When a parrot becomes one of the important members of the family, more positivity, light and joy appear in life. How to prepare for the appearance ornamental bird in the house if you have not cared for parrots before?

How to care for a parrot at home?

What should be the care at home? As with caring for a puppy or kitten, you need to prepare comprehensively. This concept includes devices for sleeping, eating, bathing, entertainment and procedures for caring for and preventing bird diseases.

b"> Buying a cage: what to look for?

The cage is the parrot's personal space, so it should not be too small or large. Bird species for home keeping are most often small in size, so experts recommend determining the cage size at the rate of 35 by 35 cm for one individual or 65 by 55 for two. This recommendation should not be followed for medium and large individuals, such as cockatoos or the famous macaws. Their cell sizes are calculated according to their own parameters and living habits.

Separately, we note that despite its relatively small size, rosella also requires a large cage. A cage with a volume of 1.5 square meters would be optimal for a couple of individuals. meters.

The shape of the cage should resemble a rectangle so that the bird can find a secluded corner to sleep. Cells of oval, cylindrical and similar shapes are not suitable for such purposes. They perform sooner decorative element rooms, but permanent place They should not serve for the life of a parrot.

You can install beautiful, but temporary cages in the center of the room or on a special table for receiving guests, to whom the songbirds will perform their serenades. If you have a budgie living at home, then you shouldn’t do this. He is closer to communicating with his family than with strangers.

For normal life, parrots need perches on which they will rest, that is, sleep, move around the cage and play. Best material For their production, these are fruit tree species. For example, the Corella parrot, the care and maintenance of which also seems quite simple, quickly renders them unusable. Almost every year they peck at the surface of thin partitions, thereby cleaning their beaks. If you choose a denser tree for the perches, it will last longer, but there will be much less benefit for the bird.

Optimal temperature for keeping parrots

The temperature of keeping a parrot is great value because it's too cool and warm air may lead to a deterioration in his health. In general, poultry are highly susceptible to climatic conditions, That's why special attention should be given to drafts and sudden changes in room temperature.

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Optimal temperature limits The parrot's contents are determined within the range of 18-25 degrees Celsius. For tropical and rare species, these limits may shift slightly, but you should not overdo it. For Amazons, experts recommend maintaining the temperature at 20 degrees.

Please note that in summer period You should not take the cage with the parrot out onto the balcony. This may seem like a good idea to many, but in just one night the bird can get pneumonia. If you have a loggia, it would be a good idea to take the cage out there for a couple of hours on a pleasant summer day and open the windows slightly, but no more.

Parrot nutrition: complex mixtures and prohibited foods

Parrots of many species are quite undemanding when it comes to food; they prefer grain mixtures of grains and other crops. Buy these ready-made mixtures It is recommended in pet stores, but cases of purchasing them in a supermarket and similar stores are not excluded.

The standard composition of a mixture for parrots looks something like this: oats, flax seeds and weeds, millet, sunflower, hemp and the like. For each type of parrot, manufacturers offer their own options for additives, which can be wheat, corn, pieces of dried exotic fruit, etc.

From fresh products poultry of the rosella and carllella species, for example, prefer cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, plums, cherries, apples, pears and cherry plums. This list can be continued endlessly, the main thing is to try new things little by little. natural products, and your bird will delight you with its healthy appearance and loud singing.

It is not recommended to give parrots almost all species, including lovebirds, dill and parsley, cilantro and sugar-containing products. The latter means that any candied fruits, cookies and chocolate should be completely excluded from the diet.

Parrot health: bathing, hygiene procedures and more

In addition to organizing space in the cage and feeding the bird, you need to take the issue of the bird’s health seriously. To live a long, disease-free life, she will need some hygiene procedures, regular bathing and periodic use of nutritional supplements.

First of all, let's talk about hygiene procedures. Parrots are fairly clean birds, so keeping their cage clean is a must. It is recommended to choose a cage with or without a removable bottom. metal parts which may injure your paws.

You need to lay thin sheets of paper at the bottom of the cage, as the parrot can peck at them. If there were traces of ink, paint or any hazardous substances on them, this could lead to poisoning. If you don’t like the paper version from an aesthetic point of view, then you can buy special fillers in the form of hay for the substrate. It's convenient and budget option creating a cozy atmosphere in the cage.

