How to take care of a parrot. How to care for budgerigars

Budgerigars, bright, cheerful and quick-witted, are able to brighten up the monotonous life of a lonely person and bring revival to the everyday life of a friendly family. It is not surprising that those who like to communicate with talkative parrots most often give birth to “wavy ones”.

Description of the budgerigar

The stepped tail, which grows up to 10 cm, visually enlarges the bird, whose body usually reaches 17-23 cm, by about a third. An adult parrot weighs from 40 to 45 grams.

The dominant plumage of birds living in the wild is emerald green, but the neck and head (front) are bright yellow. Three neat black spots are visible on both sides of the throat.

On the back of the head, on the back of the head and on the yellow back, dark waves descend, whose lines thicken as they pass to the back. The younger the bird, the more blurred the pattern.

Modern varieties of "wavy", bred by breeders, have a variety of variegated colors and even the absence of an obvious wavy pattern.

A strong curved beak, at the base of which there is a cere with nostrils, is covered with a stratum corneum. A horny coating is also present at the tip of a thick short tongue.

The color of the cere tells about the field of the parrot: in an adult male it is bright blue, in a young one it is purple; in an adult female it is brown or blue, in a young female it is blue.

The beak of a parrot is not the same as that of other birds: it retains mobility due to the fact that the longer upper jaw connected to the skull by a tendon. A dark beak is observed in chicks, and a pale yellow, with a greenish tint, in adult parrots.

The beak of a budgerigar performs several important functions:

  • With its help, birds capture and carry objects.
  • It is used for crushing small branches, fruits, seeds and leaves.
  • It is used for climbing trees, cage bars and aviary netting.
  • Sometimes serves as a weapon of defense.

The horny denticles inside the beak also help the parrots to pick / gnaw the fruits and peel off the husk from the grains. These teeth also act as a file, honing the anterior area of ​​the mandible.

It is interesting! The feathers of males, located on the forehead, glow when exposed to ultraviolet rays. The more intense the fluorescent glow, the more attractive the partner for the female.

The paws of a parrot, consisting of 4 long, bent fingers, can be grayish blue or pink. Two fingers point forward and two backwards, making them excellent tree climbers and walkers on horizontal surfaces. With its paw, the parrot grabs and lifts the desired object, including food, and holds it next to the beak.

Range, habitat in the wild

Australia is not only the birthplace of budgerigars (the most common parrots on the mainland), but also their main habitat.

Birds nest along the southwestern and eastern coasts (avoiding the northern territories with dense forests), as well as on the nearest islands, including about. Tasmania.

Looking for areas for nesting, parrots opt for steppe and semi-desert areas with sparse trees.

In the north of the mainland, the breeding of the "wavy" offspring does not depend on the time of year (only the rainy season is excluded), in the south it usually falls on November-December.

Parrots live in flocks of 20 to several hundred birds. Flocks fly from place to place, looking for food and water, sometimes stopping in the middle of green plains, where they eat grass seeds.

Birds easily cover great distances due to the high speed of flight, similar to the flight of a swallow. When landing, the parrot bends its wings down like a quail.

Now the number of the wild population of budgerigars has significantly decreased. Ornithologists are sure that these are the consequences of human intervention in the landscape of Australia.

It is interesting! Aboriginal tribes may also have been involved in the process of decreasing birds, giving the budgerigar the name “bedgerigas”, which translates as “fit for food”.

Wavy parrot at home

To keep your parrots comfortable, set the cage on a raised platform (level with your height) in a well-lit area. Birds need a long daylight hours: 10-12 hours in winter and 12-14 hours in summer. With the onset of late autumn, additional light sources must be used. Do not place the cage on a windowsill, as parrots catch cold easily.

Cell device

The minimum size of the cage for the free fluttering of a bird is 25 * 40 * 40 cm. If the bird is not alone, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bits housing is increased. It is better to take a rectangular cage, to the flat top of which it is easier to attach toys.

The bottom of the cage should be solid so that the claws do not get stuck between the bars.

A comfortable cage for "wavy" looks like this:

  • at least 2 horizontal perches;
  • glass / porcelain drinkers (they are washed daily with hot water and soda);
  • two feeders: one for grains, the second for soft food.
  • baths with warm water (they are usually put in the summer, cleaning after water procedures);
  • if the bird lives alone, a mirror is hung from the "ceiling".

Important! The purchased cage and accessories are immediately disinfected, for which they are poured with boiling water and wiped dry.

Moving to a new place of residence for a parrot will be stressful, so keep it calm for 2-3 weeks: exclude loud sounds, increased attention from children and pets. Talk to the bird kindly, but do not pick it up: it will decide for itself when you can trust you.

Before going to bed, cover the cage with a cloth, leaving the front wall open: this way the parrot will calm down faster and will not chirp while everyone is sleeping.

The sun contributes to the production of vitamin D in the body, so when it gets warm, take the cage with the pet to an open balcony, slightly shading it from the sheer rays of the sun.

The budgerigar sheds twice a year. At this time, the bird does not fly. Try to disturb her less and feed her with vitamins.

