What birds do we breed?

Budgies!

Budgerigars!

Budgerigars, often incorrectly referred exclusively as "Parakeets" in the United States, are native to Australia. Due to their small size and a variety of colour mutations, they have become a popular pet globally. It is estimated that these parrots live between 7 to 12 years on average. Their outgoing nature and dedication to their flock make them excellent house pets you can just watch all day!

I have raised these birds for many years, and I always say "A house is not a home with budgies." These birds thrive in a flock of multiple birds and they will add music and life to your home. In spite of their small size, they tend to be fearless and wind up getting in trouble, so they will keep you on your toes for sure!

These birds tend to be very independent and have a lot of personality. They are truly very active parrots and they love to stay busy. I see them act out their own soap operas with their friends by taking on many different roles throughout the day. I jest, but they are pretty funny and cute, and sometimes annoying in the ways they conduct themselves socially.

Due to their size and vibrant colours, they are easy targets for predators; and thus they have evolved to become more proactive and reliant on their peers for survival. In captivity, these birds bond strongly with humans, inanimate objects, their own kind and other animals, but generally accept physical affection from other birds only. That doesn't mean they won't show love to you, because they will. They may not be receptive to cuddles, but they will happily sing and dance to their human caregivers, shower them with kisses. They are content hanging out on our shoulders or anywhere close to us.

Budgies are sexually dimorphic, as in, males and females can be visually sexed by the distinct coloration of their ceres throughout their life stages. They grow into sexual maturity by 10 months of age, but I advice to not breed them prior to being a year old.

These birds have high metabolism so they need a lot of energy from their foods. They thrive on diet containing high quality seeds, pellets, produce, legumes, herbs, flowers and leaves.

In the pet trade, they generally come in two different kinds as shown below!

The 2 Main Types of Budgerigars

At Rashu's Bird Palace, we breed both kinds!

The Pet Type Budgerigar

They are the typical small sized budgies you will see everywhere. These birds are generally slightly bigger than their wild cousins (Bush Budgerigars) and appear in many combinations of colour mutations. They are often incorrectly called "American Parakeets" in the United States only, so you may be familiar with that name. This variety is generally more affordable due to their size and availability.

The Exhibition or Show Type Budgerigar

This variety is significantly larger in size with exaggerated feather features and length, and were bred for bird shows. They are often incorrectly called "English Budgies" so you may be familiar with that name. They've made their way into homes as pets as well. These birds were bred specifically to be bigger in size and fit Exhibition standards. For that reason, they are generally more difficult to find in variety of colour mutations. They are also priced significantly higher than pet types in general. Personality wise, they're not much different from pet type budgies, but they tend to be a little more laid back. Consider them gentle giants of their species!

Visual Comparison

On the left we have a show type budgerigar baby with elongated mask and larger body size. On the right we have a pet type budgerigar baby who is smaller and resembles the budgerigars you're likely to see in pet stores.