Are budgies messy? Unfortunately, budgies may be small, but as any budgie owner can attest, they can – and frequently do – make very big messes that can be time-consuming to clean. Tossing food around their cages, splashing around in their water dishes, and sending feathers flying about the room are just a few of the ways they like to entertain themselves.

So how much of your precious time will it take to clean up their mess? And how much work are they, really? Let’s find out.

Big Messes

Budgies are pros at making mayhem. If you are envisioning a clean, budgie-filled house, you are sure to be disappointed. Here a just a few of the messes you can expect to find, courtesy of your budgie:

• Food – Your budgie is likely to spill food while he eats, as well as toss any morsels that are not to his liking out of his cage and onto your floor. (Some budgies even dig in the dirty bedding and create a mess, as we show you here!)
• Puddles – Budgies love to bathe and play in their water, and you will frequently find small puddles of water on your clean floor. Any water he spills in his cage causes food to stick to the items he enjoys, including his perches and toys.
• Waste – If you want your budgie to have plenty of freedom, be prepared to find his droppings throughout the entire room, as well as on your clothing. Even when his poop is confined to his cage, it can still be messier than you might anticipate.
• Feathers – While a budgie may only molt once or twice a year, you will still frequently find feathers flying around your home and floating around his cage.

Cleaning Time

Cleaning out your budgie’s cage is a multi-step process that can realistically consume several hours a week. Most budgie owners find that chunking the cleaning into both daily and weekly steps help to keep the workload manageable and their budgie healthy.

Daily (thirty minutes)

• Your budgie needs his cage liner changed every single day. If you have newspapers trimmed to fit his cage in advance, you can put an entire stack down at once and remove only the soiled layers each day. If you mist the paper lightly with water before you roll the paper up, it will help all the seed and waste stick to it so that it is easier to discard.
• A budgie requires a spot-cleaned cage to keep dangerous bacteria at bay. Use a bird-friendly cleaner or a vinegar solution, and pay extra attention to his perch, the bars of his cage, and his toys, where hidden germs may live.
• Your budgie’s food and water dishes must be checked to make sure they are free from any waste. Rinse them out with hot, soapy water and make sure they are dry before you return them to his cage.
• The birdbath your budgie enjoys also necessitates a thorough cleansing to ensure that the water stays fresh so he can splash to his heart’s content without any concern from you.
• The areas under your budgie’s cage should be cleaned consistently as well. A hand-held vacuum is a great choice for keeping your floor free from debris, as it gets the tiny seeds that a broom may miss; it is also a quick alternative to mopping every day.

Weekly (at least one hour)

• Your budgie’s toys and perches need a more thorough cleaning once a week. Use sandpaper and an old toothbrush to remove any stubborn, crusted-on droppings. Then wash them in dishwashing soap and hot water. Many budgie toys are dishwasher safe, and softer toys are often able to go in your washing machine. Your weekly cleaning time is a good time to rotate new toys in for your budgie’s entertainment.
• If you have a cage skirt, it must be taken off and cleaned. While cage skirts prevent a lot of debris from reaching your floor, they do not prevent your bird from making a mess in the first place.
• Wipe down each and every bar of your budgie’s cage. Since he spends so much time climbing around on his bars with his feet and his beak, it is extremely important that the bars be clean of any dried droppings. Some owners choose to put the cage into their shower or bathtub and spray it down with a handheld showerhead for some extra power. Steamers also do a great job of breaking down stubborn, stuck-on debris.
• The bottom tray of your bird’s cage must be free from anything that could invite bacteria, mold, or insects. Pull out the liners from the bottom of the cage each week and wipe out the bottom until it is spotless. Concentrate on the corners of the cage where bacteria thrives. Make sure the tray is completely dry before you put the liners back inside.
• The floors under your bird’s cage require extra attention at the end of each week. After your daily vacuuming, mop the floors and put any soiled rugs in the washing machine. If the rugs are not washable, spray them off with a hose outside and leave them to air dry. Check the walls around the cage for any far-flung food or droppings and wipe them down. If he’s had any extra freedom, you will need to check the entire room for surprises.

Tips and Tricks

Expert budgie owners know that there are tips and tricks to help you clean smarter, not harder. The less time you spend cleaning, the more time you can spend enjoying the company of your loveable feathered friend.

• Purchase an air purifier that is made with pets in mind. This will catch a lot of your bird’s airborne dander and will reduce any bird-related odors.
• If you know your bird is most active at a certain time of day, try to clean before he starts his playtime. Then there will be less debris for his wings to send flying around the room when he starts to flap.
• Consider investing in a robot vacuum if it is within your budget. Program it to roam around your budgie’s room once or twice a day to decrease your daily workload.
• Buy a spill-proof feeder. These have chambers that your bird enters so that when he eats, the mess stays within the feeder instead of scattering around his cage — and throughout your house.
• Think about replacing your current cage with an extra-tall one. A budgie prefers to perch toward the top of his cage, so always put his food and water on the bottom. The more space there is between where your bird eats and where he perches, the less food is sent airborne when he flaps around up above.
• Buy some extra dishes and perches so that you can rotate them out during each cleaning session. Having extras on hand allows you to clean the dirty items at your leisure which may come in handy during an extra-busy week.
• If you don’t already have one, a well-designed cage skirt is one of the best things you can buy to reduce your daily workload. A good cage skirt will keep the bulk of your budgie’s mess inside his cage and off of your floor.
• Consider the items in your bird’s room. The less surface area he has in his room, the less dust and dander can collect on it. Also, make sure to limit chairs or couches that are not easily wiped down, as dander particles will become embedded in any fabric pieces. Remove any drapes from around the windows as well for the ultimate cleanliness.

If you need more tips on that, we recommend that you read Your Budgies Are Messy? Do This!

Also, if you want to know how to clean your birdcage with vinegar, we explain that in this article!

Another very inexpensive cleaning solution is using a mixture of lemons and baking soda. We explain how you can use lemons in this article!

Related Questions

What is the easiest bird to keep as a pet? Believe it or not, budgies are actually one of the easiest birds to keep, and they are considered perfect pets for bird beginners. Canaries, finches, and cockatiels are also popular, lower-maintenance birds.

What is the best cage for a budgie? While the minimum size of a budgie’s cage is 18.5 inches high and 18.5 inches wide, budgies do enjoy flying horizontally inside their cage. Make sure the bars of the cage are no more than a half inch apart.

Is it hard to take care of a budgie? While budgies do require you to clean up after them, they are still relatively simple to care for. Your budgie has basic needs, but beyond that, they desire your love and affection. The biggest demand on your time with a budgie is not cleaning – it is attention.

Some budgies may seem to enjoy shiny objects and having a companion- even if the said companion is just their own reflection.

But why is giving a mirror to a budgie a bad idea? First of all, they may break the mirror attacking or just playing with it, and the result will be an injury. Another reason is that they may perceive it as a mate whom they would like to feed all the time or may get obsessed with. So, there are at least a couple of better solutions such as getting another one as a live companion or don’t have any mirror all.

If you own a budgie, you probably already know that it is typically recommended to spend as much time as possible with your budgie.

If you can’t due to work or other things going on in your life, then you should at least get your budgie a companion so they do not spend so much time alone. Some people think that getting a mirror would be a good idea, but unfortunately, it will do more harm than good.

5 Reasons Why You Should Not Give Your Budgie A Mirror!

Here are the reasons why giving your budgie a mirror is a bad idea and what you should do instead.

1. Your budgie might attack the mirror.

Budgies tend to be rather moody birds, so it is natural if your budgie thinks that the creature looking back at it in the mirror is another bird that it can interact with.

Unfortunately, your budgie is bound to get into fights with the new companion. During a moment of imagined play, your budgie might get into a disagreement with the mirror and get aggravated.

It might think that the bird looking back at it is a handsome male and will fight with it for dominance, for instance. This will naturally cause psychological stress for your budgie because it will not be able to realize that it is simply looking at a reflection of itself.

It might even feel that the budgie in the reflection is invading its private space and will feel the need to defend itself. There is no need to put this unnecessary stress on your budgie.

2. The budgie will attempt to feed the mirror.

Once again, budgies are very sociable creatures. Your budgie might see that the bird in the reflection is its friend or even its mate and will attempt to feed it.

This can lead to serious health issues because your budgie might feel the need to throw up its food constantly to feed its companion in the mirror.

When it sees that the budgie in the mirror has not accepted its offer of food, your budgie will then eat it again. When this happens, it will vomit the food up again, resulting in an unending cycle that will lead to serious throat irritation.

While you may think that this happening only a few times will not lead to any harm, your budgie is likely to turn this into a habit that will naturally not allow it to feed normally, causing it to lose weight and become sick.

This will eventually lead to throat irritation from consistent vomiting.

3. Your budgie can become obsessed with the mirror.

What may have seemed like a harmless form of enjoyment has now turned into an obsession. Your budgie might believe that the bird in the mirror’s reflection is its mate and will refuse to go anywhere without it.

It might refuse to come out of the cage or to spend time with its owner. This is especially dangerous because your budgie will not be able to get the social interaction or fresh air that it needs.

Whether it is a person or an animal, becoming unhealthily obsessed with something can lead to health issues, too. If the budgie thinks that the bird in the reflection is its mate, it may attempt to mate with it, which will obviously be unsuccessful.

Or, it will, once again, vomit up its food in order to feed its mate. This can again lead to severe weight loss, and refusing to spend time with a real companion (you as its owner, or anyone else who spends time with it) will also lead to psychological issues.

So, avoid putting a mirror in your budgie’s cage.

4. Your budgie can become more aggressive.

Your budgie might become more aggressive due to the mirror. While we have already covered the possibility of your budgie attacking the mirror itself, thinking that it is attacking another budgie, now we are referring to your budgie attacking you.

Your budgie will become very defensive of the other bird in the mirror.

Many people have found that, after giving their budgie a mirror, when they approach the mirror, the budgie will viciously attack and bite them.

The budgie will isolate itself from you and will become upset and aggressive if you attempt to come near it or take away its ‘companion.’ It is important to remember here that budgies are not naturally aggressive birds.

If your budgie suddenly becomes aggressive, then that means that something is not quite right. (I have written an entire article about that and if you are facing problems with sudden aggression, you should definitely read it here.)

Definitely do not allow your budgie near a mirror or reflective surface because it is likely to become more aggressive towards you, and it will become more withdrawn.

5. The mirror is breakable.

And finally, this is something that you may not have previously thought of, but it is important to consider if you were thinking about getting your budgie a mirror.

Birds naturally will not understand that mirrors are made of glass and are, therefore, breakable. Your budgie will likely jump on it, pick at it, and bite it.

If the mirror breaks, then your budgie could end up in pain- or worse. There are also mirrors not designed for birds which can have harmful chemicals on the backing, which will hurt your budgie when it pecks at the backing.

The mirror may become dislodged from where you put it, which could hurt your budgie if it falls, and of course, it may break if it falls as well.

Therefore, it is not a great idea to have a mirror in your budgie’s cage because it could pose a safety threat too.

What To Do Instead? The 3 Best Solutions

So now you may be thinking, what do I do? You have work, school, you have to spend time with the kids, you have to take care of your parents, etc. and barely have time for yourself.

Sometimes life’s responsibilities get in the way and do not allow you to spend the proper amount of time with your pet.

1. Be a human partner for your budgie

First things first, if you feel that you cannot allocate the proper amount of time to spend with your pet, whether it be a budgie or anything else, then it is best for you not to get one.

We know it sounds harsh but just like children, budgies and all pets require care and attention. Your budgie particularly depends on the help of a human if it is a single bird.

It is entirely possible to keep a lone budgie, but only if you know that you will be able to care for it and spend the necessary amount of time with it.

You have to feed it, take it out of its cage, allow it to socialize, and buy it the proper toys (we will come to that in a second). If you do not feel that you can do this, then don’t get a budgie, and especially do not get your budgie a mirror.

2. Get Other Toys – The obvious one

Obviously, getting other toys than mirrors totally makes sense as budgies are very playful and curious birds. There are tons of toys you can get for your budgie but just like mirrors, not all of the toys you can find online or in a pet store are suited for budgies.

We will show you below 15 toys that are awesome for budgies but we wanted to name the two best toys for smart birds like budgies right away:

2.1. Foraging Toys

Keeping your budgie happy also means keeping your budgie busy. And that does not only mean physically busy but also mentally busy – in a positive way!

As you already know, budgies are extremely intelligent and every intelligent creature needs (positive) mental challenges. Foraging toys offer exactly that.

You can fill them with treats your budgie loves most and your budgie will be busy figuring out how to get to the treats.

This foraging toy is an awesome example and it has the perfect size for budgies – have a look at it here!

2.2. Get a bird playground

Bird playgrounds offer a variety of things to do for your budgie. Chewing, climbing, and exploring – that is what your budgie needs and loves.

With all the ladders, swings, ropes and chewables, a bird playground provides all of these things, plus you can even make a playground more interesting by attaching some treats for your budgie like millet to the playground.

Besides that, you can use this playground not only outside of the cage. If you have a big birdcage and a rather shy budgie, you can even place this playground inside the cage. Some playgrounds can even be mounted to the cage top.

We recommend getting the following playgrounds:

The QBLEEV Bird Cage Play Stand

This a playground that can be mounted to the cage top which means that this playground is also suited for more shy budgies.

In fact, this can even help to tame and to calm down budgies that do not want to come out of their cage. A playground like this one – maybe even with a treat attached to it, often is too tempting even for a shy budgie.

It offers bells, ropes, swings, chewable toys, and shiny objects budgies love so much. Have a look at this playground here!

The Niteangel Natural Living Playground

We have already told you what makes those playgrounds so great, however, this playground takes it even further by promoting healthy budgie feet.

The playground is made of natural wood material which means that your budgie has a lot of branches with different diameters to climb and stand on. It features ropes, swings, and ladders – and there is enough space to add a bell and some treats!

Have a look at this playground here!

Offer a variety of toys

Budgies are incredibly smart birds and if they have to play with the same toy each and every day, they get bored. While that doesn’t mean that you have to get 100 toys for your budgie and switch them out hourly, you should definitely offer some variety from time to time.

We have created an article on toys that are perfectly suited for budgies.

They have the right size, they are non-toxic, they provide tons of fun, and there is no risk of any injuries due to sharp edges or something similar – believe it or not, a lot of pet toys are actually not really suited for pets.

Have a look at our article on the best 15 toys for budgies here!

However, there is another, better solution, that will allow you to take care of all the necessary responsibilities and that will allow you to have a budgie.

3. Get another budgie! Probably the best solution

It’s really that simple. You might not think that this will be effective, or you might think that this means more work for you.

But it really isn’t.

Budgies are sociable birds and enjoy having companions. Having a mirror will never compare to having a live companion.

Having a companion will allow your budgie to be healthy, happy, and develop the social skills it needs- just like it is important for you to socialize with your friends.

Did you know that budgies even grieve?

Your budgie will also not need to rely on you as much, because budgies are flock birds. If your budgie has a companion, they will spend their time together, and establish healthy habits that do not include vomiting up food or becoming obsessive.

If you ever happen to need to go on a trip, go to work, or take care of other business, you will not need to worry about what your budgie will do since it is alone.

Your budgie will naturally pay more attention to its companion than to you, which will also allow you to be able to leave it alone in peace.

As with any pet, you need to make sure that you are doing everything possible to keep your budgie happy and healthy.

While some may suggest that you get your budgie a mirror, this will do much more harm than good. When getting a budgie, always consider getting it a companion instead!

Here are a few ways you can stop (or at least decrease) the mess made by your favorite feathery friend:

1. Re-evaluate Your Cage

Owner-friendly features built into a cage can make all the difference in the amount of cleaning required. To minimize mess, consider upgrading to a cage with a few extra-helpful features.

• Keep an eye out for slanted bottom panels that are designed to help waste roll down into the bottom of the cage instead of onto your clean floor.
• Consider getting a cage with sliding metal trays at the bottom to catch waste or even a cage that attaches directly to the litter tray. Either of these features can make it much easier to keep the mess in until you are ready to clean it out.
• Find an extra-tall cage. Budgies prefer to perch at the tops of their cages, so be sure to put their food and water towards the bottom. The more space there is between where your bird eats and where he perches means less food is scattered and sent airborne when he flaps and flies around up above.
• Look for a cage with a built-in debris guard or seed skirt. A quality guard will have tight seams that keep even the smallest debris from making a mess on your floor.
• While a round cage may be whimsical and aesthetically appealing, if you want to use newspaper as a liner, you will never be able to get a perfect fit without trimming the paper just so, which can prove tricky and time-consuming. A rectangular or square cage may be a cleaner choice.

2. Aid with Add-ons

If you do not plan to invest in a new cage, there are plenty of items on the market that you can find to aid in your fight against the mess. Here are some simple things you can use in conjunction with your current cage to help diminish the debris — and your workload.

• Add on a seed catcher. They come in many varieties. You can find inexpensive nylon mesh netting to keep the mess in or plastic guards that resemble funnels to send the mess to one convenient spot. You can even make your own.
• Erecting three to four-inch panels around the bottom insides of the cage using acrylic or stainless steel is another successful way to keep the unwanted mess contained.
• Finding a mat that is easy to throw in the washing machine or wipe up may save your floors — and your sanity. If your bird likes to splash water around, find one that is made of absorbent material to keep water from being tracked around the house later.
• Add a perch that bolts on directly in the middle of the cage and does not extend to the sides. If your bird’s new favorite place to roost is away from the edges of his cage, he will likely keep all messes directly below him and off of your floors. If you want to know what kind of perches are best for budgies, have a look at our article on the best budgie perches here!

