Budgerigars are very common pets. They have bright colors, their singing cheers up adults and children, such parrots can be tamed and taught to talk. And the cost for a pet is quite reasonable.
But still, if a person decides to acquire such a pet, first of all he needs to figure out how to care for a parrot at home.
Home for a friend
Budgerigars have a small body size - from 17 to 19.8 centimeters - and therefore do not take up much space even in a small room. The cost of food for feathered friends does not hit the wallet of their owners.
Unlike cats and dogs, which, in most cases, have free access to all parts of the house or apartment, budgies must be kept in a cage. It is she who will become the main habitat for a small pet: you can hide in it for sleep or in case of danger (for example, if there are cats in the house), eat, drink. Therefore, the choice of the cell - the foundation proper care of your pet.
Best fit rectangular a cage with a flat roof. Its elongation is an added benefit. Since in this case the bird will be able flutter from one perch to another, without experiencing the inconvenience of a small space.
Round cages are not a good option for birds. In such parrots lose orientation in space, do not feel protected, cannot retire, and therefore feel extremely uncomfortable.
Cells will be inconvenient for the host. intricate designs or with graceful roofs. Since they are more difficult to care for, and it is not always convenient to arrange accessories for budgies.
If we talk about the size of the birdhouse, then necessary take into account that one pet should have an average of 30–35 centimeters. If a pair of birds will be placed in one cage, then this figure should be increased to about 60 centimeters.
The bottom of the cage should be retractable... This will make cleaning easier. At the same time, it is better not to place grates or other elements at the bottom. Otherwise, the bird may injure its legs.
When choosing housing for a pet, it is better for the owners to give preference iron cages rather than wooden ones. The former are much more convenient to clean, and they also retain their appearance and service life longer.
Climatic conditions
The budgerigar, together with the cage, should be placed in a room with a stable microclimate. The temperature regime must be maintained at around + 18 ° C to 25 ° C.
Since the duration of daylight hours for birds should be about 15-16 hours, in winter necessary will take care of additional lighting in the room to maintain optimal conditions.
An important requirement for proper care of parrots is the absence in the room where the bird is located, drafts and frequent changes in temperature conditions. Such conditions will be disastrous for a domestic parrot.
It should be borne in mind that the bird cage it is forbidden place in the following places:
- next to heating appliances and radiators;
- next to air conditioners and refrigeration systems;
- next to the windows;
- on the floor or on a cabinet (the table is optimal for placing a cage with a parrot, since its height will be ideal for a bird);
- in noisy places.
Interior decoration
A parrot's cage, like its owner's house, must be equipped with special devices inside.
Caring for the cage is a must condition... General cleaning in the pet's house should be done once or twice a month. During it, it is necessary to rinse the entire cage with a sponge and water, including the poles, and then dry thoroughly. The use of detergents is prohibited, as they may cause an allergic reaction in the pet.
Feeding the budgerigar
In order to know how to care for a wavy parrot, it is necessary to study in detail the issue of it feeding.
Nutrition should be balanced and varied so that your pet gets all the necessary nutrients throughout the day. The following foods may be included in the diet:
- special food for poultry: it is balanced and rich in vitamins and minerals;
- cereals, cereals: oats, millet;
- seeds of corn and wild herbs (pre-soaked);
- greens: beet and lettuce leaves, dandelion, St. John's wort;
- seedless berries and fruits, as well as fresh vegetables;
- food containing protein: crushed boiled eggs, softened bread;
- live food: moths, small insects.
There should always be fresh, clean water in the cage. It should be borne in mind that it is better not to water the pet with tap water.
What can not be fed
Taking proper care of your pet also means good nutrition that will not harm your pet. Therefore, as with many other pets, for parrots there is scroll prohibited products:
- stale products;
- sweet, spicy, fatty, fried, smoked foods;
- black bread;
- greens: parsley and dill, basil;
- onion and garlic;
- meat;
- coffee.
Bathing
Purity- the guarantee of health and proper care. This also applies to budgies. In the summer, you can bathe them every day, and in the winter, two or three times a week will be enough.
For bathing, you need to use a special bath installed in the cage. But you can also spray a bird from a spray bottle or bathe under running water.
If the pet does not like water, then the bath must be filled sand for cleaning feathers. And in the pet store, buy a special brush for those purposes and use it about once a week.
Parrots are very active and sociable creatures. They love company. Therefore, you need to talk to your pet often, let it sit on your arm or shoulder.
In case of a long absence from home during the day, you can leave your wavy friend "company" in the form of an included radio... Then the bird will think that it is not alone in the apartment.
Parrot once or twice a day necessary letting out of the cage to fly. So he can stretch his wings and explore the territory, finding something interesting for himself.
But the parrot should not be allowed to indulge and be naughty: he must know the boundaries of what is permitted.
The budgerigar (lat.Melopsittacus undulatus) is a species of birds from the order of parrots, the parrot family, the only representative of the genus of budgerigars (Melopsittacus).