Despite the fact that the wavy drink little, access to water should be constant. It should not be boiled, but it should be passed through a filter, occasionally adding lemon juice (a few drops). You can buy tested bottled water.

To make claw care easier, the perches in the cage are made of wood: if they are plastic, the claws will not wear down naturally.

The cage is cleaned daily, and once a month they arrange a general cleaning. A clean cage can be wiped with a decoction of chamomile / wormwood.

Budgerigar food

It corresponds to the energy consumption of the bird. You can take ready-made mixtures consisting of oats, millet, canary grass, meadow grasses and sunflower seeds. Make sure that the factory product is fresh, without dyes and chemical additives.

Sometimes give germinated food: oats (1 tablespoon) are brewed with boiling water, filtered after half an hour. Such food spoils quickly, so the leftovers (after 1-2 hours) are thrown away.

If you are interested in feathered longevity, do not keep it on grain mixtures only. The diet should include:

  • apple, pumpkin, plums, pears, mango, kiwi, strawberries, peaches, grated beets/carrots;
  • lettuce, dandelion, dill and spinach (in winter, grated dry nettles are added to the feed);
  • washed sprigs of willow and fruit trees;
  • chopped cottage cheese and boiled eggs flavored with grated carrots or beets;
  • honey crackers and parrot sticks (carefully) so that the bird does not gain excess weight.

Fresh food provided every day. When pouring the grain mixture, get rid of the scales of yesterday's portion. Vitamin supplements are needed only for molting, severe stress, illness and feeding chicks.

The list of prohibited products includes:

  • raw potatoes and rhubarb;
  • chocolate and alcohol;
  • milk.

It is interesting! The budgerigar can be poisoned by houseplants, including delphinium, diefenbachia, snowdrop, oleander, milkweed, azalea, daffodil, amarylis bulbs, lily of the valley, and asparagus berries.

For normal digestion, the parrot will need sand, which is bought at a pet store and poured into the bottom of the cage.

How long do budgerigars live

Rare specimens in nature reach up to 8 years: usually the life span of parrots is half as long. Birds perish from hunger, in the teeth of predators and from natural disasters.

It is natural that, against the background of their wild counterparts, domestic budgerigars look like Methuselahs, living up to 10-15 and even up to 20 years.

Parrot diseases, prevention

The most common diseases of "wavy" are:

Remember that females rush even in the absence of a male. A stuck egg can paralyze a bird's leg and cause death. Drop a little vaseline oil into the cloaca, put a warm cloth on the bottom of the cage, and a heating pad under the bottom. If the egg doesn't come out, go to the vet's office.

Important! Ticks are destroyed with ointments (novertin or aversectin), smearing the beak, cere, paws and cloaca with a brush. Vegetable oil will work too.

Birds with a cold are treated by irradiating several times a day with a desktop (not quartz!), 40-60 W lamp. They are given vitamins, chamomile decoction is placed at the bottom of the cage.

Parrot breeding

Budgerigars fully mature for breeding at 1-1.5 years. Couples are provided with a long daylight hours, temperature regime, a special diet and vitamins.

For mating, which takes place in summer and autumn, birds need a nest box:

  • With internal dimensions - height no more than 15 cm, bottom 25 * 15 cm.
  • Flip top to keep the brood healthy and crate clean.
  • With wood shavings on the bottom.
  • With a recess where the eggs are located.
  • With a perch, along which the female and her chicks descend/climb.

Especially for chicks, food (with calcium powder necessary for the growth of the skeleton) is not poured into the feeder, but at the bottom of the nesting box.

As soon as they start eating on their own, separate the children from their mother, otherwise she will bite them. Remove shells and dead chicks. To prevent the female from being exhausted by frequent births, do not allow her to give birth more than twice in a row. Just remove the nest box.

Melopsittacus undulatus) is a species of birds from the order of parrots, the parrot family, the only representative of the genus of budgerigars ( Melopsittacus).

The Latin name of the species is formed by 3 words: the Greek word "melos", meaning "singing", the word "psittacos" - "parrot" and the Latin word "undulatus", which means "wavy". Therefore, in literal translation, the name of the bird sounds like a singing budgerigar. A number of ornithologists suggest calling the bird a wavy singer.

Budgerigar - description, appearance and characteristics

All of the above names are absolutely true: budgerigars are really very noisy and talkative, perfectly remember and imitate individual words and phrases that are repeated many times, often without much meaning.

The budgerigar is a beautiful and slender bird, which, due to its long tail, looks much larger than it really is. body length of a budgerigar, excluding the tail, reaches 17-19.8 cm with a body weight of about 40-45 g. Domestic birds participating in exhibitions often have a body length of 21 to 23 cm.

Wings budgerigars 9.5 to 10.5 cm long are used by birds exclusively for flight and are completely unsuitable for support when walking or sitting.

The flight is beautiful and arched, similar to the flight of a swallow, and when landing, the wings of a bird are bent to the bottom, like a quail. Thanks to this structure, the budgerigar flies quite rapidly and is able to cover considerable distances in search of food.

