The Plight of the Captive Budgie

The most easily obtainable bird anybody can buy on a whim is a budgie. They’re relatively inexpensive compared to other species and available at almost any chain pet store. Although budgies are indeed small, they are no means less work to take care of.

Their needs are just as extensive and important as the bigger parrots. However, their pain and unhappiness is easier to ignore.

Let’s say that again.

A budgie is not an easier bird that requires less care than other species; their unhappiness is just easier to ignore.

How many times have you heard “it’s just a budgie?” We’ve heard it all too often.

Do you know how many emails and voicemails we receive from people asking us to take their flock of 10+ budgies? In 99.9% of these cases, the person started off with only two budgies from the pet store. Then the budgies breed (sometimes it’s unintentional, sometimes it’s intentional, we’ve seen it all) and the person realizes that housing and cleaning up after 10+ birds is too much.

In the meantime, the parrot rescuers are asking why, WHY are pet stores selling birds that can breed uncontrollably without at least informing the buyer how to handle this situation, so they don’t end up with a house full of budgies?

If we took in every budgie flock that people could no longer keep because it became too much for them, we’d have easily over 100 budgies at a time.

Despite being the smallest, least intrusive species you can live with, budgies sit in our rescue sometimes for over a year, waiting for a home.

Here’s the common misconception: Budgies are easy to adopt.

Nope. Thanks to the consensus that budgies are “starter birds” that you can “just get anywhere” people do not view them as being interesting or interactive or smart or fun like the larger species.

People assume budgies are skittish birds who have no interest in forming a bond with their humans. In fact, budgies are incredibly intelligent and can train just as well as the large parrots.

Writing these little guys off sets them up for a life of small cages, over breeding, impulse buying and rehoming, inadequate diet and vet care… The list goes on and on.

Unfortunately, the general population of people view budgies as “just budgies.” Nobody wants to provide their budgies with large flight cages, nobody wants to buy the proper food for them, nobody wants to feed their budgies fresh greens and grains, nobody wants to spare the patience to build trust with them, nobody wants to spend the money on a budgie for yearly vet exams.

Nobody wants to go through RIPR’s extensive adoption program “just for a budgie.”

The truth is budgies are inquisitive, curious, smart little guys who wake up and view each day as an opportunity to explore and learn. They are active, goofy, highly social birds who are an absolute pleasure to share a home with. We have not met a budgie yet who doesn’t shred their toys, train, form complex relationships within their flocks, eat healthy food. It’s almost like...are you ready for this... they’re just like the big parrots!

Budgies are one of the most underrated, overlooked species in our Rescue.

Advocates at RI Parrot Rescue will be looking into how to change Rhode Island laws surrounding the sales of budgies. 2023 has plans for change… The first step is always the hardest to take, but when we take it, we hope you will join us on our journey.

Captive budgies deserve better.

Copyrighted. Blog posts may be used as guidelines for the proper care of your parrot. Not intended for medical or legal advice. Please consult with a licensed avian veterinarian regarding the medical care and wellbeing of your exotic pets.