Budgerigar (Parakeet)
Small, cheerful and surprisingly talkative.
Budgies are social, playful flock birds and one of the easiest parrots to keep. Some learn dozens of words. Keep them in pairs unless you can spend a lot of time with a single bird.
Photo: Benjamint444 · GFDL 1.2 · Wikimedia Commons
Daily care
Cage at least 18″ wide with horizontal bars, varied perches and toys.
Pellets plus fresh vegetables and some seed. Seed-only diets cause disease.
Daily supervised flight time in a bird-safe room.
Shallow bath dish; occasional nail trims.
Common health concerns
Know what to watch for. Early detection makes most of these far easier and cheaper to treat.
- Tumors
- Obesity and fatty liver
- Psittacosis
- Scaly face mites
- Egg binding
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This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Costs are rough U.S. estimates for food, supplies and routine care. Always consult a licensed veterinarian about your pet’s needs.