It is believed that budgies do not require special care, as well as material investments and are the easiest for home maintenance. However, it should be borne in mind that these birds, like any others, require the fulfillment of certain care conditions, since they are responsible for the health of the bird. A wavy parrot in good condition is cheerful and attentive to the people around it, objects, trying to attract more attention to itself and watching everything that happens around it.
The living conditions of the parrot should not only ensure its safety as such, but also contribute to the normal and proper processes of life. For a more understandable distribution of all aspects of the care of budgies, we will divide by points:
- The right cell choice.
- Internal cell equipment.
- Temperature and light conditions, humidity.
The right cell choice
Dimensions
The first criterion for choosing a cell is its size. Choose a future home based on the number of birds. The size of the cage should be such that the parrot could freely spread its wings inside and wave them without hitting the walls.The height of the dwelling should also provide some space. It should be enough to take off on a perch or swing. The free cage allows the budgerigar to some extent compensate for the lack of movement.
At the moment, the assortment of cells for parrots in pet stores is quite wide, so there should not be any problems with choosing it for a particular species.
Rod material and cage shape
Metal cages are most commonly sold, but wooden cages also exist. Pay attention to the fact that parrots are big lovers of gnawing everything that surrounds them, and the wooden cage you bought may become unusable in a very short time.
The distance between the rods also plays an important role in choosing a home. You need to acquire such cages, between the rods of which your pet could not stick its head in. There are times when parrots push their heads between the rods and cannot free themselves, and in the absence of timely assistance from the owners, they die.
For ordinary budgies, the thickness of the rods of 2 mm and a distance of 15-20 mm will be sufficient.
When keeping budgies, they are not advised to buy a round cage. In it, the pet will not be able to navigate well. When choosing a cage, pay attention to the door. Its fastening must be reliable enough, otherwise the bird can get out on its own. As practice shows, a parrot left unattended can do a lot of unpleasant things or get hurt.
Equipment inside the cage
Perches
The main attribute of the interior decor of the cell should be a wooden perch or swing. Depending on the size of the cell and the number of parrots, there may be one or more poles. It should be installed so that sitting on it, the bird could freely spread its wings, while not touching the walls of the cage.Swing
As an additional place for hanging a budgie in a cage, under the roof itself, a swing made of strong wood can be installed, since the constant seating on a metal base can adversely affect the health of the bird.
Feeding trough and drinking bowl
The drinker and feeder should be located inside so that the litter does not get inside. It should be borne in mind that the budgerigar needs movement, so you should consider such a layout inside the cage that the bird had to constantly run after the feed.Temperature and light conditions, humidity
It is important that the living conditions of the parrot in the apartment are as close as possible to natural conditions. The housing climate is different, although not significantly, but a caring owner must take into account all factors that can affect the health of the pet.
Temperature
The birthplace of a budgie is Australia, in which a rather dry and hot climate (up to 40 degrees heat). However, this does not mean that such a high temperature will be comfortable for a parrot. The most optimal temperature for the content is considered to be 22-25 degrees Celsius.If the degrees exceed the norm, the bird will try to lower its body temperature on its own: by stretching its head, breathing with its beak wide open and even tearing out its own plumage.
Cooling, as well as overheating, can lead to quite serious poultry diseases, even with the possibility of death. Therefore, in the event of a drop in temperature below the permitted, it is recommended to use oil or UFO heaters.
Light mode
Proper care of the budgie also provides for exposure to light conditions. The lighting around the cage should be close to the normal life cycle of the parrot. For a more convenient installation of daylight, the use of opaque black fabric, which covers the cell, is recommended. Budgerigars require 12-14 hours of sleep in winter and 10-12 in summer for normal life.
The lighting of the cage should be preferably sunny, as there are no ultraviolet rays in the spectrum of household lighting that positively affect the production of vitamin D in birds.
Humidity
Budgerigars are rightfully considered the most undemanding parrots of all, since their environment is almost completely consistent with a comfortable person.
The humidity of the room for keeping the budgerigar should be in the range of 50-70%.
Proper nutrition also plays a significant role in bird health, which you can find in another article.
Wanting to keep a decorative bird in the house, many prefer budgerigars. It is not surprising, because these are beautiful, bright birds that can make the atmosphere in the house more fun and cheerful. However, before you bring your pet home, you should carefully study the characteristics of the content of birds. Improper care of a budgerigar can cause not only a serious illness of a feathered friend, but also his death. Before bringing a bird to the house, a person should think about whether he can provide a parrot with decent living conditions.
