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Original poster

Tell me about budgies

40 replies

yellowDahlia · 26/11/2018 15:40

Have posted in Pets but posting here too for more traffic! So both DDs (11 and 8) have put pets on their Christmas lists. A kitten for one, gerbils for the other. Don't worry, I am NOT about to get them pets for Christmas but am taking it as a message that they are increasingly keen for a house pet (as am I Grin).

I would jump at the chance of a cat but DH is very not keen. Small furries don't really do it for me and tend to smell I think? Am reading up on budgies as we already have hens so we are familiar with bird care in general. I like the idea that they can be quite tame and affectionate and interactive in a way our chickens are not. They seem easy to look after so DDs could help and would enjoy handling and playing with them I think.

BUT - what about the poo? If you have to let them out daily does that mean there's poo landing everywhere? And if so, is it infrequent? Or so small and insignificant that it's not bothersome - OR do you just have to be the sort of person who doesn't really care about having bird poo on the furniture?! I'm not especially houseproud but don't love the idea of finding poo next to my dinner.

Also - are they very noisy? Is there constant chatter and if so, is it something you just get used to having in the background? Again, I don't think it would bother me too much unless it was likely to be quite intrusive.

The DDs and I are so keen for an indoor pet and I think this would be a great option for us - so I need to be armed with the facts before I attempt to persuade DH Hmm

OP posts:
gamerchick · 26/11/2018 15:43

They're noisy, messy and knack when they bite. If they're out they poo and if they're in the cage they hold on to the perch and flap their wings sending seed husks everywhere.

Have fun Grin

Eeeeek2 · 26/11/2018 15:45

Yep they can be very noisy, mine are anyway. Mine aren't that tame but came to me as rescues so maybe too old?

Poo is fairly infrequent but only one of mine comes out of cage the other sits in the open door. I do have a big cage (would like to get an even bigger one because I don't think small cages and any animal is fair)

gamerchick · 26/11/2018 15:45

Find a breeder who's raised them from baby rather than a pet shop. Increase your chances of getting tame ones.

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Original poster
yellowDahlia · 26/11/2018 15:52

gamerchick thanks for the dose of realism Grin I suppose there's compromise with every kind of pet - at least birds don't bark, they don't have teeth and their poos are a lot smaller should they happen on the carpet?!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 26/11/2018 15:55

Ah they're great fun. The pops aren't offensive. A babywipes picks them up lovely.

AnnieOH1 · 26/11/2018 15:55

Single birds make better affectionate pets provided you have the time for them. If you put budgie sand and/or grit on top of the sand sheet it massively reduces the seed and feather scattering.

They're affectionate funny creatures in my experience, yes they chatter away to themselves but they're not horrendous. No more noisy than a TV or radio, or general household hubbub.

They can nip which smarts but are unlikely to break the skin, not like a rodent. All budgies I've met/owned have had different personalities.

The biggest concern I have is making sure doors and windows are closed when the budgie is out and we ended up putting padlocks on the cage doors as my son one night let the budgie out. (He spent the night on the curtain rail, and luckily we hadn't any windows open) - although I remember a budgie when I was a child learning to open his own cage, the day he did it the windows were open but thankfully he was safe.

Our budgie is an absolute bird brain at times. He has refused all treat food until he made a friendship with a hamster, and now happily pecks at fresh fruit and veg.

Provided they're cleaned regularly they don't smell, but then I say the same for most rodents too.

Mumof1andacat · 26/11/2018 15:57

I've had hamsters, budgies and cats and I would say cats are easier to look after. Also worth considering are you happy to take over the care of the budgie (cleaning cage, food and tidying room) if the children lose interest? My whole lounge would be covered in seed kernels most days as budgies discard this.

tdm1 · 26/11/2018 16:00

They are VERY noisy when they're happy, but I like that. Please make sure you get two as they are sociable birds and really need the companionship. I find poo only where they settle - mine don't seem to ever poo when flying around. Other than that they are very sweet and chatty, love noise and activity and take very little looking after. I agree with eeek about the big cage (nice big ones available on zooplus).

Trevorthebikethief · 26/11/2018 16:20

I’ve had my budgie three weeks now and he’s lovely. My DH bought him for me from a reputable breeder. From day one he would hop onto my finger as soon as I put my hand in the cage. I let him out everyday and he’ll fly around for a few minutes. I think they’re a great pet. My 9 year GS would love a puppy but with his parents out at work all day it’s not feasible. Now he’s been introduced to my budgie he’s asking if they can have one. He makes a beeline for the cage when they visit and sits with the budgie on his hand. There’s a bit of seed around the cage and he chirps now and then, but apart from that they’re no trouble. Mines on the side in the living room right next to the tv he seems quite happy there.