The Latin name of the species is formed by 3 words: the Greek word “melos” meaning “singing”, the word “psittacos” - “parrot” and the Latin word “undulatus”, which means “wavy”. Therefore, literally translated, the name of the bird sounds like a singing wavy parrot. A number of bird watchers suggest calling the bird the wavy singer.
Budgerigar - description, appearance and characteristics.
All of the above names are absolutely true: budgerigars are really very noisy and talkative, they perfectly remember and imitate individual words and phrases that are repeated many times, often without much meaning.
The budgerigar is a beautiful and slender bird, which, due to its long tail, looks much larger than it actually is. Body length wavy parrot, excluding the tail, reaches 17-19.8 cm with a body weight of about 40-45 g. Domestic birds participating in exhibitions often have a body length of 21 to 23 cm.
Wings Budgerigars with a length of 9.5 to 10.5 cm are used by birds exclusively for flight and are completely unsuitable for support when walking or sitting. The flight is beautiful and arched, similar to the flight of a swallow, and when landing, the wings of the bird bend downward, like that of a quail. Thanks to this structure, the budgerigar flies quite rapidly and is able to cover considerable distances in search of food.
Budgerigar has a long enough tail a stepped shape, growing up to 8-10 cm in length, and in young individuals the tail is much shorter.
Limbs birds are developed and tenacious, ending in 4 long fingers: 2 of them are directed backward, 2 are looking forward. This design allows the birds to grasp various objects, food with their paws, as well as deftly climb trees and walk on the ground. Strong curved claws of dark blue, black or almost white color grow at the end of the toes. Budgerigar paws can be colored gray-blue, reddish, bright scarlet and pale pink.
Budgerigars that live in nature eyes dark blue, and the color of the iris is yellowish or almost white. These birds are capable of distinguishing colors, and a sufficiently large viewing angle allows you to observe 2 perspectives at once.
The budgerigar is distinguished by its strong beak protected by a strong horny substance, and its curved shape resembles the beak of a bird of prey. At the base of the beak of the budgerigar, the wax with nostrils is clearly visible. The bird's beak is quite mobile, the upper jaw is not spliced with the bones of the skull, but is held by the ligamentous apparatus, while the lower jaw is much shorter than the upper one. Due to its peculiar morphology, the beak of these birds serves as an excellent mechanism for breaking off and crushing shoots, foliage and plant seeds, and at the same time it is a convenient tool for carrying objects, food and climbing tree branches. In the event of an enemy attack, the budgerigar's beak acts as a reliable object of protection.
Budgerigars have a small, short and thick tongue, and its rounded tip is protected by keratinized epithelium. In almost all individuals, the inner surface of the beak is equipped with special horny teeth, which act as a file that sharpens the beak, help clean grains, and also pluck and break fruits. The chicks' beak is dark in color, but with age it becomes intense yellow, with a slight greenish tint.
Due to the natural color of grassy green, budgies are invisible to enemies against the background of a natural landscape. Cheeks all individuals are decorated with symmetrical purple markings of an elongated shape, and below, on both sides of the goiter, there are specks of black color - special signs inherent in all representatives of the species. Typically, the markings partially overlap the throat spots.
Goiter and head surface The budgies that live in nature are painted in an intense yellow color; in the occipital region, a thin and light dark brown waviness passes to the back, where it becomes much wider and brighter against the general yellow background. In young parrots, the waviness is not so noticeable and starts right from the wax, and as it grows up, it is replaced by a characteristic yellow mask.
Feathers wavy parrots on the forehead of males have a unique feature: under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, they fluoresce, due to which females in nature choose a partner for nesting. Moreover, the human eye can catch this radiation only at night, and budgerigars see the glow even in daylight.
Determining the sex of a bird is not difficult. To find out the sex of the budgerigar, you need to look at its wax, which is located at the base of the beak.
- Young males have a purple-colored wax, in a young female it is intensely blue with a light border around the nostrils.
- In mature males, the wax is dark blue or purple (in albinos). An adult female can be distinguished by the beige-blue or brown color of the wax. By the way, the brown color of the beeswax in females appears during nesting.
Male on the left, female on the right
Types of budgies, photos and colors.
Today the budgerigar is considered the most common and favorite decorative bird for home keeping. Over the years of breeding work, more than 200 varieties of these birds have been bred with a wide variety of plumage colors, including recessive varieties that do not have a characteristic waviness.
Photo from the site budgerigar.com
Budgerigar yellow is the first mutation color and was developed in Belgium in 1872, and later all modern color variations, based on a yellow or white base, appeared. Below are some of the colors of budgies:
- Natural, traditional color plumage of a wavy parrot - light green(color Light green) with a glossy sheen that covers the breasts, belly and lower back of the birds. The traditional mask is light yellow, the points on the throat are black, and there are purple markings on the cheeks. The head, wings and back of the parrots are decorated with pronounced black waviness. The long tail feathers are dark blue, the wing bearing surface is colored black with a minimal light yellow edge.