Choosing a cage for keeping a budgie and placing it in an apartment
The cage is chosen so that the parrot could fly if desired. In this case, one feature should be taken into account - the bird flies exclusively horizontally. Therefore, the length of the cell is more important than its height or width. To keep one individual, you should choose a "house", the minimum size of which is 50x25x30 cm (length, width and height, respectively). For a comfortable stay for a couple, the cage is a bit larger - 70x30x40 cm.
The cage should be rectangular in shape. Often on sale you can find models with a dome. Experts do not recommend purchasing them, since the space under the dome remains a “dead zone”, birds do not use it, but such models are somewhat more expensive than simple cells with a flat roof.
Budgerigars - care and maintenance begins with the selection of a place reserved for the cage. It should be located at a height of no more than one and a half meters, ideally approximately at the level of human eyes. To make the birds feel protected, it is recommended to place their "house" near the wall.
You can not place the cage near heating appliances, in a draft and in the sun. For normal development, birds need to bask in the sun, but these should be the first morning rays of the sun, or, conversely, soft evening ones.
To create a bird comfortable living conditions, it is necessary to take into account some features. The maintenance of the budgerigar and its care are, first of all, the temperature and humidity of the air, the duration of daylight hours. The pet will feel comfortable at an air temperature of +21 ° C to +25 ° C. The main thing is to prevent sudden changes in temperature. If there was a need to ventilate the room, it is better to move the bird cage to another room and reliably cover it with a dense cloth. Humidity should be moderate. During the heating season, a container of water is placed on the windowsill to slightly moisten the air.
The daylight hours for budgies should be no more than 12 hours a day in the winter, and 14 hours in the spring and summer.
Budgerigar feeding
Good care for a budgie implies a high-quality and varied diet. The basis of the diet should be grain mixtures. For example, oats, millet, canary seed. Such a mixture can be purchased at any pet store, but only trusted manufacturers should give preference. Grains should be clean, without any mildew. Usually high-quality mixtures contain all the necessary trace elements, but even in this case, you can not do without additional fertilizing. Experts advise not to be limited only to grain crops, but periodically offer the bird granular food, which is rich in protein. Eating only grain daily, the parrot will eventually gain excess weight, which will negatively affect his health.
To ensure good care of the budgerigar, the following products must be added to its diet.
- Vegetables.You can offer your pet half-cooked carrots, zucchini, corn, green peas.
- Fruit. They contain a lot of sugar, so they should not form the basis of the diet, grapes are a favorite treat of budgies. You can also offer slices of apple and pear.
- Mineral and vitamin supplements. For the maintenance and care of the budgerigar, it is recommended to purchase a special mineral block or put cuttlefish cartilage into the cage, it is a source of calcium.
You should be aware that before you offer your pet vegetables or fruits, they must be thoroughly washed. Do not feed the budgerigar with the following foods:
- avocado (for many birds, the fruit is poisonous);
- spicy, salty and fried foods;
- wine and vodka products;
- sweets and chocolates;
- tea, coffee, carbonated drinks.
In addition to the feeders in the cage, you need to install a drinker. Water should be poured out at room temperature. Using boiled water is not recommended. If the tap water is of dubious quality and contains a lot of rust, it is better to give preference to bottled. The drinker needs to be washed daily, to prevent the accumulation of mucus on the walls.
Features of the care of a budgerigar
To make the bird feel comfortable, it must be periodically released from the cage. This can be done at the time of cleaning. The cell is cleaned at least once a week. In this case, it is not enough just to remove the garbage, the "house" of the pet should be thoroughly washed. Usually a gentle detergent is used for this purpose. Cleanliness is the key to the health of a feathered pet, this should not be forgotten. Dirt and debris can cause worms and various infectious diseases.
Budgerigars are real neat and love to splash around in the water. It is recommended to purchase a “bath” immediately with the cage, often its design involves fastening to one of the cell walls. This is very convenient, because you can fill the tank with water without opening the doors.
Parrots should periodically rest, so several poles need to be placed in the cage. It is better to choose them of different thicknesses. The natural branches of the tree are considered the best, they look natural and have a rough surface, which is much more useful for bird legs and claws. For this reason, experts recommend abandoning plastic and concrete poles, or place them in the lower part of the cage, where birds sit less often.
