Bringing Home a Budgie: Set-Up Checklist
Budgies are cheerful, clever little birds. Here's what they need for a happy start.
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Budgies (parakeets) are one of the most popular pet birds: small, social and surprisingly clever. A good set-up from day one helps your new bird settle quickly.
A cage with room to fly
Budgies need horizontal space to flutter between perches, so choose a wide cage over a tall, narrow one. Bar spacing should be small, about half an inch, so heads can't get stuck.
A varied diet
A good seed blend is a start, but budgies do best with variety: some pellets, and fresh vegetables like leafy greens, broccoli and carrot. Fresh water every day.
Perches, toys and company
- Offer perches of different thicknesses to exercise their feet.
- Rotate toys weekly; budgies love bells, ladders and things to shred.
- Budgies are flock birds. If you're out a lot, consider a pair.
Placement
Keep the cage in a busy room so your budgie feels part of the family, but away from the kitchen. Fumes from non-stick pans can be deadly to birds.
Settling in
Give your budgie a few quiet days to adjust before handling. Talk softly, offer millet from your fingers, and let trust build at the bird's pace.