Budgies: lifespan, size, diet and care

How big it is

An adult is up to 20 cm (8 in) long.

Zoomed ×8: here you see the man up to 23.8 cm (9 in) off the ground

1Pet ratlong (head and body) 45 cm (18 in)2Goldfishlong 25 cm (10 in)3Budgieslong 20 cm (8 in)4Canarylong 20 cm (8 in)5Red-eared slidershell 29 cm (11 in)

1. Pet ratlong (head and body) 45 cm (18 in)
2. Goldfishlong 25 cm (10 in)
3. Budgieslong 20 cm (8 in)
4. Canarylong 20 cm (8 in)
5. Red-eared slidershell 29 cm (11 in)

All the pets next to a person

Before it arrives

• A companion of the same species: budgies live in flocks
• A cage at least 1.5 times its wingspan in height, width and depth (2 times if it stays inside most of the time); an aviary is better
• At least 6 hours a day out of the cage, in a safe room where it can fly: windows closed, fans off, never the kitchen
• Natural branch perches of different thicknesses; no sandpaper perches
• A bird UV lamp above the cage: window glass blocks UVB
• Budgie pellets, a few seeds, fresh vegetables; drinking water and a shallow dish for bathing
• Paper on the cage floor (not wood chips, corncob or cat litter) and a digital gram scale
• A home without cigarette smoke, air fresheners or overheated non-stick pans: the fumes can kill it

Its home: temperature and light

The room

12–26 °C (54–79 °F)

Light

12–14 hours a day

UVB lamp

needed

What it eats and how often

budgie mix, vegetables; never avocado

• Adults: every day

Budgie pellets always available (about 80% of what it eats) plus a few seeds every day: on pellets alone, budgies can get kidney problems. The rest fresh vegetables (kale, carrot, sweet potato): fruit and veg no more than a quarter of the diet. Never avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol or salty food.

Vaccines and checkups

The care calendar

What to do, from the most frequent to the least.

• every dayFresh food and waterWash the bowls and water bottle every day with hot, soapy water (rinsing isn't enough) and change the water.
• every dayCage paperChange the cage paper every day: that way you can see how many droppings there are and their color.
• every weekWeigh-inUse a digital gram scale and note the weight: if it changes by more than 10%, see the vet.
• every weekFull clean of the cageAt least once a week, with a bird-safe disinfectant.
• every weekBath timeOnce or twice a week, even in winter: a shallow dish of water or a mister.
• every 6 monthsUVB lampThe bulb keeps giving light even after its UVB is gone: replace it after 6 to 12 months, as the brand says.
• every yearCheck-upOnce a year, with an avian vet.

Call the vet right away if…

If you see one of these signs, call your vet now: don’t wait for it to pass.

• Sits fluffed up and sleeps more than usual with its eyes closed
• Its tail bobs with each breath, or you hear wheezing
• Sits on the cage floor, is weak or loses its balance
• Has lost more than 10% of its weight
• Throws up food, or its droppings change in color, amount or texture

Ate something dangerous? What to do now