When a person wants to start pet, then he simply goes to the market and chooses the one he likes. But before you make such a purchase, you should decide in advance on the animal or bird. We need to collect as much information as possible about him. If you have to choose a parrot, then you should find out everything about its contents. After all, once the bird is home, it won’t be so easy to give up on it. Therefore, you need to find out in advance how to care for a parrot. The life and health of the bird will depend on the owner.
First stay in a new place
The question “How to care for a parrot?” quite popular in our country. A lot of people have them in their home. After all, proper care for a parrot is the key to a long and healthy life for the bird.
The main components of keeping a pet are certain items. For example, perches and a feeding trough, a bathing area and a drinking bowl. It is also important to know the diet of parrots.
When a purchased bird is brought into its home, it should not be placed with other birds. She needs to be alone for a few weeks (two or three). It is worth maintaining a close relationship with your parrot at all times. Have nice conversations in a pleasant voice. So that the bird gets used to its new owner and sees him as its patron. If you know how to properly care for a parrot, your beloved pet will always be happy.
Choosing a place to live
The main detail in keeping birds at home is the presence of a cage. It is sold in pet stores or markets. The cage in the room should be placed in a place where there is a lot of daylight, but no direct hits sun rays(this is very harmful for parrots). It is also impossible for it to be in drafts. Before caring for your parrot, you should buy and install the cage correctly. His house should be at eye level. This approach will help bring the pet and owner closer together. Also, heating devices should not be installed near the cage.
At first, parrots may have indigestion or poor appetite. There is no need to worry about this. This behavior is associated with a change of environment and getting used to it. Also, at first there is no need to create conditions that will act as an irritant. For example, you should not listen to loud music, let other pets get close to the bird, or intrusively try to pet it. You need to wait a little while the adaptation period passes. It is not only important to know how to care for a parrot, but also to communicate with it correctly. The voice should be gentle and quiet, you can call by name. Especially when cleaning the cage or changing the water.
Symptoms of diseases
In the first days of your budgie's stay in a new place, you do not need to immediately start raising it. First you need to establish close contact with the bird. It should take a little time. Also, for several weeks after purchasing a parrot, you need to carefully monitor its general behavior. Some actions may indicate that the bird is sick and needs specialist help. Then caring for the parrot will require more careful care.
So, what behavior can tell an owner that his pet is unwell? Firstly, if he doesn't eat well. Secondly, he drinks fluids very often. Thirdly, he moves little around the cage, mostly sits in one corner. Fourth, he looks sleepy. Fifthly, it is in a sitting position with its wings lowered and ruffled.
If such symptoms are noticeable, it is better to consult a veterinarian for advice. After all, its future life will depend on how to care for a parrot. Animals and birds are not things; they cannot simply be thrown away the first time you don’t want to keep or care for them.
Cleaning the cage
Cleaning a parrot's home is an essential part of caring for them. Some things need to be done every day, while others need to be done once every thirty and ninety days. Now in this article existing options cleanings will be considered.
Every day it is worth removing litter and food debris. They can be on the floor of the cage, under the bedding, on the sides. The pallet must be pulled out and carried under it wet cleaning. It is better to replace the litter daily. It is important to wash the drinking bowl and feeder well, you can use soda or detergent. Then the dishes need to be wiped with a dry cloth.
Once a month, after regular cleaning, the parrot's house is disinfected. You need to soak a sponge in an infusion of chamomile or wormwood and wash the cage well. Then wipe it dry.
Once every three months you need to first wash the bird’s home, then wipe soda solution(for 1 liter of water, 3 teaspoons of soda), and then - infusion of chamomile (wormwood). After all procedures, wipe with a soft cloth. Caring for budgies is not very difficult. The main thing is to know what actions need to be performed. Then healthy and happy birds will live in the house.
Food for budgies
The diet of budgerigars does not contain refined wheat cereal, but millet. There are also oats in the grain mixture. These two grains complement each other. Thanks to them, budgies receive useful amino acids. In addition, birds can be given sunflower seeds in small quantities. Also green types of herbs: dandelion and clover, spinach and alfalfa, lettuce and sprouts of young plants. Some other budgies eat fruits and berries. They are useful, but not all birds want to eat them. In addition to all these ingredients, you need to put a container with river sand and crushed eggshells.
