Budgies originate from Australia and belong to the family of "true parrots". There they live in colonies of up to 1,000 birds and form pairs within that colony. In the wild, the colour green is dominant, but varieties like yellow, blue, grey or multi-coloured are possible.

Keeping
Budgies have been kept as aviary birds in Europe since 1840, and today they are probably the most often kept type of parrots worldwide.
Birds kept on their own can become very tame, but for their optimal wellbeing at least one other budgie is necessary as a social partner.

Where to put the cage
A quiet, wind-protected, light place is ideal. Direct sunlight and drafts are to be avoided. Be sure to place one side of the cage against a wall, as that provides protection for the birds.
The cage should be spacious and offer a lot of options for climbing and other activities. Best are fresh branches of different sizes from pesticide-free fruit trees or willows. Brush down the branches carefully with hot water and renew them frequently. Little buds on the branches can serve as food and stimulant for activity.

Perches made of natural wood or rope are a good alternative. Playgrounds made of natural wood, climbing frames or swings as well as toys made of sisal, wood or plastic stimulate all kinds of activities.

A lot of budgies love bathing. In their natural habitat they will bedew their feathers in wet grass or bushes. A bathing hut or a basin with lukewarm water are suitable for this purpose.

Free Flying
Especially if budgies are not kept in an aviary, they need lots of movement. A daily time for free flying is ideal, but it should happen under supervision. You can get the birds used to a room, but you have to pay close attention to sources of danger like windowpanes, drawstrings, contact with poisonous plants (e.g. ivy, ferns, poinsettias), food (avocados), or objects (pencils, old paint).

Feeding
Give your budgies commercially available seed mixes consisting of millet, hemp and linseed as well as oats, enriched with iodine, as their basic food. To cover their vitamin needs you can offer fresh vegetables (e.g. carrot greens, spinach, cucumber, lettuce), wild herbs (chickweed, dandelion) and fresh fruit (e.g. apple, banana, grapes, berries etc.) or sprouts.
A cuttlebone or a limestone offer an additional source of calcium and invite beak care.

Food and water will stay clean if you use water bottles and feeders that are attached to the cage from the outside.