When caring for budgies, special attention should be paid to their rest. In order for the birds to fall asleep, it is enough to cover the cage with a dense cloth, so light will not penetrate into it. It is advisable to do this at the same time, so that feathered pets have their own regimen. The cage should be covered so that natural ventilation remains, and the birds do not die from a lack of oxygen or heat. It is not recommended to use fabrics that have a loose structure, since the parrot can catch on its claw and get injured.
Birds should be examined every day to timely identify the first symptoms of any disease. If you notice weight loss, respiratory failure, discharge from the eyes or nose, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.
Video how to care for budgies
Full members of our families are animals and birds, tamed by humans. That is why each of our pets needs proper and individual care.
Even if your pet is a bird, such as a budgie. Proper care of a parrot has its own characteristics. Therefore, I want to introduce you to the article: Caring for a Budgie. 
Features of the care of a budgie
The bird, which I will talk about, is a domestic parrot, the budgerigar is a type of parakeet. The budgerigar is a very cute bird, and it easily adapts to life in captivity with appropriate care. When starting a budgie in an apartment, you first need to understand that you will be responsible for the comfort of his stay and his fate. But if you don’t have enough time, it’s better to abandon this venture for proper care of the budgie. In principle, this bird is from the category of pets that will not cause you problems. You should be ready to constantly deal with your feathered pet.
Parrots are just those birds that are liked by almost all people. They are very active, bright and small. Parrots have a very varied coloring, so you can choose the color of the wavy friend that he likes. You need to know that it is impossible to determine the sex up to a month of age in a parrot.
Choosing a Home for a Parrot
And if you still decide to buy a parrot, then you need to purchase a cage in which the parrot will later live. It is also necessary to enable the parrot to fly freely around the apartment, as it will not last long in a confined space. A sedentary lifestyle will adversely affect the health of your pet. The bird cage should be located in a well-lit place, however, you need to take care that the sun does not cause discomfort to your pet. All parrots are very fond of sunlight, but periodically they should be in the shade. You should not have a cage in the kitchen. In addition, you can not put it in the bathroom. In addition, we do not recommend installing it in a room with a computer.
Clean the cage daily. Also, wash it weekly. The bottom of the cage can be washed out with thick paper, sprinkled with sand on top. Also, to create coziness and comfort, at least two poles, a drinking bowl, and also a feeding trough should be in the cage, and do not forget about the small bath. It is well known that this species of birds loves rings, mirrors and bells. However, immediately hanging these toys is not recommended. The reason is that your pet is scared, because he is the first time in your house and is not used to it yet, and extraneous sounds and reflections will frighten and annoy him.
If you have purchased only one bird, then he will not cause you any inconvenience with his voice. But, if you decide to settle a few of these birds, they can cause you discomfort with their constant tweets. Also, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the parrots coexist perfectly in any quantity, remarkably side by side with other birds and suffer great frosts.
And budgerigars have a long lifespan. Some individuals live more than -20 years. This is important, because it is not easy to part with pets, because we are used to them as family members. By the way, budgerigars get used to the owners and recognize them perfectly by their voice and other signs.
Wavy food
The key to a long and wonderful life of a pet is its proper nutrition. Basically, the diet of the parrot should be a grain mixture, its composition: oats or oatmeal - 20% millet - 60%. Like canaries, give weed seeds - 10%, sunflower seeds - 10%. Also, to fortify the diet of a parrot, it is necessary to boil porridge for him on a little water and without adding oils. It is also necessary to pamper the birds with such delicacies as fresh fruits and vegetables. And it is important to monitor the freshness and purity of water in the drinker. Fresh and clean water is vital for your pet.
Many owners find it pleasant that their pets can talk. Everyone wants to show off their pet’s speech to guests, nevertheless it’s nice when your pet makes almost meaningful speeches. Sometimes it seems to the owners of these birds that the birds not only copy sounds, but also express their thoughts. In order for the bird to please you with its vocabulary, you need to deal with it regularly. There is a misconception that a parrot should have one teacher. But it is not so. The basic rule of training is that people regularly and as often as possible talk to the bird, repeat the same words to it, with the same intonation. The main thing is daily work, which then will bring joy to your home! At the first stage, say simple words to the budgie. The learning process should be similar to the learning process of a child. And then his words will delight you and others!
