Does anyone here have budgies?

[Mischief2015]

I used to have a budgie and a cockatiel (I was manipulated into giving them away and it was the worst thing I've ever done.) that were bonded together and I feel that budgies do better if they have another friend (preferably of their own species, two females or a male and a female) with them if you are at work most of the day.

Birds, especially psittaciformes are extremely intelligent (Birds have primate-like numbers of neurons in the forebrain) and so need a lot of mental stimulation as they can mentally ill just like humans. Toys are expensive but so are vets bills for when your pet becomes depressed and starts self-mutilating. This will give you an idea of what types of toys are available for budgies: Parrot Toys | Buy Online, Huge Range Of Safe Fun Bird Toys. My budgie used to like toy that he could preen and chew on.

Big cages are really important, the minimum requirements for a single budgie are: 30x18x18 inches but the bigger the better.
My budgie and cockatiel shared this cage: Voyager Open Top Parrot Cage (only because he used to slip through the bars and into her cage so he could be with her so I gave up in the end and let them share.) My parrotlet currently has this cage to himself: Liberta Oregon Flight Bird Cage.
Time out of the cage is really important too, they need at least 4 hours a day.

Also if you do choose to get a bird be prepared to throw out all of your non-stick cookware (Teflon and other non-stick pans kill birds | EWG), candles, incense and air fresheners. Birds have a very complicated and sensitive respiratory system (http://www.peteducation.com/article....+1829&aid=2721) and are prone to infections.

Budgies need a varied diet of seeds, fruit and veg. I used to give him a teaspoon of this: http://www.northernparrots.com/harri...ood-prod58115/, a sprinkle of seeds and some fruit/veggies each day. My budgie's favourite veggies were spinach, rocket and carrot. And as a treat I used to give them a pinch of these: http://www.tesco.com/groceries/produ.../?id=274157683. Here is a good list of safe foods: http://www.cockatielcottage.net/tablefoods.html.

Also another thing to keep in mind is that budgies can live 20-30 years.

This is all I've got for the moment - my brain is a bit frazzled at the moment - but if I think of anything else I'll write it up. I don't know how easy most of these things are to get in Japan but it may be a case of having to order from overseas.

[AmityvilleHams]

I'd like to just throw in another tip,nothing complicated though Replace steel and other pans with ceramic ones,ceramic pans are really good in general and are nonstick but do not produce toxic fumes like other things do.

Toys can sometimes be cheap if you can find a way to get safe toy parts.Also,a variety of perches is very good for feet so things like grape wood can be used if properly attached to a cage.You don't want to use just one material or size of perch,as it doesn't properly excersize bird feet and can cause sore areas where pressure is constantly placed onto the feet.

[CMB]

My budgie didn't like sharing his cage so I had to separate them.

He has a ping pong ball, a mirror, spinning toys, rope toys, bird pinata, cardboard tube folded to make a box with small holes. Hide food in the box to make them forage, mini bird Kong a solid hamster wheel. Jacks (x shaped cat toy he loves to throw them).

Keep a few favourite toys in the cage and swap the others about every three days.

Climbing frames are available for budgies or you can make one.

Foraging toys can be bought or make. Anything safe can be given as a toy or made into a toy. Plastic bottle lids on their own or threaded onto a bird kabob etc.

Watch toys for chewing and remove if they become dangerous. Females chew more than males.

[hamtarokid]

Wow, thanks for all the good advice, guys!

I was thinking the budgie could be out of the cage whenever we're home. One or both of us should be around most of the time, since we'll have different class schedules and my partner will be working from home (and he's pretty introverted so all his free time is spent at home as well). Our two bedrooms are connected so the budgie can just have free run of that space.

I had no idea about the non-stick pans. I'll have to replace our pan, then. We don't use candles or air fresheners or that kind of things anyway. We'll just go out of the room to apply our spray deodorant.

The pet stores all sell birds things, but I feel like I see the same few toys in all of them, so I may have to order a few online or make some to get some variety. Can you make things from popsicle sticks for birds?

I heard that if you get two birds they will bond more to each other than to you, so we were thinking of just getting one. So long as we're home with it a lot that would be fine, right?

[AmityvilleHams]

Popsicle sticks are fine for toys,and can be very popular even on their own or with other materials to make elaborate toys!

One budgie is not bad,as long as they're getting plenty interaction which you plan on anyways

[CMB]

Your pans should be OK to use as long as he bird is another room. Ladders out of Popsicle sticks would be good.

Wooden dowels are handy for perches or even square wood small enough for the budgie to grip onto.

I made a T-stand/activity tower perch for my parrot quite easily. You could make one for a budgie. it has different level perches, ladders etc and hanging toys. Having somewhere to play whilst out of the cage keeps droppings mainly in one place. A plastic mat under the cage/play area makes cleaning up easier too. Budgies poop about every 20 minutes btw.

Example below of an activity tower.