Feathered Family Inc.

The Beautiful Budgerigar

(Melopsittacus undulatus)

Commonly reffered to in America as a "Parakeet" the proper name for these little wonders is the Budgerigar. Although the Budgie may be small in size, it is jam packed full of personality. They are one of the most popular companion parrots in the world, if not the most popular. Capable of speech, although in a reedy voice, and full of songs and playful attitude they are fun to share a home with and a delight to have as a part of the family. Most commonly found in the green mutation in the wilds of Australia, they come in many colors today, due to some wonderful breeding efforts. You can choose to share your home with anything from a gorgeous green Budgie to even a crested Budgie (the head feathers stand up silly but cute).

Just because they come in a small package does not mean that they will be small additions to your household, or to your chores. Like any parrot they need good thorough cage cleaning often, healthy foods, and lots of attention in order to remain healthy and happy. Many cages that are advertised as Budgie sized are in actuality much too small for an active healthy bird to live in. They can be easily tamed to sit on your finger or shoulder and will enjoy riding around with you while you do the things you normally do around the house. One must be sure to practice caution that the Budgies wings are clipped in order to prevent a household accident taking the life of your beloved companion, as they are small enough to get into amazing amounts of trouble in no time.

When buying a cage for your Budgie be sure that it is large enough to allow a great deal of play and perching area, but has slender enough bar spacing that your bird cannot get its head through the bars and injure or even kill itself. Perches made of natural woods or rope are far better for your parrot’s feet than any plastic perch. Also, keep in mind that the ‘sandpaper" covers for perches really do not do help with toenail condition, and can injure feet easily. If you desire to have a nail grooming perch invest in a small concrete perch. Be sure to place it low in the cage to prevent your Budgie from sleeping on it, as the hard perch can cause serious foot problems if a bird spends too much time on it.

Feeding your Budgie can be fun and exiting. On top of a high quality seed mix made for small birds you should also offer plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. Experiment and you will discover many wonderful foods that your bird will enjoy. It is a matter of debate currently if a Budgie should be offered Grit as a part of its diet, many say that it should be, and many say that this is unneeded. Personally, I offer a small amount of grit in a separate dish, just in case.

Budgies can be sexed visually, when mature. If you buy a young bird from a breeder, you will have to have a DNA test done if you need to know the sex before the bird comes of age (to prevent breeding for example). Once the birds mature you can look at the birds cere (Nasal area). The adult male Budgie will have a bright blue cere, where the hen will have a brown cere.

Adding a Budgie to your life can be a wonderful experience, and well worth each moment you spend making sure you get just the right bird.