Budgies - a suitable environment
This section contains information about the things your budgies need to have a safe and comfortable living environment.
Should budgies be kept in a cage or an aviary?
Budgies originally came from Australia, often living in huge flocks on dry plains where they feed on seeding grasses. In the wild they may fly many miles each day in search of food, water and places to roost.
Because they need plenty of exercise and the opportunity to fly, the best way to keep pet budgies is in a large aviary.
If you keep your budgies indoors you should use an indoor aviary. Many budgies are kept in cages that are far too small. Tall, circular cages are not recommended since they provide very little flying space.
If budgies are kept in a cage, where should the cage be put?
If, for some reason, your budgies have to spend some of their time in a cage, ensure this is well positioned. It should be out of direct sunlight and draughts, and away from busy or noisy parts of the house. Birds often feel most secure if their cage is in the corner of a room. From there they are able to see people coming and going but are not surrounded by activity and noise, which can be stressful. They can also feel stressed by close attention from people or pets, especially children and cats, so try to avoid this. Birds have sensitive respiratory (breathing) systems, so must be kept away from tobacco smoke or cooking fumes (especially those coming from utensils made from Teflon® as this is toxic to birds).
Can I let my budgies out to fly free in the house?
If your budgies are tame and need to live in a cage it is a good idea to let them fly free in a safe room, for exercise. They should always be supervised when out of the cage. Make the room safe by closing all windows and doors, turning off any extractor fans and paper shredders, removing any other pets from the room and making sure they don’t nibble on anything (e.g. paint, curtain rings etc). Nibbling objects like these can cause poisoning.
What material should be used on the base of the aviary or cage?
The floor of the aviary should be a material that can be easily cleaned or, if a cage is being used, bird sand can be sprinkled across the base.
How often should the aviary or cage be cleaned?
The floor of the aviary should be swept out daily, and stale food or droppings cleaned out of the sleeping quarters. Food pots should be cleaned and refilled each day. Once a week, wash down the aviary and clean all the fittings. If a cage is being used, this must also be cleaned weekly, with a more thorough clean of all the fittings done monthly. Clean the aviary or cage more often if it is becoming heavily soiled.
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