I’m talking about the Budgerigars or Budgies, also known as parakeets. In this blog post, I’m going to refer them as their nickname— Budgies.
Budgies and my Childhood
During my childhood I grew up with three beautiful budgies—Abraham, Sara, and Isaac, the names my sisters and I gave them.
I have many fun memories of these beautiful companions. I remember spending entire afternoons playing, feeding or just observing them.
The experiences I wrote on this post are from my childhood memories. It's been more than 30 years, but these memories will always live in my heart.
Budgies are social birds that bond quickly.
Budgies are social birds that bond quickly with their owners. Budgies have a mellow personality, delicate and calm spirit. They are not as loud as other parrots, making them ideal for an apartment or small house. Budgies also require less work than many other parrots.
Budgies are also known for being excellent companions for children. Teaching children how to handle a bird before allowing them to hold one properly is essential.
My Experience
I can attest that budgies are great for kids. I was eight years old and my sisters seven and six when my mom brought the budgies home. Because budgies are sensitive, I recommend that kids under the age of five be supervised by an adult when handling little birds. My mom was always watching us while holding and feeding them. I was always supervised when cleaning their enclosures. In my experienced, budgies were the perfect pets for my sisters and me.
Budgies are fun to watch
Budgies are fun to watch and provide entertainment for you and those around you. They are very active, social animals who love to play. Budgies are also quite intelligent and curious about their surroundings. Budgies don't require intense interaction but regular interaction with people is important to remain happy and healthy!
Budgies can have a variety of personalities depending on their upbringing as well as their genetic makeup. Some budgies may be more outgoing than others, while some could be shy or aggressive toward strangers. However, most will adapt well enough given proper attention from a caring owner or family member throughout their life.
My Experience
I cannot tell you how many smiles and laughs I had in my childhood because of my budgies. My life was full of entertainment. I remember Abraham and Sarah had a cute relationship—you would always see them kissing, cuddling and scratching each other's heads. From time to time, Sarah wanted to be alone, but Abraham wanted to be around her all the time; she would knock him out of the perch over and over, like saying, let me alone! That was hilarious!
Most Budgies will cuddle with you.
Budgies are very social birds and often bond with their owners. They do this by becoming attached to one person in the family, typically the one who feeds them. If you have a Budgie, there is a good chance it will become your best friend!
Most budgies are soft and affectionate after properly socialized and a link has been developed. If your budgie is particularly fond of you, it may even snuggle up to you.
My Experience
There were only a few occasions when we used to hold them outside their cage, and those moments were unforgettable and cute. Because we didn’t clip their wings, they used to stay in the cage most of the time. We were afraid that they were going to escape and fly away. One time Isaac managed to escape and flew as high as he could but got trapped somewhere, maybe in a tree or something but a neighbor helped us get him back, which was scary! I remember that we cried because we thought he was going to fly and never come back.
A budgie can learn to talk and mimic sounds reasonably easily.
If you want your budgie to talk, there are a few things that you can do. You can use an object that makes a distinct sound and move it around in front of the cage so your budgie can see it. Then, put food on top of the object and wait for your budgie to make the same noise with its beak as when the object moves. If this doesn't work after several attempts, try putting some treats on different things in front of where your bird usually stands or flies around in its cage. As long as it doesn't move too quickly or make loud noises, there's a good chance that within just one day at most, you'll see success!
Budgies are so intelligent they can also learn tricks such as rolling over onto their backs when asked (or if given treats), jumping onto hangers if provided with one (or two), standing up on their hind legs while holding onto something like a curtain rod and even sitting down while singing "Happy Birthday" if taught how!
My Experience
Unfortunately, I didn't know how intelligent budgies were. I was very young and had no experience or remotely knew they have those abilities. I wish I would have teach them a trick or two. On the other hand, I learned to mimic their natural chirping, and amazingly they would respond or behave in a way they knew like I was talking to them. I can still do it!
Budgies can live over ten years with proper care.
A healthy budgie starts a new life in your home, which means you need to be ready for a long-term commitment. The average lifespan for a budgie is about eight years, but if you take good care of it, it will live even longer! With proper care, some could live up to 15-20 years.
Budgies also need to be kept in a cage with a wire floor because their feet and legs are delicate and could get hurt if they were on sandpaper or wood chips. If you use sandpaper instead of paper towels on the bottom of your bird's cage, ensure that it doesn't have any sharp edges or cracks where your bird could get stuck or injured!
To keep your budgie healthy, you need to ensure the following things:
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Clean food dishes.
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Clean water
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Appropriate temperatures for their cage or aviary.
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Clean containers for food and water.
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Cuttlebone/minerals for them to gnaw on.
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Suitable perches for their feet to rest.
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Behavioral enrichment and toys for amusement purposes.
Budgies should have a fresh supply of water every day. New means that it has been changed within the last 24 hours (less if it's particularly hot or humid). If your budgie doesn't want to drink from his bowl, he may pick up bacteria from dust and other particles in the water, which could cause illness. Change it out more often in this case, or bath him instead!
My Experience
My budgies had an excellent life for most of their lives; they had food, water, and many human interactions but most importantly love. As a young child, I learned how to handle birds and care for them. I enjoyed them during my childhood; they lived with us for a long time. I will never forget them and will always keep their memories.
Conclusion
What's your experience with budgies? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments.