Budgerigars and humans
Budgies in Captivity
Budgerigars or parakeets have been bred in captivity since the 1850s. Certain budgies are bred for show, and they are often referred to as English or show budgies. Show budgerigars can be up to twice as large as their counterparts in the wild, and their heads are exceptionally puffy and fluffy. As a result, their beaks and eyes are almost totally covered.
As social animals, budgies need to be stimulated in order to stay happy and healthy in captivity. Humans who can’t be around all the time should consider buying budgerigars in pairs. However, keeping several female budgies in a single cage is not a good idea because fights often ensue. In captivity, budgies can often be taught to mimic certain words. Male parakeets that are kept alone tend to perform the best.