Budgies good ‘starter’ birds

Keeping a parrot as a companion animal is a lot like raising a child. Perhaps, slightly less expensive.

Parrots are remarkably similar to toddlers in many ways. They are funny, affectionate, talkative, and absolutely dependent on you. They can also be loud, messy, and are apt to get into danger without vigilant monitoring. Although you won’t have to start saving for college the moment you get a parrot, they require a significantly greater financial commitment and time commitment on your part than do most of our familiar companion animals. Because, early on, they bond so closely to their owner they can develop significant stress-induced behavioral and medical problems if their owner places them in a new home or stops spending time with them.

Compared to an Amazon or African Gray, a budgie can be a less intimidating way to experience the pleasures of keeping a parrot. These little green or yellow or sky-blue pet store birds we commonly refer to as “parakeets” are actually an Australian species of parrot known as Budgerigars or “budgies.” (Budgerigar is Aboriginal for “good to eat,” but I’ll leave that alone.) Like all parrots they are smart, social creatures and will need to spend time with you every day. They are playful and can learn to repeat quite a few words or even sing a tune. Also, they are quieter and less destructive than big parrots, and keeping them is typically more affordable.

Budgies in the wild are green with yellow heads, but captive budgies have been bred to come in an amazing variety of colors. Once they are mature, males and females can be differentiated by the color of the skin next to the beak (cere) and by their behavior. Male budgies tend to be more vocal than females.

In the wild, budgies live in large flocks and fly great distances in search of food, mostly grasses and grassseeds. In captivity, budgies, like all parrots, need a variety of healthy foods. Pellets should be around 50 percent of the diet. Fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grain products should constitute most of the other half of the diet. Seed mixes are what a lot of pet-store budgies are accustomed to eating, but they should actually be fed sparingly because they are so high in fat. Wild budgies eat seeds that are still green and have relatively less fat than the sunflower seeds our pet budgies crave. An all-seed diet can lead to obesity, fatty tumors and liver disease. Feeding 100 percent pellets can lead to kidney disease. That’s why variety in the diet is so important.

Budgies should be kept in a roomy cage. They need perches at different heights and with different textures. To prevent bacterial infections, they should drink from a bottle mounted on their cage instead of from a bowl. Budgies love toys and need room to play, either in a larger cage or a safe room with doors and windows shut. They like to have baths in a little dish of shallow water or have you give them “showers” with a water-filled mister.

Budgies in captivity typically live six to 10 years, but with excellent diet and care can live to be 20. Your budgie will need regular veterinary care, which should start with an initial well-bird visit.

Although budgies are often referred to as “beginner birds,” they are as intelligent and as in need of good care and affection as any other parrot. Budgies reward their owners with cheerful chatter, playful antics, and the privilege of caring for such a beautiful creature.

Carolyn Morrill, DMV is a veterinarian who lives in Spokane.