New Budgie Questions - Cage, Food Brand, Cookware, etc.

Hello,

I am doing research to get a new budgie... I have had a parrotlet and a lovebird in the past, so I do remember/know a fair bit about bird husbandry, but want to make sure I have everything exactly right before bringing anyone home.

Online, I have found a lot of resources but they seem conflicting, and ones promoted by pet stores seem to have poor info. (i.e. a blog said 1/4-1/2" wire spacing, while cages on store websites are claiming to be budgie friendly yet have 3/4" wire spacing.)

If you could please help me clear some of this up, it would be much appreciated!

1 - For one budgie, what size cage would be good? (Also, what brand do you prefer?)

2 - Are there any toy do's/don'ts that are budgie-specific that I need to know about? (I know my parrotlet used to get fiercely protective over anything shiny, for example, while my lovebird was a happy go lucky little fella)

3 - What types of foods are best for budgies? Are the foods kind of like dog/cat foods where cheaper brands are full of filler while others are healthier? If so - brands to look for would be highly appreciated. (I was a kiddo when I had my parrotlet and lovebird, so I never purchased/researched the food back then.) Also, are there any well-populated and reliable lists of what NOT to eat for budgies?

4 - Lastly, I know teflon/ptfe/pfoa/etc are absolute NOs. We have been researching affordable stainless steel and ceramic alternatives for our cookware and bakeware. Any brands you favour?

Oh - and is a male or a female better as a pet, or is this irrelevant? (I know in some birds females can present more shyly while males tend to be more show-offy)

Thank you so much in advance,
Julie.
:22: :21: :57: :14:

Hi welcomed to the forum!
I feed parakeet seed mix, lots of leafy greens, veggies if all types, very rarely fruit like berries, plums, apple, they also choose to eat pellets that I offer my other parrots.

Laurasea said:

Hi welcomed to the forum!
I feed parakeet seed mix, lots of leafy greens, veggies if all types, very rarely fruit like berries, plums, apple, they also choose to eat pellets that I offer my other parrots.

Click to expand...

Thank you! That sounds like a wonderful and colourful diet! Is there a reason for limited fruits?

I don't know much about budgies, except that I admire them!
Huge parrot personalities in little bodies...

Here's a helpful thread by one of our budgie whisperers, reeb.

http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies-parakeets/72068-taming-bonding-budgerigars-tips-beginners.html

Budgie don't eat much fruit as part of their natural diet in the wild. Veggies are packed with nutrition. Fruits have a lot of sugars, and that can cause yeast and bacterial overgrowth in the birds digestive system. I find once a week of fruit is the common recommendation. Do not feed citrus fruits, there is data linking citric acid to iron storage disese of the liver. Most parrots didn't evolve with citrus fruit as part of their diet.

GaleriaGila said:

I don't know much about budgies, except that I admire them!
Huge parrot personalities in little bodies...

Here's a helpful thread by one of our budgie whisperers, reeb.

http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies-parakeets/72068-taming-bonding-budgerigars-tips-beginners.html

Click to expand...

Thank you so much!!! I appreciate it. I am excited for this

Laurasea said:

Budgie don't eat much fruit as part of their natural diet in the wild. Veggies are packed with nutrition. Fruits have a lot of sugars, and that can cause yeast and bacterial overgrowth in the birds digestive system. I find once a week of fruit is the common recommendation. Do not feed citrus fruits, there is data linking citric acid to iron storage disese of the liver. Most parrots didn't evolve with citrus fruit as part of their diet.

Click to expand...

Okay, excellent! Thank you so much for letting me know, I’ll make sure little bit doesn’t get any citrus and only a little weekly fruit