How to care for budgies. The ideal pet is a budgerigar

The most popular and widespread species among parrots are. Before you bring this beautiful bird into your home, you need to familiarize yourself with the conditions and rules of keeping it. Budgie very active and curious. Therefore, in order to avoid damage or even death of the bird, it is necessary to follow some recommendations.

Budgerigars

Preparing to buy a bird

Before you bring a parrot into your home, you first need to purchase a cage, equipment for it, and food. The equipment consists of a feeder, a drinking bowl, a place for taking water procedures, perches, and you can hang a special mirror for the cages. As a supplement to the main food, you can add eggshells and river sand. If pet stores in your city do not have a wide range of products, then you can order everything you need from the online store zoopapa.com with home delivery.

Cage with a parrot

The cage should not be placed in direct sunlight, but it should be well lit. You need to be wary of drafts, since the bird can catch a cold and get sick, but you shouldn’t overheat it either. It is necessary to clean the cage every day - change the water, rinse the drinking bowl, remove droppings and other dirt. It is advisable to carry out more thorough cleaning every month: wipe the feathered pet’s home with a solution of chamomile or wormwood.

Bird care

The parrot should be fed with special mixtures, which can be easily found in any pet store. You can also add millet, wheat, and oats to the main diet. From time to time you need to treat the bird with spinach, dandelions, clover, fruits and berries (although parrots do not really like them). Proper nutrition is the key to health and long life.

Parrot food

To avoid injury, do not leave your parrot unattended if its cage door is open. You need to be careful with indoor plants that may be poisonous to him. If there is an aquarium in the house, then you need to make sure that the bird does not fall into it, the same goes for water containers and bathrooms. Mirrors can pose a threat; a bird colliding with it can be seriously injured, and this also applies to glass doors.

The friendship between a cat and a parrot is an exception

There is still a threat if there are other animals in the house, for example,

Budgerigars are one of the most popular pets. These little ones received such recognition for their cheerful disposition, energy and tenacious mind. This funny, sociable bird becomes attached to its owner, whom it considers part of its flock. Caring for budgies is not a problem; you just need to take into account the peculiarities of keeping these feathered babies.

How to choose

You can buy a budgie at a pet store or from breeders. The poultry market option should be considered last, since no one can guarantee the health of the birds. But even in a pet store, it is important to take a responsible approach to choosing your future pet.

• First of all, you need to pay attention to his behavior, take your time, stand near the cage and watch the birds before making a choice. Parrots are usually lively and energetic, chirping cheerfully. If he sits, ruffled, lethargic and indifferent to what is happening, this is an unkind sign; most likely the wavy is sick and will not live long.
• The bird's eyes should be shiny and clean.
• The beak and cere (the area of ​​skin between the beak and the head) are clean, without growths or signs of peeling.
• The feathers of a healthy parrot are smooth, shiny, without bald spots or bald spots.
• It is also important to pay attention to the bird’s feet; they should be clean, free of growths, with tightly fitting scales.
• The tail is clean, without traces of feces near the cloaca. A tail drooping perpendicular to the floor can signal lung diseases in the bird.

Rules

In order for your pet to enjoy a good mood and well-being, it is important to follow several maintenance rules:

• Try not to disturb the bird during the daytime sleep, and in the evening cover the cage with thick fabric, while the front of the cage should be open.
• The normal air humidity level for a parrot is about 60 percent. This issue is especially acute during the heating season, when the air becomes too dry. This can negatively affect the appearance of the pet, lead to a decrease in immunity and, as a result, to respiratory diseases.
• You need to give your parrot food every day, change the water in the drinking bowl, and clean the cage regularly.
• Sometimes let the parrot out of the cage so that he can stretch his wings.

Cage and accessories

Pet stores have a large selection of cages and accessories for them. When choosing a cage, the most important and simple rule is that the larger the cage, the better for the parrot! The best option is a rectangular cage with a retractable plastic tray, which will greatly facilitate the cleaning process. The minimum dimensions of a cage for one parrot are 50 (length) by 30 (width) by 50 (height), the distance between the bars should not exceed 12 millimeters.

The cage should be equipped with:

• drinking bowl;
• hanging feeder;
• mineral stone;
• wooden ladder and perches, swings;
• bell, ball and other toys.

