Budgerigar Care

Dr Dominic Byron-Chance BVMedSci BVM BVS GPCert (ExAP) CertAVP (ZooMed) MRCVS

Budgerigar Care

Introduction

Budgerigars (also known as common parakeets or budgies) are a species of parakeet native to arid regions in central and western Australia. They are typically found in open areas of grassland, dry scrub and woodland. Budgerigars have a strong social and flock-forming instinct. Wild budgies are nomadic, continuously moving in search of food and water. Their sociable nature, small size, and confident vocal personality make them popular pets.

Did you know? Wild budgerigar flocks tend to be fairly small, though they can occasionally congregate to form massive super-flock in excess of one million birds!

Wild budgies are bright yellow and green with black barring. Males have a blue cere (the area above the beak), while females have a pink-brown cere. Domesticated budgies come in many colors due to selective breeding. There are two main types: the larger English “exhibition” budgie and the smaller, more agile American budgie.

Diet

Budgerigars are naturally granivorous (seed-eaters). Wild budgerigars survive on a diet predominantly consisting of nutrient-dense seeds from wild grasses and flowering herbaceous plants. Commercial seed mixes are generally high in fat and are nutritionally imbalanced, so are not a suitable direct replacement in captivity.

Captive diet recommendation:

60–80% high-quality parakeet-sized complete pellets
Remainder: mixed dry and sprouted seeds, dark leafy greens and vegetables, small portions of colourful vegetables and fruits
Treats/training rewards: very small amounts of millet or unsalted human-grade nuts
Avoid: toxic foods such as avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, fruit pits

Provide clean water at all times. Use food-grade stainless steel bowls placed away from perches to avoid contamination from droppings. Encourage natural foraging to prevent boredom and health issues.

Supplements

Birds fed a nutritionally balanced diet, including the correct proportions of a complete pelleted feed, are unlikely to encounter nutrient deficiencies. If you are unsure about whether your bird would benefit from nutritional supplements you should speak to an experienced avian vet for advice.

Birds fed on seed-only (or seed heavy) diets are likely to benefit from nutritional supplements, such as calcium (e.g., cuttlefish bones, or liquid calcium/vitamin D3 drops) and calcium/mineral blocks. This is not a reliable way to ensure your budgerigar receives adequate nutrition and should not replace feeding a balanced diet.

Budgerigars do not usually need to be fed grit as they do not rely on this for their normal digestion. Feeding grit may put your budgerigar at risk of gastrointestinal problems such as impactions.

Husbandry

Small groups or budgerigars are well suited to being kept indoors, though larger groups can do very well in well-designed outdoor aviaries or flights.

Indoor Housing:

Cage Size: Ensure the cage is spacious enough for the budgie to stretch its wings and move comfortably. As a rule of thumb, a minimum cage length of 18 inches is needed for a pair of budgerigars. Cage length is more important than height. The bar spacing should generally be no wider than ¼ - ½ inch (1-1.25cm). Budgerigars generally prefer rectangular cages to round cages.
Perches: Provide perches of varying thickness (between 3/8 to 3/4 inch or 1-2 cm diameter), placed at different heights to promote foot health and movement in the cage. The thickest perch should be situated the highest point as this is where your budgerigars will usually sleep. Abrasive perch surfaces, such as sandpaper, are discouraged as they can be damaging to the feet.
Location: Place the cage in a draft-free, well-lit area away from direct sunlight and humidity.

Exercise and foraging: Budgerigars housed indoors should be given ample opportunity to exercise and forage outside of their cage each day. Take care to supervise them and protect them from other pets (including other parrots) in the household, as well as common household toxins such as houseplants, lead curtain weights etc. If this is not possible, a large indoor flight cage should be available.

Outdoor Housing

Aviary position: If housing outdoors, ensure the aviary has a sheltered section for protection from wind, rain, and strong sunlight/heat. Supplementary heating is likely to be needed to support your budgerigars during periods of colder weather.
Aviary size: the size of your aviary will depend on the number of birds you will keep. As a rule of thumb, an aviary built to house up to six pairs of budgerigars should be no shorter in length than 2 meters. The aviary should be enlarged by a minimum length of 13cm and width of 6.5cm per additional bird.
Flooring: A smooth concrete floor covered in non-toxic wood shavings allows for regular sweeping and disinfection of the floor. Bare-earth floorings are discouraged as these are harder to clean and can promote parasitic infections and rodents.
Aviary design: Aviaries should be built of parrot-safe materials. Take particular care with galvanized wire as this is a common source of zinc poisoning in aviary housed parrots. The wire in mesh panels should be minimum 19 Guage/1mm (preferably 16 Guage/1.6mm) diameter, with ½ inch (13mm) square apertures. Wire mesh should be fixed to the inside of the aviary to avoid birds chewing on the frame. Additional predator and rodent proofing is essential to avoid injury, damage and introduction of disease. Roofing should be solid to provide shelter and prevent introduction of wild bird droppings into the aviary. A double entry way or porch with an inward-opening door is useful to avoid escapes when entering/exiting the flight. A separate smaller enclosed shelter with multiple small entry doors should be constructed at one end of the aviary as a refuge space for birds to use when sheltering or when the flight needs to undergo cleaning or maintenance.
Perches: a wide range of perches should be provided. Naturalistic set-ups can use parrot-safe living trees or tree branches in place of artificial perches.