I hope the acquisition of a budgie will bring joy to your home!
Daily care for a parrot is not an easy task, as it seems at first glance. He needs a cage, toys, good nutrition, conditions for swimming, walking. And this is not a complete list of what a potential bird owner should be prepared for. Only then communication with the pet will bring joy. Otherwise, the acquisition of a feathered end in disappointment. What is required for the pet, from A to Z, this article will tell.
The parrot will certainly become your friend, because the bird is sociable and easily gets used to the owner. The content of birds has a number of advantages:
- lack of an unpleasant smell;
- high life expectancy (from 10 to 70 years);
- good health;
- communication with a parrot is interesting;
- amenable to training.
But before heading to the pet store, keep in mind that allergies can occur from the feathers of a parrot. The bird makes a lot of noise - rustling, screaming, knocking with its beak.
The main hobby is creating a mess. Parrots scatter food and defecate anywhere. At risk are home furniture and electrical appliances.
Where to buy and how much
If the above does not scare you, we go in search of a pet. Reliable options - a specialized nursery or a breeder with a reputation. But the prices are high. We do not recommend buying with hands. At a low price you can get a sick bird. In a pet store or in a bird market, they usually sell rammed parrots, which take a long time to get used to the owner.
Prices depend on the breed of the parrot. Wavy offer with hands for 700-900 rubles. In nurseries, the figure reaches 9000. For ara and Amazon, the cost ranges from 70 (market) to 150 thousand (nursery). Lovebands are sold, respectively, for 600 or 7000 rubles. For corella ask from 25 to 35 thousand rubles. The talking jaco leaves for 100 thousand, and the cockatoo - yes 130.
We advise you to buy a chick that is from 4 to 6 weeks old. He is already able to eat on his own. The least troubles are delivered by lovebirds, cockatiels and budgies. Large birds (macaw, cockatoo, amazon, jaco) require more space, ideally an aviary.
The microclimate is important
Immediately after acquiring a pet you will need: a cage, a feeding trough, a drinking bowl, a perch, a swimming pool. To accommodate the home, choose a bright sunny room. Maintain a temperature of 25-27 degrees and humidity within 65-70%. Parrots are tropical birds, and dry air spoils their feathers and skin. Use a humidifier.
An all-metal cage is selected according to the size of the parrot, for example, for a wavy - 45x45x60 cm. 30% of the area is added to each subsequent bird. Large birds require an aviary so that they can move freely inside. Strong metal rods are used, located at a distance of 1-1.5 cm.
Do not put plastic and painted items in a cage. The first bird will break a powerful beak, the second will poison its body. Feathered edges will be wounded. Glassware for parrots made of glass (porcelain) or metal stainless is welcome.
The situation in the pet's house
Parrot housing equipment includes 2-5 poles, which are installed at different heights. And the cell itself is placed at the level of the human eye. The aviary is placed against the wall. A set of toys consists of a swing, pendants with and without bells, mirrors.
Put tree branches of different thicknesses in a cage. For a macaw, cockatoo or amazon, this is a diameter of at least 2-4 cm. For lovebirds and corellas 1-1.5 cm. Place the simulator on the floor or higher, carefully fixing it between the rods.
Parrots love to swim, so the presence of a "bath" is required. Sizes are individual for each breed. The bird should be placed there and easily wet the feathers on the body and wings with water. From spraying water will help the plexiglass dome.
The basis of nutrition and goodies
High-quality care for parrots involves good nutrition. In nature, birds get their own food. They collect plant seeds, find nuts and fruits of fruit trees. At home, the basis of the diet is the same, but local food is added.
A common product for parrots is dry cereal mixtures (sesame, oats, canary and hemp seeds, millet). The rest comes as an addition. Therefore, two feeders are required. You can pamper your pet with sunflower (do not fry) or sprouted grain. The vitamin E they contain is good for claws and beak.
Budgerigars do not respect fruits and vegetables too much, and large breeds, such as macaws or cockatoos, enjoy tropical fruits like bananas, oranges, and kiwi. As well as watermelons, zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, which make up a quarter of the daily diet.
Attention to prohibited products
We add cucumbers, beets, cabbage, tomatoes and melons to the above products. Before serving the parrot in the feeder, vegetables and fruits should be washed and cut into small pieces (you can grate).
