GU Budgerigar

Budgerigars Region of origin: Budgerigars live and breed in large swarms in the grass and bush steppes of Australia. In 1840 the English naturalist Sir John Gould brought a pair of budgies to Europe for the first time. These became so to speak the stammer parents of the popular ornamental birds. Today, catching and exporting Australian budgies is forbidden. The birds on the market all come from offspring. Sex differences: One recognizes squabs by the pink nose-skin, dark eyes and the wave-drawing on the forehead up to the nose-root. After the young mouse at the age of about 3 months, the nasal skin turns blue in the male and beige-brown in the female. In albinos (white with red eyes) and lutinos (yellow with red eyes) the skin of the nose is pink in both sexes. female budgerigar male budgerigar Attitude: In its homeland, the wild budgerigars live in big swarms since they are extremely sociable. Therefore they should be kept in cages with at least two of us. A single bird would wither on its own. With a single bird the human being can never replace a conspecific despite intensive affection!The cage should be at least 70x40x40 cm per pair. Better however would be a room aviary, so that the birds can fly also a pair of wing flaps. The cage should be placed in a draught-free location.So that budgerigars feel well one needs: Cage or aviary perches of various thicknesses or natural branches (willows, poplars or fruit trees) Toys, bells, ladders, swings etc. Bath or shower facilities Food and drink bowl Food: The food consists of a special grain mixture of different millet seeds and peeled oats.In addition, the birds should be provided with food: Mineral stone or cuttlebone - serves to cover the lime requirement. Bird sand - contains important ingredients for digestion unsprayed vegetables (e.g. chicory / spinach / cress / carrots, cucumber slices) unsprayed fruit (e.g. apple pieces / pears) unsprayed wild herbs (e.g. chickweed / knotweed / shepherd's purse / young dandelion) Millet (1x weekly, since the fat content is high, the budgies suffer otherwise from over-fatting). Egg and germ food Crackers and snack bars are healthy delicacies that serve to make the bird work for its food. Food, water and fresh food must be renewed daily.   Breeding: The parents should be at least 6 months old before starting to breed. In special nesting boxes the budgies lay about 3-5 eggs every 2 days. Nesting material is not necessary, since they lay the eggs directly on the wooden floor of the nesting box.Budgerigars breed the whole year over and raise the offspring almost always successfully. The boys are blind, naked and completely helpless when they hatch. After approx. 10 days the eyes open and on the back the first feathers begin to sprout. With 30 days, the budgerigars are fledged. One should separate the young birds from the parents at the earliest starting from an age of 6 weeks. The Swiss Animal Welfare Act contains statutory provisions governing the animal-friendly keeping and handling of birds. The following regulations apply to all bird species:Social species must be kept socially (no individual keeping). the enclosures must meet the minimum dimensions = minimum requirements all birds must be offered a bathing opportunity the enclosures shall be structured with various resilient seating arrangements of varying thickness and orientation, one third of the volume being free of structures all birds must be provided with suitable sand for reception the private keeping of certain bird species requires a permit (wildlife keeping permit) the conservation of parrots and the keeping of singing canaries in Harzer farmers is prohibited the use of sand husks to cover perches is prohibited for psittacaries: minimum enclosure area for 4 small parakeets and agapornids0.24 m2 (e.g. 60 cm x 40 cm), minimum height 50 cm Parrots need plenty of natural branches for nailing and climbing.   Before you decide for budgerigars, you should absolutely have read an appropriate technical book.For each animal husbandry applies: Children must be led, supervised and controlled by the parents. Children must learn that an animal has its own needs and habits and respect them. Parents should be aware that it is they who are responsible for the animal.Our trained team at Zoo Roco is at your disposal for questions and problems. They can advise you professionally in all questions.