The budgerigar has a fairly long tail stepped shape, growing up to 8-10 cm in length, and in young individuals the tail is much shorter.

limbs feathered developed and tenacious, ending in 4 long fingers: 2 of them are directed back, 2 look forward. This design allows the birds to grab various objects, food with their paws, as well as deftly climb trees and walk on the ground. At the end of the fingers grow strong curved claws of dark blue, black or practically white color.

The paws of the budgerigar can be painted in gray-blue, reddish, bright scarlet and pale pink.

In wavy parrots living in nature, eyes dark blue, and the color of the iris is yellowish or almost white.

These birds are able to distinguish colors, and a sufficiently large viewing angle allows you to view 2 perspectives at once.

The budgerigar is distinguished by its strong beak, protected by a strong horny substance, and its curved shape resembles the beak of birds of prey. At the base of the beak of a budgerigar, a cere with nostrils is clearly visible. The bird's beak is quite mobile, the upper jaw is not fused with the bones of the skull, but is held by a ligamentous apparatus, while the lower jaw is much shorter than the upper one.

Due to its peculiar morphology, the beak of these birds serves as an excellent mechanism for breaking off and crushing shoots, foliage and seeds of plants, and at the same time it is a convenient tool for carrying objects, eating and climbing tree branches. In the event of an enemy attack, the beak of a budgerigar acts as a reliable object of protection.

Budgerigars have a small, short and thick tongue, and its rounded tip is protected by keratinized epithelium. In almost all individuals, the inner surface of the beak is equipped with special horny teeth, which act as a file that sharpens the beak, help clean grains, and also pluck and break fruits.

The beak of the chicks is dark in color, but with age it becomes intense yellow, with a slight greenish tint.

Thanks to the natural grassy-green coloration, budgerigars are invisible to enemies against the backdrop of the natural landscape. Cheeks all individuals are decorated with symmetrical elongated purple marks, and below, on both sides of the goiter, there are black spots - special signs inherent in all representatives of the species.

As a rule, the markings partially overlap the throat spots.

Goiter and surface of the head wavy parrots living in nature are painted in intense yellow, in the occipital region a thin and light dark brown waviness passes to the back, where it becomes much wider and brighter against the general yellow background.

In young parrots, the waviness is not so noticeable and starts right from the wax, and as it grows older, it is replaced by a characteristic yellow mask.

Feathers Budgerigars on the forehead of males have a unique feature: when exposed to ultraviolet light, they fluoresce, due to which females in nature choose their partner for nesting.

Moreover, the human eye can catch this radiation only at night, and budgerigars see the glow even in daylight.

Determining the sex of a bird is not difficult. To find out the sex of a budgerigar, you need to look at its wax, which is located at the base of the beak.

  • Young males have a purple cere, in a young female it is intense blue with a light border around the nostrils.
  • In mature males, the cere is dark blue or purple (in albinos). An adult female can be distinguished by the beige-blue or brown color of the cere. By the way, the brown color of the wax in females appears during nesting.

Left male, right female

Types of budgerigars, photos and colors

Today, the budgerigar is considered the most common and favorite decorative bird for home keeping. Over the long years of breeding work, more than 200 varieties of these birds have been bred with a wide variety of plumage colors, including recessive varieties that lack the characteristic waviness.

Photo from budgerigar.com

The yellow color of the budgerigar is the first mutational color and was obtained in Belgium in 1872, and subsequently all modern color variations based on a yellow or white base appeared. Below are some varieties of budgerigar colors:

  • Natural, traditional color budgerigar plumage - light green(light green color)

with a glossy sheen that covers the breast, belly and lower back of the birds. The traditional mask is light yellow, with black dots on the throat, and purple marks on the cheeks. The head, wings and back of parrots are decorated with pronounced black waviness. The long tail feathers are dark blue, the bearing surface of the wings is painted black with a minimal light yellow edge.

  • dark green budgerigars (Dark green)

painted especially smartly, they appeared in France in 1915. The breast, belly and underside of the back of these parrots are dark green, the mask is light yellow, the dots on the throat are black, slightly overlapped by purple zygomatic spots, and there is a characteristic waviness on the body. The shade of the plumage of the wings is identical to the classic variety, but the tail feathers are darker.

  • olive green budgerigars (Olive green)

descended from dark green individuals and were bred in France in 1919. The predominant color of the plumage of birds is olive green, the mask is bright yellow. The black waviness is marked in contrast against the yellow base. The wings of budgerigars are black with a green sheen, the tail feathers are darker compared to dark green specimens.

  • sky blue budgerigar (Skyblue color)

was bred by the Belgians in 1878. The breast, belly and underside of the parrot's back are blue, and the mask of the birds is pure white. The characteristic waviness is clearly defined on a white base, the tail is blue, the primary flight feathers are black with a minimal white edge.

  • cobalt budgerigars (color Cobalt)

were first shown at the London Exhibition in 1910. Their breast, abdomen, back and tail are distinguished by blue color, the mask of birds is pure white, bright waviness is well expressed on a white background. The wing color of the budgerigar varies from black to blue. Tail feathers are darker compared to sky blue parrots.