Precautionary measures
Care budgerigar caring for a boy is no different from caring for a female bird. All birds require attention and special conditions for living at home.
Drinking for budgerigars should be fresh every day. You can add a few drops to the water lemon juice. He will add to the bird useful substances for the body. Also important for budgies is the ability to fly. All sources in the room must first be closed. fresh air. Otherwise, the birds feel it and fly towards it. It is better to curtain all windows and the balcony so that the parrot does not break against the glass. You can place a tree branch in the cage, on which the bird will sharpen its beak. The suitable temperature for staying is about 20 degrees Celsius.
Cockatiel care
If a person takes a cockatiel parrot into his care, then he must understand that these birds require special attention. Birds are very proud, it is more difficult to establish close contact with them. You need to communicate with cockatiel parrots very affectionately, without raising your voice.
Birds love to bathe, so having a bath in the cage is necessary. Spraying can be used. Caring for a cockatiel parrot involves proper food, free flight and regular cleaning of their home. It is recommended that birds have their wings trimmed (the procedure must be carried out by a specialist).
Corella parrots need to be fed with a grain mixture, dandelion and plantain leaves, birch and willow branches, cottage cheese, vegetables, fruits, and bread.
Caring for lovebirds
Different types of birds differ slightly in maintenance and care. Lovebirds have a very cheerful character. They are responsive and freedom-loving. Birds love to fly, so in a cage the birds only eat, drink water and sleep. Caring for lovebirds involves feeding them properly, choosing a strong iron cage and creating room for flight. Birds often suffer from obesity due to lack of exercise.
The cage must be constantly cleaned, this must be done in the same way as in the homes of other parrots. The water for bathing should be warm; you should not be forced to undergo bathing procedures. Food for lovebirds is no different from food for budgies.
If you have information about proper care for birds, then communicating with them will be a pleasure for a person!
Budgerigar thanks to its beautiful appearance and incredible affection for humans, it can become a favorite even of those who are completely indifferent to birds.
This type of parrot is very elegantly built. It has a slender body and soft plumage, which is original and brightly colored. But the feathers of the neck, head, wings and back have wavy strokes. It is because of them that parrots got their name. They have blue spots on their cheeks and throat. Wild parrots have legs of blue color and green-yellow color. Domestic birds can have completely different variants feather colors and pink feet.
The sex of a parrot is determined at the end of the first month of their life. In females the cere is pale blue, while in males it is pale pink. Over time, its color changes. An adult male has a bright blue cere, while females have all shades of brown. In addition, females have rough waxes, while males have smooth ones.
Caring for budgies
It’s not for nothing that budgerigars have gained the love of people all over the world. They have a very perky, ringing, but at the same time relatively quiet voice. In addition, they are unable to produce the sharp, grinding sounds that are characteristic of larger species of birds. Therefore, keeping them in the apartment is a pleasure.
A fairly small cage is enough to keep one parrot. But this is only if the bird has the opportunity to fly out from time to time and “walk” around the room. If you want to breed these birds and keep entire flocks, you have no other option other than building an aviary. After all, a small area for living and a sedentary lifestyle leads to the fact that the bird gets fat. And this has an extremely negative impact on her overall health.
It is best to place the cage in a room where there is enough light, but, of course, not in direct sunlight. Parrots love to accept sunbathing, but at the same time they should always have the opportunity to hide in the shade. The most unsuitable places to place a cage with a parrot are the bathroom, kitchen and those rooms where there is a computer.
The cage must be cleaned every day and washed about once a week. To make these procedures easier, purchase a cage that has a retractable tray. Some people prefer to pour prepared sand into the bottom.
The cage must have at least 2 perches, a feeder, a drinking bowl and a place for swimming. In addition, parrots really like to swing and just sit on the rings. As it turned out, at first it is better not to hang bells, toys, mirrors, etc. in the “apartment” of a young parrot. After all, the bird must definitely get used to its new owners.
