Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Preparing his home
• Part 2 of 4: Taking good care of the budgie
• Part 3 of 4: Get used to it
• Part 4 of 4: Engaging your budgie
• Tips
• Warnings

Budgerigars, or parakeets for short, are fun birds that make great family pets. In fact, they are the third most loved pet after dogs and cats. This Australian bird costs little to keep, is happy in a home environment, and will even try to emulate your words over time. If you've just brought your first budgie home, you'll want to make sure it stays healthy and happy.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Preparing his home

1. Buy a large cage. Birds need space to play and spread their wings. If you care about their well-being, try to find a model through which the light shines. The cage must be at least 50 cm deep, 60 cm high and 80 cm wide.
   • Try to buy a cage that is wider than it is tall and has a square top. Parakeets fly horizontally, not vertically like quail. Cages with elegant tops are simply a waste of space and money.
   • Do not buy a round cage, as a parakeet cannot stretch its wings and fly into it.
   • Your budgie should be able to spread its wings and fly. Do not clutter the cage with toys, perches or other parakeets.
   • Test out a few cages and look for one that is easy to clean. Can your hand easily enter the cage? Can you use a brush in it? Remember parakeets defecate every ten to fifteen minutes!
   • You can keep the same cage if you decide to get another budgie. Try to buy a larger model if you want to keep more than two.
2. Add a bath. Parakeets can defecate a lot, but they also like to stay clean. They even enjoy going underwater for fun. Visit your favorite pet store for a stable plastic mini tub that you can hook onto the cage. It should be accessible to the budgie and easy to fill from the outside.
   • Do not overfill the bath. You don't want the budgie spilling water on the bottom of the cage every time it takes a bath.
   • The bath should be roughly the size of the bird so that it can submerge itself in the water.
   • A bath is great for your pet parakeet and they will love it, but make sure it doesn't take up too much space in the cage. Parakeets will clean themselves if you spray some water on them, there is no need for them to have a bird bath.
3. Add a few toys and perches of different thicknesses, shapes and materials. Natural perches are fantastic, especially when compared to dowels or plastic sticks. They also look much better. Make sure the stick is stable to avoid injury.
   • There is a wide variety of toys. Look for ladders, bells, balls, etc. They will keep stimulating your budgie.
   • Check that the wood is safe for the bird, such as eucalyptus. Dowel sticks or plastic sticks can cause foot problems due to the lack of foot exercises.
   • Avoid sticks and toys made from Prunus trees as they may contain cyanogenic glycosides. Also avoid oak as it contains tannins. There are no confirmed bird deaths but it is always better to be on the safe side.
   • Try to avoid concrete sticks as they are hard on the birds' legs, but if you must use them, set them to the lowest possible point.
   • Do not give the budgie too many toys or sticks. Two or three different toys are perfect for one budgie, but you don't want to clutter the cage with unwanted toys so that the bird feels overwhelmed. Parakeets should always have toys in their cage for "mental stimulation", without toys they can get bored leading to feather plucking.
4. Think about the room. Try to put the bird in a warm room where there are no temperature changes. A bright room will keep your bird stimulated and happy.
   • Avoid placing the cage in front of a sunny window or next to an open door. Cold drafts and exposure to too much sunlight can kill your bird.

Part 2 of 4: Taking good care of the budgie

1. Feed your bird well. Good parakeet food consists mainly of seeds and fresh fruits and vegetables. You can buy parakeet food from the pet store or supermarket, this will make up the majority of your bird's diet, but you can also supplement it with other types of food such as coriander leaves, vegetables, etc. Also try adding pellets to the diet because a seed-only diet can lead to obesity.
   • Never feed your budgie avocado, chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol. These are poisonous to the bird.
   • Make sure the budgie has enough water to drink in its dispenser. The bird will know how much to drink. Replace the water daily to prevent bacteria growth.
   • Add a sepia. This is a good source of natural calcium for parakeets. You can also buy mineral blocks. Some people can use liquid vitamin and mineral supplements, but these will be eaten by the fresh fruits and vegetables.
2. Clean the parakeet cage at least once a week. This will protect the budgie from germs. Clean with mild soap and water only, and avoid using cleaning products unless you are 100% sure they are safe for birds.
   • Try to pollinate your bird with a fine spray from a misting bottle to keep the bird cool.
3. Create the right environment for sleep. When it's time to sleep, just throw a light towel or blanket over the cage. Make sure there is adequate air ventilation - you don't want to suffocate your new bird!
   • This also helps when it is noisy. The blanket will block out most of the sounds.
   • If your budgie is afraid of the dark, add a small night light. Don't let your bird panic. He could fly into the cage and injure himself.
   • Check the towel to make sure your parakeets can't get stuck with their claws.
4. Don't forget to keep an eye on his health. Take the budgie to the vet at least once a year for a checkup. If your bird is acting strangely, or if you see anything out of the ordinary, get to the vet as soon as possible.
   • Look for abnormal breathing, discharge from the eyes or beak, mucus on the feathers, abnormal behavior, and weight loss. If any of these symptoms occur, call the vet right away.

