Posted March 27, 201114 yr Well, the bird I found in the parking lot is gone. The owner came and picked her up last week. I enjoyed taking care of the little guy, and was reluctant to hand it over. I'm going to get one later this week. My question is, when you usually buy a budgie from a breeder/pet store, how do they usually give it to you? I'd imagine they don't just bag it up like groceries. And 2) besides the little package named "Parakeet food" (which looks like seeds but I read it contains alot of many different kinds of millet) and fruit/vegetables, what else should a parakeet be eating?
March 27, 201114 yr Hi Goldman. That took a while for the owner to find, you didn't it. As for food, they need varied veges, just like us. Carrot, they like usually, and it's really high in Vit A. Also other red veges, like raw beetroot and even chilli. Something dark green - like spinach or asian bok choy, or broccoli, or those really dark Italian-style lettuces. (Not normal watery lettuce - it makes them do runny poop). And raw corn, apples (not the seeds) and so on. Just don't feed avocado or the seeds of fruits. They're poisonous to budgies. Have a look in the food FAQ for good and bad foods. When I'm uncertain, I just google "Budgies and ....whatever food it is". Get a quality bird seed. In Australia we have good commercial products available in the supermarkets. It doesn't cost much more buying the quality ones, as they don't eat a whole heap if you've just got one or two birds. Like us, they need essential minerals. If you've got a quality seed, it will have a lot of vitamins and minerals in there. But you can get a mineral block (with iodine) and a cuttlebone (for calcium) and hang it in the cage as well. I like feeding mine seeding grasses and a sprig of eucalyptus as well, (like they eat in the wild). If you don't have a house with a lawn, or live in Australia, that's not always easy to find. Can't think of anything else. Someone will say if I've missed something. I'd also get a boy budgie. Seems they are easier to tame as they don't chew things or bite so much. Males are the talkers too. Mine's a rescue budgie, so I don't know much about buying them. But I reckon a breeder would be best. A lot of pet stores kinda suck, in my opinion. Unless you know a good one in SF.
March 27, 201114 yr congratulation on getting a little one for yourself. normally they have a shoebox or something similar to put them in with air holes all set up. but if you have a cage already you can take that in to carry your friend home in. I would suggest a sheet to cover the cage while moving the bird around. as to the food there is heaps of things for a budgie to eat. the seed always need to be supplied but fresh fruit and veggies are a big plus for the diet (once they start eating it) edit - adding info a breeder, if a good one, can give you the history of the bird and should be able to tell you the correct date of hatching and age now. But as that may be hard to find in San Francisco. Look up for any budgie clubs around you to locate breeders. Otherwise familiarize yourself with what a young budgie looks like so you don't have to take the word of the store workers. they would tell you a 2 year old bird was 3 months just to make a sale. Edited March 27, 201114 yr by *Nerwen*
March 27, 201114 yr If you don't get any info from the breeder/pet shop before hand, take a shoe box or bird box (make sure it is secure) punch out some air holes, take it with you. That way if the place doesn't provide you with a box you have something to transport your new friend home in. Box is probably a little less stressful, as the bird is confined and not rattling around all over the place, is slightly dark and more confined.
March 28, 201114 yr Hey, Budgies are really addictive... beware! If you go to the pet shop to buy it, stay a while and observe the birds. I like to watch for a while and once they forget about you, you can begin to see their different personalities. I like the cheeky ones that come over to check you out. Put your hand near the cage (slowly!) and see if anyone comes over for a look or if they freak out. A good pet shop will give it a health check by having a look over the bird once they have caught it and checking it has a clean vent (butt) and will have a health sheet and food dos and don'ts to send home with you. I prefer a dark smallish box with lots of air holes as they don't have room to flap around on the way home and really stress themselves out. I usually put the box in the cage opened and let them find their way out. Depending on the breed the coloured bars of feathers on the head should extend all the way down to near their cere and beak when they are babies. Just depends on the colouring of the bird though, as lutinos, albinos and some light coloured birds don't have the bars on their heads. Their eyes somehow look big and soft in babies too. Good luck and have loads of fun. Don't forget some toys when you buy stuff, budgies are very playful little things. Mine love to sleep on their swings. If you want a really tame friend, don't get two, just the one and don't let it have a mirror. They can get obsessed with their reflection and just want to hang out with that!! Just remember a lone bird will need lots of love and attention from you so it doesn't get lonely.