The issue of cleanliness also concerns the periodic cleaning of your pet’s beak and feathers. To clean the beak, it is enough to periodically provide ears of wheat or oats, from which it will select grains. This procedure will allow you to easily remove any contaminants from the external and inside beak and bring real pleasure to the parrot.

Feather cleaning occurs during bathing and plucking. The birds carry out the second procedure themselves as needed, but the regularity of taking a bath is controlled by the owners. The Alexandrian parrot, for example, in its natural conditions loves to swim in the rain. If you periodically spray in the cage warm water on hot days, he will be immensely grateful to you.

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So, understanding how to care for a parrot is quite simple. It will not be difficult to prepare for the appearance of a bird in your home in advance if you buy everything you need step by step and read basic information about the contents of the species you have chosen.

The purpose of this article is to tell you about keeping budgies at home, to help avoid mistakes and make your pet’s life as long and comfortable as possible.

Features of budgies

The budgerigar is a widespread species of poultry. These parrots are often found as pets due to their cheerful disposition and bright colors. Children especially like these birds, so they will be an excellent gift for them and will help teach them how to care for others.

Budgerigars originally appeared in Australia, where they are still widespread. Gradually they began to be bred in other countries, including Russia. They quickly became popular among breeders because of their beauty and unpretentiousness, as well as their ability to imitate human speech - “talk”.

A budgerigar is a small bird, usually 17 to 20 cm in length and weighing from 40 to 45 grams. It can be of various colors (most often green, a little less often blue, yellow or white) with a wavy pattern on the head, back and wings. With proper care, they can live in an apartment for up to 15 years.

How to choose a pet

Pet stores now sell parrots of different types and colors, and with such variety it is easy to get confused. It is advisable to buy a chick at the age of 5–6 weeks, when it is still very young. In this case, he will sooner get used to his new owners and surroundings.

When choosing, you should carefully examine the selected chick. He should look healthy: with clean, even and smooth plumage, with clear eyes without suspicious discharge, paws should be without damage and with straight claws. You can take a chick from experienced breeders: they can tell you what kind of care a budgie needs at home.

A healthy budgie is cheerful and playful, he constantly chirps and jumps around the cage. If the chick is motionless, looks sad, its plumage is disheveled, its eyes are cloudy, and it hides its beak in feathers, then most likely it is unhealthy.

To find out the gender of a parrot, you should look at its cere, that is, the area above the beak. In males it is usually blue, and in females – brown or light gray. The younger the parrot, the paler the wax. In addition, in young chicks the plumage is also paler than in adults, and the tail is shorter compared to the body: by about 5 months the parrot will “bloom” and its proportions will become more correct.

By purchasing budgerigar, you need to understand that every bird, like every person, has its own character traits, preferences and habits. Each budgie may require special care. Some people love communication and attention, others prefer loneliness; some get along well with other pets, while others feel discomfort. But in most cases, domestic budgies are friendly, appreciate care and become attached to their owner for a long time. Therefore, before buying a pet, you need to seriously think about everything.

If the owners spend a lot of time outside the home, it would be advisable to take two parrots of different sexes at once. Together they will not be bored, and in the future they will even be able to give birth to offspring. But it is worth noting that parrots living without their relatives become more tame and become more attached to their owner. In general, the main thing is that the parrot likes its owner, because it will accompany him for many years.

The main principles of keeping wavy animals in an apartment

In conditions wildlife Budgerigars live in flocks. During the day they look for drink and food, and in the evening they go in search of suitable place for an overnight stay. In nature, these birds usually nest in tree hollows, as well as in rock crevices. They prefer the subtropics - a warm and humid climate.

That's why correct content budgerigars include:

Correctly selected light mode. Birds are quite sensitive to this factor, and harsh, incorrect light can disrupt their physical and mental health

In summer, it is useful for your parrot to sunbathe, and in winter, it is advisable to choose a suitable artificial lighting, close to the solar spectrum. A period of darkness is also important for healthy sleep, maintaining immunity and preventing stress. The length of daylight for a parrot is up to 12 hours in winter and up to 14 in summer. It is better not to disturb the bird while sleeping.

Useful advice: Try covering the cage at night light fabric: This will help you develop the habit of falling asleep as soon as it gets dark.