Part 3 of 4: Get used to it

1. Make sure the budgie is comfortable when it arrives in its new home. Give him some time to get used to his new environment - at least three or four days. Never rush your budgie. He will adapt at his own pace.
   • Stay close to the cage. Talk sweetly and softly to him while you wait for him to adjust, but don't try to grab him. He will get used to you over the course of a few days or weeks.
   • Keep the bird in quarantine for four weeks if you have other parakeets. Once you are sure the bird is disease-free, move the cages closer together without allowing the birds to mix. Your new budgie will slowly get used to these new friends.
   • Avoid loud noises and screams. Your budgie is probably stressed by this new environment.
   • Name your budgie. Tell him often, especially when feeding him, so he gets used to his new name.
2. Introduce your household progressively. Your budgie may feel overwhelmed if too many people are present. Bring your family members one at a time and have them repeat his name. Have your family members feed the bird to earn its trust.
   • Be careful if you have another pet, especially a cat. Cats are natural predators and will likely find your budgie a suitable next meal. Keep the cat in a different room at all times to avoid unnecessary stress. Dogs can also get very excited. Their barking can scare the budgie.
   • Make sure your children treat the bird with respect. Small children can become overexcited when they have a new pet. Always make sure you are in the room when they are looking at the bird. Don't let them hit the cage or try to catch the budgie.
3. Try to gain the budgie 's trust. After a few days, put your hand in the cage. Just stick it in and don't move it for a while. Repeat this for a few days to get your budgie used to you.
   • When the budgie appears to be used to your hand, put your finger in the cage. Then gently press it against your parakeet's chest. This will encourage him to climb on your finger. Do this for a few days.
   • Feed your budgie from your finger. Dip your finger in water and put some millet grains on it. The water will cause the millet grains to stick to your finger. Hold your finger near your budgie beak and once he gets used to you, he will eat them.
   • After doing this a few times, gently hold the budgie in your hand. Do this briefly the first time, then extend the time afterwards.
4. Don't hold the budgie too often in the first two or three weeks. Eventually, as he gets used to his new environment, you can spend more time with him and he will eventually know that you are a friend and not a predator.
   • If you are too rushed, the budgie will become a little worried and anxious. This will prevent him from attaching to you.
5. Always treat your budgie with love and gentleness. Remember that the bird is fragile given the strength of a human hand, so you should hold it with care.
   • Never forget to teach people unfamiliar with birds how to interact with these fragile little creatures.
   • Never kiss your budgie, human saliva is poisonous to parakeets and they can carry easily communicable diseases.

Part 4 of 4: Engaging your budgie

1. Consider the pros and cons of a mirror. Hanging a mirror in your parakeet's cage can keep the bird occupied for hours. They love to look at their image and talk to it, but be aware that there are discussions about potential psychological harm.
   • Instead of a mirror, consider a second bird. Parakeets like company and are likely to welcome a new friend.
   • A mirror will most likely lead to goiter infections in males and often females as parakeets vomit to feed their mate. A mirror (the feeding bird itself) will not provide the necessary feedback that comes from a real partner.
   • If you decide to place a mirror, make sure it is attached to the cage and does not pose a risk to your bird.
2. Talk and play with your budgie often. Your bird will enjoy the interaction and the games and will likely become very talkative. Move your finger in front of him - if he moves his head in the same direction it means he likes to play and is very active.
3. Let the budgie fly into a room. Once the bird is comfortable with you and around it, you can have it fly into a room with all windows and doors closed. Turn off all lights and open the curtain on one window to call him back, but keep in mind that the window must still be kept closed. The parakeet will be attracted to the light. Hold him gently and put him back in his cage.
   • Make sure the bird is safe. Remove the cat and watch out for potential escape routes.
   • Think about your own hygiene. Your budgie will likely defecate on the floor. Don't let him fly in a carpeted room.

Tips

• Make a routine of cleaning the cage, water, and your bird to keep you on track.
• Cover your hand if you are afraid of being bitten.
• Be very patient with your new budgie, don't show it if you're frustrated! You will stress your bird.
• When you bring the budgie home, don't talk to him until he's used to it. If you do, you can make your bird associate your voice with stress.

Warnings

• Do not clip your budgie wings or legs unless you have extensive prior experience handling parakeets and really know what you are doing.
• A budgie may bite you if it is scared or as a warning, so try to keep it calm when handling it. Don't worry about getting bitten by your budgie, their bites rarely bleed. Just talk to him in a friendly and calm voice. Never pull away abruptly when they bite, just tap them on the beak or blow lightly, but never pull away. Don't overreact or the budgie will think it's a game.
• If you only buy female parakeets in one cage, you will get a fair amount of fights, so buy males and females in one cage to reduce fights.