3. Clean Smarter, Not Harder

When it comes time to clean your bird’s cage, there are a few tips that savvy owners know that help to keep them from having to clean up after the cleanup.

• Use a mister before you pull out the newspaper. If you lightly spray the paper before you roll it up, all of the debris will stick to it, making it much easier to throw out while minimizing the mess.
• Stack the newspaper several sheets thick. Then you can peel off a couple of sheets at a time, exposing clean layers for your budgie just underneath.
• Keep a handheld vacuum close when you are cleaning out your budgie’s cage. It is a must-have item for people who find themselves constantly tracking tiny bird seeds throughout their house — the ones a broom would miss.
• Consider purchasing a robot vacuum if you can. Set it to clean your budgie’s room twice a day, and you will find yourself loving the low-maintenance life.
• If you know your birds are most active and “flappy” at certain times of day, try to clean just before they like to have their fun. Then maybe they will be less likely to spread their joy around the entire room.
• If you do have an unusually-shaped cage, spend one day a week pre-cutting sheets of newspaper so that they will be handy when you need them.
• Invest in an air purifier that is made specifically for rooms with pets; this will catch much of your bird’s airborne dander and will even cut down on any bird-related odors.

4. Change the Way He Eats

The bulk of your budgie’s mess probably comes from his food. Budgies typically throw hulls around and generally make a shambles of their cage during mealtime. Thankfully, there are a few ways to cut down on dining disasters.

• You can invest in a spill-proof feeder. These have chambers that your bird enters so that when they eat, the mess stays within the feeder instead of scattering around their cage — and your house.
• Consider purchasing a feeder that is geared towards separating the hulls from the seeds as your bird eats. This keeps your budgie from digging through his leftovers to get to his food, thereby eliminating him throwing food around his cage to find what he wants.
• Think about changing his food to pellets if his diet consists mostly of seeds. Not only are pellets less messy in general, but many bird experts assert that they are much healthier for budgies as well.
• Rethink your budgie’s treats. Bananas and strawberries are mushy and can easily be smeared all over his cage in the blink of an eye. If your budgie especially enjoys them, just be sure to wipe out the cage immediately after he is done so that the mess does not dry and harden, making more work for you later. If you want to know what treats are best for budgies, read our article on the 12 best budgie treats here!

Can I Potty Train My Budgie to Minimize Mess?

While some consider it extreme or even virtually impossible, if your bird’s mess has you desperate, potty training may be just the tactic for you to employ.

Step One – Observe Your Bird

First, for several days, observe your bird’s potty cues. What does he do just before he relieves himself? Does he crouch? Fluff up his feathers? Step backward?

Then write down when he is most likely to go to the bathroom throughout the day. It is typically just after he wakes up, immediately following mealtimes, and after exciting playtimes.

Step Two – Pick a Command

Choose something simple and easy to remember — a phrase that you feel comfortable saying in front of others or having your children repeat. “Go potty,” is a good choice.

While one person should be mostly responsible for your budgie’s potty training, it is important that everyone who may lend a hand use the same phrase.

Step Three – Pick a Potty Spot

While a tissue or paper towel may seem like a good idea, keep in mind that once your budgie associates that material with his “toilet,” he will most likely think any and every tissue or paper towel fits the bill. Therefore it is important that you pick something that is not so commonplace.

You may want to use the trash can, a newspaper (as long as you do not read one at the table each morning), or a specific spot in his cage.

Step Four – Time to Train

As soon as you recognize one of your budgie’s potty cues, immediately hold him over the designated potty spot and give the command. Praise him when he does go. Make sure to give him his favorite treat and plenty of affection afterward.

The treat should be something he only gets when he follows your potty command. Just like with potty training children, your bird will not get it overnight. It will take time and consistency.

Multiple repetitions over time may be required before he associates your command with his actions.

Step Five – Be Vigilant

Once your budgie seems trained, it is still always up to you to keep an eye on him and watch for cues. He may occasionally be too excited or distracted to remember to use his spot and require a friendly reminder.

If your budgie has been out of his cage for fifteen minutes without using his “toilet”, he may need you to help him recall where he is supposed to go to do his business.

Under the eye of a watchful owner, not only can an intelligent little budgie become potty trained, but a talkative one may even start giving himself the potty command!

Related Question

Why is My Budgie Losing So Many Feathers? The most likely reason for the loss of feathers is that your budgie is molting, a process that allows for budgies to lose their feathers gradually and replace them with fresh feathers. It should only last for two to three weeks.

Do cockatiels like swings? Cockatiels are known for liking swings, but it does not mean that all of them will be eager to start swinging. All birds have unique personalities. The only way to know for sure if your cockatiel will like having a swing is to purchase one and see how your bird responds to its new toy.

Read on to learn more about why cockatiels are known for loving swings, the best swings to buy your bird friend, and much more!

Why do cockatiels like swings?

No one is exactly sure why cockatiels love using a swing. Bird experts assume it is a combination of reasons that draw your bird to its favorite swaying toy.

It’s entertaining.

It is most plausible that your cockatiel loves to swing because it is fun. Think back to your childhood memories at the park swaying back and forth on a swing set. It is an entertaining and exhilarating experience, especially the higher you swing.

Birds are also capable of feeling this same sense of fun on a smaller scale.

It’s instinctual.

In the wild, birds fly into trees and perch atop branches that sway in the wind. It is assumed that cockatiels like swings because it is reminiscent of the motion of a tree branch rocking back and forth in nature.

It’s calming.

A swing can be exciting if it is moving with intensity. It can also be soothing if little force is applied. Gentle swaying helps relax cockatiels. It can also help your bird drift off to sleep, like a baby rocking in a crib.

The benefit of adding a swing to your bird’s cage

A swing is a good choice for adding fun to your cockatiels life, but underneath the entertainment lies a hidden benefit- exercise. The swaying is an excellent way for your cockatiel to work the muscles in its feet and legs.

The movement of the swing also helps your bird keep its chest muscles strong.

The motion of a swing is great for improving your cockatiel’s balance, which is important considering they spend lots of time standing on one leg while at rest.

The best swings to buy your cockatiel

Now that you know the reasons why cockatiels love and benefit from swings, it is time to purchase one. But, a quick internet search will unveil unlimited options for you to buy for your feathered friend.

If you are overwhelmed, do not fret. Listed below are top rated swings your cockatiel will be sure to love.

JW Pet Company Insight Sand Perch Swing Bird Toy

This swing is an excellent option for first-time buyers. It is simply designed so that your bird can quickly adjust to a new addition to the cage. It is also inexpensive, so if your cockatiel does not love swings it poses a minimal cost.

The JW Pet Company swing’s perch is crafted to have varied widths to resemble a branch your bird would use in the wild. This helps to prevent foot fatigue.

Also, the perch is molded with natural sand. It not only feels nice for your cockatiel but helps to naturally file your bird’s nails.

You can learn more about this swing here!

BWOGUE 5 Piece Bird Toys

If your cockatiel is very active, this is the product to buy. Each purchase contains 5 products. It comes with a traditional swing, that’s brightly colored with beads your cockatiel will love.

It also comes with a swinging platform that is sturdier than a traditional swing and gives your bird a different experience.

Additionally, you get 3 different hanging bell toys.

These toys are sturdy, colorful and made of pet friendly natural wood that’s safe for birds that enjoy chewing on their toys.

If this bundle of swings and toys sounds perfect to you, you can get it here!

Booda 1 Ring Swing-N-Feet Perch

If your bird likes simplicity and comfort, this non-traditional swing is an excellent option. This circular swing is colorful, sturdy, and machine washable.

Many customers who own this product say it has become their bird’s favorite place to perch inside the cage.

This swing is made of woven cables of cotton. It is soft and soothing on your cockatiel’s feet. It makes for a perfect spot to take a nap.

You can get this swing here!

What if my cockatiel doesn’t like its swing?

As previously mentioned, not all cockatiels love having a swing in its cage. However, there are steps you can take when introducing a new toy to your bird to help them learn to love it. Listed below are tips on introducing a new swing into your bird’s home.

Make sure your bird is comfortable.

If you recently adopted a cockatiel and are providing it with lots of new toys, you should probably tone it down when it comes to accessories. Birds are easily frightened when in a new environment.

It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to months for your bird to adjust to its new home. Until then, don’t overwhelm your bird with lots of big toys. Here are a few signs that your Cockatiel might not enjoy the new toy, or that something else is wrong with your bird:

• Is your Cockatiel shaking? Read this article to understand why!
• Is your Cockatiel hissing? THIS might be wrong with your bird!
• Is your Cocktiel puffed up? 5 Reasons for that

Familiarize your bird with its new toy.