- Dark green wavy parrots (color Dark green) are painted especially elegantly, they appeared in France in 1915. The chest, belly and bottom of the back of these parrots are dark green, the mask is light yellow, the points on the throat are black, slightly overlapped by purple zygomatic spots, on the body there is a characteristic waviness. The feathering of the wings is identical to the classic variety, but the tail feathers are darker.
- Olive green wavy parrots (color Olive green) descended from dark green individuals and were bred in France in 1919. The predominant color of the plumage of birds is olive green, the mask is bright yellow. Black waviness is highlighted in contrast on a yellow base. The wings of budgies are black with a green tint, the tail feathers are darker in comparison with the dark green specimens.
- Sky blue The budgerigar (Skyblue) was bred by the Belgians in 1878. The breast, belly and bottom of the back of the parrot are blue, and the bird's mask is pure white. The characteristic waviness is clearly expressed on a white base, the tail is blue, the primary primary feathers are black with a minimal white edge.
- Cobalt Budgerigars (color Cobalt) were first shown at the London Exhibition in 1910. Their breast, abdomen, back and tail are blue, the bird's mask is pure white, bright waviness is well pronounced against a white background. The wing color of the budgerigar ranges from black to blue. The tail feathers are darker in comparison to the sky-blue parrots.
- Lilac Budgerigars (Mauve color) are the result of a mixture of 2 dark factors, giving a deep lilac color without the presence of gray tint.
- Gray green Budgerigar (Gray Green) - the fruit of the labors of Austrian breeders, which was obtained in 1935. The front, lower body and lower back of these birds are distinguished by a very light mustard or gray-greenish tone. The parrot mask is bright yellow, the spots on the throat are black, and the cheeks are gray, the clear waviness contrasts well with the yellow background. The tail is colored black, the primary primary feathers of the parrot are black with a minimal light yellow edge.
- Gray Budgerigars (color Gray) appeared in Austria and England at the same time, in 1943. In representatives of the variety, the breast, lower body, cheeks and lower back are gray in color, the mask is snow-white, the marks on the throat are black. The characteristic waviness is clearly marked on a white base, the tail is black, and the plumage of the wings is black or grayish.
- Violet The budgerigar (Violet color) first appeared in Germany in 1928. The breast, abdomen and lower back of the bird are distinguished by a deep purple color. The mask of the budgerigar is snow-white, the throat marks are black, the tail is dark purple, the primary flight feathers are black with a minimal white edge.
- Yellowfaces budgerigars are of two types:
- The first type of univariate assumes the presence of a lemon-yellow mask in the bird, which rarely extends beyond the occipital region and onto the chest. A lemon yellow hue can cover the white tail feathers and other white areas of the bird's plumage. The rest of the feathers do not have a yellow tint. In two-factor birds, the yellow mask is absent.
- The second type of yellow-faced parrots also includes two varieties: one-factor and two-factor. Both those and others have a yellow mask. At the same time, the yellow color extends not only to the white feathers of the budgie, but also to the main plumage of the bird, making it from light green to turquoise, from cobalt to dark green, from mauve to olive.
- Lyutinos(Lutino) is a very unusual species of budgerigars with bright yellow plumage of the shade of egg yolk. These parrots have red eyes with a light iris and pearlescent zygomatic markings. The tail and wing feathers of the budgerigar are light. Males are distinguished by a pink or purple shade of wax, in females the wax is brown. The paws of birds are red-brown or deep pink.
Albino on the left, lutinos on the right
- Albino(Albino) were first obtained in Germany in 1932, with two amateur breeders at once. These budgies are distinguished by pure white feathers and red eyes with a white iris. The bees and paws of albinos are the same as those of lutinos.
- Crested budgerigars come in a wide variety of color variations, but differ in the type of tuft. Some individuals are decorated with a pointed tuft of feathers growing on the forehead or on the crown of the head. In others, the crest has the shape of a semicircle formed by feathers that grow to the very beak in a kind of shield. The third variety of budgerigars is decorated with a double or round tuft growing from 2 points, while the feathers are symmetrically arranged and can form tuft of different shapes and lengths.
Where do budgerigars live in nature?
Budgerigars live in most of Australia, Tasmania and other nearby islands and are the most common and abundant species of Australian parrots.
Under natural conditions, budgerigars live in flocks of from 2 dozen to several hundred individuals and wander the mainland all their lives in search of food. Usually birds keep semi-desert and steppe landscapes with light forests, therefore they inhabit the entire eastern and western coasts, as well as the central part of the mainland, with the exception of the northern regions with dense forests.
The composition of a flock of budgerigars is constantly changing: some individuals fly away, others join, small groups can gather in giant flocks of up to a million individuals, which is an unforgettable sight of beauty.
