When considering a pet, most will consider a dog or a cat first, and may possibly move on to more nontraditional choices once these are ruled out. Birds and fish are two of the more common nontraditional choices for pets, and a budgie is a bird that makes a great pet. They are social, interactive, clean, and relatively cheap to take care of. They do not take up a lot of space, and they react and interact in a way that is very conducive to building a relationship with owners. Often called parakeets, this term refers to a number of small parrots, including budgies.
A budgie cage should be spacious and entertaining. A swing, something to climb on, and toys are all things that can make your bird's home more comfortable. They are very intelligent, so they enjoy having something new to figure out. In this way, it can be helpful to building a relationship to introduce a new toy occasionally. You may roll a ball back and forth or make a bird bath and offer a leaf of lettuce to chew on while bathing. As time goes on, you will learn the personality and preferences of the bird and get to know each other better.
While not the exact same as a human companion, a budgie may help with loneliness a little more than some other pets as they can actually respond to you vocally. They can whistle and mimic a number of sounds. This can be a source of great fun for you and your bird. Spend time making sounds over and over and watch him learn to make the same sounds. Before you know it he will have quite a large sound vocabulary which can be very entertaining. Be sure to warn visitors, as it can be very disconcerting. Or, if you prefer, do not warn them and watch their reaction to the sounds he makes.
One of the best things about having a budgie as a pet is that they are cheaper than some pets to take care of. Besides a cage and a few toys here and there, the initial cost is low. As far as feeding, water, nuts, and berries are really all that is needed. Birdseed can be good, but if funds are low sunflower seeds from the cabinet work just fine. Of course the cage must be kept clean at all times, including the food and water containers.
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