Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM

Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
NARRATIVE REPORT OF EXPERIENCE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BUDGIE
(PARAKEET) BIRDS AS PET ANIMALS IN HOUSEHOLD

A Narrative Report

Submitted to

PROF. RUDY P. ILAO

Subject Professor, AS MAJOR Course 5

Submitted by

JOSHUA M. FLORANO

BSA IV-2

November 2022
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Introduction

Humans are not the only living thing on earth that everyone can have as best

friend. There are other living things that people nowadays kept to serve as their

companion and source of happiness particularly at home. Taking care of pet animals

like cats, dogs, fish or birds nowadays provides people the feeling of being secured and

well.

Pet animals share a beneficial factor to humans by providing not only comfort,

unconditional love and personal health benefits but they also provide security in all

aspects of human lives. There are a lot of animals that people can have during these

days predominantly at home where they serve as companions.

Birds are the third most popular pet in the Philippines in which 10% of Filipinos

owns bird with different types and species. According to an article by PetFair South East

Asia in 2022, the Philippines have the highest rate of pet ownership among the

Southeast Asian countries at 83%, led by dogs at 67%, cats at 43%, fish at 13%,

and birds at 10% (Rakuten Insights , 2021).

As of 2017, consumption of pet food in the Philippines was at an all-time

high, due to a surge in pet owners with more willingness to spend more on their

pets’ health. It is estimated that there are about 13.6 million dogs and 1.8 million

cats in 2016. As such, the pet food sales were expected to grow accordingly

(Euromonitor, 2016).

The percentage of bird ownership in the country wasn’t as high as the other

type of pet animals. Managing birds might have been seen as a difficult
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
responsibility because unlike any other dogs, they are not much attached to

humans. It must be the aim of everyone to switch or add bird as one of the better

choices in choosing pet animals.

There’s a lot of evidence that pet interaction in general is wonderful for your

health. Having pet companionship can alleviate stress and begin to cure disease such

as depression. More seriously, studies have shown that pets can have cardiovascular

benefits as a result of emotional improvements. Pets can also provide nonjudgmental

support and birds have proven to be incredible companions when it comes to your

health.

Objectives

The objective of this paper to present the narrative report of experience on

the management of Budgie (Parakeet) Bird as pet animals. Specifically, it aims to

achieve the following objectives.

1. To identify the different management practices that can be applied in

managing pet birds.

2. To be able to understand the nature, behavior and physiological sides of

the budgie birds as pet.

3. To analye the difference of having birds as pet compared to dogs and cats

which were common pet animals that people have.

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Name of the Pet

The budgie (parakeet) is often thought of as a “beginner bird,” however, this

social, outgoing little bird deserves just as much care and attention as larger parrots.

Budgies are playful, love food and they can rival any parrot in terms of talking ability.

Both the two birds were given a name to elevate their distinction from a

generalized animal, to an individualized companion. Pet names were found to be

related to two variables assessing pet status in the household. First, respondents who

perceived their pet to be a family member were significantly more likely to give the pet a

human name than were those who did not view the pet as a family member.

Rio was the blue budgie bird and was named after the famous character in the

movie “Rio”. It means river in spanish general terms but other meaning woud be "place

of the cherry blossoms". It was also inspired by the movie of the same name having the

color blue in the birds feather.

Paco was the green bird’s name. The name Paco is boy's name of Spanish

origin meaning "eagle". Another winning and relaxed but energetic o-ending Latin name,

sometimes associated with designer Paco Rabanne.

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Breed

The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), also known as the common

parakeet or shell parakeet, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot usually nicknamed

the budgie, or in American English, the parakeet. Budgies are the only species in the

genus Melopsittacus. Naturally, the species is green and yellow with black, scalloped

markings on the nape, back, and wings. Budgies are bred in captivity with colouring of

blues, whites, yellows, greys, and even with small crests. Juveniles and chicks

are monomorphic, while adults are told apart by their cere colouring, and their

behaviour.

The species is the only member of the genus Melopsittacus, which is the only

genus in the Melopsittacini tribe. The origin of the budgerigar's name is unclear. First

recorded in 1805, budgerigars are popular pets around the world due to their small size,

low cost, and ability to mimic human speech.

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
They are likely the third most popular pet in the world, after the

domesticated dog and cat. Budgies are nomadic flock parakeets that have been bred in

captivity since the 19th century. In both captivity and the wild, budgerigars

breed opportunistically and in pairs.

They are found wild throughout the drier parts of Australia, where they have

survived harsh inland conditions for over five million years. Their success can be

attributed to a nomadic lifestyle and their ability to breed while on the move. The

budgerigar is closely related to lories and the fig parrots.

Management of the Pet

Budgies tend to be tame, respond well to regular, gentle handling, and can be very

affectionate. Additionally, they are not as loud as many other parrot species and can develop

surprising vocabularies. Depending on the individual bird and the amount of training they

receive, budgies are capable of learning dozens or more words in different languages.