Birds usually wait out the hot time of the day in the shade, hiding on the branches in the dense foliage of trees. At night, budgerigars sleep, and with the first rays of the sun they gather in small flocks and go to the watering hole and feeding areas, located a few kilometers from the place of their lodging. Some birds drink at the water's edge, others sink to the very surface and quench their thirst on the fly. Often the company at the watering place they are cockatoo and zebra finches.
What do budgies eat?
According to the observation of scientists, the basis of the diet of budgerigars in nature is the seeds of terrestrial plants, to a greater extent these are the seeds of kangaroo grass. Due to human intervention in natural biotopes, birds are forced to rebuild their diet depending on changes in environmental conditions. Today the main crop of Australia, grown everywhere, is, but the grains of this cereal are too large for small birds. In addition to grains, budgerigars eat young shoots and leaves of plants, various berries, vegetables and fruits, and occasionally feed on insects and other invertebrates.
Budgerigars nest in their natural habitat all year round: the northern part of the population begins to reproduce immediately after the end of the rainy season, in the south, nesting begins in November and December. Nesting pairs occupy hollows, stumps with crevices and any other hollow niches.
Mating games of budgies consist in various courtship, an important part of which is “kissing” and regurgitation of food by the male. Thus, he demonstrates to the female his ability to feed future offspring. In the chosen place, practically without any litter, the female budgerigar lays from 4 to 12 white eggs, their incubation lasts about 3 weeks. During the entire incubation period, the male budgerigar feeds the female, being nearby in a tireless search for food.
Budgerigar chicks hatch from eggs naked and blind, weighing about 2 g, the mother warms up the offspring, and both parents are engaged in feeding. 10 days after birth, the chicks open their eyes, at the age of 1 month they fully fledge and can leave their native nest, although some juveniles stay near the nest for some time. At the age of 3 months, grown individuals are already able to reproduce.
Breeding budgies at home is a rather laborious process. The male and the female, unlike most birds, should grow together and feel great sympathy for each other, and artificially created pairs, as a rule, do not give offspring for several years.
How long do budgerigars live?
In nature, budgerigars live for about 7 years, and at home, with decent care, birds can live up to 10-15 years. The life expectancy of some individuals in captivity can reach 22 years.
Budgerigars at home: maintenance, care, feeding.
It is better to stop the choice of a feathered pet for home keeping at 3-4 month old individuals: at this age budgerigars easily get used to the owners and a new home. But before you bring the bird home, you need to stock up on everything you need for decent care and maintenance of the budgerigar at home.
A rectangular cage is considered the best option. The size of the cage for the budgerigar should be such that the bird can flip from one perch to another without touching the walls with its wings. A cage of 25x40x40 cm is sufficient for keeping one budgerigar. A cage with frequent vertical and sparse horizontal rods will ensure unhindered movement of the bird and prevent slipping. The best material for a cage is unpainted stainless steel. If the rods are painted, the bird will chew on them and may eat paint particles.
What should be in a budgerigar cage?
Setting up a parrot cage is not that difficult. It is desirable that bottom of the cage The wavy parrot was solid, without twigs: this way it is more convenient for the bird to run.
Below the cage must be equipped pallet which makes cleaning easier.
The cage must contain at least 2 perches located one above the other. The thickness of the perch for a parrot should be such that, when grasping it with its paws, the bird cannot completely close its claws, that is, there should be a distance between the claws. Otherwise, the bird may rub its paws. The optimum thickness for a budgerigar perch is 1.5 cm. The perches themselves should be made of wood only. If necessary, you can make your own perches from any fruit trees.
To grind the beak in a budgerigar's cage, you need to place branches of rowan, cherry or special chalk.
It's good if drinker and bath be porcelain or glass: these materials are better at keeping the water clean. Also, the cell must contain 2 feeders: for grain and soft feed. It is advisable to wash both the feeders and the drinker daily, each time adding new food and pouring new water. Be careful not to place perches above the feeders and drinkers, otherwise droppings may end up in the feed or water.
The budgerigar belongs to the species of parrots and is the only representative of the budgerigars. When purchasing a budgerigar, for a start, you should decide on the purpose of his stay in the house. It can simply act as a beloved pet that will become a great friend, or the purpose of its acquisition may be to further breed these birds.
It is on this criterion that the care behind the budgerigar.
Rules for caring for a budgerigar, how to choose a feathered friend
Most people who are going to buy a budgerigar have absolutely no idea what to look for before buying and how to keep their pet in the future. In order for the feathered friend to grow up healthy and cheerful, you should dwell on this issue in more detail.
How to choose a budgerigar?
Costs with maximum seriousness take this issue. It is best to purchase your budgie from a specialized breeder rather than from the poultry market. This will provide an opportunity to inspect the place where budgerigars live. Moreover, in such a place, the risk of acquiring a sick bird is much less than in the market.
