Budgerigar (Parakeet)
A tiny flock parrot that needs grams on a scale more than another millet spray. The weight, exercise, and yearly cost figures below are ranges for a typical healthy adult. A licensed veterinarian who has examined your animal still has to confirm the plan.
Researched & Compiled by the PetAuthority Editorial Team
Clinical Data Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center & Merck Veterinary Manual
These pages describe clinical possibilities and a Green, Yellow, or Red triage path. They do not diagnose an individual animal or replace an examination by a licensed veterinarian. Read the editorial standards.
Quick facts
| Weight | 0.07–0.09 lb (0.03–0.04 kg) |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 7–15 years |
| Grooming | 1 of 5 |
| Energy | 4 of 5 |
| Apartment | Suitable for many apartments |
What standard guides this profile?
There is no kennel-club standard that predicts this bird's health. Care on this page follows clinical avian practice used in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. A quiet change in droppings, appetite, or breathing still needs an avian veterinarian rather than a show-standard comparison.
Daily calorie and portion estimation
A typical adult Budgerigar (Parakeet) starts near 20 kcal/day, with about 60 minutes of steady daily activity. Enter the current weight in pounds (kilograms) in the calculator, because a lean animal and an overweight animal do not share the same portion.
A pellet and vegetable base with limited seed is safer than millet all day. Weigh the bird weekly in grams; a drop is an early illness sign. Measure meals in ounces (grams), and keep treats near ten percent of the daily calorie target.
Calculate Budgerigar (Parakeet)'s Custom Food Portions →Common health predispositions
Respiratory disease
UrgentWatch for: Tail bobbing, a voice change, or open-beak breathingCheck this sign in symptom triageEgg binding
UrgentWatch for: A hen straining or too weak to perchCheck this sign in symptom triageIodine deficiency and thyroid enlargement
CommonWatch for: A squeak, regurgitation, or a click when breathing on an all-seed dietCheck this sign in symptom triageTumors in older birds
CommonWatch for: A new lump or a sudden inability to fly levelCheck this sign in symptom triage
What should Budgerigar (Parakeet) owners ask first?
Owners most often ask about housing, grooming, and which signs cannot wait. The answers below are educational ranges for a typical Budgerigar (Parakeet), including weight in pounds (kilograms) and yearly costs in dollars and pounds. They do not diagnose the animal you live with.
Is a budgie a good child's pet?
They can be, with adult supervision. Small birds are injured by squeezing, ceiling fans, and non-stick fumes; teach quiet handling; these points are educational ranges, and a veterinarian who has examined your animal still has to confirm them. Confirm this before you bring the animal home.
What does tail bobbing mean?
A tail that pumps with every breath means the bird is working too hard to breathe. That is an avian emergency, even if the bird still looks bright. These points are educational ranges, and a veterinarian who has examined your animal still has to confirm them.