The English Budgie is a small and fluffy-feathered variety of the Native Austrian Budgerigar.
Selective breeding in England back in the 19th and 20th centuries has resulted in the evolved versions that are commonly kept as pets.
In the USA and across Europe the English Budgie is now a popular pet choice.
They’re slightly larger than their Australiana and the American budgie and are often shown at pet shows.
They have a calm and laid back nature that makes them great pets. They also look adorable with their mass of colored plumage.
Scientific Name
If you want to impress your friends then you can tell them that the English Budgies scientific name is Melopsittacus undulatus (bonus points if you pronounce it correctly).
Characteristics
These little birds may be small but that doesn’t stop them from having big personalities.
They are inquisitive, curious and like to stick their beak into everything.
Although they’re known for their never-ending supply of energy, the English Budgie is a little more docile and not quite as noisy as some of the other species of the budgie.
All those bird shows have paid off and the result is a cute bird with a friendly and tame nature.
Common Behavior
Your English Budgie is bursting full of energy and therefore needs lots of space to burn it off.
It’s normal for your budgie to grind their beak during their nap, preen and fluff their feathers to maintain their appearance.
They also chew on things to keep their continuously growing beaks trim.
They’re smart little birds who are capable of learning an impressive amount of words.
With some time and patience, you can teach your budgie to mimic words, sentences and perform tricks.
As long as they have enough space to swing, hop and perch then they’re likely to be a very happy and content feathered-friend.
See Also: Rainbow Lorikeet: The Most Beautiful Companion Bird Ever
Size and Appearance
These inquisitive birds come in many colors and a varying amount of plumage.
Some English budgies have so much plumage on their heads that they look like their eyesight is affected.
Don’t worry, as your fluffy friend can see just fine.
Size
The budgie is one of the smaller members of the bird world.
Although still small in stature the English Budgie is actually one of the largest species of budgies.
At 10 inches long and weighing up to 65.3 grams they’re double the weight of a wild budgie.
With their bulky(ish) stature it’s easy to understand why they prefer to explore on foot over flying.
Appearance
The original Australian budgie may be yellow and green but The English Budgie has been bred to be far more colorful.
There are now around 30 color mutations, including blue, white, olive, gray and violet.
Their fluffy-feathered appearance can fool their owners into believing they’re overweight.
They usually aren’t, this is just the downside of being a fluffball.
Care Guide
So, you’re thinking about buying an English Budgie but you aren’t sure what you need to get to prepare for them?
When adding a feathered-friend to the family then lots of things need to be considered.
Do you have room for an enclosure? Do you know what to feed them? Will the neighbors get mad by the noise?
Enclosure Size
These active birds need a sizable cage so that they have plenty of room to stretch their legs.
You should make sure that their enclosure size is at least 40L x 20D x 32H.
If you’re planning on purchasing more than one budgie than you should make sure the enclosure is big enough for them all.
Room Temperature
The room temperature should remain between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit and it should never go below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Budgie’s small size means that they are dramatically affected by heat which can cause heatstroke and hypothermia.
Make sure that the room temperature isn’t dramatically changed within any given 24 hour period.
Enclosure Cleaning
The enclosure should be given a weekly clean.
The bottom tray should be removed from the cage and soaked in hot and soapy water.
It’s also important that bowls, toys, and perches are given a good clean too and are replaced if needed.
Bathing
Looking at their best is important to English Budgies, so you should offer then 3-4 baths a week.
A shallows basin of water is all that’s needed to keep your budgie’s feathers clean and sparking. Most budgies will choose to clean themselves so all you’ll have to do is replace the water.
If you have a particularly lazy budgie then you can use a spray bottle to clean them yourself.
See Also: Green Cheeked Conure Fact Sheet & Bird Profile (Must Read!)
Diet
They need a well-balanced diet containing seed mix, whole grain bread, green veg, pasta, and pellets.
It’s important to feed your budgie the calcium supplement cuttlebone to keep their beaks healthy and strong.
Toys
Make sure that the enclosure includes plenty of wooden perches, a swing, and some interesting toys.
They especially like beaded-type toys.
It’s advisable to change the toys around regularly so that your budgie doesn’t grow bored of them.
Their nails and beaks are constantly growing, so the right toys can also help keep these nice and trim.
Possible Health Issues
Sometimes diseases just happen, regardless of how often you clean your budgies enclosure to provide them with fresh basins to bathe in.
Diseases are an unavoidable fact of life that affects us all.
The most common diseases for English Budgie are yeast infections.
Symptoms to look out for are vomiting, loss of weight, acting lethargic and loose droppings.
If you think your budgie is ill then it’s important you seek immediate help from a vet. Also, it’s vital to make sure that you purchase your budgie from a reputable breeder.
See Also: Beautiful Birds: Top 25 Most Beautiful Birds In The World
FAQs – The Short Answer
Do you still have lots of questions about these inquisitive, colorful feathered friends? Don’t worry, I’m going to answer the most frequently asked questions.
Your head will be full of amazing English Budgie facts in no time!
Question 1 – Do English Budgies Like Being Alone?
Like most species of parrots and parakeets, the English Budgie is very sociable and can get lonely if they don’t have much company.
If you feel that your budgie would be happier with a friend then you can house a male or a female together or a group of males.
It’s not recommended to have more than one female, as they can be aggressive towards each other.
Question 2 – How Long Do They Live For?
Inbreeding means that the English Budgie has a shorter lifespan than standard budgies.
The average lifespan is 5-10 years, although in some cases they can live for up to 12 years.
Question 3 – How Much Do They Cost?
These colorful feathered friends are a little pricier than standard budgies. Buying one will set you back around $60.
They’re affordable to keep as their food and toys aren’t very expensive. The priciest item will be their enclosure which should last them for their lifetime.
Question 4 – What is the Difference Between an English Budgie and a Standard Budgie?
The English Budgie is larger than the standard budgie.
They have far fluffier and have more distinctive markings.
English Budgies are known for their sweet and laid back nature, while standard budgies are less likely to exhibit this personality trait.
Question 5 – Can English Budgies and Standard Budgies Live Together?
Yes, they can. There’s no reason why English Budgies and regular budgies can’t live in harmony together.
Don’t put females in the same cage though, unless you want extra squabbles.
Question 6 – Are They Affectionate?
English Budgies love receiving your attention. They want to learn new tricks and mimic words.
If it’s cuddling you’re after then the budgie may not be the bird for you. They don’t like being petted anywhere but their heads.
If you decide to stroke them anywhere else then be careful as you could end up being pecked by a disgruntled bird.
Question 7 – Do They Make Good Pets?
These show birds are used to being in the limelight, therefore they are generally known for their calm temperament. They also aren’t as noisy as regular budgies.
They don’t require a lot of flying time, they are good with children and they can learn tricks quite quickly.
They are also cheaper to purchase and less expensive to keep than some larger species of birds.
When you combine all of these factors then it’s clear to see that the answer is yes, English Budgies make excellent pets.
An Overview to the English Budgie
I hope that you now know everything that you need to know about this colorful, inquisitive little bird with a “big” personality.
With then around there will be plenty of word-mimicking fun, trick learning, perching, hopping and feather-washing.