The bird you like should be visually inspected. A healthy individual is active with clear eyes, the plumage is shiny and does not bristle in different directions. Each foot should have 4 toes. Two of them are at the front of the foot, two at the back. A sick budgerigar, as a rule, sits motionless, he is not interested in what is happening around him, the plumage is ruffled, and the area around the cloaca can be smeared with liquid feces.
Optimal age for the purchase of poultry, a period of 2 to 4 months is considered. It is during this period that budgies quickly get used to the person and the place in which the bird will live, which will greatly simplify the process of further maintenance.
Age determination
In order to avoid deception on the part of the seller about the age of the bird, you should be able to independently determine how old the budgerigar is. For this, there are certain signs:
It is worth noting that these criteria are not suitable for variegated birds, whose entire color is always white or yellow. In such individuals, the eyes are always black, and the beak is light.
Determining the sex of the budgerigar
Parrots can be distinguished by gender by the color of the wax. While the birds are still young, both sexes have a light purple wax. At 4 months, the area above the beak in males becomes blue, and in females this part of the beak becomes beige. But after puberty, and this is the age of 9 months, in females the waxen begins to darken up to brown.
Budgerigar care and maintenance, choice of home for budgerigars
For prosperous keeping the budgerigar at home, he needs not only the availability of high-quality food, but also the correct placement of the cage.
How to choose the location of the cage?
The best place for the cage is in the bright part of the room. It is not recommended to install a cage on the windowsill, since budgies are susceptible to drafts. Nevertheless, for budgerigars it is vital to have daylight: in the summer season at least 12 hours, in the winter from 10 hours. That is why in cold seasons, when the daylight hours are rather short, the owners should additionally illuminate the cage. In order for a pet to quickly get used to its owner, it is necessary to put the cage at the level of a person's height.
Cell selection
To correctly select a cage, you need to pay attention to the following criteria:
Cage equipment
To make the parrots feel comfortable in their home, it is necessary to put at least two perches of different diameters, drinkers, feeders and various toys.
All perches should be positioned in such a way that the parrot can fly from one to another without any problems.
Drinking bowls must be made of glass or porcelain. In such drinkers, the water stays fresh much longer. Drinkers should be washed in hot water every day. For cleaning, you can use baking soda, which you then need to thoroughly rinse and wipe the drinking bowl with a dry cloth.
There should be a minimum two... One will contain dry food, the second will contain fruits and vegetables.
Especially on hot summer days, you should put a bath in the cage. Bath water should not be too cold or hot. Once the bird has refreshed in the bath, it should be removed from the cage.
If only one parrot lives in the cage, then a small mirror must be placed in the upper part of the cage. It will help your budgie not feel lonely.
Budgerigar: care, maintenance and diet
The diet of these birds includes a large number of various fruits, vegetables and dressings.
Cereals the mixtures are composed of oats, flax and millet. It is best to purchase such a mixture in a sealed package, on the surface of which there is a transparent area. This will help to visually assess the quality of the purchased product.
Parrots get their vitamins mainly from fruits, vegetables and various berries. They love to nibble on carrots, cabbage leaves and cucumbers. For fruits, apples, oranges and peaches are ideal. The berries that are included in the diet of the budgerigar are represented by blackberries and raspberries. However, parrots will also not refuse strawberries.
For parrots to grow active and shine with health, they should be given mineral feeding... Chalk or sand can be used as organic food. These substances are filled with calcium, which is necessary for the body of birds.
The first days after purchase, the bird should be kept separate from other birds, if any.
A change in environment can create stress for the bird. Therefore, the main rule of caring for a pet is to protect it from external irritating factors. Such factors include loud noises. In no case should you raise your voice to the parrot. When talking with him, you should make your voice as gentle as possible. No need to try to forcefully pick up your pet. This will only aggravate the situation, and the adaptation process will drag on for a long time. But, as soon as this barrier is overcome, you can start teaching your bird to talk.
Buying a budgerigar and putting it in a cage, having previously poured food and water into it, is not exactly the care that your new family man needs. By purchasing a budgie, you take responsibility for its health.
Many will immediately ask, so how to care for a budgie?
Here, fortunately, there is nothing complicated, but failure to comply with these requirements can lead to the death of the bird. The first moment - a new family member needs to be released from the cage to fly around the apartment, at least for 30 - 60 minutes a day. If you have bought a chick, and having bought him a large cage, you think that this is enough, then it is better not to torment the animal and give it to someone who, without pity, will give his new curtains and cornices to be torn apart. Not only these objects can suffer, but also everything that is at the height. It is likely that the top of the wallpaper will be chewed off. Do not open the vents, be sure the parrot will feel fresh air and will probably fly away, and do not hope that he will return. Perhaps your pet will fly to strangers who will try to find the real owner, but most often parrots are victims of pigeons and simply die in an unusual environment for them. If you have not yet changed your mind about giving away the already purchased chick, then move on.
