Spoiling budgie!

I LOVE my budgie joey and spend all my time taking him for walks watching tv and teaching him tricks so do you think it's worthwhile to get him an aviary for when we have barbecues and sit outside. And also what's the best commercial diet possible for a budgie

Anyone?

I spoil my lovebird, Kirby, like that, and he's just fine. I think though that you shouldn't spend more time on him today than you can reasonably maintain for his lifetime. Because if you ever get involved with a new pursuit, and they DO happen (i.e., new job, new SO, new puppy, additional bird, etc.) Joey will suffer. So, most people just spend an average amount of time with each bird and it balances out and also teaches the parrot to play securely on his or her own, too.

As for the outdoor aviary, I have one of those. I use it for all my birds (rotating them out there one by one), especially in nice weather. Mine sits on the covered back patio, at the far other end from the grill, so they never get smoke in their eyes and respiratory system. They really love being outdoors. When they come in, they go right to sleep after playing hard all day, swinging from ropes and watching the outdoor wildlife.

I'm not sure about a budgie diet. I'll have to let someone else answer that one. I would assume it would be similar to any other parrot: sprouts, veggies, greens, seeds and nuts appropriate for parrot size/type, pellets, mashes, cooked food, birdie bread, and some small amounts of fruit and treats. My lovebirds love food on their skewer and will try new foods they ordinarily would refuse. You might try that.

To me , my budgies are the house wife's of new jersey , all sass and a LOT of talk. I love them so much, they are just SO cute and fluffy. Whenever I put them on my hand , they starts squirming belly up to make me play with them, they love having their tummy tickled ! I have my budgies on a pellet diet with fresh fruits and veggies, and nutri berries as treats. A seed diet is VERY bad , especially for small birds . It increases the risk of diseases, and who wants a obese budgie ? I think it's more enjoyable to take them out in a flight suit, though a aviary would be nice to get him used to the outdoor world.Though the usually play is enough to tire out their little body's. I am buying a flight suit for my budgies to bring them out for the spring and summer, though I would be careful around barbecues . Make sure they don't get too close to the smoke and non stick cook ware.

I think an aviary is a great idea so that he can get some sun and fresh air outside when the weather is good. In fact, I was thinking about do something like that for my parakeet, Chipper. I would just have him out there for a couple of hours or so, so he could enjoy the outdoors for a little while each day. But when you do cook outside, be VERY careful and keep him away from the barbeque. Remember that a bird's respiratory system is very sensitive and smoke could make him sick or even kill him. Keep any smoke or fumes WELL away from the aviary. As far as possible...I'm talking like the other side of the yard.

I think it's great to spend as much time with a bird as you can. Parakeets (budgies) don't seem to have the same behavioral problems like other bigger birds get. As long as you have enough toys in his cage (and replace them periodically so he doesn't get bored) then he should be fine during times when you're busy and can't play with him. I have another smaller cage that I use to take Chipper out with me. When it's warm, I take him outside in that cage and sit with him for a while on the porch so he can get some sun and fresh air. I've even taken him on a few car rides! He loves it. And he's starting to associate that smaller cage with fun things now. When I first tried to put him in it, he protested and didn't want to go inside. But now he goes in on his own. I did have to use it one time to take him to get his claws trimmed, so now I'm trying to get him to associate it with going outside. He likes to chirp at the wild birds