Getting a New Budgie

Question
I have thought about getting a parakeet soon and I would like to know what I
need before I get him/her (eg. caging, diet, materials, etc.). Also what are some
good websites about parakeets? Thanks.

Wayne

Answer
Dear Wayne,
thank you for your question.
I recommend getting two parakeets. They can be tamed just as well as a single one and won't ever get lonely or bored when you don't have time to play with them. A single budgie will need attention all day long and will be lonely when you leave for work/school/shopping ect. It's also a lot of fun to watch parakeets interact and they are a lot more active in pairs or groups. Two females might not get along well, but a male and a female usually works well (they don't breed unless you offer a nesting box), two males is also possible. Clicker traning is a good bird taming method, you can find a lot more info on that here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bird-Click

You will need a cage measuring at least 30x20x20" long, wide and high, with mostly horizontal bars to make climbing easier. The cage mustn't be round, birds cannot orientate themselves in round cages. They should be able to fly and play outside their cage for several hours every day or even all day long, if you can make your room birdsafe (no big vases, no wardrobes ect. to fall behind, no open fishtank, windows and mirrors should be covered partially for the first week or so until the birds know where they are).

You will need a food bowl per bird, a water bowl (metal ones are easiest to clean), a cuttlebone so that they get enough calcium and grit to swallow, it helps them mashing their food in their stomach. You can use bird gravel as bedding if you want to, but as long as the birds have grit, they don't really need it and you can use old newspaper or paper tissue. Two sets of bowls makes cleaning them easier, you can let one set dry off and use the other one.

For perches, I recommend getting branches from outside, if you have access to untreated trees. Hazel, birch, beech, poplar, apple, pear and oak are safe for example. The branches differ in size, which trains the birds' muscles, keeps their nails short and they can gnaw the bark, which is a good source of minerals as well as fun for them. don't get those perches covered in sandpaper, they are way too rough for their feet.

Mirror and plastic birds are not suitable toys. The bird will try to feed the bird they see in those toys and keep regurgitating food over and over, which can cause crop infection. You can offer them toys make from brightly coloured wood (I bought some baby toys, the dye is non-toxic) or plastic. They also love toys with bells and things that can be carried around and dropped from the top of the cage. It's a good idea to offer them a playground or budgie tree so that they have another place to sit except their cage, it makes them more willing to fly and play. Here's a picture of my budgie tree:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/80/94180/1280_6366366161646635.jpg

For food, you can use pellets or bird seeds or both. I use bird seeds, a mixture of different brands to get as many seed types as possible. Pellets can be boring for them, it's more natural for them to choose different seeds and open them, it's also more interesting for them. If you want to feed pellets, I recommend offering at least some seeds extra. They will also need fruits and vegetables. They may not eat them at first, but keep trying, eventually they will like them. Chickweed is a favourite with most parakeets, as well as basil, grass seeds, dandelion, apple or carrot. Millet spray is an excellent parakeet treat and even shy budgies will sit on your hand to eat it. This website has a lot more info on what to feed them and is also the best website I know about parakeet care:
http://www.birds-online.de/index_en.html
I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer