Budgerigars as Pets: Easy to Start, Still Not a Toy

Who a Budgie Suits

Budgies earn their "easy first bird" reputation. They are widely available, cheaper to set up than larger parrots, and more forgiving of beginner mistakes than most species. Some learn to mimic words, especially if they are trained young.

The catch is that "easy" gets read as "low maintenance". A budgie still needs time out of the cage every day, a proper diet and a keeper who learns its body language.

One Budgie or Two?

Wild budgies live in large, roving flocks, and the RSPCA lists them among the species that do best in social groups. Two budgies keep each other company on the days your schedule falls apart, and a pair usually settles with less stress than a single bird that is often alone.

A single budgie can bond closely with one person, but only if that person turns up for it every day. A pair still needs your time too: they won't tame themselves just because they have each other.

Cage, Flying Time and Light

Budgies fly sideways, not up and down, so a wide cage beats a tall one. The RSPCA's rule of thumb is a cage at least one and a half times the bird's wingspan in height, width and depth if it spends most of its time out of the cage, and at least twice the wingspan if it spends most of its time inside. Add a little extra space for each bird beyond the first two. Bar spacing must be narrow enough that a small head can't slip through; our cage size and bar spacing guide covers measuring.

Flying is how birds move, and they need to do it every day. The RSPCA suggests at least six hours a day of free flight in a safe indoor space, or a large, secure aviary. Before you open the door, shut windows and doors, switch off ceiling fans and cover big mirrors and windows.

• Placement: against a solid wall, out of drafts and direct sun, away from radiators and the kitchen.
• Perches: natural branches of different thicknesses rather than only smooth dowels.
• Fumes: smoke, air-freshener plug-ins and overheated non-stick pans can harm birds (see household dangers for birds).
• Light: the RSPCA and the Royal Veterinary College both recommend UV lighting for indoor birds, from a bird lamp fitted above the cage, not beside it.

Every home differs, so check the details with your vet or an experienced bird keeper.

Feeding a Budgie

A bowl of seed alone is not a complete diet. Seed mixes are high in fat and low in calcium and some vitamins, and budgies pick out their favorite seeds. The RSPCA advises that seed should be no more than about a tenth of a small parrot's diet, with most of the rest a complete pellet plus washed vegetables and some fruit.

Good vegetables include broccoli, kale, carrot and peas. Never give avocado, which is poisonous to parrots. Fresh water every day, plus a shallow dish for bathing, completes the picture. Switching a seed-loyal bird takes patience; seed vs pellet diets has the slow way to do it.

Lifespan and the Starter-Pet Trap

Sources vary: the Merck Veterinary Manual lists 5 to 10 years, while the Royal Veterinary College's care sheet says 10 to 15 years in captivity. Either way, that is closer to a cat's commitment than a goldfish's.

The trouble often starts with the word "starter": a bird bought as an easy first pet, then given less attention once the novelty fades. The budgie doesn't know it was meant to be a trial. A bored, lonely budgie can become loud, nippy or start damaging its feathers, whatever its size. Buy with the same care you would give any long-lived pet.

The First Month

• Before they arrive: set up the cage, perches and food, and find a vet who sees birds.
• Week one: let them settle. Sit near the cage and talk quietly; don't reach in.
• Weeks two to four: short, calm hand-training sessions with a favorite treat, and the first supervised flights in a bird-safe room.

Young birds learn fastest, so handling and talking to them early pays off. A child can help feed and talk to a budgie, but an adult should lead the care and the handling.

Staying Healthy

Small birds hide illness well, so prevention matters. Book a check-up with an avian vet soon after your budgies come home and then about once a year, as the Royal Veterinary College recommends. Clean the cage at least weekly, wash food and water dishes daily, and weigh your birds now and then on kitchen scales: a steady weight is reassuring. If anything about eating, droppings or behavior changes, call your vet the same day; bird health and hygiene covers the routine.