Budgerigars do not tolerate constant moving from place to place, so it is worth thinking about a permanent place for the cage in advance. It is better if it is a room where all family members gather. You need to place the cage in a corner or along the wall at eye level or slightly higher. You should not place a cage with a parrot near household appliances, in a draft, or in a place exposed to direct sunlight.

Feeding

The basis of the budgie's diet is grain mixtures, which should be in the feeder at all times. In addition to ready-made food, it is useful to diversify your parrots’ diet with the following products:

• porridge - buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, pearl barley, millet, corn (this porridge is cooked in water without salt, sugar and other spices);
• sprouted grain - you can germinate grain from ready-made food for parrots;
• greens - young grass sprouts, beet leaves, radish leaves, plantain, dandelion, clover;
• fruits - bananas, oranges, kiwis, peaches, apricots, apples, pears, plums;
• berries - currants, rowan, raspberries;
• vegetables - carrots, cucumber, tomato, radish, bell pepper, pumpkin, zucchini, zucchini, corn, green beans, young green peas, broccoli, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi cabbage;
• eggs;
• cottage cheese.

• basil, cilantro, dill, sorrel, parsley - these herbs are too spicy for him;
• avocado, mango, persimmon;
• potatoes, eggplant, mushrooms, onions, garlic.

Give fruits and vegetables fresh or dried. Fresh ones should be washed and pitted. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that your pet has 24-hour access to clean drinking water. Do not take tap water; it is better to use purified bottled water. It is necessary to replace the water and clean the drinking bowl every day.

Important! Food from the human table is harmful to your budgie!

Vitamins

In addition to the main food, the parrot's cage should have mineral supplements, such as sepia and mineral stone. The bird needs them to sharpen its beak and replenish mineral deficiencies. Sand is necessary for normal digestion. You can add special vitamin complexes for parrots to the drinking bowl - “Radostin”, “Beaphar Vinka”, “BEAPHAR Trink + Fit Birds”.

Bathing

Budgerigars love to have water treatments. You can purchase a special plastic bath for this purpose. You can also use a plate or tray as a bathing suit, the main thing is that the water level in it is only a few millimeters.

When swimming, you should adhere to the following basic rules:

• there is no need to force the bird to bathe;
• water in the bath - about 25 degrees;
• the air temperature in the room is above 20 degrees;
• make sure that the parrot does not drink dirty water from the bath;
• clean the bathtub immediately after bathing.

Some parrots enjoy bathing in wet leaves. To do this, you can put lettuce, plantain or dandelion leaves in the bath. This will be great fun for your pet!

Temperature

The budgie will feel good at room temperature +15-+25 degrees. Budgerigars are not afraid even of cool weather, but it is better to protect your pet from drafts and sudden temperature changes. On summer days, you can give your parrot sunbathing. Start with 5 minutes a day and increase to half an hour, it is important to do this during cool hours - before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

Communication

Budgerigars, especially males, enjoy repeating sounds and can be taught a few words. It is very easy to find a common language with a budgie; to do this you need to spend time with him more often. At first after the purchase, give him a couple of days to get used to the new place, then gradually accustom the parrot to your hands, speak to him kindly, and do not make sudden movements. Over time, the wavy will begin to trust its owner and show signs of attention. Caring for a male budgie is no different from caring for a female. Boys are more mobile, active and learn new things more easily. With a little effort, you can teach your parrot a few words or tricks.

Reproduction

Budgerigars breed easily in captivity. To do this, you need to have a different-sex couple at least 10-12 months old. Birds should be friendly to each other. For successful mating, it is necessary to lengthen the daylight hours to 14 hours and provide a special diet (give a protein “mash” every other day - a mixture of eggs, carrots, chalk). You need to install a nesting box in the cage. The female will prepare the nest herself, after which the process of laying eggs will begin. There can be from 4 to 12 pieces, depending on the age of the bird.

How to care for a chick

The chicks are born after 17-20 days, blind and naked. After 10 days, the first feathers appear and already at three weeks of age the chicks begin to look like adult parrots. At first, the female feeds her chicks with crop milk, then gradually transfers them to adult food. After a month, the babies leave the nest and learn to feed on their own; at this time it is better to transplant them into a separate cage.

