Should I get a budgie?

[Salamanda]

Im thinking of getting a budgie. I can give it lots of attention and would like to train it to talk and stuff. Are they a good pet to keep? my brother has 2 and they dont fly or talk and are very untame.

[orange-gnome]

They are like any pet, the more you put in, the more you get out. If you take the time to tame your birds and spend time talking to them and generaly getting to know them, letting them have free flying time indoors (with care taken to close all doors/windows etc and dangers removed), then you will get birds who enjoy your company and are happy playful creatures. They are nice birds which make delightful pets, they spend a lot of time singing, as for talking they aren't one of the more vocal (only when it comes to human speech- bird talk they do very often and well) they often learn hello, however budgies don't have very clear voices when speaking human so don't expect too much from them.
Cockatiels are slightly more intelligent and so can learn more speech, they are very affectionate and as long as they are well hand tamed will often snuggle into you while sitting on your shoulder. Although tiels need a bigger cage and are slightly louder when singing.

[caz21]

I have a feeling that only the males can learn to talk so maybe your brothers are both female? (i may have that the wrong way round) We had a beautiful budgie called Lilac - who was Lilac! ;o) sadly not very long as we have a cat who got very upset (we inherited it from my gran) the guy from the pet shop clipped its tail though to stop it from flying til it became tame! the tail never grew back and i read that he should have clipped the wings not the tail (to**er) so make sure you buy the bird from someone who knows what they are doing!

[whiffey]

Do people still keep Mynah birds as pets ? I remember one at the local garage, a dark bird with a yellow beak I think.

Talk !! A budgie couldn't hold a candle to a mynah in full flow.

[kitty1950]

I would recommend that you by your budgie from a breeder rather than a pet shop, I don't know why they are better from the breeder but I have had budgies from both sources and the one from the breeder was an absolute little darling although it didn't talk it loved to knock toilet roll tubes off the tv and catch them before they hit the ground, among other tricks. Be prepared to be patient and talk to it constantly. Happy budgie-ing.

[anjel]

I have a cocketiel and she is such a pleasure to have, not much looking after, really cheap to keep and a real happy feeling watching her play. You do need to give your bird lots of attention which i try to as much as i can but i feel guilty sometimes when i'm out at college all day so i'm thinking of getting another one for company. let us know what you decide to do and keep us updated on how your lil birdy is doin! take care x

[Salamanda]

ok I got a budgie, thanks for your input guys!! We think it is male. It is 12 weeks old and we got it from a local breeder, not a shop. He is white with a blue hue-hope he stays quite white-they thought so.He is so tame already, fell asleep on me gets on my finger, eats from my hand. I am amazed. I will give him lots of attention. He just isnt taking to the water bottle though, any ideas? or do they not drink much?