When adding new, large toys like a swing into your bird’s cage, it can scare your bird. A slow adjustment is the best way to go for skittish cockatiels. First, hang the swing on the outside of the cage.

This way, your bird can learn this new item is not a threat without it being too overwhelming. When your bird seems comfortable around this new object, then add it to the inside of the cage.

Try a variety.

Introduce your cockatiel to a simple swing, so it is not overwhelmed. If your bird does not acclimate to the swing, you can try to purchase a different kind of swing that may be more appealing to your bird.

A swing that has bells or a place to stick some treats may be a better option. We also recommend reading our article about Cockatiels and shiny things – it will help you understand them better!

Further, you should give baby toys a try! Yes, parakeets and parrots can play with baby toys unless they contain toxic materials! We show you 8 bird-friendly examples here!

Accept your bird’s likes and dislikes.

If you have tried everything and still can’t get your cockatiel to like swings, don’t continue to force it. Cockatiels have wonderful, varying personalities. It may never like swings, and that is perfectly normal.

There is an endless amount of different toys for your bird to try. It may not love swings, but the perfect toy will be out there waiting to give your cockatiel hours of joy.

Related Questions

Do cockatiels like to be petted? Yes, cockatiels like being petted. These birds are known for being affectionate. Return that affection by rubbing your cockatiel on the head, paying lots of attention to the bird’s crest. They also enjoy gentle scratching on their red cheek patches.

What kind of treats do cockatiels like? Any pet store will have packaged treats for your cockatiel. They will be appropriately labeled and usually contain a blend of seed and dried fruit. If you would like to give your bird a fresh treat, opt for chopped greens, or small pieces of apple, mango or melon.

Every budgie and their playing habits are different, so the toys that one budgie likes does not necessarily mean that it will also be what another budgie will like. But we can narrow a list of common toys that budgies tend to like.

Try getting your budgie noisy toys, especially bells, toys that they can perform tricks on, such as swings and ladders, and a nice variety of fun and challenging toys that will keep your budgie busy for hours.

Once you decorate your budgie’s cage with some toys, your budgie will forever be grateful to you for this. Budgies love to play, and you will see that the toys you got will keep your budgie occupied for hours.

And if you engage in play with your budgie- or you get your budgie a companion friend- you will see how happy and delighted your budgie’s everyday life will become.

So, here is a list of 15 different types of toys that are great for budgies.

1. Swings

Budgie swings or hammocks are great toys for your pet budgies. You will find your budgie perched on the swing and swinging from it for hours. You might also see that your budgie will be hanging from its toy, too, which will also create a fun atmosphere for your pet.

You will want to make sure that the swing is a nice size for your budgie (or budgies), and that it is colored with safe dyes since your budgie will likely chew on it.

• This is a great option if you have a single budgie.
• And this is a great option if you have a group/ flock of budgies.

2. Ladders

Again, budgies absolutely love to climb. Another good option for your budgie is a ladder. Not only will this make them feel entertained, but it also will be a good way for your budgie to develop balance, and to be able to investigate and explore what is going on in its world.

Getting a colorful ladder that is safe for your budgie to chew on and play with will make your budgie feel entertained for hours.

• Here is a ladder that is highly rated.

3. Organic chewable wood

Something that all budgie owners find in common with their budgies- budgies absolutely love to chew on their toys. Everything. Wood is something in particular that budgies like to chew on.

So, when on the hunt for toys, you will want to choose some toys that have safe wood for your budgies. Some people like to get special sticks just made for chewing, and others like to get regular toys that have safe wood for their budgies to chew on as well.

• Pro tip: simply get a real bamboo tree. It is safe for budgies – they can climb, play, and chew on it! We show you what to keep in mind when getting a bamboo tree for your budgie here!

4. Bells

Budgies really like noisy objects, especially bells. A lot of budgie toys often incorporate bells into their design to make the experience even more delightful for budgies.

When getting your budgie a bell, always make sure to get the kinds with open bottoms, rather than the Christmas bells, because the latter can cause your budgie’s toe to get caught in its slits.

• If you want to get a bell for your budgie, we highly recommend to get this bell toy here. The materials do not contain any substances that could be bad for your budgie.

5. Balls

Another toy that budgies like to play with a lot are balls. They might enjoy rolling the balls around, exploring them, and chewing on their toy balls. This is why it is also important to make sure that any balls you get for your budgie are made from safe dyes.

Many budgie toys often have balls as a part of their set-up, so it ultimately depends on what you would like your budgie to play with and what you deem safe.

• Most budgie owners get their budgies rattan balls, such as these.

6. Chimes

Along with bells, chimes are also another great option to include in your budgie’s cage. Budgies will like to peck at their toy chimes just to hear the noise that will come from it.

You might think that this will inevitably drive your crazy, but many noisy toys for budgies are now quiet enough that you as the owner will not go crazy from how often your budgie will play with it but are also loud enough to ensure that your budgie will have a great time.

• Here is a good example of a chime that is safe and non-toxic.

7. Perches

Budgies enjoy standing on their perches in their cage and exploring the environment around them. In fact, you will most often find your budgie standing on its perch. The number of budgies you own will depend on how large the perch you get for them needs to be.

Once again, it is important that the perch you get is made from non-toxic materials in order to prevent anything bad from happening to your budgie when it chews on the perch.

• This perch in size medium is awesome for budgies. It is completely natural!

8. Ropes

Another toy that budgies really love are ropes, specifically spiral ropes. These types of ropes are soft enough to be safe for your budgie and are also made with non-toxic dyes so your budgie can chew on the rope, too.

Many often have a bell hanging at the bottom, which will keep your budgie entertained. Budgies like to uncoil and twist the rope for their own excitement and curiosity. This is a great option to keep your bird occupied for hours at a time!

• This is just one of many great options to choose from.

9. Shredding toys

Shredding toys is a normal behavior for budgies. They need to shred things in order to be happy and healthy. However, you do not even need to make a special trip to the store or order fun toys online in order to satisfy your budgie’s need.

Many people simply provide their budgies with newspapers or papers to shred.

10. Pinata

To go along with shredding toys, budgies will also enjoy pinatas. Not the kind you would have for your kids at their birthday parties, but ones made specifically for budgies to enjoy. Pinatas are especially good toys if your budgie over preens or chews on its feathers.

Get one that has safe dyes and is all-natural so that your budgie can safely chew on it.

• Here is one that has many good reviews.

11. Bird Playground

Much like your children enjoy playing on their playgrounds, your budgie will enjoy playing on its own playground, too. These are especially great if you have more than one budgie.

When you do a search of a budgie playground, many different types will come up, but we are referring to ones that look like playgrounds your children play on, featuring a ladder, swing, and perches.

• This is an example of what we are talking about.

12. Bird Kabob

Bird kabobs come in many different styles, but what they all have in common is that they are good toys for your budgies to chew on and, depending on what they are made of, to shred.

These are more so intended for your budgie to chew on, so be sure, as always, that the material is safe and non-toxic.

If you want to get a non-toxic bird kabob for your budgie, we recommend getting this one.

13. Plush toys

You can also get your budgie some small plush toys! These are soft and great ways to keep your budgie entertained. Your budgie will be curious to know what this toy is- especially if you give it a plush toy of another budgie- and will play with it for hours at a time.

Since plush toys are soft, your budgie won’t get hurt, either.

14. Rattles

Similar to how babies like to play with rattles, budgies do, too. Budgies like noisy toys, so rattles are just another opportunity for them to have something to poke at and make noise with.

As with the rest of the toys, rattles will induce curiosity in your bird and will keep it occupied for a long time.

15. Intelligence toys

By intelligence toys, we are referring to toys that will get your budgie to think and to develop its own intelligence skills. These are also great ways to help get rid of depression or other problems your budgie has and to create special bonding time between you and your budgie.

Some examples of these toys include basketball stands specifically designed for budgies, and throwing rings for budgies. These are especially good toys that you can use to teach your budgie how to do some tricks, and therefore, to wow your friends when they come to visit.

Things to Keep in Mind

As per usual, there are many things that you need to know before going out to purchase your budgie a toy.

The first thing that you need to know is that not every budgie will like every toy.

You might get your budgie a toy ball, only to find that it is not showing much interest in the toy. This is perfectly normal. Be sure to analyze your budgie’s playing patterns to see what kinds of toys would suit your budgie the best.

It is absolutely important, however, that you get your budgie at least some variety of toys.

Luckily, budgie toys are not too expensive. Without some variation of toys to play with, budgies will become sad and depressed and will end up suffering both mentally and physically.