Diseases

Under inappropriate conditions, your budgie may get sick. Therefore, it is worth taking precautions:

• provide the bird with adequate nutrition, in addition to the main food, give fruits, vegetables, herbs, sometimes it is worth giving vitamins;
• monitor the freshness of the food;
• clean the cage daily, do not forget to wash the drinking bowl;
• protect the parrot from drafts.

Before you decide to buy a budgie, you should think about it. After all, despite his undeniable advantages such as talkativeness and energy, he also has disadvantages:

• parrots make loud calls and chirps that can start at 5 am;
• may stain with droppings or damage interior items, furniture and indoor plants;
• require time and money;
• budgerigars may not get along with some pets, in particular cats;
• Family members may be allergic to bird feathers.

The budgerigar is a beautiful and active bird that is often kept at home. She has a good mind and quick wit, adapts quickly and always finds a common language with people. And bright and colorful plumage can become an excellent home decor. If you are planning to get a budgie, first learn the important rules of care and maintenance. The comfortable well-being of this feathered pet depends on compliance with all norms and requirements.

To make keeping budgies in a house or apartment comfortable, it is important to first choose a suitable cage. This is where they will spend the majority of their time, so it should be comfortable, well-equipped and spacious. Birds of this breed love space. For this reason, it is better to purchase a large cage so that they can move around freely.

Cell selection

Budgerigars should feel comfortable at home; nothing should disturb them or cause them discomfort. The first step is to purchase a cage for them.

When choosing a cage, you need to consider important features:

• size. The home should be spacious;
• if you plan to keep one parrot, then a small cage with dimensions of 35x35 cm is suitable for it, but for a married couple the smallest area will be 65x55 cm;
• It is worth taking into account the frequency indicators of the wire location. It should create a lattice with a density that will not limit the bird’s head from sticking in, which could result in injury;
• A cage with a rectangular shape is suitable for living; its top should be domed;
• the bottom section of the cage should be made of hard wood or a metal base;
• The base of the wire should not be made of copper. Birds can suffer from metal oxide poisoning if they chew on the wire.

Choosing a place in the house

In order for a budgie to feel good, it is important to pay special attention to its maintenance. The cage must be installed in a suitable area. The kitchen, hallway, bathroom, walk-through room are not the best places for this bird. It must be placed in a quiet and secluded area of ​​the house.

When considering the important question of how to care for budgies at home, it is worth paying special attention to the place where the cage will be installed. To do this, you need to remember a few features:

• the cage with the bird should not be in drafts, near window openings or heating devices;
• during warm periods, it is recommended to place the cage with the parrot on the balcony;
• fresh air and sunlight have a positive effect on the pet's health. But in strong sun, the side of the cage needs to be covered with a cloth.

Arrangement of the cage

Once the cage is selected and installed, it is worth moving on to arranging it so that the bird can live comfortably in it. At this stage, it is recommended that the future home be fully equipped; it should contain all the important elements for the normal functioning of the feathered pet.

Keeping a budgie is a responsible matter, so you should treat it carefully and not miss even the little things. If you want the bird to live a long time and not experience problems, then be sure to arrange the cage as needed. It should have wooden perches. They will serve as a place for the bird to sit, rest and play.

Perches should be installed in areas of the cage where the parrot will not clog drinking bowls and feeders with droppings. In this case, the bird’s tail should not touch the walls of the cage.

• oak, beech, maple, birch. Wood of this type is considered quite wear-resistant, it has a positive effect on the condition of the feathered pet;
• willow. Perches made from this tree will be very durable; willow also has healing effects;
• apple, pear, plum, cherry, rowan. Perches made from these types of wood will make a tasty seat for parrots. They contain many nutrients.

Coniferous trees (spruce, pine, cedar) cannot be used for perches. They can cause various health problems in birds. Do not use poisonous breeds.

Food bowls and a drinking bowl with water are placed in the cage. There can be 2-3 of them, the water in them needs to be changed every day.

You need to place 3 feeders in the cage:

• one feeder for feed mixtures with minerals - crushed eggshells, red clay, sand, charcoal;
• a bowl for feed mixtures in solid form - millet, grain, barley, millet;
• container for soft feed.

Important! Birds love to swim in the hot season; budgerigars often do this in drinking bowls. In this case, the water spills, the cage becomes dirty, and the feathers fly to the sides. To prevent this, it is worth installing special bathing containers.

Additionally, for games and development, a swing with swinging ladders is placed in the cage. They are useful for the development of the muscles of the birds' legs. Stones of different sizes and toys can be placed on the surface of the bottom of the cage.

Cage care

Caring for budgies should include cleaning their home. For cleaning you will need ordinary warm water without impurities and detergents. There is no need to add powder to it. You can use an old toothbrush for washing.

• all elements must be washed and wiped dry;
• You should especially carefully remove the pan; there is always a lot of dirt;
• All feeders and drinking bowls should be washed thoroughly.

How to care for a budgie at home?

If you are planning to purchase budgies, be sure to study all the important features of care and maintenance at home. It is important that feathered pets are always in perfect order. To do this, you should follow the recommendations and follow the rules of content.

Proper nutrition

The health and proper development of domestic budgies depends on proper nutrition. The menu of a feathered pet should be balanced, it should contain food mixtures with a high level of useful components. They will be able to prevent the development of dangerous poultry diseases, strengthen their immunity and the body’s protective properties.

Feeding your budgie should be based on grain feed. The largest part should be millet. But to prevent parrots from having problems with the digestive system, feeding grain mixtures should be in a certain percentage:

• yellow millet – 50%;
• white millet – 25%;
• millet with red color – 15%;
• Hulled oats – 10%.

So what else to feed budgies? Additionally, the menu should include other types of food:

• greenery. In the warm season, the bird will happily eat fresh lettuce leaves, a mixture of plantain, dandelion, and clover greens. In winter, sprouted oats are suitable;
• . Parrots will eagerly eat fresh carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, zucchini, and radishes. Among fruits and berries, preference should be given to apples, grapes, bananas, peaches, raspberries, strawberries;
• minerals. The parrot should sometimes be given chalk and sepia, it is sold in any pet store.

Communication

Budgerigars are endowed with good intelligence and intelligence. They are very sociable, therefore they require increased attention from humans or their relatives. If a bird is bored, it will quickly begin to waste away.

You should already know from behavior what a budgie needs. If he tweets and chirps intensely, then he shows you his attention and wants to talk. Don't ignore it, play with it, talk to it, sing a song.

Freedom for parrots

Many beginners often wonder: is it necessary to let a budgie out of its cage? You should not limit your pet’s freedom; sometimes you must let him out of the cage so that he can freely fly around the room. This is required for the full psychological development of the bird.

• You must first check that all doors and window openings are closed;
• limit access to containers with water - bathtubs, aquariums, toilets, sinks; if the parrot gets into them, it will choke;
• If there are other pets in the apartment or house, then keep an eye on the parrot when walking. Otherwise, a cat or dog might catch him. It is better to remove all the inhabitants to another room and close the room with the bird.

Microclimate

Full care of a budgie includes maintaining the required microclimate in the room where the pet’s cage is kept. It affects the development and health of the bird. The room should have a humidity level of 60-70%. A dry climate for a budgie will negatively affect its condition.

The most suitable temperature for budgies in the room in which they are kept should be kept at a thermometer reading of 23-25 ​​degrees Celsius. During the cold season, you should use a special lamp for heating.

Diseases and prevention

The health of budgies should come first. When keeping them at home, they can sometimes develop serious illnesses that can lead to the death of the pet. To help your bird, you should know the types of diseases and how to treat them.

It is best to buy budgies in specialized pet stores. They sell healthy birds that have passed all the necessary examinations and received vaccinations. In these places they will be able to offer you a purebred bird without any problems in the pedigree. In addition, it will come with a convenient and suitable cage.

If you want to get a budgie at home, then you can take it from your hands. Usually birds are sold inexpensively through advertisements, but they can sometimes have health problems. They are also sold in nurseries, at the poultry market and by the breeders themselves.

But in any case, before purchasing a budgie, you should first study all its important features and maintenance rules. Despite the fact that it is considered an unpretentious bird, it is still important to provide convenience and comfort for your feathered pet when living at home. It is necessary to think through everything - choose a suitable cage, arrange it, install drinking bowls, feeders and other important attributes. Do not forget about communication and care for the parrot; this is what is considered an important basis for its full-fledged life.