• Humidity. The natural habitats of these birds are characterized by high humidity, therefore, the air humidity for keeping a budgie at home should be from 55 to 70%.

Dry air can negatively affect the condition of your pet's feathers, skin, respiratory system and mucous membranes. It is worth trying to accustom the chick to bathing; many parrots like it. During heating season It is advisable to use an air humidifier - this is useful not only for birds, but also for their owners.

• Temperature. Budgerigars need careful care, and the correct temperature regime is of great importance here: like people, they can catch a cold from a low temperature or overheat from a high one.

The optimal temperature for keeping them is from +22 to +25 degrees. In hot weather, to prevent overheating, it is necessary to ensure the constant availability of available water. A special heating lamp is best for keeping your parrot warm. You can also use conventional heaters, but they make the air drier, so additional humidification will be required.

Proper living conditions for budgies are extremely important. A careful approach to the arrangement and location of the cage will help the parrot get closer to its natural habitat and ensure the stable functioning of its vital organs.

Caring for budgies

A novice budgerigar breeder is interested in the rules of care and maintenance of pets. Before moving the selected chick into the apartment, you should select a cell and its location in advance, buy everything you need for your budgie. In addition, it is necessary to immediately equip the cage with a drinking bowl, feeder, bath, and perches. It is not recommended to move the cage to a new location while the bird is living in it: this can cause anxiety and stress.

At first Do not scare the chick with loud noises; Provide a calm environment for your budgerigar, speak in a gentle and calm tone so that he gets used to new people. Carefully monitor its health: at first, the parrot may refuse to eat and drink due to stress, but if it is lethargic and sleepy for a long time, this may be a sign of some disease.

Don't forget on time add food, change the drinker and clean the cage. Accustom your hands gradually so as not to scare the parrot. After he gets used to the new environment, you can let him fly a little. Provide the necessary security, especially if there are other animals in the house. Proper care of budgies at home will provide them with a long and happy life to the delight of the owners.

Feeding parrots

For a budgerigar, high-quality care and feeding is necessary, and the menu is complete and varied. In nature, they usually feed on grains, fruits and seeds. different plants and fruits, leaves, peck young branches of deciduous trees. Budgerigars are unpretentious at home and easily get used to any food, but the main component of the diet should be plant foods.

Grain mixtures are the basis of nutrition these birds. It can be wheat, oats, millet, sunflower seeds, sesame, flax and others. Mixtures are sold in pet stores in finished form. High quality The mixtures differ from such manufacturers as Versele-Laga, Valman, Vitakraft. They contain a balanced amount of vitamins, nutrients and amino acids that budgies need. Helpful advice: in winter time sprouted grains will be especially useful this year: oats or wheat. You can buy it at a pet store or germinate it yourself.

Other types of food. You can give stems and leaves green plants: lettuce, spinach, plantain, dandelion, nettle and others. Fruits and vegetables are suitable - for example, many pet budgies love carrots. Leaves, fruits and vegetables can be either fresh or dried. In addition, eggs and cottage cheese are beneficial for budgies, as they contain calcium. Under no circumstances should you feed birds salty food - this is quite dangerous for them and can cause poisoning.

Drinking water must be clean, fresh, and at room temperature. Do not pour water from the tap - it contains harmful chlorine. It is useful to add special vitamin drops to the drinking bowl: VitaSol, Gamavit, Radostin and others.

It is not recommended to overfeed your pet: the care and maintenance of budgies should be moderate. Those. food should be given twice a day. The daily food requirement differs for different individuals: from 20 grams for small birds and up to 50 grams for large ones.

By following these rules, you can provide your pet with a happy life, and in return you will receive a wonderful, cheerful and funny friend.

Budgerigars are very common as pets. They have bright colors, their singing lifts the spirits of adults and children, such parrots can be tamed and also taught to talk. And the cost for a pet is quite reasonable.

But still, if a person decides to get such a pet, first of all he needs to figure out how to care for a parrot at home.

Home for a friend

Budgerigars have small size bodies - from 17 to 19.8 centimeters - and therefore do not take up much space even in small room. The cost of food for feathered friends does not put a strain on the wallets of their owners.