If you keep parrots in a flock, be aware that they can quite annoy you with their shrill and harsh screams. These birds are very peaceful, they get along calmly in a pair or group, both of their own kind and of completely different species of birds. Surprisingly, these birds can withstand down to -20 degrees, which is very rare for parrots.
When kept in apartments, budgies can live a very long time - up to 20 years. You will notice that each bird has its own character, and you will discover more and more new features every day. The bird can identify its owner even by its steps and will happily fly towards him. In addition, budgerigars remarkably remember the meaning of certain gestures and intonations and react to the presence of strangers.
How to feed parrots
The budgerigar's main food is a grain mixture, which consists of 60% millet, 20% oatmeal or oats, 10% weed seeds and 10% sunflower seeds. It is very important to include in your bird’s diet:
- porridge. But only those that were prepared without oil and with water. It is possible for sugar or salt to be added to them;
- fresh spinach and lettuce;
- sprouted cereals. You can cook this “dish” yourself. This is done this way: soak in warm water millet for about 2 days. It is necessary to wash it, this is the only way to avoid its damage. After this, the soaked millet is wrapped in a paper towel and placed in a warm place. After another two days, the sprouts must be dried and given to the parrot;
- fresh fruits and vegetables;
- in winter, in order to prevent the occurrence of vitamin deficiency, it is necessary to give the bird all kinds of vitamin preparations;
- There must always be clean water in the bird's cage.
A large number of parrots may show interest in food that is inappropriate for them, such as alcohol, fast food or smoked meats. Under no circumstances should you give this to them, even as a treat. After all, such products often cause inflammation of the digestive system.
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They were born in captivity and are therefore well adapted to live at home. It is not difficult to keep these birds in an apartment; they are hardy and unpretentious.
The bright part of the room is most suitable for keeping parrots. However, the cage should not be placed very close to the window, so that there is no draft, which these birds are very afraid of, and also near heating devices. The cage should be placed at human height or slightly lower. This makes it more convenient to clean it and keep an eye on your pet. Smoking should not be allowed in the room where birds are; cigarette smoke is harmful to birds.
For most parrot species great importance has a daylight hours that should be 15-16 hours a day. IN short days In autumn and winter, you need to turn on additional electric lighting. For a room of 15-18 square meters. m requires illumination of 100-150 W, then the parrots will feel great and have time to eat daily norm stern. In general, the more light, especially sunlight, the better feathered pets feel.
The cage for your parrot or for a couple should be large enough for the occupants to fly around in it for a bit. Its dimensions can be estimated as follows: it must be at least 5 times longer than the bird itself, for example, with a parrot’s body length of 18–20 cm, the cage must be at least 90–100 cm in length, the corresponding width and be at least 60, or better yet, 80 cm. Only cells of this size can be considered as appropriate this species birds.
Standard cages with bars around the entire perimeter have both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, there is a lot of light in such a cage and the parrot in it has the opportunity to climb the transverse rods. A bird living in an apartment with people really appreciates an excellent view. But on the other hand, the inhabitant of such a cage is exposed to drafts and does not have a reliable quiet corner where he could, if desired, retire. But this can be easily helped by darkening some area of the cage with plants or a curtain.
We should not forget that the cage door must have a reliable lock so that the parrot in the cage cannot open it or break it, because a parrot left unattended in an apartment can do a lot of trouble, and it itself can suffer for many reasons. As locks on the cage door, many owners use small locks with a key, metal carabiners or powerful springs, which the bird is not able to press.
Caring for parrots involves cleaning the cage daily. It is necessary to remove debris, scrape off adhering dirt and litter from the sides, and brush off dust and debris with a soft brush. Having pulled out the tray, wipe it with a damp cloth and replace the bedding. Poultry dishes are washed hot water with the addition of soda or special dishwashing solutions, then wiped dry. Feeders for grain mixtures are thoroughly cleaned of food residues, wiped with a clean cloth, filled with the daily amount of feed and put back in place. Wet feeders and drinkers are washed daily with hot water, and automatic drinkers are rinsed.