  • Lilac budgerigars (color Mauve)

appeared as a result of mixing 2 dark factors, giving a deep purple colour without the presence of a gray tint.

  • Grey-green budgerigar (Grey Green)

the fruit of the labors of Austrian breeders, which was obtained in 1935. The front, lower part of the body and the bottom of the back of these birds are distinguished by a very light mustard or gray-greenish tone. The mask of parrots is bright yellow, the spots on the throat are black, and the cheeks are gray, a clear waviness contrasts well with the yellow background. The tail plumage is painted black, the primary flight feathers of the parrot are black with a minimal light yellow edge.

  • gray budgerigars (color Grey)

appeared in Austria and England at the same time, in 1943. In representatives of the variety, the breast, lower body, cheeks and lower back are gray in color, the mask is snow-white, the marks on the throat are black. The characteristic waviness is clearly marked on the white base, the tail is black, and the wing plumage is black or greyish.

  • Violet budgerigar (color Violet)

first appeared in Germany in 1928. The breast, abdomen and bottom of the back of the bird are distinguished by a deep purple. The mask of the budgerigar is snow-white, the throat markings are black, the tail is dark purple, the primary flight feathers are black with a minimal white edge.

  • Yellowfaces budgies are of two types:
    • The first type, one-factor, implies the presence of a lemon-yellow mask in the bird, which rarely goes beyond the occipital region and onto the chest. A lemon yellow tinge may cover the white tail feathers and other white areas of the bird's plumage. The yellow tint does not extend to the rest of the feathers. Two-factor birds do not have a yellow mask.
    • The second phylum of yellow-faced parrots also includes two varieties, one-factor and two-factor. Both of them have a yellow mask. At the same time, the yellow color extends not only to the white feathers of the budgerigar, but also to the main plumage of the bird, turning it from light green to turquoise, from cobalt to dark green, from mauve to olive.

  • Lutinos(Lutino)

a very unusual variety of budgerigars with a bright yellow egg-yolk shade of plumage. These parrots have red eyes with a light iris and cheekbone markings of a mother-of-pearl shade. The feathers of the tail and wings of the budgerigar are light. Males are distinguished by a pink or purple hue of the cere, in females the cere is brown. Paws of birds are red-brown or rich pink.

Albino on the left, Lutinos on the right

  • Albinos(albino)

were first obtained in Germany in 1932, and by two amateur breeders at once. Such budgerigars are distinguished by pure white feathers and red eyes with a white iris. The cere and paws of albinos are the same as those of lutinos.

  • Crested budgerigars

presented in a variety of color variations, but differ in the type of tuft. Some individuals are decorated with a pointed tuft of feathers growing on the forehead or crown. In others, the crest has the shape of a semicircle formed by feathers that grow to the very beak in a kind of shield. The third variety of budgerigars is decorated with a double or round crest growing from 2 points, while the feathers are arranged symmetrically and can form crests of various shapes and lengths.

Where do budgerigars live in nature?

Budgerigars live in most of Australia, in Tasmania and other nearby islands and are the most familiar and numerous species of Australian parrots.

AT natural conditions budgerigars live in flocks of 2 dozen to several hundred individuals and roam the mainland all their lives in search of food. Usually birds keep semi-desert and steppe landscapes with light forests, therefore they inhabit the entire eastern and western coasts, as well as the central part of the mainland, with the exception of the northern regions with dense forests.

The composition of a flock of budgerigars is constantly changing: individual individuals fly away, others join, small groups can gather in giant flocks of up to a million individuals, which is an unforgettable sight in beauty.

The birds usually wait out the hot time of the day in the shade, hiding on the branches in the dense foliage of trees. At night, budgerigars sleep, and with the first rays of the sun they gather in small flocks and go to a watering place and feeding areas located a few kilometers from the place of lodging for the night.

Some birds drink at the water's edge, others descend to the very surface and quench their thirst on the fly. Often the company at the watering place is made up of cockatoos and zebra finches.

What do budgerigars eat?

According to scientists, the basis of the diet of budgerigars in nature is the seeds of terrestrial plants, to a greater extent these are the seeds of kangaroo grass. Due to human intervention in natural biotopes, birds are forced to restructure their diet depending on changing conditions. environment. Today, the main crop of Australia, grown everywhere, is, but the grains of this cereal are too large for small birds. In addition to grains, budgerigars eat young shoots and leaves of plants, various berries, vegetables and fruits, and occasionally feed on insects and other invertebrates.

Budgerigars nest in their natural habitat all year round: the northern part of the population begins to breed immediately after the end of the rainy season, in the south nesting begins in November and December. Breeding pairs occupy hollows, creviced stumps and any other hollow niches.

The mating games of budgerigars consist in various courtships, an important part of which is “kissing” and burping food by the male. Thus, he demonstrates to the female his ability to feed future offspring. In the chosen place, practically without any litter, the female budgerigar lays from 4 to 12 white eggs, their incubation lasts about 3 weeks.

