Knowing the age of a budgie is key when taming these birds, as it directs you on what they need to keep them happy and fully satisfied. Nevertheless, you may wonder how to tell how old a budgie is without straining. This article is for you, as it answers this question and more.
Below are seven ways to tell how old a budgie is:
1. Examine the Budgie’s Iris and Pupil
You can easily identify the age of a budgie by keenly observing the iris and the pupil.
Young budgies from three to four (3–4) months old usually have a dark iris and mostly coal black eyes, but only in the non-dark eyed budgies and non-recessive pied budgies.
On the other hand, old budgies tend to have a lighter iris that can sometimes turn whitish when they are eight months and older.
2. Observe the Stripes Around the Budgie’s Head and Eyes
Young budgies have darker stripes of black and brown with yellow, red, blue, white, or green. These stripes are usually seen in budgies less than four months old.
When the first molting occurs, the stripes on the head and eyes start fading away, and sometimes they can have a clear plumage in the cap when they get to six months old and above.
Nonetheless, some mutant species like the Albino and Lutino may not use this method since they lack stripes throughout their lives.
3. Inspect the Budgie’s Beak and Nose
When observing a budgie’s beak, you may notice a darker pigmentation, showing a budgie is roughly four months old or less. Young budgies usually have darker pigmentation because the body does not fully absorb it.
For older budgies, their beaks and cere are usually pale and sometimes adjust to a normal color. Older budgies have less melanin since it has been completely absorbed by the body.
4. Molting Phase
Budgies undergo their first molting when they are three to four months old. During the molting phase, they shed and regrow new and strong feathers with different colors from a young age. Therefore, molting budgies will help you identify their age easily.
5. Notice the Band on Budgie’s Leg
If you buy a budgie from the American Budgie Society, there is always a band on the budgie’s leg that indicates the budgie’s age. Mostly, bands come in different colors depending on the age group.
Sometimes you may not understand what it means; hence, you can do research from the internet or with an avian vet.
6. Examining Budgie’s Behavior
Budgies’ behaviors vary depending on their ages and stages of life.
Young budgies are very innocent and sometimes shy. Their vocalization is not loud, and they eat a lot due to their high metabolism rate.
Adolescent budgies are very vocal about attracting mates. They tend to seek attention through excessive preening, hitting on objects, loud chirping, etc.
On the other hand, old budgies are less active compared to young ones, and they tend to be less vocal due to their age.
7. Communicating with the Seller
Sometimes, you can contact a seller and ask about the age of your parakeet, especially if they are a reputable breeder. Sellers are likely to know the exact time the budgie was hatched. This is easy, as you will not strain to conduct observations that may be biased.
How Old Is the Oldest Budgie?
The oldest budgie is 29 years old. Also, other budgies live for more than 20 years but less than 26.
Taking good care of a budgie will always increase its lifespan by months or years. Since budgies are a small, delicate species, ensure proper attention to protect the fragile creatures.
How Long Can Budgies Live by Themselves?
Budgies can live by themselves for a period of 5 to 10 years. These birds are survivors and mainly thrive in warmer climates.
Budgies migrate in flocks to escape the harsh winters and predators. Sometimes, they flock in search of food and water. However, indoor budgies can live longer than ten years as long as they are well protected and fed, increasing their lifespan.
Can Budgies Live for 30 Years?
No, budgies cannot live for 30 years. Most of them live for up to 20 years or less, as this is the budgie’s age limit.
Sometimes, budgies can even die young when exposed to factors like unconducive temperatures, poor hygiene, poor nutrition, and diseases.
However, taking good care of a budgie will increase its lifespan by a few months or years.
Do Female Budgies Live Longer?
Yes, female budgies live longer than male budgies. Based on recent research, female budgies have a well-defined body system that is not prone to further damage since they are shy and less aggressive. This increases their life span by a few months compared to male budgies.
Nevertheless, taking good care of your budgies in terms of health, nutrition, and happiness is essential to increasing their lifespan.
Does the Age of Your Budgie Matter?
Yes, the age of a budgie highly matters, as these birds require different attention at different stages of life.
Also, when taming a budgie, it is important to know the age to determine the training capacity to offer. Young budgies are mostly easier to tame than old budgies since you can nurture the character you want in a young budgie. Old budgies can resist adopting new characters since it is not easier to change the old ways.
At What Age Do Budgies Mate?
Budgies begin to mate when they are six months to one year old. At this age, they are fully developed and can easily form a bond with their mates.
Besides, it is best to closely monitor your budgie during the breeding phase since they lay eggs and need a conducive environment for incubation and hatching.
Other budgie age stages, like adolescent birds, should be kept in a different cage as they are sexually active.
Related Articles
Lifespan of a Quaker Parrot | A Comprehensive Guide
How Long Do Small Birds Live? | Interesting Facts About Birds Lifespan
Budgies How to Tell Males from Females | 9 Tips to Tell the Differences
Why Are Budgies So Cheap? How Much Do Budgies Cost? (Revealed!)
How Do Parakeets Die? 8 Possible Causes of Sudden Death in Parakeets