Unlike cats and dogs, which, in most cases, have free access to all parts of the house or apartment, budgies must be kept in a cage. It will become the main habitat for a small pet: you can hide in it to sleep or in case of danger (for example, if there are cats in the house), eat, drink. Therefore, the choice of cell is warp proper care for your pet.

Best suited rectangular cage with flat roof. Its length is additional benefit. Since in this case the bird will be able flutter from one perch to another, without experiencing the inconvenience of a small space.

Round cells are not the best good option for birds. In such parrots lose orientation in space, do not feel protected, cannot be alone, and therefore feel extremely uncomfortable.

The cells will be inconvenient for the owner intricate structures or with graceful roofs. Since they are more difficult to care for, and arranging accessories for budgies is not always convenient.

If we talk about the size of the bird house, then necessary Keep in mind that there should be an average of 30–35 centimeters per pet. If a pair of birds is placed in one cage, then this figure should be increased to approximately 60 centimeters.

The bottom of the cage should be retractable. This will make the cleaning process easier. In this case, it is better not to place gratings or other elements below. Otherwise, the bird may damage its legs.

When choosing housing for a pet, it is better for owners to give preference iron cages rather than wooden ones. The former are much more convenient to clean, and they also retain their appearance and service life longer.

Climatic conditions

The budgie and its cage should be placed in a room with a stable microclimate. The temperature must be maintained between +18°C and 25°C.

Since the duration of daylight hours for birds should be about 15–16 hours, then winter period necessary will take care of additional lighting of the room to maintain optimal conditions.

An important requirement for proper care of parrots is the absence of, drafts and frequent shifts temperature conditions. Such conditions will be disastrous for a domestic parrot.

It is worth considering that the bird cage it is forbidden place in the following places:

• next to heating appliances and radiators;
• near air conditioners and cooling systems;
• next to the windows;
• on the floor or on a cabinet (a table is optimal for placing a cage with a parrot, since its height will be ideal for the bird);
• in noisy places.

Interior design

A parrot's cage, like its owner's house, must be equipped inside with special devices.

Cage care is a must condition. General cleaning of your pet's house should be done once or twice a month. During this process, it is necessary to wash the entire cage, including the poles, with a sponge and water, and then dry thoroughly. Usage detergents prohibited, as they may cause an allergic reaction in the pet.

Feeding a budgie

In order to know how to care for a budgie, you need to study its issue in detail. feeding.

Nutrition should be balanced and varied so that pet received all the necessary nutrients throughout the day. The following products may be included in the diet:

• special food for birds: it is balanced and rich in vitamins and minerals;
• cereals, cereals: oats, millet;
• corn and wild grass seeds (pre-soaked);
• greens: beet and lettuce leaves, dandelion, St. John's wort;
• berries and seedless fruits, as well as fresh vegetables;
• food containing protein: crushed boiled eggs, softened bread;
• live food: moths, small insects.

There should always be fresh food in the cage clean water. It is worth considering that it is better not to give tap water to your pet.

What not to feed

Proper care of a pet also includes proper nutrition that will not harm the pet. Therefore, like for many other pets, for parrots there is scroll prohibited products:

• stale food;
• sweet, spicy, fatty, fried, smoked foods;
• black bread;
• greens: parsley and dill, basil;
• onions and garlic;
• meat;
• coffee.

Bathing

Purity– the key to health and complete care. This also applies to budgies. IN summer time They can be bathed every day, and in winter two or three times a week will be enough.

For bathing, you need to use a special bath installed in the cage. But it is also possible spray spray the bird or bathe it under running water.

If the pet does not like water, then the bath needs to be filled sand for cleaning feathers. And at the pet store, buy a special brush for this purpose and use it about once a week.

Parrots are very active and sociable creatures. They love company. Therefore, you need to talk to your pet often and let him sit on your hand or shoulder.

In case of a long absence from home during the day, you can leave your wavy friend “company” in the form of a switched on radio. Then the bird will think that it is not alone in the apartment.

Once or twice a day parrot necessary let out of the cage to fly. This way he can stretch his wings and explore the territory, finding something interesting for himself.

But the parrot should not be allowed to play around and be naughty: it must know the boundaries of what is permitted.