Probably everyone in childhood wanted to have a friend like a parrot. These are not only friendly, but also incredibly cheerful and bright birds. But when buying, many are concerned about the question of how to care for parrots. It's easy enough if you know exactly what you're doing.

Among the variety of species of these birds bred in captivity, the Corella species is considered the most popular. They are widely known for their bright and large crest.

In nature, parrots grow up to thirty centimeters in length and can weigh up to 150 grams. They mainly feed on seeds and berries of various plants, as well as small insects, oats, millet and wheat.

How to care for parrots?

To keep this type of bird, it is very important to provide comfortable living conditions for them. The length of daylight hours is of great importance here. It must be at least ten hours. This suggests that in winter it is necessary to install several next to the cage. They can compensate for the lack of heat and light not only for parrots, but also for some house plants.

The second very important parameter in answering the question is temperature. Everyone is incredibly vulnerable to drafts. Sudden changes in temperature can also be detrimental to them, although less dangerous. That is why the place for a cage with pets must be very carefully selected. It should be located far enough from the heating system and windows.

The third parameter is humidity. It must be at least 55%. It is very simple to determine that parrots are suffering from dry air: they begin to pluck their feathers. If it is not possible to install an air humidifier, then the birds can simply be periodically sprayed with warm water from a regular spray bottle.

Anyone interested in how to care for Corella parrots should know that they need regular bathing. To do this, they are either transferred to the bathtub or provided with a special bathing bag. The water temperature for this procedure should be in the range from 35 to 40 degrees.

The dimensions of the bird cage are determined depending on their size. There should be enough space for them to fully open their wings. The minimum dimensions are:

• 45 cm width;
• 60 cm depth;
• 60-100 cm height.

Anyone who knows how to care for a parrot is aware that several feeders for different types of food, a drinking bowl and a couple of perches should be placed inside the cage. They are necessary so that the bird can sharpen its beak and claws, as well as for training its wings.

When choosing a pet, you should first of all pay attention to those who were bred in our country, and not to those who were just brought. This is very simple to determine: a wild animal will behave restlessly when a person approaches.

Anyone who wants to understand how to care for parrots should remember that they must be purchased only at specialized sales points. This is due to special conditions of care and breeding, which are probably known to specialists, but may not be available to ordinary people. In addition, parrots should only be purchased in warm weather. This eliminates the possibility of the bird developing a cold.

Remember: a parrot is a unique living creature that, with proper care and maintenance, will delight you with its presence for decades.

The budgerigar (lat. Melopsittacus undulatus) is a species of bird from the order Psittacidae, the family Psittacidae, 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, literally translated, the name of the bird sounds like a singing budgerigar. A number of ornithologists suggest calling the bird the wavy singer.

Budgerigar - description, appearance and characteristics.

All of the above names are absolutely true: budgies are really very noisy and talkative, they perfectly remember and imitate individual words and phrases, which they repeat 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 actually is. Body length a budgerigar excluding the tail reaches 17-19.8 cm with a body weight of about 40-45 g. Poultry 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 bird’s wings bend downward, like a quail’s. Thanks to this structure, the budgie flies quite quickly and is able to cover considerable distances in search of food.

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

Limbs birds are developed and tenacious, ending in 4 long fingers: 2 of them are directed back, 2 look forward. This design allows birds to grab various objects and 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 almost white. The budgerigar's paws can be colored gray-blue, reddish, bright scarlet and pale pink.

In budgies living in nature, eyes dark blue in color, 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 them to view 2 perspectives at once.

The budgerigar is distinguished by its strong beak, protected by a durable horny substance, and its curved shape resembles the beak of birds of prey. At the base of the budgerigar's beak, 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 supported by the ligamentous apparatus, while the lower jaw is much shorter than the upper. Due to its unique morphology, the beak of these birds serves as an excellent mechanism for tearing and crushing shoots, leaves and seeds of plants, and at the same time is a convenient tool for carrying objects, food 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 pick and break fruits. The beak of the chicks is dark in color, but with age it becomes intensely yellow, with a slight greenish tint.

