What Do Budgies Like in Their Cage? (Complete List)
Last Updated on January 3, 2024 by Ali Shahid
Many people who own pet budgies often wonder what budgies like in their cages. Budgies enjoy having perches like pumice perches, mirrors, toys, Jungle Toys, Grit, Sand Paper, swings, mineral blocks, cuttlefish bones, Pet-Safe Detergent, humidifiers, heating lamps, and feeding and drinking apparatus in their cages.
The ultimate goal is to be able to make your favorite bird feel as comfortable as possible when you are around them. Budgies are known for their friendliness and willingness to adapt to the natural world. There is nothing they love more than playing and having fun.
It is important to give your budgies some entertainment in the form of toys if you want to improve their relationship with you. Not only will this help you build up a relationship, but it will also increase your bird’s lifespan.
Cages that are properly equipped are essential for budgies. In some cases, owners only provide their budgies with food, water, and one perch, to keep them healthy.
In this environment, there is still a chance that a budgie will survive, but it is unlikely that it will thrive. The cage of a budgie should have 2-3 perches, at least one climbing rope, one bell, one swing, at least one cuttlebone, at least one bathing bowl, at least one water bowl, and at least one food bowl.
It is recommended that the cage be at least 18 x 18 x 18 inches in size and that it is lined with paper towels. The perfect cage for budgies is vertical since they like climbing bars and flying between different levels of perches.
In cold or dry weather, humidifiers and heat lamps can be very helpful but they are not necessary. It is well known that Budgies like space, so if you can provide them with a larger cage with additions to enrichment, they will be quite content.
What Do Budgies Need In Their Cage?
You can easily find bird toys online these days, and you can get them within a couple of days. Several items are necessary to construct the perfect budgie cage, in addition to food bowls and fresh water bowls.
Here are a few of my favorite ones that I would like to share with you, so you know where to begin:
Mirrors
A budgie mirror is an essential toy for a lonely or single bird because it allows them to see themselves and interact with the reflection, making them talk and fly around.
Aside from overcoming its loneliness, this will also encourage it to be more social, and whistling activity will increase. Many people think budgies should not have mirrors in their cages because removing the mirror would cause frustration and grief.
Foraging Toys
Foraging toys are toys that are designed to encourage your birds to engage in foraging activities. You could say that these toys are super useful in showing you how intelligent your budgie is.
They show you how competent a learner he or she is when it comes to figuring out how to get food for himself. Foraging toys are available in different types on the market, and there is a wide variety of them.
This type of toy can also be made at home from a variety of fruits that you can choose from.
Rope Perches and Toys
All budgie cages should have rope perches and toys as they are essential components. Using these items allows budgies to be able to climb up, down, around, and in and out of their budgie cages with ease.
As a pet owner, you might consider these kinds of items necessary to create a comfortable environment for your budgie. Furthermore, it also does not hurt that rope perches and toys are also very affordable, so it is a win-win situation.
Swings
A swing is one of the most popular types of entertainment for budgies. A budgie will sit on one side of the cage if there are no swings inside. In addition to keeping budgies balanced, these swings help prevent them from falling.
Perches
Perches are an essential part of any cage for budgies. To ensure that a budgie remains healthy and happy, cage accessories such as these are essential. During the night, wild budgies will often fall asleep as they sit on their perches together.
Consequently, it is best if you create a cage that mimics this environment as much as possible. You may even be able to take this a step further by using a branch from a tree to create a perch for the bird.
Whatever the case may be, perches inside these enclosures are an essential component.
Jungle Gyms
Budgies can play in jungle gyms. I think that is pretty cool in my opinion! All the budgie toys mentioned above will be included in these jungle gyms, and all owners can expect a complete box of all the budgie toys mentioned above.
Sandpaper
To keep the cage easy to clean, it is recommended that you put a sheet of sandpaper on the bottom so it will be easier to remove the nails when the cage is cleaned.
There is also the option to use newspaper as long as your budgie does not tear it up while using it.
Grit
The digestive system of a budgie is unusual and interesting. To access all the nutrients found in seeds, they need to crack them open after swallowing them whole.
This is accomplished by crushing the seeds with fine grit in a muscular pouch in the digestive system. Your bird should always have access to fresh grit since its digestion and excretion of this grit occurs over time.
To ensure your pet’s digestive system stays healthy and functional, grit can be purchased and placed in a small bowl.
Cuttlefish Bone
It is no secret that budgies use their beaks almost like a third foot. Their beaks are used to hold objects, grip foods, and even climb about inside their cages using their beaks as leverage. Over time, beaks can wear down to the point where they are no longer usable.
Budgies always grow their beaks and if they stopped, wild budgies would simply wear out their beaks.
Although captivity offers somewhat different problems; most notably quite the opposite; pet birds have much fewer options available to keep their beaks in top condition than wild budgies. In such a case, a cuttlefish bone can prove to be very helpful.
Keeping your budgie’s beak healthy requires regular scraping of these bones. Moreover, cuttlefish bones will also boost your budgie’s calcium levels; which is an important mineral for budgies.
Iodine Block
Compared to other cage birds, Australian budgies require much more iodine, according to budgie care experts. Thus, they often suffer from a deficiency of iodine in captivity.
With a supplement block, you can prevent this from happening – while giving your pet another chance to keep its beak trimmed.
Pet-Safe Detergent
When it comes to household chemicals, cage birds can be unsurprisingly sensitive pets, particularly when it comes to being exposed to them. Consequently, you should be especially attentive to cleaning out your pet’s cage regularly.
When it comes to cleaning pets, it is important to choose a detergent that is safe for them. The cage will be thoroughly cleaned and you won’t have to worry about accidentally poisoning your pet.
Food Bowl
Feed your budgie from an upright bowl that clips onto the cage to keep it away from the ground. As they feel safest and most comfortable when they are in this place, it is most recommended that they stay here.
Many materials can be used to make food bowls, although nowadays the most common type is a sturdy plastic bowl. As it is a cheap, lightweight, strong, and easily cleanable material, this works well for a multitude of reasons.
Water Container
The practice of providing water to budgies in another food bowl has rarely proven successful over the years. As budgies are messy birds, they scatter feathers and seed husks everywhere.
Water containers exposed to the elements become soiled quickly. You might want to consider buying a specialist water feeder, which will keep your budgie’s water fresh for longer and keep out dirt.
Water Bath
There is nothing a budgie loves more than taking a bath. There are several benefits to this practice, including health benefits and a great way to play. As a result, it is even more conducive to budgie preening and better feather care as well.
Having said that, it isn’t necessary to bathe a budgie daily in his cage. With the help of its beak, it can clean its feathers and enjoy weekly sink baths. Frequent bathing is recommended if the climate in your area is very dry.
The convenience of placing a bath in your budgie’s cage can make it much easier for you to take care of it. There should not be more than 1-2 cm of water in the bathing dishes, which should be shallow and wide.
It is important that the budgie can fit comfortably in its dish and has enough space to maneuver around.
Bed
On a perch, budgies will sleep in the open, just like their bird friends. A budgie can be provided with a bed or a hut that provides a sheltered environment. There’s a chance that a budgie may use it, but it’s more likely that it won’t.
There is no standard way to handle budgies, it all depends on their personality. This type of budgie shelter can offer a welcome reprieve to an anxious bird until it becomes accustomed to your home and becomes comfortable with your presence.
Heat-lamp
When you live in a climate with frigid winter weather, you may need to invest in a bird-safe heat lamp that will keep your birds warm. The Budgie is a tropical bird, which means it is sensitive to cold weather.
When it comes to controlling the temperature of the cage of a budgie, a heat lamp can be an ideal solution. It is recommended that a cage be kept between 70- and 75 degrees Fahrenheit to keep a budgie healthy and happy.
They are indeed able to tolerate colder temperatures, but once the temperature reaches 60 degrees they will begin to lose comfort.
Humidifier
Tropical bird owners can benefit greatly from humidifiers during dry weather. Budgies can develop minor health problems if they are exposed to dry air for an extended period.
Keeping a budgie comfortable also requires frequent baths and humidifiers. It is not necessary to use a humidifier if the budgie is kept in an appropriate climate.
Adding Another Budgie
Getting two budgies is always better than getting one. Companionship is essential for these animals. It is well known that domestic budgies are very social birds. Consequently, they can suffer from considerable health problems without a friend.
In the absence of companionship, a single, lonely budgie will become bored and lonely. This results in self-mutilation and plucking of feathers as it becomes stressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are budgie’s favorite toys?
In my experience with budgies, I’ve observed that they have a particular fondness for bells. These bells captivate their attention and seem to provide them with a sense of intrigue. Additionally, pumice perches serve as an excellent accessory for these birds.
Not only do they aid in naturally maintaining the length of their claws and beaks, but they also offer a satisfying texture for them to chew upon. Furthermore, it’s heartwarming to note how most budgies find comfort in hammocks.
These hammocks not only provide warmth and coziness but also instill a feeling of security in them. Indeed, having a snug hammock to retreat to appears to enhance their sense of safety and well-being.
What do budgies like to do for fun?
From my observations and understanding of budgies, these delightful birds possess an innate desire to climb, jump, swing, and flap their wings. Their curiosity leads them to explore their surroundings actively, using both their beaks and feet to probe and interact with objects.
Offering them non-toxic items to chew on not only keeps them engaged but also provides them with hours of entertainment. It’s truly fascinating to witness their playful nature and the joy they derive from such activities.
Do budgies need grit?
Budgies don’t require gravel or grit in their diet. This is because they have a natural behavior of removing the outer hull of seeds before consuming the inner kernel. While there was a past belief suggesting that grit was essential for aiding digestion by mechanically breaking down food in the gizzard, further insights have shown that this isn’t necessary for budgies. Their unique eating habits efficiently handle the digestion process without the need for additional grit or gravel.
What should I put at the bottom of my budgie cage?
Paper towels or newspapers can be used to line the cage’s bottom. The disposable paper should be used every day. Despite birds chewing on newsprint, it is no longer toxic to them due to its lack of lead content.
What should a budgie cage look like?
The cages available today are many, but not all are designed for both birds and owners. Because you’ll be replenishing food and water daily and regularly cleaning the cage, you need enough space for the budgies and easy access for your hand.
Perches are also needed for budgies to fly. Poorly designed cages also make it difficult for birds to access their food and water bowls if the cage is too small.
Conclusion
Choosing the right cage for your pet budgie is one of the most fun and rewarding parts of owning a pet budgie. There’s nothing better than being able to pick and arrange the toys and accessories to make sure that your pet enjoys the new home that you’ve created for him.
Additionally, it is a great way for you to build a stronger relationship with them. Ensure that their cages are filled with the things they want so that they are happy. Ensure that the cage is kept clean at all times and provide them with a variety of toys to keep them entertained.