Budgies love to play, and being in an environment where they are deprived of doing so is not good for them. This is important to consider especially if you haven’t yet gotten a budgie.

Keep in mind, though, that you don’t need to clutter the cage in order to have a happy budgie. Beside the perch and swing, budgies really only need to have about three toys in their cages at a time.

You can swap these toys out every once in a while to keep some variation in your budgie’s life. Also, do keep an eye on toys that are falling apart due to your budgie chewing away at them. You don’t want to keep these toys in their cages for much longer.

Budgie cages are pretty small, and budgies themselves are small creatures, so you don’t need to get overly large toys that will take up the entire space of the cage.

You don’t want to do so, either; what some larger birds like to play with, aren’t necessarily ideal toys for budgies.

Don’t get toys that will take up all of your budgie’s flying space, and don’t make the cage bottom all cluttered with toys, either. You’ll be surprised at how much one small toy will keep your budgie occupied.

Remember, budgie toys tend to have four different functions:

• swinging
• climbing
• chewing
• exploring

And the majority of budgie toys often satisfy several of these categories at once. Any toys that fall into these categories will be great for your budgie.

It is really, really important, however, that you remember that budgies like to chew on things. They like to chew on everything. So, no matter what toy you get it, your budgie is going to chew on it.

This could be fatal if you don’t pay attention to whether the toy you purchased for it was made with non-toxic and safe materials.

Otherwise, you could end up at the vet with your budgie- or much worse.

You also need to look out for small crevices that your budgie’s feet, legs, head, or wings could get stuck in because this could lead to suffocation or death due to stress.

When your budgie gets stuck and cannot get out, it is going to panic, which will cause this tiny creature stress and potentially lead to death. You also want to keep an eye out for sharp or pointed edges.

Overall, you don’t need to worry too much, especially if you got toys specifically intended for budgies. But it is good to keep these things in the back of your mind.

Can Budgies Play with Mirrors?

If you search online for toys that budgies will like, you will see that many websites will suggest that you get your budgie a mirror. But the consensus is divided on this issue.

Some budgie owners claim that their budgies love playing with mirrors. They love to see themselves in the mirror and believe that the bird looking back at them is a companion to play with. Some budgies do not have any trouble at all playing with mirrors and having a small “companion” to keep them company. Some owners claim that mirrors are especially great toys to get if you have one budgie.

However, there might be some negative consequences if you choose to get your budgie a mirror.

For one, your budgie might actually attack the mirror, which is not normal behavior for a typically non-aggressive animal. Your budgie might think that the bird in the reflection is trying to compete with it, for the attention of a female, for example, which will cause your budgie to attack it.

This will cause your budgie a great deal of psychological stress.

Or, your budgie could become obsessed with the mirror because it believes that the reflection is its mate. This means that your budgie might refuse to come out of its cage, refuse to have the mirror anywhere out of its site or cause your budgie to attempt to “mate” with its reflection.

And finally, you might find that your budgie is trying to feed the reflection in the mirror through regurgitating its food. This means that your budgie will end up throwing up its food constantly in order to feed the mirror.

Seeing that the reflection has not accepted its offer of food, your budgie will eat the food again, and this will cause a cycle. This could have serious side effects, including throat irritation, weight loss, and serious illness.

Ultimately, it depends on you and your budgie whether or not you decide to get your budgie a mirror. It seems that some budgies truly do enjoy having a mirrored companion, whereas others become aggressive and sick, and undergo psychological stress.

We do not recommend to get a mirror for a single budgie. Here is what you should do instead.

Tricks to Teach Your Budgie

One of the greatest and most delightful parts of giving your budgie toys is that you can teach your budgie tricks with these toys.

Not only will these create fun habits for your budgie, and not only will it surprise your friends and family when they visit, but teaching your budgie new tricks will help establish a special bond between you and your budgie.

You first want to make sure that your budgie has gotten used to the toys that you put in its cage before you start teaching it tricks. Do understand that, if you simply can’t teach your budgie tricks, this will have no negative impact on its health or your relationship.

Start small!

You will first want to start with easier tricks, the ones that probably won’t impress your friends, but will help your budgie get used to the idea of trying new things. A great trick to start with includes a stick.

• As your budgie is perched on your finger, get a stick and show it to your budgie (budgies might get scared if you shove the stick in its face at first, so simply show the stick to your budgie until it realizes that the stick is safe).
• Then, tap the stick gently on its beak, and use a command (this could be ‘peck the stick’).
• When your budgie bites the stick, you can go ahead and give it a treat.

Now, let’s look at some more tricks.

This next one involves a small skateboard, which you can get easily online or in a pet store.

• Gently move your budgie around some on the skateboard so it can get used to the unfamiliar motion.
• Then, once you see that your budgie has grown comfortable, try and position the budgie in such a way that it’s one foot will be on the ground, and the other will be on the skateboard.
• Your budgie will make an attempt to walk, which will cause it to, essentially, skateboard. You might find that this trick will take a while, so be patient.

• • Let your budgie crawl or hop through the opening through tempting it with a treat and using a special command.
  • Once you see that your budgie has grown comfortable with this trick, you can now move on to something larger; toilet paper rolls are perfect.
  • Place a treat at the other end of the roll and let your budgie crawl through it.

• If your budgie is standing on your finger, place it at the bottom of its ladder.
• Then, get a special treat and dangle it at the top of the ladder with your hand, and call your budgie using a special command, such as “up the ladder.”
• Your budgie will then climb all the way up the ladder and get the treat.
• You can enhance this trick by placing your budgie farther away from the ladder or introducing another component to the trick, such as a small slide.

There are tons of tricks you can choose from, but these were some of the easiest.

Bird Toys to Avoid

While most toys that are marketed towards birds are generally safe, there are some types of bird toys that you will want to avoid giving your budgie.

The first type is any toy that may fall on top of your budgie, particularly if it is a little heavy. Budgies are fragile creatures and getting squashed by a large toy can critically hurt them.

If you decide to get curtain hooks for your budgie, make sure that they are not made of metal. These can seriously hurt your budgie, and your budgie might get its head stuck in the toy, which could cause your budgie to suffocate.

Other than suffocation, a budgie that gets trapped could die of stress due to panicking.

When getting a toy for your budgie to chew on, make sure you read and research carefully about how safe the materials in the product are.

• Is it organic?
• Is it made of non-toxic materials?

Don’t let your budgie chew on any of your products that are made of leather and intended for use by people. Leather, particularly dyed leather, is harmful to budgies. You also need to make sure that any other product you purchase is made of non-toxic paint and is safe if ingested by your budgie.

If you get your budgie a rope toy or something similar that has fibers, avoid anything that has very small fibers so your budgie’s toes, legs, and other body parts do not get caught in it. Find rope that is thicker to prevent this from happening.

Jingle bells are great toys for a budgie, but if there are tiny crevices in them, this could cause your budgie to seriously get hurt. Try and find closed bells, or even cowbells, to prevent any possible danger.

Double check any swings, ladders, or other such toys that you get your budgie for any crevices in them. These can hurt your budgie’s toes.

Any toys that have pins, staples, or tacks that are easy to remove should also never be anywhere around your budgie. Budgies are naturally curious birds and will most definitely get hurt by one of these- especially should it decide to try and eat it.

Overall, you absolutely need to make sure that the toys you get will be safe for your budgie. This means no really small parts, any sharp parts, anything your budgie could get caught in, and anything containing paints or dyes that would be harmful if ingested.

You want to make sure that your budgie has fun, but not at the cost of its health.

Conclusion

Once again, budgies are incredibly playful birds that love social interaction and entertainment. They practically demand that you pay attention to them and that they have some sort of companion- whether human or bird- to be around.

These are important things that you must know when you decide to purchase a budgie.

Even if you have a lone budgie, getting your budgie some toys will keep it occupied for hours upon hours. You can establish some special bonding time by playing with the budgie and its toys yourself.

There are endless options for you to choose from as a budgie owner. Make sure that you follow safety guidelines and are in the know about what your budgie is doing at all times.

It is essential to keep your budgie happy and healthy, and knowing that your budgie is having fun will keep you happy as its owner, too.

Are dowel perches bad for birds? The answer is that it depends on how you use these perches for your pets. They are bad if you use only dowel perches of the same shape and size. When used in addition to other perches in the cage, these perches are not particularly harmful to the birds.

It is generally recommended to have multiple perches for your pet bird. Amateur bird owners might feel that the dowel perches that come with the cage that they buy are enough. The problem with dowel perches is that they are uniform in size across the perch.

This is harmful because when the birds perch on it, the claws always get the same diameter of the perch and the same amount of pressure.

The claws can get weak due to this and the bird can get the bumblefoot disease, too. As long as there are a variety of perches for the birds to use, a single dowel perch will usually do no harm.

How important are perches for your bird?

