Ask Lafeber

Budgie Male or Female

Hi, would one be better with children than the other?

Hi,

Male budgies tend to make better companions. However, each bird has its own personality so you never know what the bird will be like. As for children, a bird is not a good pet for kids in general. Younger children do not understand why the bird might not want to be handled, or bites or doesn’t do what they want it to. Pet birds are not like a cat or dog. Depending on the child, an older child such as a tween or older can be a good bird owner. But the child needs to have a real interest, and needs to understand that a bird can’t be trained the way a dog can, for example. A bird might never talk so never get one because you want it to talk. A bird does not always want to be handled and they do bite sometimes. Budgies are a type of parrot, and all parrots are a prey species, so they are very sensitive about being grabbed. Some birds do not like to be petted at all. Some will tolerate some petting, but they are just as likely to turn around and bite you if you don’t understand their body language. The problem is that most children are impulsive, and move too fast or grab at a bird. The first time a kid gets bitten, that is usually the end of their interest in the bird. And some kids just end up teasing a bird once they have been bitten or can’t make the bird do what they want. I would recommend doing a lot of research and taking your kids to a pet shop or bird breeder where they can actually handle a bird so you can see how they do. If you just buy a budgie, chances are it won’t be tamed and unless you tame it, it will just end up being stuck in a cage.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda