Budgies (parakeets) are a popular pet thanks to their beauty, affordability, and friendly manner. They can even learn to mimic human speech! Many people wrongly assume that they are good “beginner birds,” likely due to their small size, but they need just as much attention as larger parrots.
Can I have a budgie if I already have another pet (cat, dog, rabbit, etc.)?
Budgies can live in a house with other pets. Budgies can be housed with other small birds that get along well with them. Larger birds may be kept in a separate nearby cage. To avoid harm, other birds shouldn’t be permitted to perch near or atop the budgie’s cage. Pets that are not carnivores, like guinea pigs, hamsters, chickens, and rabbits, are safe to have in the same room as budgies, but they should be watched over. Dogs should also be supervised when around birds. As they get used to them, they might learn to ignore a budgie in a cage. Budgies should be closely watched when they are not in their cages because many dogs will automatically chase and bite a bird that is in flight. Birds and cats should never be together because cats are natural predators. The inclination to play with birds exists even in placid house cats. Their access should always be restricted to ensure the budgie’s safety.
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Dr. Teresa Manucy received her veterinary medicine degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1997. She completed an internship in small.
Handling Considerations for Budgies
Hand-raised by human parents, budgies are used to handling without stress. They are willing to eat when food is offered to them and may approach pet parents on their own. Care must be taken when handling birds that have been raised by their bird parents and are not accustomed to being handled by humans in order to prevent stress and harm.
When handling a bird, wrapping a tiny hand towel around it can help prevent injuries to both the bird and the handler and lessen the bird’s fear of the approaching hand. To protect the bird from harm, carefully fold its wings inward toward its body while wrapping it in a towel. In order to allow the bird to breathe while being held, it is also essential to avoid constriction of the chest and abdomen. In general, to lessen stress, try to hold your bird for a shorter period of time at a time.
Common Breeds of Budgies
The American budgie/parakeet and the English budgie are the two most common varieties of budgies available. Though there are physical variations between the two—the English budgie typically being larger—budgies are all members of the same species.
The English budgie is around 8. 5 – 9. 5 inches long, hardly bigger than the American budgie, but they appear to be twice as big. Because of inbreeding, English budgies frequently live half as long as American budgies despite having a more laid-back temperament.
FAQ
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