Budgies at CPUK have been exposed to PBFD (circovirus) and French Moult (polyomavirus)
This may mean that their immunity and lifespan is reduced, comparatively to budgies who have not been exposed to these infectious avian viruses.
It also means that there is a risk of infection to other birds in a home.
The only clinically proven way to manage circovirus is a specific dilution of F10 avian disinfectant (10ml to 1 litre of water) so we strongly advise adopters purchase this concentrate (we get ours from Meadows Animal Healthcare)

Budgie’s can live for up to 15 years
It is important that the next home a budgie up for adoption finds itself in is one that has every likelihood of being a long-term situation that will end the disruptive cycle of life they have experienced so far.

Budgie’s aren’t cheap or easy
You should also be committed to ensuring that your new budgie receives an annual veterinary check-up and that you have allocated a sufficient monthly budget to adequately provide for the feeding, housing and enrichment. Budgies have traditionally been considered `cheap' pets in terms of their regular needs but it is essential to realise that this is not the case.

Budgies require environmental adaptations
For house-based budgies, you will need to stop using (completely) any non-stick items, including air-fryers, and replace these with glass and/or stainless steel. Diffuser sticks, perfume, plug-ins and bug sprays cannot be used, in any room. Smoking and vaping must never happen in the house. Budgies have extremely sensitive respiratory systems and exposing them to any of these things is likely to cause serious ill-health and potentially death.

They need safe and secure free-flight time (outside of their cage) every day, for at least 3-4 hours.

Some budgies may exhibit phobias or have an anxious nature. Such budgies may find it difficult to be integrated into a home that is constantly `active' and has children and/or other large pets regularly moving around where the bird may potentially be housed. With that in mind, take time to consider your environment and lifestyle, and how this will prove to be a safe one for your budgie(s).

‘Taming’ a budgie can take several months to years

Budgies, being prey animals, have a powerful instinctual defence response to keep themselves alive. This means that (in most cases - not all, but the majority) it takes many months/years for them to be 'tame' as we wish them to be. Also, 'tame' isn't always what we see on social media. You may get to a point where your birds land on you but won't be happy around hands/being kissed on the beak.

There are things we can do as big, scary creatures (in their eyes) that help:

• Being around them and getting on with various things so that they become used to your presence/noises/scent.

• Reading to them, so they become used to your voice.

• Moving very slowly when changing water/drinking vessels and cleaning their cage.

• Holding millet while you're next to their cage (not giving this to them at any other time, so it's only associated with you). They have great eyesight and respiratory systems, so they'll notice that you have it.

Budgies have very individual characters, so respecting their space and being guided by them is the very best thing we can do. Dealing with the impatience and desire to hold them (albeit hard) is the right way to go. Remember that the kind of 'tame' we get is not dissimilar to the kind of character we as humans have.