Budgerigar

Melopsittacus undulatus · Psittaculidae

The most-bred parrot on earth, and still the best genetics teacher in the birdroom.

Native range: Arid inland Australia

Length: 18–20 cm
Weight: 30–40 g (exhibition birds 50–60 g)
Lifespan: 6–12 years
Maturity: 6–12 months
Incubation: 18 days
Clutch: 4–6 eggs
Ring size: 4.0 mm
Fledge: 30–35 days
Weaned: 6–8 weeks
CITES: Appendix NC
IUCN: LC
Taxonomic family: Psittaculidae

Diet

Small-seed mix or budgie pellets, millet sprays as a treat rather than a staple, plus greens and cuttlebone. Iodine deficiency is common where no mineral block is offered.

Housing

120 × 60 × 90 cm minimum for a pair; colony breeding works in a flight of 2 m or more with more boxes than pairs. Bar spacing 12 mm.

Temperament

Sociable and colony-tolerant, which makes them the easiest species to breed at scale. Hens are the aggressive sex over nest sites.

Breeding

Almost too easy. Continuous availability of boxes leads to hens laying year-round; enforce a rest of three months minimum.

Established mutations

Lutino / Ino (sex-linked)

Opaline (sex-linked)

Cinnamon (sex-linked)

Blue series (recessive)

Recessive pied

Spangle (dominant)

Watch for

–Scaly face mite around the cere and beak

–Iodine deficiency without a mineral block

–French moult in nestlings

–Tumours in older birds, particularly the kidneys

Exhibition budgies and pet-type budgies are effectively different animals in size and lifespan. Do not use exhibition weights as a guide for a pet-type bird.

Sources

Run a pairing for this species Work out hatch dates Check the ring size

All twelve at a glance

Jump to another species

Species	Incubation	Ring	Clutch	Lifespan
CockatielNymphicus hollandicus	19 d	5.5 mm	4–6	15–25 years
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus	18 d	4.0 mm	4–6	6–12 years
Peach-faced LovebirdAgapornis roseicollis	23 d	4.5 mm	4–6	10–15 years
Green-cheeked ConurePyrrhura molinae	24 d	5.5 mm	4–6	20–30 years
Indian RingneckPsittacula krameri	23 d	7.0 mm	3–5	25–35 years
Gouldian FinchChloebia gouldiae	14 d	Not recorded	4–8	5–8 years
Quaker / Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachus	24 d	6.0 mm	4–6	20–30 years
Bourke's ParakeetNeopsephotus bourkii	18 d	4.0 mm	3–6	10–15 years
EclectusEclectus roratus	28 d	Not recorded	2	30–50 years
Sun ConureAratinga solstitialis	25 d	7.0 mm	3–5	20–30 years
African GreyPsittacus erithacus	28 d	11.0 mm	2–4	40–60 years
Blue & Gold MacawAra ararauna	27 d	14.0 mm	2–3	50–70 years

All 94 species, with the dates scheduled against your own birds.

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