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Budgerigar: gear and buying guides

The budgerigar is a small, lively and highly social Australian parrot that does best kept at least in pairs. It chatters almost constantly but stays fairly quiet, making it well suited to apartment life. Plan on a cage wider than it is tall for horizontal flight, perches of varied diameters and lightweight toys rotated often.

Profile : Around 18 cm and 30 to 40 g, lifespan of 5 to 10 years, low to moderate noise level.

See it in the Planète Pets shop: Bendable multicolour cotton rope perch, 40 cm (€21.90) · the whole shop

Outside our shipping area? The downloadable practical guide: Budgies, Cockatiels and Canaries: The Starter Guide (€13)

Species profile

Lifespan

6 to 12 years

Adult weight

30 to 40 g

Size

18 cm

Minimum cage

80 × 40 × 50 cm

Temperament

Lively, curious and gregarious, it chatters almost constantly and tames quickly as long as you talk to it every day.

Health watch

testicular and kidney tumours common in mutation lines · obesity and lipomas linked to all-seed mixes

🩺 Reminder: this page informs, it does not diagnose. For any symptom or health question, your veterinarian remains the only reference.

Budgerigar gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  A seed-only mix is too fatty: aim for a base of pellets sized for small parakeets, topped up with seeds, greens and fresh vegetables. Millet sprays are a favourite treat but should be rationed to prevent obesity.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Offer a hanging bath or a saucer of lukewarm water several times a week. Keep an eye on beak and nail growth, and change the cage lining every two to three days.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Swings, bells, ladders and small destructible toys in soft wood or natural fibre keep it happy. Rotate toys weekly to keep its curiosity engaged.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  For a pair, allow a cage at least 80 cm wide with narrow bar spacing, around 60 to 120 euros, placed in a living area free of draughts. Daily out-of-cage flight time in a bird-proofed room remains essential.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  A small rigid travel cage with a low perch is enough for vet visits. At home, windows, mirrors and hot pans are the main hazards during free-flight time.

• 🧰 Accessories

  Natural wood perches of varied diameters, spill-proof feeders and a calcium block or cuttlebone round out the setup. Avoid smooth plastic perches, which are hard on the feet.

Guides to read

• Scaly leg mite in budgies: recognizing and treating knemidokoptic mangeCare & grooming

  Knemidokoptic mange in budgies: the tell-tale crusty patches on legs and beak, the vet treatment, and how to prevent it.

• Nonstick pans and Teflon fumes: a deadly danger for pet birdsTravel & safety

  Why fumes from overheated nonstick cookware are lethal to cage birds, and how to keep your kitchen safe without giving up nonstick pans entirely.

• Clicker training for birds: the basics of positive reinforcementToys & enrichment

  How to start clicker training with your bird: the gear you need, the principles of positive reinforcement, and simple first exercises.

• Colored LED lighting in the cage: real enrichment or just a gadget?Accessories

  Colored LED lighting in a budgie's cage: what the research shows about its effect on behavior, and how to use it without disrupting sleep.

• Lovebird or budgie for beginners: which bird needs the most company?Accessories

  Lovebird or budgerigar: which one copes better with being alone, and which one absolutely needs a same-species partner? The practical comparison for choosing your first bird.

• Nest box for budgies: should you really add one to the cage?Bedding & habitat

  A wooden nest box looks harmless, but it can trigger a full breeding cycle in budgies that have no chicks to raise. What to know before adding one.

• Outdoor garden aviary: real budget and health-safety measuresBedding & habitat

  How much does an outdoor aviary cost, and how do you secure it against predators, weather and health risks linked to wild birds? The budget guide before you commit.

• Too many sunflower seeds: the mix mistake that threatens your bird's healthFood

  A seed mix too heavy in sunflower seeds drives obesity, fatty liver and atherosclerosis in cage birds. How to fix the ratio without frustrating your bird.