Green Series: These birds have a pigment called Psittacin causing them to appear in shades of green or yellow depending on other mutations that may be present.
Blue Series: These birds lack a pigment called Psittacin causing them to appear in shades of blue and white depending on other mutations that may be present. In some cases there is only a partial lack of Psittacin, these birds appear blue-green or cream.
These specialty pet birds are all bred in Canada by caring aviculturists.
Common Name |
English Budgie, Budgerigar
|
Latin Name |
Melopsittacus undulatus
|
Average Lifespan (English) |
10 Years |
Average Length |
23 cm (9Inches) |
Average Weight |
60 to 80 grams |
Song Type |
Chattering chirping |
Noise Level & Talking Ability
The budgie is a relatively quiet bird when compared to other birds. Some budgie owners, however, say that a budgie can be loud.
A few budgies can be taught to talk but not all will. A big factor in the birds talking is hand-raising. Hand raised birds are more likely (but not guaranteed) to speak. Both male and female budgies process talking ability with proper training. Unfortunately English budgies do not have an accent when talking by default ;)
Physical Features
English budgies are notably larger than the standard budgerigars most people know. The English budgies often have a more robust appearance, and a puffy-looking head. Breeders around the world take great pride in their English budgies, trying to produce larger and larger birds. They make great pets and tend to be fairly laid back. English budgies can be bred in just about every mutation an American budgie can be.
General plumage yellowish-green; back of head, sides of neck, upper back and wing coverts pale brownish, each feather barred with black and yellow; throat and facial area yellow; variable violet-blue patch to lower cheeks; three black spots across each side of throat; feathers to sides of breast with narrow black edging; primary-coverts pale blue; flight feathers grey-greenish with pale cross stripes; underside grey with whitish wing-stripe; upper side of middle tail-feathers greenish-blue with dark tips, underside blackish; outer tail-feathers green with broad yellow stripes, underside grey with yellow stripes; bill olive-horn color; cere blue (male) (brown female) ; narrow periophthalmic ring grey; iris whitish; feet grey.
Pet Profile
These budgies are hand raised and socialized by the staff and volunteers at Exotic Wings & Pet Things, this makes them ideal for companion pet birds to socialize with outside of the cage on a daily basis. Handfed Budgies make fantastic family pet birds and are great for first time bird owners. Do not let their small size fool you, budgies are very intelligent and will love to be socialized and to play. They are busy little birds who are always moving from one thing to the next.
Diet
IMPORTANT NOTE: Budgies must have access to an iodine block which should be placed near their main food dish. When shopping for iodine blocks make sure the product explicitly states it is an iodine block and not just a pink coloured "mineral block".
Budgies do NOT require grit or gravel to be provided in the cage. This should only be given to softbill birds or finches.
Bird pellets such as Zupreem Natural Pellets should make up the majority of the diet. Their diet can be kept varied with fresh fruits and veggies along with whole wheat or veggie pasta plus cooked rice which has been cooled down to room temperate. Cooked sweet potato cooled to room temperature is also great for providing extra Vitamin A content!
Housing
A single budgie needs a minimum of approximately 3 square feet of cage area with maximum wire spacing of 5/8" inches. If two budgies are being housed together a cage with an approximate minimum of 4 square feet would be required. An additional square foot should be added to the overall approximate cage size for every additional budgie in the flight.
Breeding Information
Age of Maturity |
6 - 8 Months |
Breeding Aviculture |
Common |
Average Clutch Size |
4 - 6 |
Nest Box |
10 x 6 x 7 Inches |
Breeding Life |
6 Years |
Budgerigars will most easily breed in captivity when provided with a reasonable-sized nest box. The eggs are typically one to two centimeters long and are pearl white without any colouration if fertile. Female budgerigars can lay eggs without a male partner, but these unfertilized eggs will not hatch. When the female is laying eggs, her cere turns a crusty brown colour. A female budgerigar will lay her eggs on alternate days. After the first one, there is usually a two-day gap until the next. She will usually lay between four and eight eggs, which she will incubate (usually starting after laying her second or third) for about 21 days each.
BREEDING NOTE: A budgie nest box must have a shallow circular divot for the female to lay her eggs in. Budgies do not need nor want nesting material.
Wild Status
Increasing - Least Concern (info for wild budgies. English budgies do not occur in the wild)