An important point on which you want to pay attention is the care and maintenance of the budgerigar. The cage where your feathered pet will live should contain: a drinker, a feeder, a roost, a bathing pool and, if possible, a swing with a mirror. The mirror is needed only for lonely parrots who live alone. At the bottom of the cage, put river sand and crushed eggshells, you can put charcoal. All these components will provide the bird with good digestion. The bird cage should be in a draft-free room. Do not allow direct sunlight to enter the bird cage. Do not forget that the parrot is very fond of swimming. Swimming must be included in the care of budgies. Just put the bathhouse on the roof of the cage once a week, a regular plate of warm water will do. After bathing, it must be removed, otherwise there is a risk that the bird will get drunk with dirty water.
If there are other pets in the house, try to make their acquaintance with the new family member as friendly as possible. It is unlikely that the cat Vaska, which will hang on the cage with all its limbs, will bring positiveness into the life of a little bird.
Have you ever noticed that there are two types of budgies in the store. The first species is an ordinary budgerigar. The second is the Czech show parrot, which is twice the size of its relative. Caring for a Czech budgerigar differs only in that he needs a large cage, otherwise the care is no different from the usual "wavy".
Many people wonder about feeding budgerigars. The store has a very rich assortment of grain mixtures at a variety of prices. What kind of feed is most suitable for poultry and is it worth overpaying for seeds and cereals produced by well-known manufacturers.
In caring for and feeding budgies, trial and error will help you. The bird itself will choose which food is the most pleasant for it. Of course, for this you have to buy more than one grain mixture, but in the end you will understand what the parrot likes best. Do not limit yourself to some seeds from a pack, periodically put grass, a roll soaked in milk, sunflower seeds in the cage. Be sure to push chalk or a mineral stone through the rods of the cage - the parrot will receive all the necessary substances and sharpen its beak.
By the way, you need to remember about caring for the budgerigar's beak. There is nothing difficult here, just give him pebbles, twigs and other hard objects so that the parrot can grind it down.
Most birdwatchers are interested in the question, who is better to buy a female or a male?
Caring for a budgerigar boy is practically no different from caring for a female. The only thing is, there is an opportunity to teach the boy to talk, but if you bought a pair, a female and a male, or put a mirror in a cage in advance, then most likely you will not hear the phrase "Kesha is good" in Russian-parrot.
To determine the gender of a wavy friend, the color of the wax will help you. In other words, you need to determine what color the parrot's nostrils are. In boys, after 4 months, the wax becomes blue, in girls it remains pink.
It so happens that after buying a female and a male, you want new offspring, but for some reason, it does not appear.
It may sound strange, but the factor "likes - does not like" plays an important role in the care and reproduction of budgerigars. It happens that the birds live together, receive proper nutrition, care, but there were no chicks, and there are no chicks. I don't want to upset you, but they are unlikely to appear already. Try changing the pair to fix the problem. Place the female in another cage and buy a new one or exchange with familiar males or females. If you notice that relatives scratch each other's feathers, kiss and feed each other from the beak, then expect a quick replenishment (see).
Do not rely on the female to rush directly on the perch or in the corner of the cage. To breed chicks, she will need a house. She will lay eggs in it. You can make such a structure for the reproduction of future parrots with your own hands, for example, take an ordinary birdhouse and do the same, only according to the size of your cage. That is, the breeding house should not take up half of the free space, but it should not be the size of a matchbox.
With proper care, the first eggs can be seen after 3 weeks, and the first chick will appear 18 days after the eggs are laid. Your contribution to caring for budgerigar chicks should be as follows: Inspect the nest with newborn chicks and if you find dead, immediately throw it away. Do everything quickly, no matter what will bring stress to the female in the future, so that she does not start throwing eggs and chicks out of the nest. If this happens, then next times just put sawdust and chamomile grass in the nest. 
After reading the article, many answered the question of how to keep a budgerigar at home and were convinced that there was nothing complicated about it. Following the recommendations on how to properly keep a budgerigar in captivity, your feathered friend will live with you for about 15 years.
If your child asks for a small colored parrot, think in advance about how to care for it, what food is needed and how much time it will take. Parrots may not take as much time as dogs or other pets, but you still need to monitor their health.
The most important question when caring for such a pet is the choice of a cage. The budgerigar cage should be spacious and made from regular metal rods. At night, if the bird bothers you, you can cover the cage with any cloth. The parrot will calm down and understand that it is time to sleep.
House parrots
Domestic budgies are very beautiful and interesting. Children love to talk to the bird, watch the game. The colors of their plumage are so diverse that each color is surprising. Each wavy parrot is unique, a photo of any bird attracts attention, since they are really interesting and curious creatures.
Parrots, like all living things, need careful care. It is important to know which cage is needed and how often it needs to be cleaned. We will analyze all this in our article.
How long do small parrots live?
