Why are budgies treated so differently?

Since getting my bird about a month ago I've really noticed how a lot of people seem to have mindsets that budgies are so different from other types of parrots and I guess I'm kind of frustrated by it. We've only been together for a short time but Shiro and I have already made a lot of progress in my eyes and from what I can tell the way with act towards each other is pretty similar to any other type of parrot.

I don't understand why so many people view budgies as "look but don't touch" birds. Shiro comes out with me every day and sits on my shoulder, climbs up my arms, and spends time out on his perch just like another bird. Sure he's small and he doesn't talk, but he still communicates with us with his own sounds. Shiro gives me kisses on my nose and cheeks and likes it when I give him scratches around his neck. He likes toys and seeing new things. He's curious and engaged and I wouldn't dream of just sticking him in a big cage with other birds and leaving him there.

So many people still think budgies aren't parrots. Even people who have parrots themselves seem to think budgies are some different type of bird. There are so many different species of parrots in the world, why would this one species be so different than any other???

Maybe if more people approached budgie ownership in the same way they approach ownership of any other parrot species they would realize how awesome and smart these tiny birds really are.

I never noticed that attitude!

Some biddies are friendlier than others, and just like every bird, winning their trust is worth the effort!

I had a parrot owner telling me and other people that if you wanted a bird that was interested in you and acting like a "real parrot" not to get a budgie.

I guess I just see a lot of people acting like budgies are not real parrots and like they're more similar to a bird like a finch or a canary.

I tend to have to agree with this. Everything I've read has referred to a Bourke's Parakeet as a hands-off, look but don't touch, sort of bird. In my month and a half of owning Sherbert, she's show me than little parrots can have big personality. She signal calls when I leave the room just to get me to come back. And of course, I do. She actively shows affection through chirps and twitters. She runs around her cage when she wants to be out and with me, every so often stopping to see if I'm paying attention to her. She'll willingly step onto my finger (most times). She has so much attitude for a little parakeet.

My budgie had a huge personality. He could say his name, he'd fly to me whenever I entered the room and I could cuddle with him all the time. Technically he was my mother's bird, and this was 40 years ago, but still, I recall how sweet he was and how he never saw himself as small. I hate seeing budgies up for adoption. It's almost like some people think they're disposable birds. So sad.

Sadly, it's because they are cheap. Some stores will even give you the budgie for free if you buy a cage and equip it. They are bred to be throwaway birds by the bird mills under contract to the big pet stores. It's a terrible attitude. They are small and hard to see, so many overlook them and see nothing but a speck of color. Anyone who meets them where they are knows what huge personalities they have.

I think that a lot of it all comes back to them being "cheap" birds. It sets up almost a perfect storm for creating a "hands off" parrot. Since they are cheap, they tend to be the first bird most people get, especially being bought for or by children who don't know how to tame down a pet store budgie. So there is the first instance of the "look don't touch" bird.

Then, later on, those same people see a hand-fed cockatiel or green cheek and see what a "real parrot" is like, so the little budgie gets shoved to the side or gotten rid of all together.

Another issue, I think, is that because they are so cheap, not many people hand-feed budgie babies like they do other parrots. This creates a gap in the market, where people looking for the tame, hand-fed budgies don't find them. I think that also reinforces the idea that they aren't "real" parrots. If they were, surely more people would take the time to hand feed them, right? Realistically, it just is not worth it for a breeder to hand feed a budgie because there is no market for it. People aren't willing to spend the money that it would take for a breeder to make up the cost to hand-feed a budgie, so most don't. However, people that don't breed birds, don't realize that, so they just assume that they aren't "worth it" in terms of pet quality to hand feed.

I think the whole system is against the poor little budgies in terms of being recognized as the real parrots that they are, and that most of it comes down to the fact that they are so cheaply obtained.

Outlawed spirit hit the nail on the head. They are cheap, they are small, their enclosures and toys are cheap, they don't make a huge amount of noise or mess, they can't bite hard... Many of the most appealing things about budgies are unfortunately their downfall against larger and more expensive/difficult parrots. Even a hyacinth macaw (the most expensive parrot in the pet trade), if just stuck in a cage and food thrown at it every so often, will never be a loving, hands-on pet. The difference is, the price range of around $20,000 for a hyacinth macaw (or even around $1000-$2000, as is the general range for most larger parrots) prices out most people who aren't willing to be responsible, dedicated pet owners. At around $20, any common idiot can afford a budgie regardless of their intentions. It's pretty sad, as they certainly have the capability to be a loving, intelligent companions!

An interesting thought about budgies few people realize in regards to their capabilities and attributes as pets- Budgies have been bred in captivity for more generations than any other parrot species, making them closer than any other parrot species to being considered a 'true' domesticated animal. My amazon's parents likely were caught in the wild. He's effectively a tamed wild animal. Your budgie could have 10/20/30+ generations of domestically raised generations in his/her family tree, making him/her much closer to a domesticated pet than my bird will ever be. Another fun fact- A budgie actually holds the world record for most human words. They are very much real parrots and have so much to offer!

My two English budgies were hand fed and tame at 8 weeks of age. They were not "cheap" Budgies are hookbill parrots and some people are not educated in that terminology. Along comes the pet store parakeet mass breeding by Kaytee company so they can sell more seed. I think this is what contributes to the lack of understanding. Ever been to a budgie show?

it's horrible how little budgies are understood

after taking my mum along to a parrot show so I could meet some birds and find out about adopting and breeders in my area, and to help my mum with her fear of birds she managed to let a ringneck climb on her shoulder so big step for her that had the budgie society there with a load of budgies, after my mum talked with the person there for about an hour about budgies she still has it in her head that you get a budgie, throw some seed and water in the cage and then just leave it.