A bird is either in flight or on its feet. Hence, perches are used by the birds for resting, grooming, sleeping, and even for snacking. Birds in the wild get a lot of exercise climbing and hopping from branch to branch.

Birds raised in captivity as pets depend on their owners to give them the required exercise to keep their bones strong. And, believe it or not, perching is a form of exercise for birds.

Climbing on different perches and adjusting their feet on them gives their feet exercise and keeps their joints flexible and healthy. Lack of exercise can develop bone diseases such as arthritis and pressure sores. Incorrect perching can also cause bumblefoot infection.

It is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation on the foot which requires an antibiotic treatment under the supervision of an avian vet.

Thus, ensuring that your feathered pet has good perches is very important for its overall health.

Ideally, when birds have access to perches that offer a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and contours, it helps the birds give their feet some exercise by adjusting their claws differently over different perches.

Dowel perches for birds?

Dowel perches do come with their advantages, too. For one, they are usually free with the cage. Secondly, since they come with the cage, they are the perfect fit for the cage, easy to fix, easy to remove and clean.

The disadvantage of dowel perches is that they are very smooth and uniform in thickness. This makes them slippery and unsuitable for perching on for longer periods of time. A dowel perch provides uniform pressure every time your bird perches on it which can lead to pressure sores.

Thus, having only a dowel perch or multiple dowel perches of the same size is not recommended.

What other options do you have for perches?

You can find a variety of other perches such as pedicure perches, swing perches, mirror perches, rope perches, natural wood perches, metal perches, etc.

Natural wood perches are a very good option. They provide different thicknesses and textures.

They are also great for birds to chew on and keep themselves occupied.

Swing perches are also good to let them have a fun time as they swing while they perch. Most parrots simply love swings. In this article, we show you some awesome swings that won’t hurt your parrot!

Pedicure perches are good for keeping the nails and beak healthy.

Rope perches made from natural fibers are also a great option. We show you why rope perches are awesome for birds in this article. We also show you a few of our favorite rope perches there!

The idea is to have multiple perches in the cage. If you have a dowel perch, it is not necessarily a bad thing. You just need to ensure that your birds have access to a variety of perches in addition to the dowel perch.

Heat perches are perfect for birds that need a warmer climate. We were skeptical at first, but we found out that heated perches are safe and loved by most birds! Here is our article on heated perches!

How to repurpose dowel perches

If you have some dowel perches lying around that you don’t want to use because you got new perches for the birds, don’t throw them out. You can repurpose dowel perches in a variety of ways to make them usable. Here are a few tips.

• Let your birds have a dowel perch for some time and then replace it with another. Even with the disadvantages of a dowel perch, you can still let them have one as long as they have other options in the cage as well.
• If the dowel perches you have aren’t very thin, you can hammer them a little so that they are no longer smooth and uniform.
• If the perches are thin, you can cover them with fleece or cloth. Just make sure you use bird safe material and no-pill fleece. The soft cover over the perch will make it an ideal sleep perch for your birds.
• If you are feeling creative, a wooden dowel perch can also be cut up to make a ladder. Parakeets love ladders and it would be a great accessory for their cage.
• You can also give the dowels a different texture by taking sandpaper and rubbing it over the surface. Make sure you rinse the perch well before use and also check for any splinters.
• You can make slots on the surface of the dowel perch using a sharp knife and fix different perches into it to make a play stand for your bird.
• Perches need cleaning. So when you are doing the regular cleaning of the perches, you can use the dowel perches as a temporary arrangement. Just hang in the spare dowel perches so that the birds have something to perch on while you get the other set ready for them.

So, don’t entirely discard the dowel perches that come with the cage. Let the birdies use them as long as they have other perches for variety too. Having one dowel perch in a cage with 2-3 other options isn’t really a bad thing.

And if you really don’t want to use them, repurpose them!

Related Questions

What materials are bird perches safe? Natural wood such as pine, birch, ash, elm, apple, maple, balsa, walnut, basswood, etc. are good options if you are going for wooden perches. For rope perches, it is best to go for natural fibers such as cotton, sisal, and hemp. If using a metal perch, go for stainless steel since it is non-toxic, durable, and easy to maintain.

How do you remove bird poop from perches? Perches can be cleaned using a common dishwasher. Once all the poop residue is removed from the perches, make sure they are completely dry before you put them back in the cage. Spraying them with a disinfectant is also a good idea.

Are sand perches bad for birds? Sand perches are usually kept to keep in check the nail growth in birds. But when they are extremely abrasive, they can cause injuries. Also, the sand is glued to such perches using an adhesive. If the birds pick on them and the adhesive is toxic, it could be harmful to them. They could also ingest sand, which is not advisable.

I was confused initially and tried different plastic perch options. But with time, as the number of my pet birds grew along with my experience with them, now I know for sure that whether plastic perches are good or bad for my feathery friends.

So are plastic perches bad for budgies? Yes, plastic perches are bad for budgies. Though nowadays the majority of the cages come with smooth single dowel-types plastic perches, this kind of perches is not at all recommended for your budgies as the plastic perches often lead to deteriorating the condition of the feet of your budgies.

Perches play a crucial role in ensuring the good health of your budgies’ feet as well as making their world inside the cage an interesting one. Therefore, it’s important that when you bring home a pet bird, you choose the right kind of perches.

Plastic perches are surely not the ideal choice for your budgies as they fail to offer the comfort and amount of feet exercise that a budgie may require on a daily purpose. Let’s know in details about why plastic perches aren’t good for your budgies.

The Role of Perches and How Plastic Perches Fail to Fulfil the Purpose

Importance of Perches

To understand how bad plastic perches can be for your budgies, first you need to know the importance of them. Just as your budgies need a variety of foods and toys, they also need a variety of perches.

Birds being on their feet for 24/7, it’s important to pay attention to their quality of life and feet health. And that’s what perches do. They play a significant part in ensuring a better lifestyle for your feathery pet.

Perch offers great exercise to pet birds. Stretching between perches, climbing around them, maintaining their balance when the perches move, etc. not only help the pet birds utilize their energy and stay active all day long but also strengthen their muscles and ensure their health.

Remember, just like choosing the right cage, choosing the right perch shape, size, type and material is important for every bird owner. Just like toys, perches also help in allowing the pet bird to engage themselves in different play and manipulative behaviors.

And when it comes to plastic perches, then you must know certain facts.

Apart from helping the birds in standing on the perches, surveying the surroundings, sleeping or grooming themselves while on the perches, plastic perches don’t offer any health benefits; rather hamper the feet of the pet birds.

Disadvantages of Plastic Perches

It is always advised to avoid having round and smooth perches as they make it difficult for the budgies to hold on to the perches and also cause foot problems in the budgies. And plastic perches being smooth and round compared to the wooden and stone ones, cause the same issues.

Though nowadays plastic perches come in various designs, still, they fail to be the ideal perches for a healthy upbringing of pet birds. Below are the major disadvantages of plastic perches:

• Plastic perches being smooth, straight and roundish in shape, fails to offer the proper grip that the birds may need to stay active on the perches. Hence, the same type of plastic perches may lead to swelling and pain of the joints and sometimes even create bumblefoot which may then lead to an infection. Such feet conditions are extremely painful for the budgies and can even prove to be fatal if left untreated for long.
• Plastic perches being straight and long and of course being made with plastic, budgies can’t chew such perches. And even if they do, the consumed plastic may develop serious health issues over time, making the pet birds sick.
• Usually, the plastic perches that the majority of the cages come with are there primarily for the look good factor of the cage and not for the comfort and well-being of the budgies.
• Though plastic perches are very popular due to their durability and easy to clean factor, being made with acrylic or PVC material, they don’t offer the required comfort to the bird’s feet and also pose a threat to their health if chewed.
• Plastic perches tend to be slippery. Hence, in case you have a large bird, it fails to offer the needed traction to the bird’s feet for it to grip tightly to the perch.
• Many PVC perches have come up these days that are hard to scratch off. But there’s still the biggest drawback present which is the bird may literally fall or slip of the plastic perches.

Things to Consider When Opting for Perches

Choosing the wrong perches can hurt your bird’s feet as well as impact adversely on their overall health. Hence, depending on your budgies’ size, opt for big or small cages with different perching options and choose perches based on their material, size, placement, etc.

Irrespective of whether it’s a plastic perch or a wooden perch or a natural one, any perch that is too small or too large for the birds to grip can result in arthritis. Avoid opting for perch materials that are too rough or abrasive or too smooth and contains toxic materials such as plastic.

After all, uncomfortable budgies are unhappy birds. And as a bird owner, the last thing you want is to have unhappy birds facing discomforts under your watch.

Remember, all budgies are naturally very curious creatures. They need different comfortable and safe vantage points to keep an eye on what’s happening around and also for sleeping and resting.