Australia is the natural habitat for this species. There the parrots feel great among the wild thickets. But in the cities, they also took root well. How long do budgerigars live in an urban setting? In the wild, these birds live only 8-10 years. But thanks to man, their lives can be longer.
The budgerigar lives at home for about 15 years, only sometimes it lives up to 17. These birds are afraid of drafts, they can get sick. Like humans, they are also susceptible to bacteriological and viral diseases, so they can die earlier without proper care.
When choosing a bird, pay attention not to a prettier pet, but to a healthier one. The bird that is too calm - does not chirp, does not play, may be sick with something. It is best to buy a parrot from a good pet store or directly from a breeder with extensive breeding experience, and not in a spontaneous market. That is, where the birds are looked after.
Budgerigar. Care and maintenance
How to care for wavy friends so that they live long and delight their owners with their cheerful disposition and chirping? Let's talk more about keeping a budgerigar.
It is very important to keep the cage clean at all times and change the water frequently. Every day, it is advisable to let the parrot out of the cage so that it can spread its wings and fly. Without movement, they become numb, especially if the cage is cramped for him. A bird sitting in a cage for a long time not only quickly loses interest in playing with people, but also earns obesity, because birds also need to move in order to lose calories.
Food for budgies should be taken of high-quality, good proven brand. But besides feed, you still need to give a lot of vegetables and fruits. During the laying of eggs, the female needs boiled chicken eggs.
Birds need mineral food such as ground egg shells. Greens are also needed, in particular parsley.
In the cage, there should always be a feeder with ordinary food, and next to it, the same one is needed for sprouted grain. Meals should be varied. Only one millet should not be given. Nuts, fruits, corn, and seeds work well. Everything should be in moderation in the diet. Domestic budgies eat and defecate frequently. They do it 40 to 50 times a day. This is considered normal stool.
Every day you need to change the water in the drinker. If the water is not fresh, the bird will get sick. It is required to clean the bottom of the cage three times a week, but when there are two or more parrots, then, accordingly, you need to clean it more often.
It is important to monitor the condition of the beak and claws. The bird should have a piece of chalk or sepia to sharpen its beak. After all, the beak also grows, like the nails of humans, and over time, the long beak prevents the bird from eating.
Which cage is suitable?
The fact is that parrots need a lot of space in the house. Keeping them constantly in a cage is not an option. The bird will be bored, she needs to stretch her wings. The cage itself should be large and spacious, especially if there are two parrots in it.
The length of the parrot's house should be at least 60 cm, and preferably 80 cm. The height should be at least 50 cm. Additionally, you need to attach a drinking bowl and a small bath for parrots. If the rods are dyed, then you can not put food between them.
Wooden cages will not work, as the budgerigar will chew through the wooden rods.
There are various curly cages on sale. But they are more suitable for transporting birds, but not for living. Best of all - ordinary, unpainted rectangular cells. In such dwellings, it is more convenient for birds to climb stairs and play. For the parrot itself, it is not so important what his house looks like, he needs comfort. Sometimes he is sad and needs a "personal" home corner. Another advantage of a rectangular cage is that it is easy to care for. It is easy to attach all kinds of pet toys to straight rods - these are bells, rocking chairs and more.
Additionally, you need to say a few words about the choice of perches. You should not buy perches covered with sandpaper, which have appeared recently in pet stores. The budgie's legs may bleed.
The diameter of these bars must be different. One is placed a little higher, the other is, as it were, on the lower floor, this arrangement is convenient for the bird.
Does a feathered friend need a mirror?
When people buy one parrot, breeders recommend attaching a mirror to his cage so that he does not feel so lonely, does not feel bored. But there is another opinion. Many people think that this way the pet will not learn to speak. Although this point of view has not yet been proven.
Parrot cubs
How do budgies breed? If you decide to buy a pair and try to breed a few chicks, keep in mind that the pair you choose may not be producing chicks. Parrots form an alliance for life. And if he or she doesn't like the pair, mating will not happen.
They are most fertile at the age of 2 to 8 years. The female hatches about 6-9 cubs at a time. The offspring are hatched more often in the summer, when the daylight hours are more than 12 hours and there is enough heat for them. After all, a parrot is a thermophilic creature. The female incubates eggs for exactly 18 days. He tries to turn them over all the time, since the egg that has received less heat will die.
During the summer, parrots need to be given more fruits and vegetables and germinated grains so that they can safely breed their offspring. If you want to get offspring in winter, you will have to additionally heat and light the nest.
It is convenient for a female to take out chicks in a cardboard nest. To equip it, it is enough to cut a small hole in the side of the box, 5-7 cm in diameter. This is a hole for the female. And in order for the male to fly up to the nest and feed the female, he needs to build a small perch next to the hole.
What are budgies when they first hatched? Chicks hatch so helpless and weak that the female has to feed them in a supine position. They are fledgling and their eyes are completely closed. The weight of only hatched chicks is only slightly more than one gram. Their mother is with them all the time, there is no need to climb into the nest and frighten the female. Chicks will leave the nest on the 23rd or 24th day, when they have already gained the bulk and they will have plumage.
