Basics

Toys

The cage should contain toys but don't have too many cluttering up the cage, as an overcrowded cage can be stressful for a budgie. Some budgies enjoy playing with simple toys that they can roll around the floor, such as a table tennis ball. These are easy for your budgie to move around, and it is not difficult to keep them clean or replace them with another one. It is best to change your budgie's toys regularly. Ladders are not a good idea for young budgies, as they can get stuck between the rungs.

Cleaning the cage

Clean the cage once a week, and do a thorough clean once a month. For this intensive clean, take apart the cage and its fittings. Thoroughly clean the components using warm water and a special cage disinfectant. Rinse and dry the toys, perches and fittings, checking them carefully for any signs of cracks, splinters or rust. Rust and splinters can cause problems such as pododermatitis, also called bumble foot.

It is important to choose a cage that is easy to clean, and the best ones either have a sliding base or a top that you can remove from the rest of the cage. 'Silver' bars are the most popular, but those cages where the bars are covered in a plastic coating are best, as they are easier to clean and are less susceptible to rust.

If you keep your budgie in an aviary, this has to be swept out daily, and stale food or droppings cleaned out of the sleeping quarters. The food pots should be cleaned and refilled each day, although if you use hopper-style feeding, this only needs to be refilled when it is half empty. Once a week, wash down the aviary and clean all the fittings.