Have you decided to have a feathered friend? It is worth carefully preparing for his arrival. Buy the necessary equipment, an equipped cage and food at a pet store or poultry market. Now you can safely go after the parrot. After the baby moves into new home Make sure that the pet is kept in quarantine for 10 days. If you are already the happy owner of feathered creatures, add a new friend to them. Don't forget to come up with a sonorous name for the parrot, which he will get used to in two weeks.

1. The animal's house must be equipped with perches, a drinking bowl, a bathing area and a feeding trough. It wouldn't hurt to have river sand, small wood and eggshells, they are needed for proper digestion.
2. Position the cage so that you have eye contact with the animal. Avoid places with drafts; feathered relatives often get sick. However, you should not place your home next to a heater or radiator. The optimal temperature ranges from 18 to 22°C. The parrot's cage should be well lit, but not naturally, but artificially.
3. Carry out daily cleaning, removing grain debris and bird droppings, wash the drinking bowl and change the bedding.
4. Once a month, do a general cleaning of the house. Soak a regular rag in a solution of chamomile or St. John's wort flowers, then thoroughly wipe all contaminated areas.
5. Sanitation is important every season. Wet a kitchen sponge in a solution of water and soda (ratio - 1 liter per 100 g), then thoroughly treat the cage.
6. You should not turn on music at maximum volume in the room where your pet’s cage is located. At first, try to talk to the parrot quietly so as not to scare him. There is no need to put your hands into the house; let the pet get comfortable and get used to its new owners.
7. Give your pet the opportunity to fly by first closing all the windows. Limit your parrot's activity to one room to make it easier to maintain control. Curtain the windows; birds tend to crash into glazed objects.

Birds mainly feed on grain food, which is sold in absolutely every pet store. The rest of the foods that your pet will eat are considered treats. Consider parrot food that comes in clear packaging. This way you will detect possible mold in advance and protect your pet from possible poisoning.

Supplement to your daily diet
Read the “Ingredients” column on the food packaging, then pamper your parrot with something that is not in its daily diet. It is allowed to feed the bird sunflower seeds, as well as sprouted grains. The latter contain a lot of vitamin E, which has a beneficial effect on your pet’s feathers, claws and beak.

Parrots love spinach, clover, lettuce, dandelions and regular fresh grass. If you plan to feed your bird “street” food, collect plants away from roads and construction sites.

An excellent option for a delicacy is a dry herbal mixture consisting of oven-dried plants.

Regarding vegetables and fruits, birds do not really like them.

If you want to pamper your pet, boil one egg and chop it finely, add a little grated carrots and crushed white crackers.

Drink
It is advisable for birds to pour natural water from bottles. This drink contains no harmful impurities, which has a positive effect on the parrot’s digestion.

The drinking bowl needs to be changed daily, adding fresh water each time. You can easily add a few drops of lemon juice, it is very useful.

There are a number of common illnesses among feathered friends that need to be looked at in more detail.

Diarrhea
Symptoms of the disease are considered to be the following: changes in the consistency and color of the droppings, the pet’s constant presence on the floor of the cage.

If you are unable to visit a veterinarian, then rinse your baby anus, then drink an infusion of chamomile flowers.

Poisoning
In 98% of cases, this disease is accompanied by death. Do not smoke in the room where the parrot lives, and avoid using air fresheners, deodorants, hair sprays and other similar products in this room. If repairs are imminent, take the house to another place where paint, whitewash, etc. will not be used.
It is not uncommon for parrots to be poisoned with low-quality food.

Parrot disease
Most dangerous disease of all possible, which is transferred to children with weakened immune systems. Symptoms: eye inflammation and tearing, runny nose, diarrhea, excessively slow and labored breathing.

It is impossible to cure on your own, hurry to the veterinarian and limit the interaction of children with your pet.

Cold
A common illness in birds, parrots are no exception. Symptoms include difficulty and infrequent breathing, red eyes, regular sneezing and runny nose.

As a treatment, use an infrared lamp, which can be purchased at a pet store (price about 300 rubles) or at construction market(price 60 rub.). Direct the heat so that it covers the entire cell.

Many poultry farmers use a regular incandescent lamp instead of an infrared lamp.

If you become a caring parent to your baby, he will not get sick at all. Take care of your pet, watch its diet and avoid dangerous situations.