Signs of illness in a parrot
When your parrot is not feeling well, you can tell by some changes in his behavior. Of course, the bird, although speaking, cannot say that something hurts her. But an attentive owner should notice the following signs:
- The bird drops its tail and looks weak. She is not interested in anything from things or toys.
- Refusal to eat.
- Parrots stop peeling their feathers when they feel bad.
- Growths are sometimes found on the beak.
If the parrot is just a little lethargic, you need to put a lamp near it and heat it. In a comfortable temperature, which is 27-28 ° C, he will heal himself. But when the situation is serious, it can be seen on the growths and, possibly, strange discharge from the beak. Then you need to immediately call the veterinarian and make an appointment.
Diseases of parrots
What does the budgerigar owner need to know about the diseases of these birds? First, the fact that health and well-being depends on the conditions of his detention. Good quality feed and frequent inspection of the beak and tail should also become a practice. So you will react to the disease in time.
The bird can become infected with salmonellosis and die in a short time from dehydration, since with diarrhea, all the water quickly leaves the little body of the parrot. Infection occurs from drinking contaminated water or contaminated food. Or the parrot was in contact with other birds, for example, at an exhibition.
Another common disease is psittacosis. When overheating or after a stressful situation of moving to another house to new owners, the bird can get sick. The parrot loses appetite and a runny nose begins. A characteristic feature is connective tissue edema and discharge. Previously, whole flocks died en masse from this disease, which is caused by chlamydia bacteria. But today, with the help of antibiotics, the disease is well cured.
Also, the bird can get sick with knemidocoptosis or become infected with ticks. In general, there are a lot of diseases. It is necessary to constantly monitor your health so that the parrot does not die prematurely.
Varieties
There are three main subspecies of budgerigars. These are wavy monochromatic, with variegated plumage and crested wavy species. Each group has many varieties of colors. The main natural color is light green. The stripes on the head and on the back in the form of waves act as a camouflage in the green thicket. Blues, whites, grays and other tones and shades are selected through selection.
Those who breed birds know that monochromatic parrots with light shades of yellow or pure white colors have faded, poorly expressed wave patterns. And on blue feathers and dark greens, this pattern is very visible.
Multicolor parrots, in turn, are divided into three more subspecies: harlequins, variegated wavy and penguin parrots.
Common parrots of light green color reproduce best in captivity. And those that were selectively bred do not adapt well, they are weak, and it is difficult with them when breeding.
How to teach to speak?
If you want to teach a parrot to speak, then you need to buy a boy, and one, without a pair. He will then be bored, and he will quickly get used to the person, will try to "find a common language" with his master.
How to teach a budgerigar to pronounce the first "words", and then phrases, or rather, teach them to parody people? Parrots, in fact, do not speak, but imitate human sounds, completely unaware of them. Moreover, most of these birds are better able to portray the voices of children and women. In order for a bird to begin to learn to imitate, it is necessary to constantly talk to it.
Budgerigars cannot remember many words. There are about 10-20 word combinations in total. Their larger counterparts speak bigger and better. However, wavy birds are easier and cheaper to keep than gray or cockatoos, and they adapt better to ordinary city rooms.
First, you constantly have to repeat one word, more often they say his name. Then the phrase in which this word is present. And even later, if a talented parrot comes across, you can learn some kind of children's poem or joke with it. But it should be noted that all this takes a very long time, and the owner must be patient and not shout at the parrot if he fails.
How to tame?
After you have brought the purchased parrot to your home, let it get comfortable. Try not to disturb him at all for several days. Only come up to change feed. In no case do not pick it up immediately. The parrot is in shock and must get used to you first. Talk to him more often over time. You can open the cage in a few days so that he plays in your room and becomes interested in something. Do not scold him if he breaks something, and do not turn on loud music.
Your job is to maintain an atmosphere of trust. You cannot grab the bird with your hands, you cannot scold it. Otherwise, she will be afraid of you and, possibly, be hostile. In general, parrots are very friendly and make good contact with humans. But if you scare a bird or inflict violence, planting it in a cage with your hands, you will forever lose the location of a small pet.
Conclusion
What can you say to summarize the information? Domestic budgies need a good and clean house, quality food and a friendly attitude towards them. Keeping a single parrot is not so problematic. It is necessary to monitor his health and the condition of his beak. Long beaks can be trimmed, but this should be done by the veterinarian, not the owner.
The food you need for your pet is varied and good enough. Feed the bird with mineral food, pieces of fruit, it is imperative to give greens. If all the rules of care are followed, your parrot will live for a very long time.
The budgerigar is very adaptable at home. These birds are interested in people, they learn quickly and can bring a lot of joy into the house. However, do not forget that by bringing a parrot into the house, you are responsible for its health.