PetsThe budgerigar, or budgie, is a small parrot from Australia and one of the most popular pet birds in the world. Budgies are lively and social, and some learn to copy words. A budgie kept alone in a small cage and ignored is a sad bird. Given company, space to fly and things to do, it is a cheerful one.
This is a care guide, not veterinary advice. It covers housing, food, routine and safety. It does not diagnose or treat illness. If your pet seems unwell, is hurt or behaves differently, take it to a qualified veterinarian without delay.
At a glance
- Lives
- Commonly 5 to 10 years
- Time each day
- About an hour of company and time out of the cage, plus feeding
- Space
- A wide cage, and a safe room to fly in
- Cost
- Low to medium
- Good with children
- Yes, with calm children. Birds are delicate
Is a budgerigar right for you?
A good choice if
- Someone is home for part of the day
- You can let the bird fly in a closed room daily
- You do not mind some noise and scattered seed
- You can keep a pair if you are out a lot
Think again if
- You want a silent pet
- The cage would stand in the kitchen
- Nobody has time to talk to or play with the bird
- You have a cat that cannot be kept apart
What you need before the first day
- A cage wider than it is tall, with horizontal bars to climb
- Perches of different thickness, natural wood if possible
- Food and water dishes
- Budgerigar seed mix or pellets
- Cuttlebone or mineral block
- Toys: swing, ladder, things to shred
- A shallow bath dish
- A light cloth to cover the cage at night
The right home
Birds fly sideways, so width matters more than height. Place the cage at about chest height, against a wall, in a room where the family spends time, but never in the kitchen: cooking smoke and the fumes from overheated non-stick pans are dangerous to birds. Keep it out of direct sun and draughts. Before letting the bird out, close windows and doors, switch off the ceiling fan, and cover mirrors and open water.
Food and water
Offer a good seed mix or pellets, and add washed fresh greens and vegetables daily, such as coriander, spinach and grated carrot. Seed alone is too fatty. Blow away empty husks: a dish that looks full may hold only shells. Give fresh water every day and a cuttlebone for calcium.
Never feed
- Avocado
- Chocolate, coffee and tea
- Alcohol
- Salty, fried or sugary food
- Apple pips and fruit stones
- Onion and garlic
Care routine
Every day
Every week
Every month
Handling and behaviour
Win trust slowly. Sit by the cage and talk, then offer millet from your fingers, then a finger as a perch pressed gently against the lower chest. Never grab a bird unless you must. Hold a bird loosely: it breathes by moving its chest and can be suffocated by a tight grip. Ask a vet who sees birds about nail and beak care.
When to see a vet
Do not wait and watch if you notice any of these. Go to a qualified vet:
- Sitting fluffed up and sleepy during the day
- Not eating
- Tail bobbing with each breath, or noisy breathing
- Changes in droppings that last more than a day
- Feathers being pulled out
Find a vet before you need one, and keep the phone number where everyone at home can see it. Follow the vaccination and parasite-control schedule your vet gives you.
In India: climate and rules
Budgerigars are bred in captivity and are legal to keep. Native Indian wild birds, such as the rose-ringed parakeet, munias and mynas, are protected by the Wild Life (Protection) Act and must not be bought or kept. Buy only captive-bred birds. Never leave a cage in the summer sun or in front of a cooler, and bring it indoors during fireworks.
More guides
Dog, Cat, Rabbit, Guinea pig, Hamster, Cockatiel, Goldfish, Betta fish, Tropical fish tank. Also: the first week with a new pet, foods pets must never eat, summer care.
Written in November 2026. Life spans and sizes are the ranges commonly given for well-kept pets. Individual animals differ.