To the surprise of many, parrots are also toilet trained. To this end, you need to agree with your family that from now on you will act together. Choose a specific command and pronounce it with one intonation. Give preference to a sonorous phrase or word that cannot be confused with another exclamation. Of course, you can say “Fly to the toilet!”, but it is better to choose a more relevant technique.

The pet's mentor should be one family member who will explain to the parrot what, where and how. When your baby decides to defecate, his behavior will become atypical, you need to remember these movements. Perhaps the bird will retreat back or crouch, observe and draw a conclusion.

At the first sign of defecation, pick up the parrot and hold it over the intended toilet, saying the command frequently. Now main task- create the necessary associations between the tray and the pet’s desire. Consider the fact that if you made a newspaper or a plate as a toilet, the parrot will shit on all such objects in the house.

Did you keep the parrot in the right place and it did its job safely? Praise, give a treat. Next time, take your pet in your arms again, hold him until he has emptied, stroke and caress him again. Repeat such simple manipulations as often as possible, then everything will work out! Don't get upset or scold your parrot if things get out of control. Remember, he is still small and does not really understand what the owner wants.

Parrots are relatively easy to train if their owner is persistent and patient.

Do not make sudden movements when approaching your pet’s home; always call him by name, and not “My good one!” or “Hey, you!”

Hand feeding
After two weeks of living in the new home, the bird will get used to you and you can teach it to eat food from your hand. Take your favorite treat and push it into the cage through the bars, repeat the maneuver until the parrot begins to take food from you.

After this, proceed to the second stage: stick your hand into the cage, showing the baby that it is time to come to your side. He must muster up his courage and sit on the brush. As practice shows, training food from the hand and switching to it is quite easy. When the bird comes to you, slowly take it out of the house. Over time, the pet can be trained to fly when called by name and land on an outstretched limb.

Learning phrases
Feathered friends have excellent hearing, remember the timbre of their voice and try to repeat it. Parrots easily pronounce phrases in a cute chirping voice, imitate other animals and sing musical compositions. Parrots are better disposed towards a female mentor than a male one.

Training should be done at an early age (2-3 months). During this period, place your pet in a separate room and be his only mentor. Say the same phrase 30-50 times every day, which the baby must repeat. If the result is successful, do not skimp on treats and praise.

You should always start by learning basic short words that contain the letters O, A, I, R, P, K, T. After your pet masters them, move on to other vowels and consonants. Gradually increase the number of letters in a word, lengthen phrases or phrases. If the bird has learned its lesson, communicate with it regularly so that everything is retained in memory.

Keeping a parrot at home is not difficult if you approach the animal's health wisely. Monitor your pet’s diet, change the water in the drinking bowl promptly, and carry out seasonal and monthly sanitation. Learn interesting and funny phrases, which you will subsequently listen to with emotion. Parrots are some of the most touching creatures on the planet, but they are also defenseless against chemicals and open windows. Love and protect your pet! He might even say “Thank you!”

Video: caring for a budgie

Read in this article

Of all the birds, budgerigars are most often kept in apartments. These cheerful birds have won the hearts of many people with their liveliness and talkativeness. It’s great to have a bright, active little ball at home whose chirping lifts your spirits. Where did the budgie come from? What are the features of keeping it at home? How can we ensure that this amazing bird is always healthy and pleases the eyes and ears for as long as possible?

Life of budgies in nature

The name of this bird in Latin is Melopsittacus undulatus. Melos – “sing”, psittacus – “parrot”, undulatus – “wavy”. The parrot received its definition for the characteristic pattern on its wings - it resembles waves. In English, “budgie” is Budgerigar. The abbreviation Budgies can be seen on food packages.

Survival

Wavys were not always pets. These are free birds whose homeland is Australia. They live in colonies and move in flocks, so on the plains you can often see huge, dazzling green “clouds” quickly flying from place to place. Collectivity allows parrots to survive because they easily alert each other to danger. And it is more difficult for a predator to catch a specific individual when a colored carousel is constantly flashing before his eyes.

It is no coincidence that budgerigars have a bright grassy color. This allows them to see each other from afar, and males use their richness to conquer females. The wings, on the contrary, are faded gray. This allows them to camouflage themselves from predators while feeding. After all, budgerigars look for the bulk of their food on the ground.

