Budgie

Budgies also known as Parakeets are extremely playful and social. The little budgie bird is one of the most popular pets in the world, ranking just behind dogs and cats, and it's no wonder. This affectionate, cute bird is tiny, and if trained properly a budgie can mimic human speech, we'll get to that later. The origin of its formal name―budgerigar―is a mystery, but by any name, this little bird is a charming companion for most pet owners, whether housed in a cage or free-flying.

Why Birds?

In my early 20's I developed allergies to dogs and possibly cats. Mostly from their dander. But I wanted our boys to have a pet to come home to after school. Budgies are much smaller than their parakeet counterparts and easy to tame and train. Having been a budgie owner for a few months now, I have watched our budgies act similar to puppies. They walk, play and cuddle just as a little doggie would. But they do other things that dogs and cats can't don't do and that is to fly and talk. They can mimic human speech that they hear regularly. Currently trying to teach our male budgies, who can speak more clearly than our solo female budgie a few simple words, such as, (good morning, all done, and still strong)

Our Flock

Mocha- Our first and only girl. The big eater. She is a sky blue budgie. She's the oldest and probably the most tame of them all. She can also fly very well. Loves to just perch on your fingers or hand especially if you have any treats to give.

Buddy- Our oldest boy! A grey Budgie. He's the scaredy-cat of the flock. He's always curious about everything going on around him but has a special bond with Mocha. Although he's not tamed he will come to us occasionally and loves to chirp.

Lemon- A yellow budgie. He's very playful and has a funny personality. He's also the least afraid and is very calm. While still a baby, he hasn't quite learned the skill of flying yet.

Lime- Our youngest budgie, he's a traditional light green budgie as you would see them in their native land of Australia. He is very shy and hasn't learned to fly just yet either, but is trying hard to learn. He loves his brother Lemon, who looks after him and helps him along the way.

Conclusion

If you are thinking about getting a parakeet…how exciting! If you are wanting a budgie who wants to be near you, consider a hand raised baby. They are used to being handled and are not quite as skittish. But this doesn’t mean that a colony raised bird won’t be friendly – as with any species, it depends on the individual. But even if they don’t end up to be a cuddle bird, you will get endless hours of enjoyment watching their antics and interactions. Also do research, birds can get sick very easily and will hardly show any symptoms until they can't hide it anymore. They are also prone to illnesses from inhaling fumes from common household items such as Teflon and perfumes. If you frequently get extreme flatulence they can even get sick from the farts. Taming your bird is a slippery slope. There are some birds that, from day one, step on your finger, respond to your voice and are delights. Last but not least, enjoy your new feathered friend.