Thanks to their natural grass-green coloration, budgerigars are invisible to enemies against the backdrop of the natural landscape. Cheeks All individuals are decorated with symmetrical purple marks of an elongated shape, and below, on both sides of the crop, there are black spots - special signs inherent in all representatives of the species. As a rule, the markings partially overlap the throat spots.

Crop and scalp budgerigars living in nature are painted in an intense yellow color; 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 begins right from the wax, and as they grow older, it is replaced by a characteristic yellow mask.

Feathers budgerigars on the forehead of males have a unique feature: under the influence of ultraviolet light they fluoresce, due to which females in nature choose a partner for nesting. Moreover, the human eye can detect this radiation only at night, but budgies 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 cere, which is located at the base of its beak.

• Young males have a purple cere; in a young female it is intensely 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 wax. By the way, the brown color of the wax in females appears during nesting.

Male on the left, female on the right

Types of budgies, photos and colors.

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

Photo from budgerigar.com

The yellow color of the budgerigar is the first mutation 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, the dots on the throat are black, and there are purple markings on the cheeks. The head, wings and back of the parrots are decorated with pronounced black undulation. The long tail feathers are dark blue, the supporting surface of the wings is colored black with a minimal light yellow edge.

• Dark green budgerigars (Dark green color) are especially elegantly colored; they appeared in France in 1915. The chest, belly and lower back of these parrots are dark green, the mask is light yellow, the spots on the throat are black, slightly overlapped by purple cheek spots, and the body has a characteristic waviness. The shade of the wing plumage is identical to the classic variety, but the tail feathers are darker.

• Olive green budgerigars (Olive green color) are descended from dark green individuals and were bred in France in 1919. The predominant plumage color of birds is olive green, the mask is bright yellow. Black waviness is contrastingly indicated on a yellow base. The wings of budgerigars are black with a green tint, the feathers on the tail are darker compared to dark green specimens.

• Sky blue The budgerigar (Skyblue color) was bred by the Belgians in 1878. The chest, belly and lower back of the parrot are blue, and the bird's mask is pure white. The characteristic undulation is clearly defined on a white base, the tail feathers are distinguished by a blue color, the primary flight feathers are black with a minimal white edge.

• Cobalt Budgerigars (Cobalt) were first shown at the London Exhibition in 1910. Their chest, abdomen, back and tail are distinguished by a blue color, the bird's mask is pure white, the bright wavy is well expressed on a white background. The wing color of a budgerigar varies from black to blue. The tail feathers are darker compared to sky blue parrots.

• Lilac budgerigars (Mauve color) appeared as a result of mixing 2 dark factors, giving a deep lilac color without the presence of a gray tint.

• Gray-green budgerigar (Grey Green color) is the fruit of the labors of Austrian breeders, which was obtained in 1935. The front, lower part of the body and lower back of these birds are distinguished by a very light mustard or gray-greenish tone. The parrots' mask is bright yellow, the spots on the throat are black, and the cheeks are gray, the clear wavy contrasts well with the yellow background. The tail plumage is black, the parrot's primary flight feathers are black with a minimal light yellow edge.

• Gray Budgerigars (Gray color) appeared in Austria and England at the same time, in 1943. Representatives of the variety have a gray chest, lower body, cheeks and lower back, a snow-white mask, and black markings on the throat. The characteristic undulation is clearly marked on a white base, the tail is black and the wing feathers are black or greyish.

• Violet The budgerigar (Violet color) first appeared in Germany in 1928. The chest, abdomen and lower back of the bird are distinguished by a deep purple color. The budgerigar's mask is pure white, the throat markings are black, the tail is dark purple, and the primary flight feathers are black with minimal white edges.

• yellowface There are two types of budgies:
  • The first type, single-factor, assumes that the bird has a lemon-yellow mask, which rarely extends beyond the occipital region and onto the chest. A lemon yellow hue may cover the white tail feathers and other white areas of the bird's plumage. The yellow tint does not extend to the remaining feathers. In two-factor birds the yellow mask is absent.
  • The second type of yellow-faced parrot also includes two varieties: single-factor and two-factor. Both 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) is a very unusual species of budgerigar with a bright egg-yolk yellow plumage. These parrots have red eyes with light irises and pearlescent cheek markings. The feathers of the budgerigar's tail and wings are light. Males are distinguished by a pink or purple cere, while females have a brown cere. The birds' feet are red-brown or deep pink.