“Curious! All wild budgies are green in color. Other colors (blue, white, yellow, lilac) are the result of many years of selection of domesticated birds.”

But the protective coloring of the back does not always save budgies, and many of them still die from the paws of birds of prey, animals or snakes. Dry weather is also destructive for wavy birds, so in unfavorable seasons the birds often die. To minimize losses, the flock is forced to constantly wander from place to place, following the clouds. Where it is more likely to rain.

Reproduction

Despite many risks, budgerigars maintain their population. In this they are helped by a short breeding cycle and litters that are quite large for such small birds. Once in a favorable environment with a sufficient amount of food and water, the wavy birds immediately begin to engage in procreation.

Already 10 days after mating, the female lays from 1 to 6 eggs, from which chicks hatch within 20 days. The mother feeds them for up to 2 months, after which the chicks leave the nest and begin to feed on their own. At 3 months they are already able to mate and give birth to their offspring.

Nutrition

Wild budgies are not sophisticated eaters. They happily eat the seeds of land plants and grass. Occasionally they feast on young shoots and berries. Small insects are included in the diet of wavy fish only during times of hunger. Sometimes flocks of budgies attack wheat fields cultivated by humans.

Keeping at home

The domestication of budgerigars began in the mid-19th century, when they began to be captured en masse in Australia and exported to Europe. It was considered fashionable to own such an outlandish bird, so the demand was very high. Australian authorities feared that the population might disappear and ordered ornithologists to start breeding parrots in captivity. And since these birds willingly give birth to favorable conditions, soon wavy animals ceased to be a rarity.

A modern person, when getting a budgerigar, must be familiar with the information about their maintenance. This will improve the quality of life of the bird in captivity so that it is always cheerful and active. At home, a parrot can live up to 15 years, or even more, with proper care.

Convenient cage for birds

The larger the cage, the more comfortable the budgie is. Its minimum dimensions for one bird should be 40*30*30 (length, width, height). If you keep a pair, then 60*45*60. The cage must have:

• wooden perches (2 or more, located at different heights so that the birds can flutter from one to another);
• 2 feeders (one for grain and cereals, the other for wet food);
• drinking bowl with clean water;
• toys (mirrors, ladders, bells).

There is no need to completely fill the cage with toys and rocking chairs. The budgie should have enough space to move freely. And it is better if the cage is not round, but rectangular or square, because parrots need corners where they feel safe.

“Curious! Wavy birds have one peculiarity: when they are awake, they do not sit in one place, but constantly run around the perch. This is due to the instinct of self-preservation: in captivity, budgerigars are forced to move in order to avoid being captured by predators.”

It is important to choose the right place for the cage. It is optimal that the place is well lit, because the activity of the wavy depends on the length of daylight hours. But you should not place the cage near the window, because the birds catch cold easily. It would be good if it was a separate bedside table approximately in the middle of the room. The cage can also be hung from the ceiling.

What to feed

The cage is installed, the birds are settled. What to feed them? The diet of domestic budgies is no different from the diet of wild ones: seeds, fruits, twigs. To ensure that the bird receives a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, you should buy ready-made feed ( daily norm indicated on the package), which includes oats, millet, flaxseed, meadow grass, sunflower seeds. Additionally, a piece of mineral stone can be fixed in the cage, which the wavy fish will peck, replenishing calcium reserves in the body.

In addition to food, you can feed budgies with various treats:

• fruits (apples, pears, kiwis, peaches) and vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, beets);
• greens (lettuce, dandelion leaves, chickweed, dill);
• twigs (willow, birch, maple, alder);
• boiled eggs (white), low-fat cottage cheese;
• porridge on water (buckwheat, millet, rice, pearl barley);
• unsalted crackers, crackers.

Everything else should not be given to parrots. Human food can harm the bird's digestion and make it sick.

"Attention! All herbs and twigs collected on the street should first be doused with boiling water or washed with soda, and only then given to the bird. And make sure that the parrot does not eat house plants: they can be poisonous.”

There should always be water in a budgie's cage. It should be changed every 1-2 days. For drinking wavy, settled or filtered tap water is best suited. Boiled water does not contain the minerals the bird needs. The water should be clean, cool and fresh, without gas. As a treat, you can sometimes give your budgie natural freshly squeezed juices, slightly diluted with water.