Fresh greens, such as spinach or lettuce, are useful for parrots of all breeds. Give the birds berry crops - strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, currants, sea buckthorn. Pears and apples, pomegranates and grapes, plums and cherries will not be damaged.
You can’t feed parrots with persimmons, avocados, mangoes and papaya. Eliminate plants with a spicy taste - onions, garlic, eggplant, radish and radish, celery, dill, cilantro. To "warm up" the beak, put tree branches in the bird's cage - linden, birch, mountain ash, alder, chestnut, maple. Acacia, oak, poplar and conifers are not suitable for this purpose.
About nuts and water
Do not abuse nuts; their excess causes obesity in pets. Half a peeled walnut per week is enough for a budgie.
For large ars and amazons, the norm is up to 3 pieces per day. Hazelnuts or pine nuts give up to 6 pieces. Medium breeds of parrots (corella, rosella) - half a walnut every 3 days. It is desirable to alternate types of nuts among themselves.
Forbidden: bitter almonds, apricot kernels, cashews, peanuts.
Drinking should always be present in the cage with the parrot. Sometimes it is worth adding lemon juice, apple cider vinegar (a few drops) or honey to the water. Changing the fluid is required every day.
Separate dishes are installed for mineral additives (limestone, small pebbles, grains of sand) and sepia. This is necessary for the natural grinding of beak and claws. Otherwise, it will be necessary to trim the keratinized parts with the help of manicure scissors. Be careful not to hurt the blood vessels and do not forget to sand the cuts with a nail file.
Acquaintance, walks, flights around the house
How to care for a parrot and how to feed, we told. Now let's get acquainted with the pet. This is a very important point in the relationship between the bird and the host.
Having placed the parrot in the cage, pay attention to it. But at first, do not be annoying, because for the time being you are a creature alien to the bird. Speak affectionately, do not make sudden movements, do not make noise.
In addition to daily care for the parrot, the bird needs active movement for a full life. Walking around the room should begin after meeting the birds and getting used to the owner.
Pre-remove from the room electrical wires and objects that a parrot can ruin with its beak or claws. Take out food and chemicals. Then open the door and watch the pet. You can lure a bird into a cage with the help of goodies. During molting, such walks are best avoided.
Chatting and waiting for posterity
If you want the parrot to start talking, get a male 4-5 months old. Keep the bird separate from others and communicate more often with it. Repeat the same words over and over. Over time, your pet will pronounce them. The best among the talkers is considered to be Jaco. But budgies, macaws and amazons are also easy to learn.
To get offspring from parrots, the existing couple is settled together. They prepare a plywood nest with a round entrance. The size depends on the size of the individuals. Inside the house is covered with grass and sawdust. There is no need to disturb the birds - ensure silence.
Eggs appear after 30-40 days. Hatching lasts a month. The male during this period feeds the female and protects. The mother feeds the hatched chicks of the parrot the first days with goiter milk. A week later, the father brings food for the whole family.
Don't get sick
Pet care includes disease control. The most common include diarrhea. Signs of it are obvious - discoloration of litter and consistency. Rinse the anus of the parrot and give an infusion of chamomile.
Avoid poisoning your parrot with tobacco smoke, deodorants, and similar chemicals. Inhalation of these vapors for a bird is 98% fatal. It is impossible to cure.
The so-called parrot disease is manifested in shortness of breath, runny nose and diarrhea. Danger for children living in the house. You need to treat under the supervision of a veterinarian. If there is no loose stool, then it could very well be a cold. For the treatment of a parrot, they are heated through the cage with an infrared lamp.
Please comment in the comments your opinion on the article read.
If you want to have funny talkers in the house, budgies will do, care and maintenance of which will not bring much trouble, but should become systematic. Birds need conditions that do not pose a threat to their life, contribute to the favorable course of their life processes - adaptation, communication.
What does a wavy parrot look like?
The bird has the following characteristics:
- size about 18 cm without tail, wings 10 cm;
- tail - elongated, stepped, 8-10 cm;
- limbs - reddish or bluish, with 4 long fingers and bent claws;
- eyes - dark blue, with a white or yellowish edging;
- the beak is strong, curved, like a bird of prey. At its base is visible wax with nostrils;
- the tongue is short and thick, if the care of budgies is accompanied by their upbringing, then the birds begin to copy human speech.
