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Housing Your Budgerigar
Pet budgerigars need the shelter and protection of a good cage.
As a natural flying creature, birds must be housed so that they can do just that.
Budgerigars should be provided with all the room possible, and in a group situation that means an aviary. There are a great many aviaries of varying designs on the market or you may prefer to construct your own.
Aviaries must be located so that they do not receive driving rain or hot midday sun - in the southern hemisphere the best position is facing North.
Metal aviaries may become very hot in the summer and it is best to provide some means of insulation.
Budgerigars are natural chewers and if the aviary is constructed of wood it is necessary to check regularly for weaknesses and repair where necessary. Budgerigars are very inquisitive creatures and will thoroughly investigate their cage for any potential weakness.
When a budgerigar is kept as a solitary pet the size of the cage becomes a major concern. The minimal space in which they can be successfully kept is one which allows them to fly easily from perch to perch. Cages made of cane are not safe for budgerigars as they quickly chew their way to freedom.
As a member of the parrot family, the budgerigar likes to climb and a wire cage should have some horizontal wire bars to allow this. Budgerigars are also entertained by bird toys, ladders, bells, mirrors etc but not so many that the cage is cluttered and the birds ability to fly is restricted. Toys should not have small, narrow gaps where the bird can get its feet trapped.
Buy a cage with a secure latch as budgerigars often learn to open their cage door!
Perches should be either small branches or natural hard wood dowels to give your budgie a good grip and help to keep his claws and beak trim. Perfectly smooth perches of all the same diameter should be avoided because they can cause feet and joint problems.
Perches should never be positioned above food or water dishes so as to avoide contamination from droppings.
The best feeding containers are made of hard plastic, which are easy to keep clean.
The cage should have a slide-out tray in the bottom to make cleaning easy. The floor should be covered with a sand sheet, or sheets of newspaper. Never used paper with coloured newsprint as it is often toxic.
Where am I going to put the cage?
Budgerigars are very greagrious and enjoy the company of humans. For this reason a family or rumpus room is an ideal location for the cage.
Avoid kitchen areas as cooking fumes from overheated nonstick cookware is toxic.
Budgerigars require a constant room temperature. Rapid and extreme changes of temperature must be avoided as these can be fatal.
Your budgerigar's cage should be placed in a draught free area. Air conditioned rooms are acceptable so long as the bird is kept away from direct airflow.