Lifestyle

The budgerigar's day begins at dawn. The cage should be covered at night, because as soon as light enters it in the morning, the bird will chirp and run around. One side of the cage must be left open so that the wavy does not suffocate.

During the day, the parrot is usually cheerful: he runs around the cage, jumps from perch to perch, plays with a bell, and communicates with himself in the mirror. If this is a couple, then they are passionate about each other: they preen their feathers, kiss, and flirt.

In the wild, budgerigars fly a lot, so they need to be released at home more often. The bird must regularly stretch its wings and maintain its physical shape. This will allow her to stay healthy longer. When releasing a bird, you need to ensure its safety: close the windows, turn off the gas on the stove, warn your family to watch where they land.

"By the way! At home, budgerigars often die precisely because of accidents, and not from old age or disease.”

If you have time, you can play with the wavy. These birds quickly get carried away by the most different games, and any object can become a toy for them: a pencil, a hair band, a spoon, etc.

Hand Taming

You can have absolutely any budgie. And if someone’s bird is wild or aggressive, then the owners themselves are to blame. You need to engage in taming from a very young age - from 3-4 months. By this time, they are already completely independent birds that can live without their mother.

1. Having brought the bird home, you need to give it a couple of days to master it. Let the apartment be quiet all this time, and when you pass by the cage, stop and talk to the wavy in a calm tone.
2. On the third day, you can open the cage, step aside and watch the parrot. If the bird becomes interested and starts to come out, it means it is used to it. If she's sitting in a corner for now, give her a couple more days.
3. As soon as the wavy leaves the cage, quietly approach it and hand it a treat (seed, apple). Did the parrot take food from your hands? Amazing! No? Then wait some more. Let him get comfortable and fly around the apartment.
4. Gradually you can offer the bird your palm so that it sits on it. If you do everything calmly and measuredly, without sudden movements, then after 1-2 weeks the parrot will begin to fly to your sofa or at your computer desk.

It should only be done after he gets used to you. Choose one word that contains the sound “r” and also sibilants (for example, “good”) and say it to the wavy every day, sitting next to the cage. The bird should respond to communication: move its beak and look at you. If she is sleeping or preening her feathers, try another time.

Breeding

One budgie is still bored, even if people constantly play with him. And if you are rarely at home, then your pet definitely needs a friend. Some owners don't get a second budgie because they don't want to deal with the chicks. But you can have two same-sex birds! If you intentionally get a couple of wavy birds in order to, pay attention to the bird’s wax. This is a small growth above the beak. To put it simply, “nose.” If the wax is brown, this is a female, and if it is blue or light blue, this is a male.

Budgerigars are monogamous. But breeders recommend immediately buying two birds raised in the same flock, so that they definitely do not abandon each other. Although domestic wavy birds rarely behave obstinately towards a new friend or girlfriend, so the risks of being left without bird offspring are small.

Nest house

In captivity, budgerigars reproduce quite actively. But in addition to warmth, light, food and water, one more condition is needed - a house. The female will not allow the male to approach her until she has built a nest in a place hidden from prying eyes. Nesting houses for wavy birds are sold in pet stores and resemble birdhouses: a wooden or plastic box with a hole.

A female budgerigar can lay up to 6 eggs. All this time she will sit in the house and come out only occasionally - to feed. Although some particularly caring males fly into the house and feed the hen. You cannot get the eggs out, otherwise the female may refuse to hatch. You need to check the offspring through the removed top cover of the house. If the eggs sit for more than 3 weeks, they are empty.

A small bird cannot always cope with warming a large number of eggs, so it is necessary to maintain optimal temperature. If the room is cool, you need to warm the house from the outside with a lamp. And no drafts.

A nursing female and grown chicks should be fed with water-based porridges: millet, wheat, barley. When the babies turn 1.5 months old, they will begin to crawl out of the house. As soon as the last chick leaves the nest, the house must be removed. Otherwise, the parents can immediately move on to the next litter. The female needs to gain strength for at least six months.

It is impossible not to love budgies. If these charming birds appear in an apartment one day, then people keep them all the time. Cheerful chirping, perky disposition and friendliness perfectly brighten up loneliness and lift your spirits. You just need to feed the wavy birds correctly and ensure their safety.