Perches turn out to be such comfy yet safe vantage points for birds that not only help them to enjoy the best views but also encourage them to exercise and indulge in activities, which are necessary factors for the well-being and good health of budgies.

Hence, when buying a perch, it’s best to avoid opting for the plastic ones and consider the wooden ones or the ones made with ropes or simply the natural perches. Even the perches made with stones or sands have their own drawbacks.

We recommend reading the following articles. We show you which perches you can get, and which perches you should avoid there:

• The 5 best perches for budgies!
• Are rope perches good for parrots?
• Why parrots love swings!

Related Questions

Are swings good for budgies? The majority of budgies enjoy hanging out and swinging on a play swing. Budgies love swings that come with bells as they like to ring bells. Swings made with non-toxic rubber-like material are believed to be great for budgies as they are not only soft for their feet but fun to chew on or bite.

Are square wooden perches bad for budgies? Compared to plastic perches, wooden perches are always better and a wiser choice. But, square wooden perches are not as best as wooden perches which are round with uneven surface. Despite being made of wood, the square shape of the perches may hurt the feet and causes difficulty with gripping.

What kind of perches is ideal for budgies? Now there being available a variety of perches, it’s hard to say which one is ideal for budgies. But still, wooden perches that satisfy their chewing instincts, natural branches and rope perches that offer a completely different feel serve the purpose of a perch very well without causing any harm.

Why do parrots like bells so much? Parrots are intrigued by the moving parts of a bell and the noise they make captures the interest of the bird. The more noise a parrot can make, the more they love it. Musical toys are great for parrots, as it makes playtime unique and fun.

Bells are a wonderful way to stimulate the senses and happiness of your parrot, so keep on reading to discover how to make the most of bells inside your parrot’s home.

Let’s Look Closer At That

Most parrots love to make some noise. Some parrots use their musical toys such as the bells in their cave to get attention or make a statement. For instance, some owners report their birds reacting when they walk into the room.

One bird owner indicated that when she was giving her pet bird a treat, her other bird would see and start ringing his bell as if to say, “hey, look over here!”

Parrots are experts when it comes to noise. They have a sound for nearly all of their emotions and feelings, just as us humans do. For instance, parrots do laugh-but it is something they pick up on from their human companions.

They realize that humans really love it when they laugh and then do it to get attention, sometimes when they are being scolded for being bad. This is funny and a good example of parrots’ love of noise.

Laughing is just one of the many great things parrots do.

They sing when they feel happy, adding sounds they like to their songs like trills, whistles, gurgles and more.

They talk when they feel happy and relaxed.

They growl when they are upset or angry.

They are expressive, intelligent and use noise to get attention and communicate.

So, bells are a great tool to use for this. Bells are just one popular method by which parrots play and get our attention. You can also expect them to make use of rings, rattles or chimes as a way of making some noise and getting you to notice them.

They also love toys that feature bamboo as a means of generating some noise, music boxes that play when the bird presses a button or even containers filled with beans or plastic beads.

Stainless steel toys are a great addition to a parrot’s home. These toys are designed to withstand wear and tear so that your parrot is playing with them years after you buy them, even if he or she tends to be a bit aggressive in their play time.

What Other Toys Make Noise?

Bells are wonderful things to place inside your parrot’s home. They will just love the pleasant jingling sound and come back to it again and again. However, to encourage varied play and mental stimulation, consider these noisy toys for your parrot as you set up his or her home:

• Stainless steel musical bells
• Hanging metal “spoons” (These are safe chimes that are shaped like kitchen measuring spoons).
• “Snack” Bell-a bell that is encased by a ball with holes (sort of like a wiffle ball). Some pet owners place a small snack inside to help the bird forage for food and help him hear the lovely bell sound within.
• Chew toys that feature bells attached to bring fun and stimulation to the parrots’ need to chew and play
• Balls with small beads inside
• Rattles for birds
• “Babble Balls”-balls that allow your bird to hear a sound as they move the ball around.
• Swings with bells or other stuff that makes noise (Parrots absolutely love swings – we explain why you need to get a swing for your parrot in this article!)
• Baby toys! Yes, parrots can play with some baby toys and they do make sounds – when they throw them around! Here are 8 great baby toys, parrots are allowed to play with.

All of the toys above are available at your local pet store, or you can check your favorite online retailer for these toys. As with any parrot toy, be sure they are non-toxic, and be sure to change out toys often so parrots stay active and excited about their toys.

It also helps that you clean the toys, so they are free of any droppings or food debris that tends to occur in parrot homes.

Some bird owners we’ve seen attached musical baby toys to the inside of their cage. For instance, one owner we saw placed a music box inside that activated when her parrot pressed a button.

This is a nice way to stimulate parrots, but only do so if you are able to verify the toy is absolutely safe for birds-contains no toxic colors, will not harm the bird if he or she chews it, etc.

How To Choose A Safe Musical Toy/Bell

The best thing you can do when searching for a safe musical toy or bell for your parrot is to:

• Only buy from reputable brands
• Listen to what other bird owners had to say about the toy
• Read reviews and search for videos made by other owners
• Read the packaging to make sure the toy is completely appropriate and safe for your pet. (Non-toxic is the big keyword here).

If you hear many stories about a toy being dangerous or bad-e.g. Accidents in which parrots injured themselves on a toy or became tangled in a toy – pay attention.

These are real stories that likely made the owners afraid, and they are relaying them to others so they can be aware.

Do the following to make sure toys are safe:

• Get rid of any damaged bells or toys
• Do not buy cheap toys that your pet can easily destroy
• Cut any strings 2 inches or longer
• Rotate, and clean toys, discard any damaged ones

Related Questions

Why Do Parrots Chew on Wood?

Chewing on wood keeps parrots’ beaks in good shape. Wild parrots chew on branches, husks, leaves, and the like, often shredding them up into small pieces that they throw onto the ground. It is a form of enrichment, exercise, and healthy behavior.

Can A Bird Die from Being Scared?

A wild bird can die while flying, especially if it is an elderly bird. The wild contains many stressors that can affect a bird. Birds can die of exhaustion from being chased far too long or even being held for too long. His heart will give out after so long.

What Wood Is Safe for Parrots?

Some safe woods for parrots include apple, ash, beech, cactus, birch, dogwood, crabapple, elm, fir, larch, pine, willow, and poplar. Birds like to chew on this as a way of keeping their beaks in good shape.

In Summary

The answer to why do parrots like bells is not a hard one at all, and the reason they love them is that they are noisy and musical but also pleasant, therefore the best thing to do is find a good, sturdy bell for your parrot to enjoy day after day.

And of course, make sure to keep an eye on the bell so that any chain links, parts that are coming loose, or debris on the bell are taken care of so that playtime is always safe and fun.

Is bamboo safe for budgies? To keep budgies happy and healthy, fit their cage with perches and toys made of bamboo as bamboo is one of the safest woods for budgies. As long as it is not treated with pesticides, a bamboo branch with leaves attached is the perfect toy for a busy budgie that likes to chew and shred!

Many birdcages these days come with metal or plastic perches and toys which are not good for your budgies. Instead, you can have them replaced by perches made of natural wood, and bamboo is a great replacement option.

Bamboo is safe for birds

While common sense might say that wood of trees with edible fruit, or those that wild birds perch on is ok to use in birdcages, the truth is many aren’t.

Bamboo, on the other hand, is safe for wild and pet birds to sit on, chew on and generally wreak havoc on.

If you’re getting a bamboo perch for your budgies’ cage, opt for a natural branch that has grooves and use more than one of different thickness and place them at different heights as this mimics nature closely.

Perches of varying thickness allow birds to distribute their weight, prevent thinning of scales on the toes, arthritis, and other illnesses.

However, avoid using bamboo wood that has been treated with pesticides or other such chemicals that could potentially be hazardous to your bird’s life.

What to keep in mind when using a whole bamboo tree

Trees given fertilizer for strictly nutritional value are safe, but those trees that were given fertilizers with added fungicides or insecticides should be avoided.

Thorough cleaning is advised if…

If you’re purchasing a bamboo perch from a pet supply store, you don’t need to worry about cleaning the wood, but if you’re sourcing it yourself, you must clean it well.

Bamboo in North America is mostly free of rot and diseases and can be used in budgie cages safely, but it’s always a good idea to clean it before an industrious budgie gets to work shredding it.

Bamboo types that could be dangerous for budgies

Please note, certain types of bamboo are unsuitable for budgies. In fact, these plants are known as bamboo but are not actually bamboo trees. Lucky bamboo, heavenly bamboo, and Japanese Knotweed can make birds sick or even prove deadly.

Bamboo is easily available

Since bamboo is fairly common in Asia, Central America, Mexico, and the southeastern USA and Australia, people living in or near these areas should not face any difficulty in getting bamboo perches.

