Routine care and general information on Budgerigars
A small parakeet 20 centimetres long, it is highly prized as a pet bird, notably thanks to its very wide range of colours (green, blue, cobalt, mauve, grey, violet, yellow, white, cinnamon, dilute, variegated, pearl…). Friendly by nature and easy to tame, it does not screech loudly and can even say a few words.
Living environment:
In the wild: in its native country, Australia, it frequents open grasslands and arid regions. It leads a nomadic life, tied to the droughts that are frequent in the interior of the continent. It nests in tree holes without bringing in any material.
In captivity: the budgerigar adapts easily to the environment it is offered, it is fairly hardy and is not destructive by nature. It can live just as well in a cage as in a colony in a large aviary.
Ambient temperature: as long as it has a dry, well-lit shelter in bad weather, it happily does without heating.
Diet:
Dry food: a commercial mix, made up of canary seed, white millet, red millet, hulled oats or oat groats, and possibly sunflower seeds.
Fresh food: chicory, dandelion, chickweed, plantain, grated carrot, apples, etc. To be given regularly as it provides an essential source of vitamins.
Reproduction:
The budgerigar breeds twice a year, and is fertile from the age of 6 months. It is nonetheless better to wait until at least 10 months. Laying usually occurs within the 15 days following the placing of the nest, and averages 5 eggs. The incubation period is 18 days. Females are good layers up to 5 or 6 years of age, after which the clutch size tends to decrease. Males, on the other hand, remain fertile practically all their lives. Note that the female does not need the male to lay eggs.
Buying advice:
Try to choose a male if possible, as the female is more aggressive and will lay regularly. Males can be recognised by the cere (the membrane covering the base of the beak), which is more prominent and blue-purple in colour, whereas it is dark brown in females.
Common diseases
Like all birds, the budgerigar hides illness for a long time: by the time the signs become visible, the situation is often already serious.
A budgerigar that keeps its feathers puffed up, stays still at the bottom of the cage, is drowsy or refuses to eat should alert you. In birds, these subtle signs are often already late ones: you must not wait.
The budgerigar quite often develops lumps (tumours), under the skin or around the belly. Any lump, swelling or change in shape that appears warrants a veterinary check.
A diet based solely on seeds eventually lacks certain vitamins (especially vitamin A). Boredom, stress or loneliness can also drive the bird to pluck out its feathers (feather plucking). The beak and claws can also grow too long.
The female lays easily, even without a male. An egg can become stuck (egg binding): she stays puffed up, at the bottom of the cage, and strains without result. This is an emergency.
When to see a vet promptly repeatedly puffed-up feathers, a less lively bird, the appearance of a lump or swelling, plucked feathers, an overgrown beak or claws, abnormal droppings (colour, runny) that persist.
When to see a vet urgently difficult breathing (open beak, tail bobbing with each breath), a bird prostrate at the bottom of the cage refusing to eat, a fluffed-up female straining without managing to lay.
Key points in birds, a visible sign is often already a late one: do not wait. A varied diet and company prevent many problems. This information does not replace a consultation.