10 Essential Items You Must Have Before Purchasing Your First Budgie.

Budgies or parakeets are one of the most popular pet birds in the entire world. They are small, intelligent little fluff balls that can learn to mimic sounds, making them the perfect companion for anyone. However, caring for your first budgie requires basic knowledge and commitment due to the fact that budgies can live for more than 10 years. In this guide we will cover the fundamentals of basic budgie care and items that you must have to provide the best care of your new feathered friend.

So what do you need?

Cage

Your first budgie will require a cage that is spacious and that measures at least 18″ high X 18″Wide X 18″ Tall. It is preferred that you purchase a cage that has horizontal bars with no more than 1/2 inch bar spacing. Bar spacing is key anything smaller or larger can cause injury or escape. Always keep your budgies cage in a well-lit area, away from drafts, away from direct sunlight, and away from kitchens as fumes can be harmful for your budgie.

Perches

Natural wooden perches of different shapes and sizes are a must. Cages that come with purchase more often than not include cheap dowel perches. Dowel perches can be problematic and are not recommended as they may cause a condition called ‘bumblefoot’. Bumblefoot can permanently handicap your budgie for life. Throw those dowels out or repurpose them by making chewable toys for your first budgie.

Food & Water Containers

Budgies need a variety of food and water containers. Separate the dry foods such as a staple seed diet or pelleted diet from wet foods such as fruits and vegetables. You will also need a separate container for treats like millet sprays and avi-cakes. For water we recommend a water bottle dispenser. If you provide them with a small water container or dish, your budgie will use it for bathing rather than drinking. Having a dedicated water bottle dispenser will ensure that the water is always fresh and clean.

Bathing Dish or Bath

A nice bathing dish or dedicated manufactured bath is essential for any budgie habitat. Budgies love water and they love to bathe. Baths must be large enough for your feathered friend and easy to dismount and store when it is not in use. We recommend adding some greens such as spinach or kale when it’s shower time. You can also add some vitamin drops to the bath water as we are certain your budgie will take multiple water breaks as they bathe their feathers.

High Quality Seed or Pellet Diet

A balanced seed diet that contains canary seed, hemp seed, millet, flax seed, etc. will provide most of the nutrition that budgies need to sustain a healthy life. However, some people prefer to feed their budgies a pellet based diet. Pellet diets are extremely processed but have a greater vitamin and mineral value than seeds. Regardless of what you decide to offer as their staple it is a must to always incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables as a supplement. We love to give our budgies fresh sprouted seeds, they go crazy for this stuff.

You can find more information on what to feed your budgie by clicking here!

Cuttlefish Bone or Mineral Block

Providing a Cuttlefish Bone to your budgie will supply necessary calcium. This will aid in strengthening of their bones as well as helping with egg production for the female budgies. Regardless of weather the female has a mate or has copulated they can still produce infertile eggs. Providing hens with calcium will greatly reduce the risk of being egg-bound if they lay eggs. Mineral Blocks are also necessary as they can help in keeping the budgies beak nice and trimmed all while providing key minerals.

Vitamins and Supplements

An all seed or pellet diet is not going to provide all the necessary key nutrients to your budgie. It is highly recommended that you supplement their staple diet with high quality vitamins and supplements. You can find a couple of the vitamins and supplements that we personally use down below.

Cage liners or Bird Safe Bedding

Budgies produce a lot of droppings and we believe that cage liners or bird safe bedding is a necessary addition to your budgies habitat. Bird liners just lay at the bottom of the cage, they catch droppings or spills and can be replace so easily. Bird safe bedding is an alternative and works better than the liners in our opinion. Bedding will absorb any spill and will keep the cage odor free. The only issue is that some bedding is dense and will fly out of the cage when your budgie takes flight. We like a particular type of bedding, you can find it below.

Nesting Box

This last item in our list is only essential if you have taken the time to learn all there is about budgies and are prepared to raise a flock. Breeding budgies is not something that we recommend if you are new to keeping these fluffballs but sometimes budgies will have a mind of their own and will need a nesting box. Having a nesting box handy will take out the stress if you come across eggs at the bottom of the cage. Believe me, it happens when you least expect it.

Conclusion

Owning a budgie is a rewarding experience, but it requires proper care and attention. By providing a suitable cage, a nutritious diet, toys, and regular health checks, you’ll ensure your budgie lives a happy and healthy life. Enjoy the journey of bonding with your new feathery friend!

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Have any questions or tips about budgie care? Share them in the comments below!