The entire period of incubation, the male budgerigar feeds the female, being nearby in a relentless search for food.

Budgerigar chicks hatch from eggs naked and blind, weighing about 2 g, the mother warms the offspring, and both parents are engaged in feeding. 10 days after birth, the eyes of the chicks open, at the age of 1 month they completely fledge and can leave their native nest, although some young individuals stay near the nest for some time.

At the age of 3 months, grown individuals are already able to reproduce.

Breeding budgerigars at home is a rather laborious process.

Male and female, unlike most birds, should grow up together and feel great sympathy for each other, and artificially created pairs, as a rule, do not give offspring for several years.

How long do budgerigars live?

In nature, budgerigars live for about 7 years, and at home, with decent care, birds can live up to 10-15 years. The life expectancy of some individuals in captivity can reach 22 years.

Budgerigars at home: maintenance, care, feeding

It is better to stop choosing a feathered pet for home keeping at 3-4 months old: at this age, budgerigars easily get used to their owners and a new home. But before you bring the bird home, you need to stock up on everything you need for decent care and maintenance of the budgerigar at home.


A rectangular cell is considered the best option. The size of the cage for a budgerigar should be such that the bird can fly from one perch to another without touching the walls with its wings. A cage measuring 25x40x40 cm is enough to keep one budgerigar. A cage with frequent vertical and rare horizontal rods will ensure unhindered movement of the bird and prevent slipping. The best material for a cage is unpainted stainless steel. If the rods are painted, the bird will gnaw on them and may eat paint particles.

The budgerigar belongs to the parrot species and is the only representative of budgerigars. When purchasing a budgerigar, for starters, you should decide on the purpose of his stay in the house. It can simply act as a beloved pet that will become a great friend, or the purpose of acquiring it may be to further breed these birds.

It is on this criterion that the care for the budgerigar.

Rules for caring for a budgerigar, how to choose a feathered friend

Most people who are going to buy a budgerigar have absolutely no idea what to look for before buying and how to keep their pet in the future. In order for a feathered friend to grow up healthy and cheerful, one should dwell on this issue in more detail.

How to choose a budgerigar?

Worth the maximum seriousness deal with this issue. It is best to purchase a budgerigar from a specialized breeder rather than from a bird market. This will provide an opportunity to inspect the place where the budgerigars live. Moreover, in such a place, the risk of acquiring a sick bird is much less than in the market.

The bird you like should be visually inspected. A healthy individual is active with clear eyes, the plumage is glossy and does not bulge in different directions. Each paw should have 4 toes. Two of them in front of the foot, two behind. A sick budgerigar, as a rule, sits motionless, he is not interested in what is happening around him, the plumage is fluffy, and the area around the cloaca may be smeared with liquid feces.

Optimal age for the acquisition of poultry is considered a period of 2 to 4 months. It is during this period that budgerigars quickly get used to the person and the place in which the bird will live, which will greatly simplify the process of further maintenance.

Age determination

In order to avoid deception on the part of the seller about the age of the bird, you should be able to independently determine how old the budgerigar is. For this, there are certain signs:

It is worth noting that these criteria will not work for variegated birds, the entire color of which is always white or yellow. In such individuals, the eyes are always black, and the beak is light.

Determining the sex of a budgerigar

You can distinguish parrots by gender by the color of the wax. While the birds are still young, both sexes have a light purple cere. At 4 months, the area above the beak in males becomes blue, and in females this part of the beak becomes beige. But after puberty, and this is the age of 9 months, in females, the cere begins to darken down to brown.

Budgerigar care and maintenance, choice of housing for budgerigars

For prosperous keeping a budgerigar at home, he needs not only the availability of high-quality food, but also the correct placement of the cage.

How to choose the cell location?

The best place where the cage will be located is the bright part of the room. It is not recommended to install a cage on the windowsill, since budgerigars are susceptible to drafts. Nevertheless, for budgerigars, the presence of daylight is vital: in the summer, at least 12 hours, in the winter, from 10 hours. That is why in the cold seasons, when the daylight hours are quite short, the owners should additionally illuminate the cage. In order for a pet to quickly get used to its owner, it is necessary to place the cage at the level of human growth.

Cell selection

In order to correctly select a cell, you need to pay attention to the following criteria:

Cage equipment

In order for the parrots to feel comfortable in their home, it is necessary to put at least two perches of different diameters, drinkers, feeders and various toys.

All perches should be positioned in such a way that the parrot can easily fly from one to another.

drinkers must be made of glass or porcelain. In such drinkers, the water stays fresh much longer. Every day the drinkers must be washed in hot water. For cleaning, you can use soda, which then needs to be thoroughly washed off and wiped with a dry cloth.

Should be a minimum two. One will contain dry food, the second fruit and vegetables.

Especially on hot summer days, you should put a bath in a cage. The water in the bath should not be too cold or hot. As soon as the bird has freshened up in the bath, it should be removed from the cage.

If only one parrot lives in the cage, then a small mirror should be placed in the upper part of the cage. It will help the budgerigar not to feel lonely.