The bird attracts with a catchy beautiful outfit and a cheerful, sociable disposition, simplicity of maintenance, and the ability to make it handmade. With such a pet it is always interesting - it is distinguished by noise and talkativeness, plays with toys (bell, mirror), imitates the singing of birds and human speech. The most gifted remember up to 600 words, small phrases.
Budgerigar colors
Wild undulations are painted in lemon color. The wings, back and head are covered with stripes of yellow and a little black, the lower part of the back is brilliant green, the tail is blue, and dark spots are found on the throat. Budgerigars, care and maintenance of which are carried out in captivity, are divided into two color groups:
How many years have budgies?
Owners are concerned about the question - how many budgerigars live in order to adjust their menu, for example, when caring and keeping an elderly individual, a lighter diet may be needed and. In the wild with many dangers and epidemics, their lifespan is 8-10 years. Budgerigars, the care and maintenance of which are carried out at home, with high-quality feed, constant access to fresh herbs and fruits, the possibility of daily flights, can last up to 10-15 years of age.
How to determine the age of the budgerigar?
Before you need to know his age. The young bird is better tamed, speaks faster and gets used to the new environment and hosts more easily. The difficulty is that a pet at 5 years old looks the same as at 15. Only by buying a young chick before the first molt can you be sure of his age, then it is difficult to determine.
Young males have a purple wax, in the female it is beige or blue with a light border around the nostrils. The plumage of the chicks is faded, the white iris on the eye is absent (up to 6 months), the wave goes all over the head (after molting at 4 months in the front, it disappears), their beak is darker than in adults. Birds purchased from breeders have rings with the year of birth on their paws - they determine the exact age from them.
Domestic budgies are picky, but their care and maintenance imply compliance with light and temperature conditions. Chronic lack of sleep or hypothermia can cause colds, molt, pinching, loss of appetite in the feathered. Budgerigar content:
- Lighting. Daylight hours should be 10-12 hours in winter and 12-14 in summer. At night, the cell is covered with tissue.
- Ultraviolet. UV rays favor the production of vitamin D3 in birds and their absorption by the body of calcium. With proper maintenance in the summer, the pet needs to arrange sunbathing - 30 minutes a day. In winter, artificial UV lamps are mounted above the cage.
- Temperature mode. Optimum - + 22-25Gdeg; C, its sharp drops and drafts are not allowed. When leaving and keeping the pet in a painful condition, it is heated with 40 watts of lamps.
- Activity. Birds should fly 20-30 minutes a day. It is important to close the windows, make sure that the pet does not come across dangerous objects.
Budgie cage
The content of parrots is recommended to be made in a rectangular cage made of metal rods. Its minimum size is 40x25x40 cm, when it is planned to breed budgerigars and buy a couple of pets, the dimensions of the home should be increased. Until a nesting house is installed for them, they will not reproduce. The housing for budgies, the care and maintenance of which are carried out at home, is equipped with:
- extendable bottom;
- perches 1.2 cm thick;
- feeders for grain and additional feed;
- a drinker;
- large, calcined sand is poured into the bottom.
House for budgies
As a rule, the budgerigar does not breed at home in the species enclosure. In order for the couple to have an instinct of procreation, one more house must be inserted into it. When keeping several pairs in the enclosure, each one needs to build such a structure, otherwise the females can hammer each other to death. For one couple, a horizontal plywood house with a height of 15 cm and a bottom of 25x15 cm is suitable, hang it at the top of the house. Arrangement:
- drawer cover - removable to restore order in it;
- a notch with a diameter of 5 cm is cut out on the side at a distance of 3 cm from the top;
- a perch is attached under the hole to lower and raise the birds into the house.
Budgerigar nest
A convenient nest for budgies is arranged inside the plywood box. To keep the female and the chicks, they place sawdust with a layer of 2 cm on the bottom of the house, and make a special recess for laying in the litter - with a diameter of 8 cm and a depth of 1.5 cm. Otherwise, the eggs will be rolled out throughout the crate or the girl will throw out all the chips when arranging the nest. As a care for the proper growth of the skeleton of the chicks, calcium powder is poured into the bottom.
