CARING FOR BUDGIES

Undisputed Heavyweight Champion

FEW PEOPLE, if any, will challenge the fact that the budgie or budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus, is the most popular and widely kept pet bird in the world. The total number of pet budgies kept worldwide runs into the millions.

All this has come about in just over 150 years since this tiny 7-inch green parakeet was first imported from its homeland in the dry, arid areas of Australia, where it is best known in ornithological circles as budgerigar a name probably derived from the Aboriginal name "Betcherrygah".

It All Started

The first reports of small, bright green parakeets received in Europe came from Captain James Cook who discovered Australia in 1770. Travelers on expeditions into the interior of Australia saw numerous flocks of the small green parakeets.

However, it was not until 70 years later that John Gould, the eminent explorer and naturalist brought the first Budgerigars back to England in 1840. These live examples of the budgerigar created quite a stir at the time. Shortly afterwards, a number of budgerigars arrived in America.

The first color variant-a yellow budgerigar with red eyes-was bred in 1870 in Belgium. This caused a sensation, but the Lutino (yellow) mutation did not survive, as there was no knowledge of genetics among breeders.

Shortly after, a yellow bird with black eyes was bred, and established. This black-eyed yellow mutation provided the impetus and stimulus for a number of large, commercial breeding establishments to flourish. The next development-a milestone in the popularity of the budgerigar-was the advent of a sky blue budgie with a pure white face. It made its first appearance at a show in London, in 1910.

Differences Between Show and Domestic Budgies

Today, show budgies are around 9 to 10 inches long, with much greater bulk than the original wild counterpart from Australia. Around 250 colors are recognized by budgerigar societies worldwide, who also apply rigid competition standards to show budgerigars.

Budgies seen at pet stores generally vary in size somewhere between the show budgie and its original wild counterpart. A great number of different color varieties are available to some stores. Because of the combination mutations that are being bred, some surprising and very appealing colors are often available.

The Pet

Whether the owner is a child, or an elderly person, the pleasure and interest that budgies provide is universal. They can be kept as individual pets in a cage or as a small group in an indoor aviary. Some budgies make exceptional speakers with good vocabularies. The ability to mimic is inherent in many tame budgies, and the sounds are variable, largely dependent on ambient sounds that budgies pick up through repetition.

Caring For a New Budgie

The most important purchase for the welfare of a budgie is the cage. Direct customers toward as large a cage as they can afford, and remind them that budgies are active birds that need plenty of space to exercise and overcome obesity Show them a few alternative, attractive, yet functional designs, and bear in mind that two budgies will need a roomier cage.

Cleaning the cage is an important consideration and a sliding tray will make it easier. Alternatively, the top should lift off the base to facilitate cleaning. Similarly, plastic seed and water bowls are more hygienic and easier to clean. A tubular plastic drinker attached to the vertical bars of a cage is a useful accessory and hygienic, avoiding the problems of seed husks and droppings falling in the water.

A single pet budgie will benefit from a rectangular cage measuring a minimum of 18 inches long by 12 inches wide and 12 to 15 inches high. Flying space is limited in vertical cages. Should a stand be necessary for the cage, ensure that the base is stable to avoid accidents in the home. Advise customers to position the cage away from direct sun light and drafty situations.

Top-opening cages, or ones with fold-down fronts, are great for budgies as they can have the freedom to roam or return to the cage. Unlike large parrots, budgies are not greatly destructive and are unlikely to create havoc in the home.

Cage and Dietary Needs

Offer different toys that will provide interest, without cluttering the interior of the cage. A mirror positioned above a perch will keep a to the vertical bars of a cage is budgie happy. Small, light rolling toys are useful as the budgie can roll them around the cage.

When the bird is tame and ventures outside of its cage, other toys should be added. The variety of toys available today is a tremendous incentive for pet owners.

Offer a good basic, nutritious budgie mixture, or pellets if the budgie is used to them. The customer needs to supplement this with spray millet and a variety of green foods and fruit, including lettuce, carrot, celery and apple. Other foods that can be offered include tonic seed or seeds on sticks as treats. Cuttlefish should always be available for the calcium content, and will need to be attached with a clip to the bars of the cage. An iodine nibble is useful for the vitamin content and to provide a means for keeping the beak trimmed. Grit is also essential.

BUDGIE BASICS

• Pet budgies need a good size cage around 18-inches long by 12 inches wide, and between 12 and 15 inches high as a minimum with either a sliding tray or top that lifts off for easy cleaning.
• Cleaning utensils should be easy. Plastic seed bowls and drinkers are ideal as they are hygienic and easy to keep clean.
• Budgies enjoy playing with a mirror and small toys, especially those that can be rolled around the cage.
• Your young budgie should be lively, able to fly well, with clear eyes and clean feet. Also, be sure its beak is not undershot, which means its lower beak protrudes farther thin its upper beak, so that it fits into the lower portion of the beak.
• Allow your pet budgie to have plenty of flying time out of the cage, as this will help to offset obesity and the potential problem of fatty tumors or lipomas.
• Good books are a boon, and can provide useful information, especially when a problem arises. Make sure that the book is well written and illustrated, and easy to follow.
• An avian veterinarian near you is a boost for the odd occasion when your pet budgie may be out of sorts and will provide useful backup in times of emergency.
• Seed stick treats are enjoyed by budgies and should be offered occasionally, but not everyday.
• Budgies become wonderful companions, providing hours of enjoyment, and can learn to mimic speech and sounds; especially those of a repetitive nature like a telephone ringing, etc. Keep repeating words until your pet masters it, then start with a new word, and eventually, short phrases.
• Grit should be supplied constantly as budgies need it to break down seed in the gizzard. Cuttlefish provides calcium, and iodine nibbles have mineral content. Keep the beak trimmed.

Reprinted by Pretty Birds from Pet Product news by Cyril Laubscher

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