Keeping Budgerigars by Robert Higgerson

KEEPING BUDGERIGARS

All Birds need the appropriate housing as well as the correct food in a hygienic clean cage - always.

HOUSING a suitable cage would be 600mm long 300mm wide 600mm deep with non toxic, easy clean surfaces. With the correct size perches made from wood or plastic or even small fruit tree branches suitably cleaned & sterilised. The cage must be kept clean always.

FLOOR COVERING this could be clean newspaper changed daily, proprietry sand sheets changed at least once a week more if a lot of droppings are evident, clean & washed sand/grit changed once a week.
 
FRESH WATER CHANGED DAILY given in water fountains, or dish in side of cage.

FOOD this should be a seed suitable for the Bird being caged Budgerigars need a Budgie mix available from good pet stores which should be served in a dish at the side of the cage with a perch in front of it fitted so droppings will not fall onto seed.  Seed husks will need to be blown off each day & any dust from seed cleaned away by sieving seed at least twice a week.

MINERALS these are given in the form of Budgie grit in a small pot, cuttlefish fixed to the cage side away from droppings, & a mineral or iodine block again fixed to the side of cage away from droppings.

BUDGIES CAN ALSO BE GIVEN Carrot, Apple, Broccoli, Celery, Sweet corn on the cob, Cress, All cleaned & only given in moderation as too much will make the Budgie very loose.  All green food should be cleared from cage daily Millet sprays can be given once or twice a week as can Budgie treats purchased from good pet stores.

TOYS Budgies like to play & be with other Budgies so a Mirror or two will make him think there are Budgies in the cage & he will chirp away content for long periods before resting.  They are very curious so any suitable toy will be played with I use cleaned yogurt pots & toilet roll inners in my cages & flights steer clear of painted toys as any lead paint will harm Budgerigars. Therefore any thing put into the Budgies cage must be kept clean always.

ILLNESSES Budgerigars are very good at masking illnesses but very rarely get ill the first sign is being very quiet roosting on two feet with their feathers all puffed up usually all that is needed is warmth & clean water. :- eg place in front of a warm radiator & observe, if it moves away from the heat then remove from site & observe if after two or three hours it is no better visit a vet for their opinion. The most common reason for an illness is being placed in a draught.

TALKING both sexes will talk to make them keep talking to him saying things like pretty boy (name), give us a kiss, what are you doing, & keep repeating it time & time again some will pick it up very quickly others will be more slower perseverance is the key.

FINGER TRAINING this needs a lot of patience with doors & windows shut & should start as soon as you have your Budgie settled in his new home this could take as long as two to three weeks. Take a piece of millet in one hand & get your budgie on your finger so that it can eat the millet if he should fly off do not frighten it by chasing it round the room but let it settle & again try giving it your finger to sit on.

Finally learn all you can about your pet by reading books purchased from good pet shops, the Budgerigar Society in Spring Gardens Northampton or by going to your local library. It is always advisable to have a book as a reference to read any time.