Number of budgies

[claudicles]

Hi all,

This is one of those, "how many budgies should I put in this cage?" type posts.

I have a cage like this

www.gtmall.com.au/1-8m-roof-design-bird-cage.html

which currently has my cockatiels in it. They are moving and I would love budgies. It is tall but one metre wide by 60 cm. There is a large access door in both the top and the bottom. I would like to know whether it would be best to divide it into two cages by putting a divider half way between the top and bottom and keeping one pair in each, or using it as one cage, with one pair, or more if that would work. I would love people's opinions as to what they would do if they had it.

TIA

Liz

[Budgies Retreat]

Hi Liz and welcome to the forum.

I wouldn't divide it horizontally, and would happily put 5/6 birds in there so long as they have indoor flight time also, or just 4 if they were to remain in the cage.

[Hezz]

A lot depends on how much outside flying time they would get. But don't divide it; in spite of what you might read, budgies can and will use all of the cage if you place things strategically . I have a cage slightly smaller than that which is home to five, but they are only shut in in the evenings for sleeping - they are out a good 12 hours of the day, and the space they have to fly around in is 8m x 6m, in places 8x8m, so they have plenty of room for exercise. How many cockatiels did you have in it?

I agree with Daz, about 6 comfortably if they are out all/most of the day; I don't know how to suggest any if they are not to get outside time, as I don't like that idea at all. It is a lovely big cage, but living your life out in it? No thanks. I don't think could recommend more than a couple.

[claudicles]

Thanks guys, I have two cockatiels in there and I am moving them so they will have more flight space I must admit. I'm also going for longer and not as tall as they just never go in the bottom half of the cage, which was why I wondered about dividing it horizontally. I've been trying to work out what is a good amount of space to house budgies. Obviously the more the better but opinions seem to vary so much. Even this page, which usually seems to suggest generous spacing, talks about 60 by 40 by 40cm as adequate, if not ideal.

www.birdcare.com.au/budgie.htm

I use a cage larger than that even for my finch quarantine cages. The breeding cages sold for budgies are tiny. My finch and quail aviary is 5.4 by 3.6 metres but the species mix puts me off putting anyone else in there. I have some shy finches. Outside cage time is limited by my cats and dogs .... ugh. I won't get budgies unless I can keep them in half way decent quarters.

What size cage/aviary would be OK for permanent housing? Also what wire spacing? Advice greatly appreciated.

[Hezz]

Where abouts do you live? What your predators are will decide what wire spacing and what guage wire you need. With regards to keeping budgies in, I wouldn't go any bigger than 12mm square spacing, but that won't necessarily keep out the little snakes. If you were able to supply the budgies with the same sort of space as the finches and quails have that would be good. Budgies are very sure fliers and can get up to great speeds and acrobatics if they have the room to do so. You would need a lot of space to be able to provide them with that sized aviary. Most budgie aviaries, of course, are no where near big enough for them to do this; they will flit from end to end or side to side. I see your link gives a suggestion of 3x2ms for a budgie aviary which sounds okay to me; I wouldn't keep them in anything smaller, long term.

Both links you have put up are Australian; should I take that as a clue as to where you live? If so, then you will know that butcherbirds and snakes will be your worst problems. What they class as finch aviary mesh, about .6mm square mesh is the only size to prevents the butcherbird getting his beak in far enough to pull the small birds through. Double meshing in the larger mesh (12mm) will fix the butcherbird problem but still let in the snakes. What have you got for the finches? Should work for the budgies as well. Why didn't I just say that in the first place?

[reajen01]

May 14, 2015 0:58:48 GMT Hezz said:

Where abouts do you live? What your predators are will decide what wire spacing and what guage wire you need. With regards to keeping budgies in, I wouldn't go any bigger than 12mm square spacing, but that won't necessarily keep out the little snakes. If you were able to supply the budgies with the same sort of space as the finches and quails have that would be good. Budgies are very sure fliers and can get up to great speeds and acrobatics if they have the room to do so. You would need a lot of space to be able to provide them with that sized aviary. Most budgie aviaries, of course, are no where near big enough for them to do this; they will flit from end to end or side to side. I see your link gives a suggestion of 3x2ms for a budgie aviary which sounds okay to me; I wouldn't keep them in anything smaller, long term.

Both links you have put up are Australian; should I take that as a clue as to where you live? If so, then you will know that butcherbirds and snakes will be your worst problems. What they class as finch aviary mesh, about .6mm square mesh is the only size to prevents the butcherbird getting his beak in far enough to pull the small birds through. Double meshing in the larger mesh (12mm) will fix the butcherbird problem but still let in the snakes. What have you got for the finches? Should work for the budgies as well. Why didn't I just say that in the first place?

Quick question, is the 10 - 12 mm based on deterring predators? I thought it was so the buds couldn't get their heads stuck between the bars etc? I only ask because I saw a huge parrot cage for £70 the other day but discounted it as the bar spacing was about 20 mm

[OP]

At 20 mm the budgie could practically squeeze through. Yes the 10 - 12 mm is so the buds don't push their heads through and get stuck.

[reajen01]

Cool thanks OP, hate to miss a bargain!

[claudicles]

Hi again,
Sorry about the slow reply. I've been thinking about things. I am in Australia. My finch aviary was a major investment/work with a large slab, quite a bit of earth moving, and lots of effort into predator protection. It is planted to make it as nice an environment as possible for the birds. I would only put other species of birds in there if it would not cause any hassles for the finches. I have the space for another aviary (I live on 2.5 acres) but not the money. I guess that means budgies are not for me.
Liz

[Hezz]

It is always the way; money is a bitch, isn't it? But now you know what you need to do, maybe just save a bit at a time and then you have something to work towards. (A concrete slab for budgies is preferable as well.)

What sort of finches do you keep? If you say firetails, I am dead jealous!

[claudicles]

Firetails! I'm not made of money. I only have a level one licence too. I had gold finches and zebras years ago. I just wanted natives this time (well almost) and not zebras as they make keeping so many others difficult. I have stars, blue faced parrots, plum heads and double barred. I have a pair of gouldians but they are in a flight cage inside atm. I'm not sure how they will cope with my winter.

[Hezz]

Are your gouldians of the original colouring, or mutations? I always think they look like a Grade-1'er got hold of the paint pot when they were being created, gorgeous little things, aren't they?? I often see double-barred and crimson finches on my walks ......... we are after the same thing - seeding grasses. But other than that I know very little about finches, period. Goldfinches are not native, are they??