Budgies: Birds that Make Great Companions

Budgies are little bundles of sunshine that chatter away the day's blues. They are social birds about 6 inches long that can live up to 15 years under the best conditions. Some even learn to talk. And they come in a wide variety of colors.

For anyone thinking about owning a bird for the first time, the budgie makes a great first companion. They are relatively easy to care for, and if you get two or more of them they tend to entertain themselves. However, if it is an only child, a budgie can often get lonesome and require more avid attention from its owner.

When getting this charming little bird, a nice clean cage with lots of toys will keep him/or her happy. Spacing between the bars should be no more than 1/2 inch and the bigger the cage the better. These little chatterboxes need space to spread their wings and hop around their cage for exercise..

Perches should be at two separate heights in the cage (at least) so that they can flutter from one to the other. And, they should also vary in width to ease any muscle stress in their tiny feet. Before allowing your little feather head out of its cage, your home should be pet proofed. Certain plants are poisonous to these little creatures and should be removed. Shade strings should be tied up so that they do not get caught in them. And, metal items and anything that may have lead content (e.g., paint or stained glass) should be removed.

The budgie, like any companion bird, needs to eat a healthy diet of mostly enriched pellets and some seeds (no more than 30%). They also require cooked fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. Cuttlebones should be kept in the cage at all times as a source of calcium. A full-spectrum sun lamp is also important.

Certain foods are poisonous to budgies and MUST be kept away. These include chocolate and avocadoes. A daily dose of fresh water is essential.

There is some disagreement on the issue of wing clipping; however, there is no doubt that many budgies suffer injuries that could have easily been prevented if their wings had been clipped. Many fly into walls, windows, or into the blades of ceiling fans (which they are unable to see when the blades are twirling around -- so they fly into them and are often killed).

Other pets pose a serious threat to these little birds. Dogs, cats, ferrets and other household pets can and often do harm these little birds. If you do have other pets in the household, they should be kept in separate areas; and only under STRICT supervision should they be allowed in the same room with your budgie(s).

Although budgies can withstand rather large temperature differences, they should be kept out of drafts at all times. Their cages and food supply should be kept clean and dry. And, they need a social life -- if you cannot afford the time to spend with your budgie, it is best to have more than one budgie so they have the necessary companionship. However, there is no guarantee that any two budgies will get along. If you have two that choose each other as mates, they will stay as mates for life. And, only if that mate dies, will they select another mate.

A yearly health exam is always advisable for these colorful avians. At the very least, they should have their respiratory system checked, perhaps some blood work done, and have their droppings inspected. A nail and wing clip can be done at the same time.

Like all birds, budgies "fudge" their health in order to appear healthier than they really are. That is nature's way of protecting them from predators. If they look strong, predators are not likely to attack them, so they "hide" any illnesses until their condition is very advanced. However, there are clues to a sick bird.

Much of the possible ailments of a budgie are manifested in their droppings. If the quality or quantity of their droppings change suddenly (e.g., become more loose or the color changes), a sick visit to the vet is in order.

If it sits on the cage bottom and does not (or cannot) perch, if it huddles on its perch looking all fluffed up (actually indicates that they are feeling cold), or they are vomiting, sneezing, or oozing from their nostrils. an EMERGENCY visit to the vet is ESSENTIAL. Tail bobbing, clicking sounds when they breathe, or refusal to eat or drink are other signs of an emergency that must be addressed immediately. Any amount of bleeding is also a reason for an emergency visit to the vet.

Budgies enjoy music and will provide you with hours of entertainment if you leave the radio on softly in their room. They also enjoy the television, oddly enough. They may even show you that they have their own favorite shows. Mine did. Every time "McGyver" was on TV, my little Cascade would sing and hop around in his cage in sheer pleasure. He would even eat his food while watching his favorite show! Sahara, on the other hand, couldn't care less about detective shows - but she would dance on my shoulder when we played the radio.

Budgies are beautiful birds that can and do develop a strong bond with each other and their owners. As companion birds, they are exceptional little friends that offer a high degree of love and enjoyment to their owners, as well as adding a bundle of beauty to their environment. They are quite literally, little bundles of love.