Budgerigar: care, maintenance and diet

The diet of these birds includes a large number of different fruits, vegetables and dressings.

Cereals mixtures consist of oats, flax and millet. It is best to purchase such a mixture in a sealed package, on the surface of which there is a transparent area. This will help to visually assess the quality of the purchased goods.

Parrots get vitamins mainly from fruits, vegetables and various berries. They are very fond of nibbling carrots, cabbage leaves and cucumbers. As for fruits, apples, oranges and peaches are ideal. The berries included in the diet of the budgerigar are blackberries and raspberries. However, parrots will not refuse strawberries either.

In order for parrots to grow up active and shine with health, they should be given mineral top dressing. Chalk or sand can be used as organic top dressing. These substances are filled with calcium, which is necessary for the body of birds.

The first days after acquisition, the bird should be kept separately from other birds, if any.

A change of scenery can create a stressful situation for the bird. Therefore, the main rule for caring for a pet is to protect it from external irritating factors. These factors include loud noises. In no case should you raise your voice to a parrot. When talking to him, you should make your voice as gentle as possible. No need to try to forcefully take your pet into your hands. This will only aggravate the situation, and the adaptation process will be delayed for long time. But, as soon as this barrier is overcome, you can begin to teach your bird to talk.

Along with dogs, cats and fish, budgerigars are very popular for home keeping. These colorful and funny birds will be a worthy decoration of your home. You can find out how to take care of them by reading this article.

General information about budgerigars

These birds are native to Australia, where they are distributed everywhere except the coast and the northeastern forests of the mainland. They live in semi-desert and steppe regions. within which they constantly migrate. The only exception is the period when they make nests. The population size of these parrots in the wild is influenced by climatic conditions and the availability of food resources. Famine and drought are often the cause of its reduction. Agricultural lands and artificial reservoirs created by man come to the aid of birds. They become a constant source of food and water for them.

They live in packs of 20 to several hundred individuals. Under natural conditions, seeds serve as food for wavy various plants and extremely rarely insects. These parrots nest during the Australian rainy season. They make their nests in hollows of trees, mostly eucalyptus. Sometimes stumps and trunks of fallen trees can be used for these purposes.

Into the nest the female lays 5 to 12 oval white eggs, which incubates for 16-21 days. The male at this time becomes the breadwinner. Completely naked and blind cubs hatch from eggs, which begin to see clearly by the tenth day of life. A month later, having fledged, they begin to leave the nest.

How to choose a parrot?

To the choice of a bird gotta take it seriously. It depends on this how long the parrot will please you with its company and how healthy it will be.

When buying a feathered friend, consider:

  • the age of the animal. It is ideal to take a chick at the age of 5-6 weeks, as it will quickly adapt to a new home.
  • appearance. In a healthy parrot, the feather cover is clean, smooth, shiny. The paws should be with even claws and without flaws, and the beak should be dry and clean.
  • activity within the cell. A healthy chick is very energetic and mobile. If he sits, huddled in a corner and buried in feathers with his beak, then his state of health is in doubt.

Male or female?

Sex determination in budgerigars does not cause any particular difficulties. Wax (area above the beak) males are blue, while females are gray or light brown. This feature allows you to almost accurately determine the sex differences in these birds.

The younger the individual, the paler its cere and plumage.

You should know that these animals are very attached to the owner. Therefore, if you do not have enough time to communicate with your pet, buy him a pair. Some people contain several wavy at the same time.

Cell selection

When choosing a cell, it should be taken into account that it the area should allow the bird to fly from place to place. The budgerigar will feel comfortable in a house that measures at least 60 cm (H) by 80 cm (W). At the same time, there should not be too many toys and other equipment. The structure of the dwelling should be convenient for cleaning, since this will have to be done quite often. Keeping parrots outside the cage is strongly discouraged!

The cell must be install bath tub, which corresponds to the size of the bird. The parrot should have free access to it. It is better to choose one that will be fixed to the bars of the cage and filled with water from the outside.

As for the perches, preference is given to natural wood, except for eucalyptus, rose and oak. They should be well fixed, otherwise there is a risk of injury.

The parrot and special toys will be glad(bells, ladders, balls), but in order to avoid excessive cluttering of the free space of the cage, there should not be more than two or three of them.

Light mode

It is the key to the health and comfort of birds. Optimal daylight hours, which the parrot needs - 12 hours in summer and 14 hours in winter. In summer, sunbathing will be useful, and in winter, lighting should be as close as possible to the solar spectrum. darkness - necessary condition for healthy sleep, prevention of stress reactions and stimulation of the immune system. If at night the cage is covered with a lightweight cloth, then the parrot will get used to falling asleep immediately after dark.

Air humidity

It is also an important condition and should be 60-70%. Dry air is not the best way to affect the condition of the pet. Therefore, during the heating season, you need to use humidifiers.

Temperature must be monitored pretty strict. The optimum temperature in the room where the budgerigar is kept should vary between + 23–25 degrees. In hot weather, to avoid overheating, it is necessary to provide access to fresh water. To warm the parrot in cold weather, it is recommended to use a special lamp. It is better not to use heaters, because they dry out the air too much.

