How to Take Care of a Budgie

Edited by Miss.Unknown, DifuWu, Flickety, Christian Dude and 29 others

You've just got your new budgie and are not completely sure of what to do? Follow the easy steps below & you'll surely learn a lot of helpful tips to help you keep a happy, healthy budgie!

Steps

1. 
   1
   Make sure that the Budgie is comfortable, give it some time to get used to its new surroundings - about three or four days at least. Never rush your budgie!! It will adapt on its own. Stay close to the cage and talk to it sweetly and quietly as you wait for it to adjust but do not try to handle it. It will get used to you in a few weeks/days Keep the bird in "Quarantine" for four weeks if you have other budgies.
2. 
3. Don't handle it too much on its first two/three weeks. Eventually as it becomes used to its new environment, start interacting with it more and more and eventually it will know you are a friend and not a predator. Other wise they may start being a little anxious and afraid. This will cause them not to bond with you. Also, make sure you give it a bath.
4. 
   3
   Make sure you feed your Budgie correctly. Its food mostly consists of seeds and fresh fruits and vegetables. A lot of people will tell you you must provide pellets as the base of the diet but in reality pellets are simply manufactured, unnatural lumps of low quality grains, fruits, vegetables & any other preservatives, colours, or flavours they add to it. Also, remember to never feed your budgie chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol, and make sure it has enough to water to drink. Keep clean and fresh water in its cage at all times, & change it daily to prevent bacteria build-up.
5. 
   4
   When it's bed time, simply throw a light towel or blanket over the cage, so it covers three of the four cage walls. Make sure there is sufficient air ventilation - you don't want to suffocate your new bird! If it is noisy you can do this too, it will calm them down, but it would also be good if you could move the cage if possible. If you believe it might be too dark, you can provide a small night-light in case your budgie gets a fright, this prevents it from flying around the cage blindly in fear & slamming into a cage wall/toy/perch, causing injury. Check the towel to make sure your budgies cannot get their claws caught in the towel.
6. 
   5
   Buy a big cage - as big as you can afford. The cage should be at least 18cm D x 18cm H x 30cm W, at least. Try to buy a cage that is wider than it is tall & one with a square top. The reason for this is because budgies fly horizontally, not vertically like a quail, & fancy-topped cages are simply a waste of space. The budgie must be able to spread its wings & fly - do not crowd the cage with toys, perches or other budgies.
7. 
   6
   Make sure to buy toys & perches of different thicknesses, shapes, & textures.Natural perches are great, especially compared to dowel or plastic perches. Make sure the wood is safe for the bird, such as eucalyptus. Dowel perches or plastic perches can cause foot problems due to the lack of foot exercises. Also try to avoid concrete perches as they are hard on the birds feet, but if you must use them, position them at the lowest point possible.'.
8. 
   7
   Name your Budgie, this will let them get used to the name!
9. 
   8
   Cuttle bone is a good source of natural calcium for budgies. Mineral blocks can also be bought too. Some people may use liquid vitamin & mineral supplements, but it is not essential, & these things will be consumed through the fresh fruits & veggies you give them - so make sure to give them a variety of fruits & veggies!
10. 
    9
    Clean out the Budgies cage at least once a week and fresh water every day.
11. 
    10
    Always treat your budgie with love & kindness. Remember they are very fragile & require you to handle them with care. Keep them away from small children, & always remember to teach people new to birds how to handle & properly play with these delicate little creatures!!