You could always ask family and friends to look around their neighborhood for some fresh bamboo sticks.

Many garden stores also carry bamboo that you can purchase and modify for a birdcage by trimming it, cleaning it and roughing it up a bit.

Bamboo is easy to care for

If you’ve bought your budgie a bamboo perch from a pet supply store, it should be ready for immediate placement in the cage.

However, for bamboo branches you have sourced yourself from bamboo tree patches or a plant nursery, give them a good cleaning with boiling water and a soft brush.

Allow drying in the sun or in the oven for 10 – 20 minutes (keep an eye on it throughout!) before fixing it in the cage.

If the perch becomes soiled, simply remove it and clean with hot water and a soft brush before allowing it to dry and putting it back in the cage.

Bamboo keeps budgies busy

Unlike woods like Balsa, which is safe for birds but so soft a small parrot chew through it in a matter of days, bamboo is soft enough to give your bird a sense of accomplishment after chewing through it, yet hard enough to make your budgie work for the accomplishment.

The bamboo wood and leaves may provide some measure of nutritional value to your budgie, but it should never be used as a replacement for proper bird food.

Bamboo is easily customized

Getting a bamboo branch for a birdcage is not difficult and because it is a softer wood, you can easily trim it to the size desired yourself.

Since bamboo is a smooth wood and most branches budgies sit on in the wild are rough, you can roughen the branch a bit with sandpaper so your bird can get a firmer grip on the branch.

A general rule for bird perches is to have them of a diameter that allows a bird to curl its toes 2/3 of the way around it. For a budgie, that diameter is approximately 1 – 3 cm.

Since bamboo branches will mostly be of uniform thickness throughout you might want to place two, maybe even three if cage size allows, perches of different diameters so your budgie has the option of moving from one to other.

Remember, narrow perches can result in atrophied feet and wide perches will result in birds feeling uncomfortable and unsafe as they will not be able to balance well on them.

Which woods are unsafe for budgies?

Not all woods that produce edible fruits and flowers are safe for use in a budgie’s cage. These could include certain fruit and nut trees. For example, a budgie may love eating mangoes, but placing mango wood or leaves in the cage can cause serious harm to it.

What other types of perches can you have?

Since bamboo wood perches will be smoother than other natural perches, it is a good idea to have a couple of other perches made of different natural materials placed in the cage and outside if your budgie is allowed out of the cage.

Concrete, sand, cuttlebone and other wood branches are always a good idea. When needed, use hot water and wire brushes to clean all but the cuttlefish perch. Allow them to dry well before refitting.

Not only do they provide a variety of textures for your budgie, but they’re also important in keeping nails trimmed and beaks polished. In the case of the cuttlefish perches, they provide extra nutrients that are important for the bird’s health.

Additionally, we recommend reading the following articles:

• Are plastic perches bad for budgies?
• The 5 best perches for budgies!
• 4 Reasons why cuttlebones are crucial for pet birds!
• Are heated perches safe for birds?

Related questions

Do I have to keep more than one budgie? Ideally, yes. Budgies are social creatures that like being around their own and their human. Keeping just one budgie could mean dealing with a bored bird that’ll either get up to mischief, mope or in extreme cases, pull out its feathers.

What is the ideal cage size for budgies? If you plan on keeping your budgies caged most of the time, make the space large enough for them to fly across the width, but if you plan on letting them out for long periods of time the cage could be a bit smaller. Either way, make sure your bird has space enough to move around without pooping on other things in the cage.

How many perches should a cockatiel have? Ideally, you should provide about 3-4 perches to take care of various needs of a cockatiel. A cockatiel’s cage should be a place that is not only comfortable for it but also provides some means of entertainment to your feathered pet.

Perches don’t just look good and allow for a place for the tiels to rest on. There are several other purposes of having multiple perches in the cage. And with so many different perches available across pet stores, your pet birdie will be spoilt for choice!

And once you, too, get to know about how useful can these perches be, I bet you won’t be able to stop at just one.

Why are perches important for your pet cockatiel?

Birds are usually in flight or on their feet. In the wild, they have access to branches of different sizes. A bird in captivity, such as a cockatiel that does not fly too much, is almost always on its feet. Hence, whether it is resting, grooming, sleeping or eating, it needs to perch.

And thus, it makes sense to provide it with some variety in perches right in its cage.

Also, it is important to note that a bird’s feet need exercise to keep its bones healthy. Adjusting their feet on perches of different contours and widths can give their joints the much-needed exercise and keep them flexible.

And incorrect perching can be harmful to a cockatiel since it can cause severe foot problems.

Different types of perches

Let us take a look at some of the different types of perches available:

Plain dowel perches

These are the perches that are usually included by default with a cage when you buy one from the pet store. But don’t be fooled into thinking that they will be enough for your pet cockatiel. In fact, they are usually the worst kinds of perches and provide almost no value to your tiel.

We show you how you can repurpose your dowel perches in this article!

Pedicure perches

While in the wild, birds spend a lot of time climbing over branches and rocks, their nails are kept in check. But with birds in captivity, the nails can quickly grow making it difficult, and even impossible, to make them perch on your hand.

A pedicure perch (also known as a cement perch or a grooming perch) has a rough texture so that the nail length is kept in check due to surface friction. These perches are made from bonded sand or concrete to give.

Your cockatiel might still need nail trimming, but the frequency will reduce if you invest in a pedicure perch. Still, you should be careful when buying sand perches. We show you why here!

Rope perches

The thing about rope perches is that they are very flexible. They also come in different lengths and widths. The rope perches have a wire at their core which can be bent to adjust according to the place in the cage you want to put it.

It can also be comfortably moved around in the cage and its length can be varied according to requirement. We think that rope perches are awesome for birds – and our birbs agree with us! We show you some amazing rope perches here!

Natural wood perches

These perches, as the name suggests, are made from natural wood. They are not just good for perching, your cockatiel can have a good time chewing on them, too.

You can also hang native tree branches as perches in the cage. Most pet stores have natural wooden perches or climbing frames that you can use.

Swing perches

These perches are in the form of a swing. So, the cockatiel can have a good time swinging and playing while it perches.

In this article, we explain why swings are so awesome for Cockatiels! Trust us when we say that there is no bird in the world who doesn’t love swings!

How to choose a perch?

Choosing a perch is not exactly difficult. You just need to remember to go for different types of textures and materials, shapes and sizes, so that your cockatiel has variety. But before you choose the perches, make sure the cage in which you house your pet is large enough.

The ideal size of a cage for one cockatiel is one that is 24 inches in height, length, and width. Once you have a cage at least this big, you can easily accommodate 3-4 perches of different kinds without getting the space inside too crowded.

Size considerations:

Apart from the different types of perches, you should also mind the perch width. A perch that is too small in width might do more harm than good.

If the diameter of the perch is too less, when the bird uses its claws to grip the perch, its nails might touch the other part of the foot causing injury. A perch should be between 3.25 to 4 inches at the very least for a cockatiel.

Fixing the perches:

Instead of going for perches that are a permanent fixture, go for ones that can be affixed to the cage using a nut and bolt. This way, you can change perches or move them around as required quite easily.

What to avoid in a perch?

As stated above, you should avoid a perch that is too small in diameter. Also, be wary of colored perches. Cockatiels chew on the perches. Hence, go for non-colored perches only, or go for perches that use approved, non-toxic, bird-friendly colors only.

Similarly, avoid perches that are covered in plastic or sandpaper. The sandpaper might be too abrasive for the cockatiel’s feet and beak. The plastic covering on the perches might peel off as it gets older and the bird might nibble at it leading to more problems.

Avoid overcrowding the cage space with too many perches since it will reduce the space that the bird needs to properly stretch its wings.

Perch height and introducing a new perch

A high perch is viewed as a safe place in the world of birds. Hence, if a new cockatiel is introduced to a variety of perches, chances are it will go for the highest perch by default. In order to encourage using a variety of perches, here’s a good idea.

Have 2-3 perches at mid-level height in the cage and let the cockatiel get used to it. Then, once it has already got accustomed to all the perches, introduce a new perch higher up.

This way, even though it will immediately try out the new perch, it won’t abandon the old perches completely.

Related Questions

Should cockatiels be kept in pairs? Cockatiels aren’t solitary creatures; they need company. Hence, it would be a good idea to keep yours with a companion. The pair can be of different sexes. If you are keeping more than two birds, either sex should be fine.

Do cockatiels know their owner? Cockatiels are friendly birds who can be easily tamed. They come to recognize their owners quickly. If a cockatiel is made to live without a partner, it sees its owner as its mate and would want to always be close to them.

Can female cockatiels lay eggs without male? Yes. Female cockatiels can lay eggs even if they have not mated with a male. However, these eggs do not hatch and do not contain babies. It should be discouraged, though, since it depletes the female of essential nutrients.