The cages should be completely cleaned at least once a week. The pull-out tray is covered with clean river sand in a layer of 1.5-2 cm. It is better to pre-calcine it in the oven or rinse it with a solution of potassium permanganate and dry it. If it is not possible to change the sand frequently, the bottom of the cage can be covered with paper, but in this case the sand should be in a special feeder. Parrots use it as a gastrolite - for grinding roughage in the stomach. The sand should not be fine - it only clogs the stomach without fulfilling its main function. It is better to use hygroscopic paper, such as newspaper, but it must be changed at least 2-3 times a week, otherwise it may harbor ticks or blood-sucking insects. It is also necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the perches, which quickly become contaminated with a layer of droppings or food.
But cage care alone is not enough; parrots need communication. By nature they are school creatures. They should not be kept isolated, they should feel like part of the family. In addition, the more time they spend outside the cage, the easier it will be to communicate with them. Of course, not everyone has the opportunity to keep a bird near them all day long. In this case, release the bird from the cage as soon as you get home. Get up a little earlier in the morning to spend some time with your pet. Do not keep your parrot in the bedroom, where he will see you for a few minutes in the morning and an hour in the evening before going to bed. Boredom can cause problems for birds; parrots begin to pluck their feathers and sometimes fall into deep depression.
For the same purpose, when keeping parrots, it is useful to place toys in the cage. You can make a swing yourself, a ring made of wood or light tin with a diameter of 5–6 cm, for small species, for example, hang it on a thread from the ceiling rod of the cage; instead of a ring, you can strengthen a swinging perch. You can buy a bell with or without a mirror at a pet store. As for the mirror, the opinions of budgerigar owners are divided. Some believe that the mirror has a bad effect on the “psyche” of the bird, as it stimulates the sexual reflex. However, this is not always justified; in any case, you can experiment - if you notice that the mirror has a bad effect on the bird, you can remove it. When learning to “speak,” it is advisable that there are no foreign objects in the bird’s cage. However, most “talking” birds display their vocabulary repertoire in front of a mirror.
Caring for a parrot also includes feeding it, proper nutrition- this is his guarantee. The basis of nutrition and feeding of such pets is a grain mixture consisting of approximately 70% - millet, different types, 10% - oats, 20% - the mixtures usually include canary seed, hemp, flaxseed, a little wheat, etc. Millet should be of different types: red, white, black, yellow. It is not recommended to feed these birds seeds and nuts; the fact is that such food is very fatty for them. But grain feeds alone do not have a complete set of all nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of parrots. Therefore, it is periodically necessary to give the birds additional and mineral feeds, but in smaller quantities than grains.
A healthy and nutritious food for parrots is fresh grated carrots (not squeezed), mixed with semolina or white breadcrumbs. It is prepared quite simply. Grated carrots are mixed with crushed white breadcrumbs or semolina in such a ratio that when mixed, it does not stick to your fingers. Grated carrots are indispensable in winter and spring, when there is little greenery. Green food, which is a source of vitamins and mineral salts for your pets, can be given to birds in unlimited quantities. They also love apples, dandelion leaves, wood lice, lettuce, and cabbage. Dandelion leaves, for example, are consumed fresh in finely chopped form from early spring until late autumn.
In winter, you can sow oats, millet, canary seed, and young shoots in boxes, which are readily eaten by birds. This is done like this: pour soil into two 40x10x8 cm boxes and place them on the windowsill so that there is more light for greenery to grow. Sowing is carried out first in one box, and after 7-10 days, when the young shoots are 10-12 cm high, in the second. From the first box, the greens are collected in parts (as much as is needed per day), chopped and mixed with additional food or placed separately for feeding. As the greenery in the first box is consumed, it grows in the second, and the first is sown again. It turns out to be a so-called green conveyor until spring, when the first greenery appears.
Maybe not just a dog or a cat. Many animal lovers get budgies. But in order for a bird to live comfortably next to a person, you need to know how to properly care for it.
What do budgies do?
This species of parrot arrived in our country from Australia. They adapt well to life at home and are easy to care for. Their sizes are quite modest. The body grows to a length of about 20 centimeters, and the wingspan does not exceed ten centimeters. The tail has a stepped shape. Budgerigars have quite strong and tenacious legs, with the help of which they quickly run across flat surfaces and are excellent at climbing trees.