In order for the budgerigar to feel comfortable, it is necessary to ensure proper care for his housing. Be sure to clean the cage in the morning and evening. Do not use synthetic detergents for this. It is enough just to rinse it with running water, and then scald it with boiling water and wipe it with a dry, clean cloth. Periodically, the dwelling where the parrot lives can be wiped with a decoction of chamomile or wormwood.

The feeder and drinker are also subject to daily washing. The feeder should be of an open type, because, having climbed into a closed feeder, the parrot may become its hostage. Having experienced severe stress, the animal may die.

What does a budgerigar eat?

Feeding the feathered is also an important part of caring for him. The diet that the parrot receives should be varied and balanced. But its main component should be millet, because these are granivorous birds. In order for the budgerigar to have no problems with gastrointestinal tract , it should be fed with grain in a certain percentage: 50% yellow, 25% white and 15% red millet. In addition, it should include 10% shelled oats. It is best to buy specialized budgerigar seed mixes from pet stores.

  1. Greens;
  2. Vegetables;
  3. Berries and fruits;
  4. Minerals.

To enrich the body with vitamin E, sprouted grains should be periodically given to the pet.

Greens: in the warm season, the parrot should receive lettuce, dandelion, plantain, clover. You can also give tops of radishes and carrots. Before putting the greens in the cage, it should be washed well with warm water. In winter, germinated oats are suitable as green fodder, which you can grow on your own in a box on the windowsill.

Care must be taken to ensure that the parrot does not eat leaves and flowers. indoor plants because they can be toxic to him.

Vegetables the budgerigar should consume throughout the year. They are sources of beneficial nutrients and rich in vitamins. Birds are very fond of carrots, which are rich in carotene. You can also give them cucumbers and tomatoes, bell pepper, fresh zucchini and beets, radishes. well they eat different types cabbage: cauliflower, white cabbage, broccoli. Before giving to animals, vegetables should be scalded with boiling water.

Berries and fruits, with which the parrot is fed should be fresh and clean. Suitable for these purposes: apples, grapes, bananas, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, cherries. In the summer, you can pamper your pet with melon or watermelon. It is better to refrain from feeding exotic fruits.

From time to time, you can give your pet boiled cereals: wheat, barley, buckwheat and others.

Minerals. To replenish the reserves of minerals and calcium, the budgerigar must without fail receive chalk and sepia (a derivative of the cuttlefish skeleton), which can be purchased at any pet store.

The drinker should always be clean drinking water so that the pet can drink when he wants.

Reproduction and breeding of budgerigars

If you properly care for pets, they will easily please you with their offspring.

These birds reach sexual maturity by four months. m, but they become ready for breeding no earlier than one year. It is advisable to let the pet choose its own partner for mating.

The temperature in the room should be + 20-24 degrees. In a cage where mating and breeding of birds is supposed to be put a special plywood house with a reclining roof. This is necessary in order to keep everything that happens in it under control. Not very large sawdust should be placed at the bottom of it. The pair must be provided with sufficient food and water.

Soon after mutual courtship, the female lays eggs with a two-day one (their total number can reach eight pieces) and begins to incubate them for 2–3 weeks. All this time, the male regurgitates food and feeds her. The hatchlings are completely bald and blind. After their appearance, periodically you should carefully look into the house. It is desirable that the young mother does not notice your manipulations. She feeds the chicks with a secret secreted from her special glands.

After 35–40 days, the grown and fledged chicks begin to leave the house. Despite the fact that their parents still feed them, you need to pour grain for them on the floor in the cage. It is better to put grown parrots in a separate cage so that adults do not accidentally injure them.

What are the diseases of parrots?

Under natural conditions, budgerigars are extremely rarely susceptible to disease. But at home, birds can experience health problems. Here is some of them:

Providing your pet comfortable maintenance and care, you can enjoy his company for a long 12 - 15 years.

When a person wants to have a pet, he simply goes to the market and chooses the one he likes. But before you make such an acquisition, you should decide in advance on the animal or bird. We need to collect as much information about him as possible. If the choice falls on a parrot, then you should find out everything about its content. After all, when the bird is at home, it will not be so easy to refuse it. Therefore, how to care for a parrot, you need to know in advance. It is from the owner that the life and health of the bird will depend.

First stay in a new place

The question "How to care for a parrot?" quite popular in our country. A lot of people have them in their homes. After all, it is the full care of the parrot that is the key to a long and healthy life of the bird.

The main components of keeping a pet are some items. For example, perches and a feeder, a bath and a drinking bowl. It is also important to know the diet of parrots.

When an acquired bird is brought into its home, it cannot be planted with other birds. She needs to be alone for a few weeks (two or three). Constantly with a parrot it is worth maintaining a close relationship. Have sweet conversations in a pleasant voice. So that the bird gets used to the new owner and sees in him his patron. If you know how to properly care for a parrot, then your beloved pet will always be satisfied.

