises that fade with age. Violet, blue, yellow, pied, albino, and the traditional neon green are just a few of the hues and patterns available because of selective breeding in the pet trade.

Taking care of parakeets

Budgies are busy and playful, therefore their cage should be large enough to accommodate toys, sleeping, eating, and flying. A cage should be at least 20 inches long, 12 inches deep, and 18 inches tall, but bigger is usually better. To prevent escapes and your bird from becoming stuck, the cage bars should be spaced half an inch apart or less. Climbing and exercise are best accomplished with horizontal cage bars. At the very least, set up a few different tiers of perches with enough space between them for your budgie to comfortably move between them. Providing a range of perch sizes, shapes, and textures will also aid in the maintenance of your budgie's feet. A sleeping nest, food and water bowls, varied toys, and chewable should all fit inside the cage.

Budgies require playtime and socializing chances outside of the cage, even if they have a spacious cage. A bird's ability to fly is natural and necessary, but you should only allow your budgie to fly in a secure and safe environment. If you're worried about losing control of your bird's flight region, get the wings clipped to reduce the bird's flying ability.

Budgies, like other parrots, are social birds, and many owners keep them in pairs so they can entertain each other. When housed in pairs, budgies appear to be the happiest. A single bird is good if you can spend a large amount of time with it on a daily basis.

Typical Health Problems

Budgies have some of the same problems as other parrots, but they also have several that are specific to this species. If they eat too many seeds and not enough fruits and vegetables, they may develop goiters as a result of iodine shortage or develop malignancies. Budgies can also contract psittacosis (a bacterial infection that affects the skin on the legs and around the eyes), as well as scaly mites that affect the skin on the legs and around the eyes.

Nutrition and Diet

Because budgies are various foragers in the wild, variety is essential for a nutritious diet. Seeds are a nutritious part of a budgie's diet, however, they should only make up a small fraction of the diet due to their high-fat content. Because they are nutritionally balanced, pelleted foods are generally a suitable choice for birds. Seeds and pellets can be fed together, but a range of fresh vegetables (carrots, broccoli, corn, spinach, beans, etc.) and fruit should also be included in the diet.

Always be patient with your budgie when introducing new foods, as they might be frightening to birds. Avocados, chocolate, sugar, and salt must be avoided, but sprouted seeds are a great way to bring diversity to your bird's diet.

A cuttlebone can be used as a calcium source.

Exercise

Free flight time is essential for budgies; aim to provide several hours every day in a safe environment. A huge houseplant can be a fun place to play. To provide exercise and mental stimulation, your budgie requires a range of toys. To keep children from becoming bored, swap the toys once or twice a month.

Where Can I Adopt or Purchase a Parakeet?

Budgies, unlike other parrots, are easily available at practically all pet stores, thus caution is advised while choosing one. Buying a bird directly from a breeder is preferable whenever possible. If you want to tame your budgie quickly, consider a young bird that has been handled frequently.