Choosing a Budgie

Covered in this Page: Male or Female?, Juvenile or Adult?, One or Two?, and What Does a Healthy Budgie Look Like?

Male or Female?
Generally, both male and female budgies can make excellent pets when cared for and trained properly. However, there are sometimes differences in the genders. Females are known to bite more frequently and harder than males. This doesn't mean that females will always bite or that males never will, but in general, this is what most people seem to experience. Personally, my most tame budgie is a female who also bites most often. I also have a female who has only bitten once and another female who has never bitten me at all. My male has also never bitten me. So, take most things lightly as there are always exceptions to the rules. I wouldn't pass up a female based on just this one thing as it's quite possible that it would prove to be untrue with her.
Another difference in gender is that males are more likely to learn the human language and mimic. Again, this doesn't mean that females can't or won't, it just means that it happens more often with males. Keep in mind that no parrot, be it budgie or african grey, can be gauranteed to speak human. All birds are individuals and some of them would rather teach you their language than bother to learn yours. :)

Female budgies can make wonderful pets too.
(For more gender information, see my page on how to sex your new budgie.)

Juvenile or Adult?
Young budgies are much easier to tame and train than an older, unsocialized budgie. Most of my budgies came to me at ten weeks of age or younger and it took very little effort to get them accustomed to sitting on my finger. A good breeder, store clerk, or rescue staff member should be educated enough to give you a fairly accurate idea of how old their birds are, but it's always good to know for yourself as well.

Most young budgies will have stripes on their forehead all the way down to their cere
(the fleshy part on the beak where the nostrils are).



This budgie is about six weeks of age but does not have stripes down to his cere because of his light coloring. Another clue to his age is that his eyes are completely black. Mature budgies have a light-colored ring around their eyes called an iris ring. However, like most rules these have exceptions. Recessive pied budgies (such as the first one pictured) will never develop an iris ring. This is one reason why it is especially important to buy (or rescue) your budgie from someone who is well-educated, responsible, and honest.

One or Two?
I suggest that you start with one budgie. Two birds are harder to tame as they will more likely bond to each other than bond to you. It's not impossible, but having one budgie makes things go much faster and smoother. Also, if you start with one budgie and successfully tame it, you can always add another. I've found that having one tame bird can make the newer bird less frightened. Just remember that if you add a new bird later, it must be quarantined in a different cage and different part of your house for at least 30 days. This gives you a chance to carefully monitor the bird for any signs of illness. It also provides the perfect opportunity to train the bird before it has a chance to bond to the other budgie.

What does a healthy budgie look like?
Healthy birds will look smooth, clean, alert, and active. Their eyes will be bright, nostrilts clean, feathers tidy, and vent clear. Their beaks will be smooth, not overgrown, and their droppings will be firm and dark green to brown in color (depending on their diet.) On the right is a picture of two very young, healthy budgies. (The one on the left is a male, the one on the right, a female.)

An ill bird will often sit in the bottom of the cage or silently on a perch and be puffed in appearance. Ill birds may have untidy feathers or discharge coming from their nostrils. Their droppings might be loose and watery. Some ailments cause a bird's nails and beak to overgrow or look scaley.

If you suspect that there is an ill bird in the cage, don't hesitate to let the staff or breeder know. They should be concerned and separate the sick or injured bird(s) from the others as well as quarantine the entire cage. Most budgie diseases are very contagious and chances are if one bird in the cage has the disease, others will as well. This should be taken very seriously and even if the seller tells you that it's ok to go ahead and buy a bird, you should look elsewhere.

Pixie (pictured at the left) was a budgie I bought from a local pet store, knowing very well she was injured and needed to be removed from the cage. It was obvious that the other birds were picking on her because of the missing feathers on the back of her head. The store manager insisted that she was ok and just molting (ha!) and didn't separate her from the others. I bought her in hopes that I could nurse her back to health. At first things went well but after 22 days with me, she passed away despite my efforts. While I don't regret bringing Pixie into my life, I probably won't buy a budgie from a pet store in this fashion ever again. I shouldn't have supported such a horrible store and won't in the future. Furthermore, this is definitely not something you want to experience when first getting a bird. Vet bills can be expensive even with a healthy bird so it's best not totry to take on one that is ill unless you're fully prepared to lose a lot of time, money, and quite possibly, your new bird. It's a heartbreaking experience so I hope this guide helps prevent someone else from going through it. If pet stores receive complaints about these issues rather than business, they are more likely to change for the better of the animals in their care.