I LOVE budgies and have nothing but respect for them. I wish the Rickeybird would let me have at least one!!

LordTriggs said:

it's horrible how little budgies are understood

after taking my mum along to a parrot show so I could meet some birds and find out about adopting and breeders in my area, and to help my mum with her fear of birds she managed to let a ringneck climb on her shoulder so big step for her that had the budgie society there with a load of budgies, after my mum talked with the person there for about an hour about budgies she still has it in her head that you get a budgie, throw some seed and water in the cage and then just leave it.

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Aargh, I was about to post in a different direction, but this statement is so true on what many think! It is so wrong! Just like a cockatiel being a great starter bird, and once you're ready, get rid of it and get a real bird! These little guys have such character and such life, and they never asked to be treated this way!
Just so no one thinks I am perfect, I had this mentality in my first marriage! Results? 35 years later, still doing damage control!

I love budgies, but if I had to guess why people don't like them as much I would say 1. because they are super common and cheap and when some people that don't know a lot about parrots think they're just cool because they're rare and 2. some people think parrots are cool because of their size. I told one person I was getting a parrot and they said, "How big is it?" and I showed them about how tall we my hands and they said, "oh.."

From what I've observed from the general public and some bird people as well, is that people are generally more "impressed" by animals that are large, flashy, exotic, expensive, etc. Not cheap tiny animals that are known as pets for children. Just human nature. Only when people are impacted by a positive experience with one of these amazing little creatures, do they see what budgies really are, and lose the ignorant attitude.

There are actually many experienced bird people out there who are only interested in budgies. I personally love budgies, and they are one of my favorite species. I haven't been into budgies nearly as long as other parrots, but I'm thankful to have discovered them. It's too bad that budgies are being bred by the mills as a throw away animal just so big business can profit.

They pet store/mill budgies are genetically poor and many only live a couple or few years like my first budgies did. I only got them in 2012 and they've been gone for a year or two now. It was heartbreaking. My current English budgies were bred by a bird store and were co-parented (hand fed toward the end to abundance wean and socialize with humans). They were not cheap budgies. They are wonderful little birds and aren't wild, especially my female. Budgies are the cutest little things. Funny too. Photos don't do justice. When you see them in person in a home setting, and really watch them you see how adorable they are.

I have to say though, they are the messiest birds out of all that I have experienced. My budgies molt more heavily and way more often than the other parrots, when I clean their trays there is way more feather sheath pieces and dander, there is budgie poop outside the cage on the floor somehow when they haven't been out yet... I have to clean poop spackled onto the wall behind the cage. They poop way more often than larger birds. That is on top of the normal mess of toy shreds and food all over. It's amazing how messy they are for their size, but I love them.

Flboy said:

Aargh, I was about to post in a different direction, but this statement is so true on what many think! It is so wrong! Just like a cockatiel being a great starter bird, and once you're ready, get rid of it and get a real bird! These little guys have such character and such life, and they never asked to be treated this way!.....

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Ah yes, the infamous "starter bird." Far too many folks buy an inexpensive "starter bird" to test the waters. From there it might be a cockatiel, and finally graduating to a "real bird" such as a Conure, Grey, Cockatoo, or even, gasp, a Macaw! Tongue-in-cheek to illustrate a point, but the consequences are deadly serious for the hapless victim, often a budgie. Sadly, price has nothing to do with value when we are discussing a sentient being.

PF and other venues strive to educate and enlighten, as sadly, precious few businesses care enough to equip a prospective owner with knowledge and resources.

Budgies are cheap and easy to get. The main thing is they are often never handled as babies and there for scared of all things larger then them.They are Small prey animals. The times they are handled at these bird farms I am sure it is not nice and gentle. So that makes them even more fearful.

The pet store Budgies take time to tame. People that do not take the time to work with the bird never get to know how cute and fun they can be. I have 2 little budgies after over a year of having them now I can get them on my finger they still don't love to be with me because they have each other. But they are much better.

People that have 2 budgies or more living in a cage together will have an even harder time getting them tame. One budgie per cage is the way to go if you want the bird to be your little friend.

Sadly they are seen as the hamster just a little starter pet that is boring. I have had a hamster and they can be great little pets if you work with them too. Often they are throw away pets.

I like to see this topic brought up and batted around now and then. Thanks!
Raises awareness and keeps us thinking.

GaleriaGila said:

I LOVE budgies and have nothing but respect for them. I wish the Rickeybird would let me have at least one!!

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Possibly two? One for Rickeybird to eat, and one to play/torment with?

I must say, there is a pet shop about 10 miles north of me, that has many birds. Cockatiels, Conures, bungees, Quakers, plus some of the larger parrots! Every one of them are hand tame, you can put your hand into the pit with the bungees and they will all come over and pick at your hand jump on you to see what you're doing, etc.! And they are less than a third, cost wise, compared to mainstream pet shops!
http://www.leesburgpetcenter.com/

It's sad how budgies have such a bad rap because of the bird mills and greedy pet chain stores. They are so smart, social and inquisitive. Some days, my two budgies listen to me more than my sun conure. If I ask them to turn it down a little please, they will. If I motion for them to go inside their cage because I have to go somewhere, they will. If I ask them to come hang out with me and my sun, they'll fly over - but only if they feel like it haha!