When it comes to keeping birds as pets, by far the most popular choice has to be the cute little budgerigar – or budgie for short. These fun and friendly birds have actually been kept as pets since the mid-1800s, true testament to their staying power, after being added to the list of known species in 1805 by British Museum keeper George Shaw.
Budgies first made it to UK shores thanks to bird fanatic and artist John Gould, who brought a couple back with him after a trip to Australia. He described the birds as “the most animated, cheerful little creatures you can possibly imagine” – and whenever you come across one, it’s easy to see why!
Their reputation as excellent pets was cemented by Queen Victoria, who had a couple of her own. After all, if it’s good enough for the Queen of England, it’s certainly good enough for the commoners!
But, of course, before you bring any new pet home – bird or otherwise – you always need to do some research so you know what to expect and so you know you can look after them properly, ensuring that they lead a long, happy and healthy life.
At feeding time, remember that budgies are ground feeders and they love nothing more than grass and seed, so make sure that you give them plentiful supplies of both.
However, you can also be a bit more imaginative than that and you can share a lot of your own food with your little birds, something that’s sure to bring you all closer together. Birds of a feather flock together, or so they say!
What veggies can budgies eat?
Supplementing your budgerigar’s diet with fruit and veg couldn’t be easier, since they love practically all of them!
Fill their feeding bowls with everything from cabbage, cucumber, broccoli, parsnips and peppers to cauliflower, beans, lettuce, peas, sweet potato, sweetcorn and many, many more.
But, of course, factor in the size of the bird when it comes to feeding so that you don’t overdo it. Obesity is a common issue in captive birds but if you’re mindful about quantity and quality at feeding time, you shouldn’t have a problem on your hands.
If you do think your budgie is a bit on the chubby side (with 45g about average weight for these birds), either feed them less or ensure they get more exercise… or both!
To exercise your budgie, take them out of the cage regularly and pick a large, safe room in which they can fly about (supervised, of course). Aim to let them fly around for at least an hour a day so they can really stretch their wings.
You can also encourage natural behaviours like climbing and foraging by introducing swings, ladders and chew toys in their aviary, which will help them stay active and keep the pounds off.
Of course, these are only a few little hints and tips… so if you want any further help or advice about budgerigar diet and general care, get in touch with the Johnston & Jeff team today.