Choosing a place to live

The main detail in keeping birds at home is the presence of a cage. It is sold in pet stores or markets. The cage in the room should be placed in a place where there is a lot of daylight, but there is no direct sunlight (this is very harmful for parrots). It is also impossible for him to be in drafts. Before you care for a parrot, you should buy and install the cage correctly. His house should be at the level of your eyes. This approach will help to get closer to the pet and the owner. Also, heating devices should not be installed near the cage.

At first, parrots may have indigestion or poor appetite. It's not worth worrying about. This behavior is associated with a change of scenery and getting used to it. Also, at first it is not necessary to create conditions that will act as an irritant. For example, you should not listen to loud music, let other pets close to the bird, or persistently try to stroke it. You need to wait a little while the adaptation period passes. It is not only important to know how to care for a parrot, but also to communicate properly with it. The voice should be gentle and quiet, you can call by name. Especially when cleaning the cage or changing the water.

Disease symptoms

In the first days of the budgerigar's stay in a new place, you do not need to immediately begin to educate him. First, you should establish close contact with the bird. A little time must pass. Also, for several weeks after acquiring a parrot, you need to carefully monitor its general behavior. Some actions may indicate that the bird is sick and needs specialist help. Then care for the parrot will need more thorough.

So, what behavior can tell the owner that his pet is unwell? First, if he eats badly. Secondly, he drinks liquid very often. Thirdly, he does not move much around the cage, he mostly sits in one corner. Fourth, looks sleepy. Fifthly, it is in a sitting position with lowered wings and ruffled.

If these symptoms are noticeable, it is best to consult a veterinarian for advice. After all, his future life will depend on how to care for a parrot. Animals and birds are not a thing, they cannot be simply thrown away at the first unwillingness to keep or care for them.

Cell cleaning

Cleaning a parrot's home is an essential part of caring for them. Some things need to be done every day, and others once every thirty and ninety days. Now in this article, the existing cleaning options will be considered.

Clean up rubbish and leftover food every day. They can be on the floor of the cage, under the bedding, on the sides. The pallet must be pulled out and wet cleaning under it. The bedding should be changed daily. It is important to wash the drinker and feeder well, you can use soda or detergent. Then the dishes should be wiped with a dry cloth.

Once a month, after regular cleaning, the parrot house is disinfected. You need to wet the sponge in an infusion of chamomile or wormwood and wash the cage well. Then wipe it dry.

Once every three months, you must first wash the bird's dwelling, then wipe it with a soda solution (3 tsp of soda for 1 liter of water), and then with infusion of chamomile (wormwood). After all procedures, wipe with a soft cloth. Budgerigar care is not very difficult. The main thing is to know what actions to take. Then healthy and happy birds will live in the house.

Budgerigar food

The diet of budgerigars does not contain refined wheat groats, namely millet. There is also oats in the grain mixture. These two crops complement each other. Thanks to them, budgerigars get useful amino acids. In addition, birds can be given sunflower seeds in small quantities. Also green types of herbs: dandelion and clover, spinach and alfalfa, lettuce and sprouts of young plants. Some other budgerigars eat fruits and berries. They are useful, but not all birds want to use them. In addition to all these ingredients, you need to put a container with river sand and crushed eggshells in the cage.

Precautionary measures

Caring for a budgerigar for a boy is no different from caring for a female feathered parrot. All birds require attention and special conditions for living at home.

Water for budgerigars should be fresh every day. You can add a few drops of lemon juice to the water. It will add nutrients to the bird's body. Also important for budgerigars is the ability to fly. All sources of fresh air should be closed in the room beforehand. Otherwise, the birds feel it and fly towards it. It is better to curtain all windows and the balcony so that the parrot does not break on the glass. A tree branch can be placed in the cage, on which the bird will sharpen its beak. A suitable temperature for staying is about 20 degrees Celsius.

Corella Care

If a person takes a cockatiel into his content, then he must understand that these birds require special attention. Feathers are very proud, it is more difficult to establish close contact with them. With Corella parrots, you need to communicate very affectionately, do not raise your voice.

Birds love to bathe, so having a bath in the cage is essential. Spraying may be used. Caring for a cockatiel consists of proper food, free flight and regular cleaning of their homes. Birds are advised to trim their wings (the procedure should be carried out by a specialist).

Corella parrots need to be fed with a grain mixture, dandelion and plantain leaves, birch and willow twigs, cottage cheese, vegetables, fruits, bread.

Lovebird Care

Different types of birds differ slightly in maintenance and care. Lovebird parrots have a very cheerful nature. They are responsive and free-spirited. Birds are very fond of flying, because in a cage the birds only eat, drink water and sleep. Caring for lovebirds is to properly feed them, choose a strong iron cage and create room for flight. Birds often become obese from lack of movement.

The cage must be constantly cleaned, this must be done in the same way as in the dwellings of other parrots. Bathing water should be warm, you should not force bathing procedures. Food for lovebirds is no different from food for budgerigars.

If you have information about proper care for birds, then communication with them will be a pleasure for a person!