Perhaps one of the most common pets are budgies. The maintenance of a puppy or kitten is frightening with a difficult care, difficult accustoming to hygiene, and buying a small bird does not seem such a burdensome step. But even these unpretentious birds require attention and care, thanks to which their life in captivity will be long enough.
How many years live in nature
Bright noisy flocks of budgies are a common sight in the forests of Australia. They lead a nomadic lifestyle, migrating throughout the mainland. Their diet: grass seeds, small nuts and fruits.
In the dry season, hundreds of parrots can raid agricultural crops and fly into cities.
In the wild, the natural color of the species is the green-yellow plumage, which allows you to hide from enemies in the lush grass and leaves. Indeed, the common name of Australia is “the green continent”.
The danger to parrots is large lizards, snakes, predatory animals and birds. Drought causes massive damage when birds have no access to water and have nothing to eat. Dirty water bodies with infections also lead to mass death of birds.
Fortunately, good adaptability, fecundity and the fact that the nesting period does not have clear deadlines allows you to quickly restore the population size.
Unlike large parrots such as macaws and cockatoos, small species cannot boast of longevity. The average life expectancy of a parakeet in the wild is about 5 years, 8-10-year-old individuals are considered long-livers.
Life expectancy at home
Budgerigars were imported to Europe in 1840. They quickly flooded zoos and houses of wealthy nobles. Their popularity grew, and soon anyone could afford to have a bright exotic toy.
Today it is the most widespread indoor bird. And the work of breeders allowed to bring out many colors: about 200 colors and their combinations.
The absence of predators, difficult climatic conditions and affordable food allow to extend the life of pets.
Small parrots and in captivity live less than cockatoos, but good care will provide, on average, about 10 years of communication with this beautiful bird. In professional breeders and under favorable conditions, the birds easily reach 15 year milestone, there are cases when they live up to 20-22 years.
Couples
In nature, you can not find a single budgie, but for the apartment you can choose one male or female, or have a couple of birds. Two parrots in the house - this is the best option, which improves the quality of their life.
In a heterosexual couple, it is preferable if the male is 2-3 years older than the female. A more adult female may begin to dominate and offend a young partner.
It is very important to consider the coincidence of temperaments.
In the bird market or in the aviary of the breeder, pay attention to the behavior of birds: you should not combine an overly playful bird with a quiet and inactive.
If you do not get a couple together, but add a new partner to your pet, then you need to carefully consider the adaptation process: first you can put the newcomer in a separate cage and put it close by, carefully observing how the birds behave. If they have a mutual interest without aggression, then the couple can be combined.
Each bird should be given equal attention, duplicate toys, make sure that the birds do not quarrel at the feeder and drinkers.
Without a partner
It is believed that lonely parrots live at home less than couples: a caring owner can become a bird the best friend, but can not replace a relative.
Budgies are social birds, and their mutual communication plays an important role and extends the years.
Of course, it is easier to contain one bird: the cage is more compact, the feed consumption is more economical, less noise and debris. But if the owner will be absent from work for almost the entire daylight hours, then the loneliness of the bird can cause diseases.
The life expectancy of a bird in a cage without a partner directly depends on its involvement in the owner’s existence. A lonely bird can experience constant stress - this is expressed in alertness, aggressive behavior or, conversely, in apathy.
If all the care of the owner will be reduced only to the care of cell hygiene and feeding, then the parrot will not be able to fully exist.
It is necessary to show maximum patience and devote time and attention to the pet: talk with him for a long time, play, iron, accustom to his hands.
And how much mutual pleasure will the learning of imitation of speech bring! But the probability of learning to speak above is from parrots without a pair.
What affects the lifespan
As in nature, at home, the parrot primarily needs food and water. Therefore, if the owner is forced to leave, it is necessary that someone can look after the pet. Without food, the bird can survive 3-4 days, and if it survives, then a power failure will affect health.
Forced thirst is much worse: a budgie has a high body temperature, a quick metabolism, so dehydration will inevitably lead to death. Even for 1 day, you can not leave the bird without access to clean water.
The number of years allocated to a pet when kept in a cage is affected by such factors.
- Genetics - Congenital diseases and weak immunity can be caused by improper selection.
- Food - if you randomly feed your pet with leftovers from our table, there is a danger that he will “earn” an indigestion or obesity. Food should be balanced, it is better to use special food from the pet store, supplementing it with fruits, herbs, sprouted grains.
- Conditions of detention - For a long life of a parrot, it is necessary to purchase a spacious cage and properly position it in the apartment, given the temperature and light conditions.
- Physical exercise - a naturally active bird requires a daily flying exercise.
- Stress free - It is advisable to protect the bird from nervous shocks: loud noises, constant moving, a large number of strangers, aggressive animals.
- Safety Compliance - the responsible owner must ensure that the curious and moving bird does not get injured or dies due to negligence.
How to care
Caring for budgies is not too complicated. The minimum cell size for one is 40x25x30 cm, for a couple - 60x30x40 cm. The retractable bottom must be kept clean. Equip the house with a feeder, a drinking bowl, little jars at different levels, toys. It is recommended to arrange your pet water procedures by putting a wide bowl of water. Sand baths are also useful: “bathing” in clean sand has a beneficial effect on plumage.
The place for the cage should be protected from drafts, and a favorable temperature of air is considered to be around + 22 ° C.
Do not place the cage near batteries, heaters, a gas stove.
The water in the drinker should always be clean. When buying feed, check the expiration date and integrity of the packaging so that the grain is not spoiled. Useful additives: chalk, boiled yolk, pieces of fruit, greens.
Carry out daily "walks" of the budgie under supervision: the windows must be closed, and the glass and large mirrors must be curtained so that the bird does not hit. Do not let the bird bite indoor plants: they can be poisonous. Protect from attacking other pets: cats and dogs.
The longevity of a parrot in captivity depends on the content - create maximum conditions and the bird will live happily ever after.
On how to care for budgies, see the video below.