Albino on the left, lutinous on the right

• Albinos(Albino) were first obtained in Germany in 1932, by two amateur breeders. These budgies are distinguished by their pure white feathers and red eyes with a white iris. The cere and tarsi of albinos are the same as those of lutinos.

• Crested Budgerigars come in a wide variety of color variations, but differ in the type of crest. 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 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 different shapes and lengths.

Where do budgies live in the wild?

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

In natural conditions, budgerigars live in flocks of 2 dozen to several hundred individuals and spend their entire lives wandering around the mainland in search of food. Typically, birds stay in semi-desert and steppe landscapes with open 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 into giant flocks of up to a million individuals, representing an unforgettable spectacle of beauty.

Birds usually wait out the hot time of the day in the shade, hiding on branches in the dense foliage of trees. At night, budgerigars sleep, and at the first rays of the sun they gather in small flocks and go to watering places and feeding areas located several kilometers from their roosting site. Some birds drink at the water's edge, others descend to the very surface and quench their thirst in flight. They are often accompanied at watering places by cockatoos and zebra finches.

What do budgies eat?

According to scientists, the basis of the diet of budgerigars in nature is the seeds of land plants, mostly the seeds of kangaroo grass. Due to human intervention in natural habitats, birds are forced to adjust their diet depending on changes in environmental conditions. Today, Australia's main cereal crop, grown everywhere, is, but the grains of this cereal are too large for small birds. In addition to grains, budgies eat young shoots and leaves of plants, various berries, vegetables and fruits, and occasionally feed on insects and other invertebrates.

Nesting of budgerigars in their natural habitat occurs 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. Nesting pairs occupy hollows, stumps with crevices and any other hollow niches.

The mating games of budgerigars consist of various courtships, an important part of which is “kissing” and regurgitation of food by the male. In this way, he demonstrates to the female his ability to feed future offspring. In the chosen place, practically without any bedding, the female budgerigar lays from 4 to 12 white eggs, their incubation lasts about 3 weeks. Throughout the incubation period, the male budgerigar feeds the female, being nearby in a tireless search for food.

Budgerigar chicks hatch from eggs naked and blind, weighing about 2 g, the mother warms the offspring, and both parents do the feeding. 10 days after birth, the chicks' eyes open, at the age of 1 month they are fully feathered and can leave their native nest, although some young individuals remain near the nest for some time. At the age of 3 months, grown individuals are already able to reproduce.

Breeding budgies at home is a rather labor-intensive process. The male and female, unlike most birds, must grow up together and feel great sympathy for each other, and artificially created pairs, as a rule, do not produce offspring for several years.

How long do budgies live?

In nature, budgerigars live for about 7 years, and at home, with proper care, birds can live up to 10-15 years. The lifespan 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 month old individuals: at this age, budgies easily get used to their owners and their new home. But before you bring the bird home, you need to stock up on everything necessary for proper care and maintenance of your budgerigar at home.

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

What should be in a budgie's cage?

Setting up a parrot cage is not that difficult. It is advisable that bottom of the cage The budgerigar's body was solid, without twigs: this made it easier for the bird to run.

The bottom of the cage must be equipped pallet, which makes cleaning easier.

There must be at least 2 in a cage perches, located one above the other. The thickness of the perches for a parrot should be such that when the bird wraps its paws around it, the bird cannot completely close its claws, that is, there should be a distance between the claws. Otherwise, the bird may rub its paws. The optimal thickness of a perch for a budgerigar is 1.5 cm. The perches themselves should be made only of wood. If necessary, you can make your own perches from any fruit trees.

To grind down the beak in the cage of a budgerigar, you need to place sprigs of rowan, cherry or special chalk.

It's good if drinking bowl And bathhouse will be porcelain or glass: these materials better preserve the purity of water. There must also be 2 in the cage feeders: for grain and soft feed. It is advisable to wash both the feeders and the drinking bowl daily, adding new food and water each time. Be careful not to place perches over feeders and waterers, otherwise droppings may end up in the feed or water.