Parakeet Care Guide
Budgerigars — also known as budgies or parakeets — are a small parrot species native to Australia. Despite their small size, these birds pack powerful personalities. Hand-raised budgies can be great companions, and many are excellent talkers and mimics. Pet parakeets may live 10–15+ years.
Enclosure
Parakeets should be housed in a cage with minimum dimensions of 18″ long × 18″ wide × 24″ tall, though larger enclosures are preferred. Perches should be placed at different levels so your bird can fully explore the cage. A variety of perch diameters, shapes, and textures should be used for optimal foot health.
Temperature
As tropical species, parakeets prefer warm temperatures in the 65–80°F range. Supplemental heating may be required if the temperature drops below 60°F.
Humidity
Parakeets prefer a humidity level of 20–30%, which can be measured with a hygrometer. A humidifier can be used if necessary. Many birds appreciate a warm misting 1–2 times per week to encourage healthy skin and feathers.
Lighting
Access to sunlight is recommended, just as with other bird species. Ultraviolet-B rays in sunshine help the body produce vitamin D3, which allows for appropriate calcium absorption. The best way to provide this is to take your bird outdoors in unfiltered sunlight. Keeping a bird near a window may help with normal circadian rhythms, but glass and window screens block UVB rays. Always monitor your bird closely outdoors to prevent overheating or escape.
If safe outdoor access isn’t possible, a UVB lamp such as ZooMed’s Avistar 5.0 is a good alternative. Place it 12–18 inches from the bird and run it for about 6 hours a day.
Diet
Most commercial budgerigar diets are seed-based. Unfortunately, seeds do not provide balanced nutrition and lack adequate levels of vitamin A, iodine, and many proteins. Over time, seed-only diets can lead to abnormal fat deposits (lipomas), egg-laying problems, and abnormal bone growth from calcium deficiencies.
A nutritionally complete pelleted diet is recommended as the main part of the diet, with fresh vegetables, fruits, and grains making up the remainder. However, some budgerigars — particularly color mutation varieties — do better with some seed mixed in. Because this can be unpredictable, diet changes are best made under veterinary supervision.
For budgies that cannot tolerate a large amount of pellets, good seed-based alternatives include Lafeber’s Nutriberries and Avi-Cakes. If your budgie is only eating unsupplemented seeds, vitamin and mineral supplements are important — we are happy to go over supplement options to help balance the diet. If you are switching your budgerigar to a pellet diet and need help, please refer to our handout on tips for diet conversion.
Enrichment
Budgies appreciate toys to interact with, and many appropriate options can be found at pet stores. They particularly enjoy shredding paper and small pieces of wood. Homemade toys such as notebook paper, paper towels, or plastic bottle caps (like those from 2-liter soda bottles) work well too.
Avoid toys with mirrors — some budgies become obsessed with their reflection and treat it as a mate. Avoid toys with metal pieces unless you are certain the metal is non-toxic. Do not use charm bracelets or metal trinkets, as they may contain dangerous metals such as zinc and lead that can be deadly if chewed.
Wellness & Preventive Care
Parakeets should have an annual wellness exam and fecal evaluation. Depending on your bird and individual circumstances, infectious disease screening may also be appropriate.