In their usual natural conditions, budgies have green plumage, but there are birds with feathers of a different color. Birds with yellow, blue and other plumage colors are artificially bred.
Wavys are considered quite sociable birds; they love to receive water procedures, have excellent vision and hearing. They are easy to train, as they are naturally able to imitate the singing of other birds, reproduce sounds or individual words. Budgerigars live on average about 15 years.
Regardless of whether you are buying a wavy for a company or planning to breed birds for sale, it is best to buy young ones. It is best to place the bird cage in the living room. IN big room the parrot will be in full view of the owners and will have the opportunity to familiarize itself with the situation. It is not recommended to place a bird cage in the kitchen. There, harmful fumes from household chemicals and drafts, since this room is often ventilated.
Also, do not place the cage in such a way that objects or shelves hang over it. Parrots don't tolerate this well. Under natural conditions, they try to climb higher out of the instinct of self-preservation. In summer, on sunny, windless days, the cage with the parrot can be placed on the balcony, after making sure that he cannot open it. But do not leave the wavy unattended. An unexpected walk can be for a bird severe stress, then you will need to move the cage into the apartment.
What to feed your budgie
- Grain feed about 2 small spoons per day. The feeder should always be filled with grain mixture.
- Sprouted grain is necessary for better absorption of nutrients. Before the first moult, a small spoonful of the sprouted mixture is given twice a week, then this type of food is given less frequently. For soaking, you can take grains such as chickpeas, lentils, wheat, oats, millet, rapeseed and others. But it is better to avoid hemp and flax seeds in sprouted mixtures.
- Mineral food is needed for normal development of bone tissue and feathers. This mixture consists of shell rock, crushed chalk, eggshells And charcoal. This mixture is sold in specialized departments and pet stores. It is placed in a separate container in the cage.
- To enrich the bird's body with mineral components and to sharpen its beak, budgies need a mineral stone or sepia.
- Three times a week the bird should be given porridge cooked in water. It is placed in a separate feeder. Buckwheat, oatmeal or lentil porridge is suitable for budgies.
- Be sure to give your parrot fresh vegetables or fruits, as well as herbs. They are an indispensable source of vitamins for birds. Please note that birds are not allowed to give basil, cilantro, St. John's wort, parsley, wormwood, celery and some other herbs.
- It is useful to let parrots chew branches fruit trees. They must first be cut into pieces and washed thoroughly under running water.
- It is necessary to give parrots water. The drinking bowl must be constantly filled with clean water.
Budgerigar Cage
Parrots of this breed are among the very active birds. Therefore, their home must be spacious, wide and high. The cage must be made of very high quality durable materials. It is better to make a cell in the form of a rectangle or square with flat roof. But experts advise not to buy round cages. The birds do not feel protected in them. Optimal sizes cells:
- For one wavy 40x25x30 cm.
- For a couple of birds 60x30x40 cm.
- For two pairs of birds 60x50x60 cm.
Since parrots chew on everything, it is better to buy cages made of durable steel that does not rust or oxidize. For accessories and cage filling, choose items made from good, hypoallergenic materials that do not emit toxic substances. Inside the cage you need to place rings, a perch, a feeder and drinker, a bath and various toys. At the same time, there should be a lot of free space inside the cage so that the wavy birds can spread their wings and fly from place to place.
Feeders and drinkers must be selected in a size that suits the dimensions. They will need to be taken out of the cage and washed every day. Rings and perches are preferably made of hard wood with a diameter of about 20 mm. Synthetic ones cause paw diseases. Perches made of volcanic pumice are also good; they are useful for sharpening bird claws.
Suitable toys include bells and other small musical things, rope ladders, swings and ropes. You need to be careful when handling mirrors. In some parrots this may cause sexual behavior or aggression.
For convenience, the cage should have a retractable tray, which must be filled with special ones. It will absorb all the wavy excrement.
How to tame a budgerigar to your hands
It is much easier to tame a budgie if it lives alone in a cage. Due to lack of communication, the bird will make contact faster. To do this, she needs to be surrounded with attention and care, and let into the room for communication more often. If a parrot is calm by nature, it will be more difficult for him to make contact, since he is not used to trusting others.
