Where to Buy? What do i need? Which one do i buy?

So many questions in your mind when you start thinking about and go around looking for that perfect budgie, arent their? We have developed a simple question and answer article to help you buy your first budgie!

Where to Buy? Pet Shop or Breeder?

Simple answer, Breeder. On the whole the majority of pet shop budgies are just not looked after properly in my opinion, thats not to say all breeders are perfect, you do need to be careful whereever you choose to buy from.

Pet Shop budgies are usually lonesome or have a few budgies with them in the cage. There is risk of disease and mites being passed from budgie to budgie. From my experience budgies bought at pet shops are not well looked after. But again thats not to say all pet shops are like that. Buying from a breeder, means you can get more information about the first few weeks of the budgies life and its parents and its upbringing.

What do i look out for wherever i choose to buy?

Try to ensure you are buying from a reputable breeder or petshop. If you go down the petshop route, have a look around the pet shop for cleanliness, ensure the cage the bird is in is clean, the water looks fresh and there is plenty seed in its pot to eat. Some pet shops dont bother looking after the bird, and it could simply catch a disease, which is not what you want when buying a bird. Look at how many birds are in one cage, if there is a small cage crammed full of budgies, you know there is a higher risk of getting a budgie with a disease or mites. The last thing you want is to take a budgie away and realise its ill and have to pay vets fees which can cost alot more than the cost of the bird.

When buying from a breeder, it is generally the better option. Breeders know alot more about looking after budgies and because the budgie is living within a flock it is probably more happy than being in a pet shop. Buying from a breeder will give you more choice as well as to which budgie you want. Again ensure the breeders aviary or cage is clean and the birds are well housed.

What age should the budgie i buy be?

No younger than 8 weeks. If you plan to tame the budgie it should be around the 8-10 week mark. The older the bird, the longer it will take to take. The younger you train the bird and tame it, the quicker it should learn. Younger birds will also bond with you much quicker than older birds.

How many birds do i buy?

One single bird tends to bond with its owner much quicker and the bond is usually stronger. The second you introduce another bird, the bond will weaken as the bird will associate the new second bird as its flock and not you. A single bird can get very lonely so consider getting 2 budgies so they can keep each other company. After all you dont want a sad lonely budgie now do you? Two birds are always better than one!

Male or Female?

If your just going for one bird, its reall up to yourself whether you go for male or female. When going for 2 birds most people tend to go for 2 males or 1 male 2 females. Your probably wondering why not 2 females? Well putting 2 females together usually means more bickering between them which could lead to fighting. Thats why most people go for 1 male 1 female or 2 males as they just get on better together.

What Questions Should i be asking the pet shop or breeder?

What age is the Bird?

What sex is the bird?

What is the bird being fed?

Has the bird been treated for mites?

Have the parents had any health issues?