InfiniteCurve · 26/11/2018 16:50

Love budgies,I had one who spent the day out and the poo wasn't a problem,it was small and dryish,easy to deal with.
However I lived in a cottage with wooden ceiling beams which she liked to peck away at - it took me quite a while to work out where the little bits of wood were coming from!
So they are fun,good company because of the burbling and squawking,but also loud and the rodents of the bird world Smile

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 26/11/2018 20:15

This is all very helpful! I feel a bit more reassured about the poo thing. And it sounds like a small/handheld vacuum would be a useful accessory!

If they're quite chirpy does this go on into the night time? Or do they settle down a bit in the evenings? I know our hens 'go to bed' at nighttime but perhaps it's different for birds living in a well lit house..?

OP posts:
MaryofMislethwaiteManor · 26/11/2018 20:18

You cover them up with a blanket over their cage in the evenings. They know that means bedtime.

I have one, he’s 15 years old and still going strong! Has outlived two ‘wives’. So don’t assume it’s not a long term commitment...

gobbin · 26/11/2018 20:20

I would be mega pissed off if I wanted something cute and cuddly and you got me a pecking, shitting bird.

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 26/11/2018 20:22

gobbin the chickens are peckier and shittier and the DDs love them so I think they'd be delighted with a smaller, cuter version Grin

OP posts:
gobbin · 26/11/2018 20:37

😂
Can you tell we had a parents-choice budgie when I was young (as well as cats and dogs). Guess who always had to clean it out 😖

FairfaxAikman · 26/11/2018 21:10

DF is an former champion breeder. One thing he always says is never to feed Trill as it's all millet, which only serves to make budgies fat. Canary mix has a better balance of seeds.

AviatorShades · 26/11/2018 21:28

Aww, I've had just one budgie, and I knew him from when he was an eggSmile My friend bred them and I chose mine. He was such a lovely chappie and had a certain joie de vivre I can only admire!

He'd swing on his little swing in his cage proclaiming such things as "my mummy is a beautiful princess!" and "this budgie makes TOO MUCH NOISE"!Grin

One day, tho, he flew through the open kitchen door and alighted on the clothes lineShock where he had another good swing, before coming back into the kitchen where he played on the kitchen table with his toys.

He died, suddenly,when he was 4/5. My friend had already warned me that his sibs had died at similar ages, possibly, I don't know?, due to inbreeding?Confused

This was all years ago, but he still has a favourite place in my heart.Halo

HopeAndJoy16 · 26/11/2018 21:36

We had a budgie as a child and he used to "wiggle his bum" on the curtains (pretty sure he was masturbating looking back on it haha!). He was a lovely pet though, really friendly. We never managed to get him to talk although we tried a LOT

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 26/11/2018 21:39

Aw Aviator he sounds fab! See I've read lots of good stories on here - and I get that there are some downsides but all pets come with a degree of compromise don't they.

What about holidays? If they go to friends/neighbours can they cope without free flying for a week or so? Or would it be better to have someone come in to feed/fly them?

OP posts:
vampirethriller · 26/11/2018 21:45

I love budgies! I've got one. He's great, he mimics my text message tone and car alarms. He can be very loud, and throws seed husks out of the bowl, moults everywhere, and knocks things off tables on purpose. But he's great company! We whistle back and forward to each other and he shouts me to get up in the morning.

AviatorShades · 26/11/2018 21:56

yellowDahlia his cage door was mostly open during the day and he'd fly in and out of it as he wanted and would invariably put himself on a perch inside his cage to have a napSmile

We lived in Glos at the time and he'd do the journey to Brum in the car with me (in his cage) weekly. There'd be no trouble if I'd needed to ask a friend to come in to see to his food and water, tho, if I'd needed. Come to think of it, I think my mum's friend had one and she and dad used to look after it in the friend's house while they went away.

And now I'm getting broody to have another, they're lovely little companionsSmile

Aquilla · 26/11/2018 22:15

If you want to be able to handle them and teach them to talk, just get one.

AviatorShades · 26/11/2018 22:24

For the OP, and just because I'm curious, do both blue and green budgies talk equally well? Mine was a green one....

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 26/11/2018 22:42

Good question. Also Aquilla is that true? I would have thought a pair would be better for company - when we're at school/work. I don't care about talking but I would be keen for them to be fairly hand tame.

OP posts:
Fstar · 26/11/2018 22:51

Loved my budgies growing up, yes they poo a lot but small ones easy to clean, went to school many times with a wee poo in my hair and nibbled paper. Mine liked to have freedom so never locked in cage, easy to clean and teach them to speak. Mine love the windowsills and watched birds outside, loved throwing brass pots and coins off mantlepeace too . Proper little characters, highly recommend, if you get young enough to train it will be tame and come to you. Mine lkked snuggling into my neck for a snooze