You can start taming parrots after the bird has adapted to its new home and is no longer afraid of people approaching its cage. In order for the wavy to sit calmly in the owner’s arms, you need to let him know that this will only be a joy to him. For example, reward the bird for correct behavior a treat. At first, you can extend your hand with pieces of vegetables or fruits directly into your pet’s cage. This must be done at least twice a day, because regularity of training is important here. Soon the bird will begin to make attempts to move onto the hand and eat the treat.
Diseases of budgies
If the bird feels unwell, it will be noticeable from the first days. In this case, she becomes indifferent, stops cleaning her feathers, and refuses to eat. Heavy breathing appears, there may be discharge from the beak, and the tail droops. Parrots often drink. Sometimes growths form on the beak and paws. If such signs appear, you must immediately begin treatment for your pet.
The main help lies in treatment methods such as heating. You need to install a lamp next to the cage and use it to maintain a temperature of about 27 degrees. This will strengthen the budgerigar's immunity.
If the parrot does not have enough vitamins or has liver disease, then treatment is carried out with a 10% glucose solution. It is also useful to give the bird honey in the amount of a few drops.
For diarrhea and poisoning, birds are given adsorbents, for example, enterosgel or Activated carbon. However, it is better not to treat the bird on your own, but to contact a veterinary clinic at the first sign of discomfort.
How to determine the gender of a budgie
In chicks, the sex of the bird can be determined by the shade of the wax. This can be done in the third or fourth week of the parrot’s life. The cere in males is uniformly colored lilac, pink or violet. In some cases, along the contour of the nostrils, males have subtle circles of a light blue hue. In females, the cere is also colored pink, violet or lilac, but they will always have a clear white rim around the nostrils.
In adult birds, sex determination is quite simple. The cere of females darkens as they mature and becomes brown or beige. Sometimes there may be a bluish tint, but then there will be a white rim around the nostrils. In addition, females may have keratin growths and tubercles on the cere due to hormonal changes.
In males, as they grow older, the cere becomes a rich blue hue. If a bird begins to develop some kind of disease, the cere turns brown, begins to peel off and peel off.
How to determine the age of a budgie
When purchasing a bird at a pet store, you must first examine the wavy area of feathers on the head. In a young bird, this area with waves starts from the beak itself and spreads to the entire head. The wavy will remain like this until the first molt, that is, up to 3-4 months.
Then you need to examine the bird's eyes. Until the age of six months, they do not have an iris and the bird’s eyes are completely black. If there is a wide light rim around the eyes, then the bird is more than 1 year old.
Another way to determine age is to pay attention to the color of the wax. Before reaching sexual maturity, its color may be pink, purple or lilac. But if the bird has already reached the age of six months, the color of the cere becomes bright and saturated.
Look at the bird's legs, or rather, pay attention to the scales. In young parrots, they fit very tightly to the surface of the paw and form a continuous surface. Over time, individual scales stand out more and more, and the surface of the paws becomes looser.
You can tell a lot by a parrot's tail. Up to two months, the parrot's tail is short. But in some cases, a bird loses its tail feathers due to illness or injury.
How to teach a budgie to talk
If you decide to start teaching your budgerigar human speech, then you should take into account the fact that for the bird our speech is just another song. The parrot will not communicate using speech, it will just imitate new sounds. For the owner of the bird, it is necessary to help the wavy learn a new song for him. To do this, you need to follow seven simple steps:
- First, try to get to know your parrot and establish an emotional connection with him. Otherwise, learning will turn into real stress for him and he will not want to listen to you.
- First, teach the wavy one word. It is best to choose the name of the parrot itself for this. If it is difficult to master one word for a bird, then you can start by repeating individual sounds.
- Say the name while looking directly at the parrot. Then he will understand that you are addressing him. Speak not quickly, but rather emotionally. It is necessary that the bird is interested in the word and wants to repeat it. The intonation should be the same all the time so as not to confuse the parrot.
- It will take the parrot a few seconds to respond. At first he will respond simply with sounds, but gradually the word will be heard more clearly. In a couple of months you will be able to teach him to say his name.
- Classes should take place daily and should not last more than 20 minutes. It is advisable to conduct them at the same time of day, but depending on the mood and well-being of the pet, the lesson can be rescheduled.
- Be sure to praise the wavy and treat him with treats.
- Don't be lazy about doing your classes. Only a systematic approach will ensure your success.
If you want to get a more detailed “speech” of a parrot, then you need to tie certain words to the situation, such as greeting or feeding time. It is best to create a connection with a meeting or departure, while saying words of greeting or farewell. It is necessary to create a real situation so that the bird has the necessary association with the real event.
Also take into account that the bird does not really understand the meaning of the word it says. Therefore, instead of the usual “hello” or “bye,” you can come up with something more interesting, but simple, so that the bird can easily repeat the word.
How long do budgies live at home?
On average, the lifespan of budgerigars at home does not exceed five years, but in some cases, under very favorable conditions, the lifespan of budgerigars can reach fifteen or even twenty years.
Lifespan is primarily influenced by genetics. If improperly bred, parrots develop genetic diseases that significantly shorten their lifespan. Due to inexperience or other reasons, breeders do not try to take into account all the nuances of the birds’ pedigree, which, of course, negatively affects the health of their pets.
It is very important to feed the bird correctly and in a balanced manner so that it lives as long as possible. Budgerigars are prone to developing tumors various kinds due to poor nutrition. They may become obese or have indigestion. Remember that obesity reduces the life of a bird by 2/3.
You also need to create favorable conditions bird residence. The cage should be spacious and well lit. Must be constantly maintained optimal temperature and bring daylight closer to the natural living conditions of the budgerigar. It is imperative to regularly clean the cage, change food and water for the bird. All food expiration dates must be in order.
To maintain optimal health, the bird must be regularly released from the cage to fly for a while. This will allow your pet to maintain normal physical activity.
Except good physical fitness For longevity, a budgie needs communication and attention. This will prevent your pet from getting bored and wasting away. It is important not to expose your pet stressful situations, avoid injury. If this happens or the bird gets sick for some other reason, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.
How much do budgies cost?
Before buying a wavy, you should consider everything financial expenses. The price for one bird varies greatly and depends on where exactly you will buy it. For example, in specialized stores the price of one individual can vary from 700 to 1000 rubles.
You can also buy budgies on the Internet, taking advantage of offers on message boards from people who independently breed them. In this case, you can save a significant amount on your purchase. But there is a high probability that the bird sold to you will be sick or old. Therefore, this option is acceptable only if you are without outside help able to assess the health and age of the bird.
In addition to buying the bird itself, you will also have to buy a cage, food and all the necessary accessories. In general, the costs will be about 3,500 rubles, or even more. This amount includes poultry feed, all necessary accessories, and a cage.
Parrot, you need to properly equip the cage. It should have at least two strong perches, a drinking bowl, a feeder and a bathing container. Hang special rings on which your feathered pet will swing. The bottom of the cage should be retractable, so it will be easier for you to clean it (you need to clean the cage daily, wash it once a week). The cage with the bird should be located further from the sun and drafts. Keep your parrot away from the computer, provide your pet with the opportunity to hide from bright rays in the shade.
It is advisable that the feeder and drinker be made of porcelain or glass. It is better to pre-settle the water so that the chlorine evaporates, then just pour it into the drinking bowl. You need to change the water daily, in the warm season - twice a day. In spring and autumn, it is recommended to add three drops of fresh lemon juice to the drinker, which helps strengthen the feather cover and disinfects the water. Every day, wash the drinking bowl and feeder with hot water and food grade, and wipe dry.
The food must be balanced, so you should put several feeders in the cage (for grain, fresh fruits and vegetables). For one adult, two teaspoons of grain mixture per day is enough, which consists mainly of oats, millet, canary seed, and sunflower seeds. You can give your birds porridge cooked in water, salad, fresh herbs, cottage cheese, and sprouted grains. To satisfy the bird's body in protein, give your pet finely chopped egg. To provide good process the parrot needs digestion clean sand without various impurities.