Budgerigar care at home
Caring for birds does not take much time. How to care for a budgie:
- daily change the water in the drinker;
- every day to take care of feeders and drinking bowls - wash them with hot water and baking soda, wipe dry;
- put the bathing suit in the house once a week, after the procedure - clean;
- with proper care, a cardinal cleaning should be done once a month - the cage and equipment should be washed with a decoction of chamomile and dried.
How to feed a budgie?
Feathered metabolism is fast, so the main food should always be present in the home, with proper care and maintenance it is important to diversify it with herbs, vegetables, fruits. What do budgerigars eat:
- the basis of the portion - grain mixtures, consist of about 70% millet of different types, 10% oats, 20% - wheat, canary, hemp, and flaxseed;
- fresh vegetables: cucumbers, bell peppers, beets, carrots;
- greens: parsley, radish tops, lettuce, dandelion, spinach, clover;
- fruits: pineapple, apricots, quince, cherries, grapes, bananas, watermelon, strawberries, plums, raspberries, citrus fruits.
Budgerigar breeding
For breeding, you can allow a young couple from the age of 1 year, the process is started in the summer, when there are a lot of green feeds available. The couple provide daylight hours at 16 hours, a week before pairing they are saturated with vitamins - give egg mixtures with semolina and carrots, greens, chalk. How to determine the sex of a budgie (after 3-4 months):
- males have a bright purple moss;
- in females it is beige or brown with a white fringing of the nostrils.
When the pair intended for breeding is kept, a nest box is put in a cage; during the month, the female lays 4-12 eggs, hatch them for 20 days. After this, the chicks hatch — blind and without plumage. A week later, they see clearly, after 10 days, a fluff sprouts. The first weeks they are cared for by the mother - feeds the chicks with goiter milk, then gives the adult softened food. After 30-35 days, the kids leave the nest. The maintenance and care of them is carried out in a separate cage, when they already eat on their own. After 1-2 clutches, the nest is removed so that the female rests.
How to tame budgerigar?
The wavy are very smart and friendly. They are careful, but even an incredulous pet makes contact quickly. The main thing in training is patience, everything must be done without haste. How to tame the budgerigar:
- After the store, the pet does not need to bother for several hours to get used to the environment.
- The dwelling is placed at the level of human eyes, so the bird can better see who is approaching it.
- The process of taming begins with the proposal to the pet of his favorite goodies through the bars, affectionately calling his name. In case of failure, attempts are repeated the next day. As a result, the bird will take a treat out of curiosity.
- Next, you need to try to feed the bird from the hands in a cage. It is better to do this in the morning when she is hungry.
- After you need to teach the budgie to sit on a finger, slipping it under the perch. They soon realize what they want from them.
- Then you can offer the bird a treat outside the cage. No need to chase a parrot - he himself must approach his hand as soon as he gets used to the situation.
How to teach a budgerigar to speak?
Wavy are able to repeat human words, each individual has his own degree of talent - some talk a lot, the rest less. How to teach a budgie to talk:
- it is better to buy a young male, conduct lessons in a quiet place;
- first you can learn his nickname, repeat the word clearly and legibly. When he remembers him, move on to the next;
- start with easy words, lessons complicate gradually;
- it is important not to forget to praise the bird, to give goodies;
- the more time spent on training, the more extensive the vocabulary of the parrot;
- you can record several phrases on the player and put them near the bird.
Budgie diseases
Domestic budgies, the care and maintenance of which are made with violations, can become ill. This is due to poor-quality feed, non-compliance with hygiene, lighting, temperature conditions. Budgies - Common Diseases and Treatment:
- Cold. Symptoms - sneezing and runny nose. Care in this case: to irradiate the bird with a 40 W table lamp, give vitamins, put a decoction of chamomile in the house.
- Defeat by ticks and down-eaters. Signs - itching, self-plucking, feathers are spoiled by holes. In the pan, moving insects are noticeable. The lupus erythematosus is expelled with Frontline, putting it on the back of the head. Ticks are destroyed with an aversectin, novertin ointment, applying the tool with a brush on the legs, beak, waxwort, cloaca.
- Oviposition delay. The sign is that the female does not leave the bottom of the cage, is breathing heavily, a swelling forms near the cloaca. Girls rush even in the absence of a male. A stuck egg can come out if instilled in petroleum jelly in the anus, put a heating pad covered with a cloth on the bottom. If it does not help, you need to carry the female to the doctor, otherwise she will die.
