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Care Sheet for Budgerigars

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Genus/Species: Melopsittacus undulatus.


Common Name(s): Budgie, Budgerigar, Parakeet, Keet, American Parakeet, English Parakeet.


Adult Size: Six Inches.


Life Span: Potentially up to 15 years.


Diet: Many companies make specific seed mixes and pellets for budgies, these must be supplemented with fresh veggies and fruits. A cuttlebone may also be necessary for calcium.

Housing: Medium-sized cages with bar spacing of less than a half inch.

Male or Female?: Budgies are sexually dimorphic, males have a blue cere while females have a brown to dark brownish coloured cere.

Breeding: Budgies are easy to breed. For obvious reasons, the first thing you need is a male and female. Now we've gotten that out of the way, the next thing you need is a nesting box. An external nesting box can be attached to the bird's cage. The bottom of the box must have a concave bottom for the budgie to lay its eggs on. Since budgies don't build a nest, the concave bottom serves to stop the eggs from rolling around. Without the proper housing, the budgies may not breed at all. In the wild, budgies nest in holes in trees. 5 to 6 eggs are laid in a clutch. Eggs hatch in 18-21 days. Budgies reach sexual maturity in approximately 9 months.


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Last updated: November 16, 2004