UV Lighting

Many people are familiar with the need for artificial UV (ultraviolet) lighting in captive reptiles but are unaware that captive birds need it too. UV spectrum lighting plays a role in calcium regulation, activating full-colour vision and other essential functions in birds. Full-spectrum lighting, including UV, designed specifically for birds is essential for many processes essential for phycological and physical health and wellbeing in captive budgerigars. It is needed even in birds that are positioned next to windows or in outdoor aviaries as natural UV cannot penetrate glass or plastic. The exact UV light you will need will depend on the cage/aviary design and set-up. Most reputable breeders, pet shops, avian vets or manufacturers of a artificial UV lighting for birds should be able to advise on optimal lighting solutions for your set-up. Artificial UV spectrum lighting should always be installed and replaced following the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Did you know? Budgerigar feathers “glow” different colours under ultraviolet light, a phenomenon known as fluorescence. These colours are invisible to humans but can be seen by other budgerigars through a difference in vision known as tetrachromacy. Being able to see in “full-colour” is essential for social and psychological health in budgerigars.

Enrichment

Companionship: budgerigars are a highly social species and should be housed in pairs or groups.
Toys: Provide a variety of parrot-safe toys like swings, bells, and ladders to provide physically and mental stimulation. Like other parrots, budgerigars enjoy chewing on toys for entertainment and beak maintenance, so it is essential that toys are robust and are made from non-toxic materials. Specific toys designed for chewing should be provided and changed regularly. Take particular care to avoid treated woods, and metal parts that might contain lead or zinc.
Rotation: Regularly change toys to prevent boredom. Inspect toys regularly and remove any that show signs of damage or wear and tear.
Interaction: Spend time talking, singing, or whistling to your birds to encourage vocalization and improve bonding
Foraging: foraging is one of the most important ways to provide enrichment for your budgerigar. This should mimic the natural behaviours of searching for food and other resources. Specially designed toys and play stations can be used, though simple home-made toys that use materials such as parrot-safe paper can be just as effective and much more cost effective.

Normal Behaviours

Vocalization: Budgies are naturally vocal and enjoy chirping, whistling, and mimicking sounds. Solo-housed male birds may be more vocal, though housing budgerigars on their own is likely to be stressful and is strongly discouraged. Changes to vocalisations or breathing can be a common sign of ill health and should be discussed to an avian vet urgently.
Preening: Regular preening is normal and helps maintain feather condition. Excessive preening that causes damage to the feathers or skin is not normal and should be discussed with an avian vet.
Resting: Budgies sleep at night and may doze during the day, often standing on one leg with eyes closed. Excessive sleeping, or sleeping at unusual times, may be a sign of ill health and should be discussed with an avian vet urgently.
Regurgitation: Some budgerigars will regurgitate food to feed their bonded mate. This is normal, and can increase during mating periods, though some birds will also regurgitate at their own reflection. Vomiting or excessive regurgitation (especially if combined with changes to the appearance of the droppings), can be a sign of ill health and should be discussed with an avian vet urgently.

Basic Training

Use high value treats and praise to encourage desired behaviours and help form a bond with your bird. Punishing your bird should be discouraged as it is often ineffective at reinforcing training and can weaken your budgerigar’s trust. Teaching and continuously reinforcing simple commands early-on like "step up" and “come here” can help with handling and protect your bird against accidental escape.

Bathing

Budgerigars require regular bathing or misting to help maintain feather condition. Natural bathing in shallow clean water bowls, or misting with spray bottles, can help mimic natural bathing routines. Keep your budgerigar somewhere warm after bathing and allow them to fully dry off before putting them to bed or somewhere that is draughty/cold.

Sleep Requirements

Budgies require between 10-12 hours of sleep each night. A “sleeping” cage that is located somewhere quiet and dark, away from human traffic or other disturbances, is essential for ensuring their sleep is undisturbed. Covering the cage at night to provide a dark, quiet environment is also conducive to restful sleep.