Even though budgies are known for being quieter parrots, they may still be noisy and

are very messy — a trait of virtually all birds. As with any pet, budgerigars require a

big commitment, including a lot of attention to socialize them, safe housing, and proper

nutrition.
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Cleaning the Cage/Sanitation

Because birds both eat and defecate in their cages, it is essential to keep their

cages as clean as possible. Dirt, dust, fecal matter, bits of food, and feather dander

constantly accumulate on the cage and everything in it.

The entire cage should be sprayed down, washed, or scrubbed down at least

once weekly with a non-toxic disinfectant soap and hot water. Most disinfectants should

sit on the surface for 15 minutes, followed by thorough brushing. Rinsing with fresh

water is essential after the application of any soap or disinfectant.

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Food and water dishes should be cleaned in the same fashion on a daily basis.

All chemical residues should be washed off the cage, accessories, and feeding utensils

before your bird is exposed to them. Ceramic, metal, and most thick plastic dishes may

be washed in the dishwasher.

Safety of the Cage from Predatory Animals

Budgies are small and may be timid, so

if there are other predatory pets in the house such as cats or dogs that might consider budgies

as prey, owners should be careful not to have the birds out of their cages when these other

pets are around and should be sure that budgies’ cages are securely locked and not easily

within other pets’ reach.

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
It is also important to monitor the condition of the birds to make sure that no other

organisms affects their life inside the cages like insects such as ants, mites and flies. If there’s

anything that disturbs them, prepare a mitigating action.

Food and Water Management

Budgie birds are fed with african mix feed which are available in the market. African

Mix Bird Seeds is a quality food for all types of birds. It is composed of white millet, red

millet, canary seeds, oat groat, sunflower seeds that completes nutrition of the birds.

As a general guideline, feed your budgie seeds and pellets every day. Fruits,

vegetables, and soft foods should be fed to him every second day, or preferably every

day. Egg should be feed to him once a week or once every other week.

The aim when feeding pet budgerigar is to emulate the birds’ natural diet. This is

readily done with a supply of good-quality seed, a mineral supplement block, a regular

supply of fruit and greens, and the occasional treat. The seed element should always

form the bulk of their diet, though. They must be provided with water, as shop-bought

seed and pellets will not contain any of the fresh, ‘wet’ seeds that the birds can find in

the wild.
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Budgerigars feed several times during the day, which is why the food should

always be available. Replenish supplies as appropriate. Taking the food tray or hopper

out of the cage in the morning when the lights are first switched on or the curtains

opened is a good habit to get into. The newly-woken budgie will soon come to associate

the return of the tray with breakfast, a little ritual that will assist your budgie-bonding

efforts.

Ingredients of African Seed Mix

Sunflower

There are two kinds of sunflower—black oil and striped. The black oil seeds

(“oilers”) have very thin shells, easy for virtually all seed-eating birds to crack open, and

the kernels within have a high fat content, extremely valuable for most winter birds.

Striped sunflower seeds have a thicker shell, much harder for House Sparrows and

blackbirds to crack open.

Nyjer Or Thistle

Small finches including American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, Indigo

Buntings, Pine Siskins, and Common Redpolls often devour these tiny, black, needle-

like seeds. As invasive thistle plants became a recognized problem in North America,

suppliers shifted to a daisy-like plant, known as Guizotia abyssinica, that produces a

similar type of small, oily, rich seed. The plant is now known as niger or nyjer, and is

imported from overseas. The seeds are heat-sterilized during importation to limit their

chance of spreading while retaining their food value.

White Millet
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
White millet is a favorite with ground-feeding birds including quails, native

American sparrows, doves, towhees, juncos, and cardinals. Unfortunately it’s also a

favorite with cowbirds and other blackbirds and House Sparrows, which are already

subsidized by human activities and supported at unnaturally high population levels by

current agricultural practices and habitat changes.

When these species are present, it’s wisest to not use millet; virtually all the birds

that like it are equally attracted to black oil sunflower. Because white millet is so

preferred by ground-feeding birds, it’s often scattered on the ground—an excellent

practice as long as no more is set out than birds can eat in a day. Low-set tray feeders

with excellent drainage can be a very good choice for white millet, too.

Rapeseed And Canary Seed

These two seed types don’t offer much over the more widespread seeds. A few

birds do eat rapeseed, including quails, doves, finches, and juncos. If you’re not getting

these, the rapeseed will be left to spoil. Canary seed is very popular with House

Sparrows and cowbirds—birds that many people would prefer not to attract. Other

species that eat canary seed are equally happy with sunflower, so this is a better all-

around choice.

Conclusion

Managing pet birds in the clinical setting can be challenging. Because birds

have the ability to “mask” clinical signs of illness until late in the disease process, they

often are not presented until much sicker than owners realize. This also means that

birds are riskier patients to evaluate. Birds have a much higher metabolism than
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
mammals, and oxygen deprivation can occur during restraint, treatment, or diagnostic

sampling.

Recommendations

Owners should be informed of the risks of handling and sampling and the need

for a step-by-step approach through the physical examination and diagnostic testing.

Placing severely debilitated birds in a warm oxygen incubator or cage while obtaining

the history and before conducting the physical examination may be warranted. Before

restraining the bird, it is important to be prepared with all needed items for

examination, sample collection, and treatments.

References

Berthold Dietz. 2002. Begründungen — Deutungen zur Genese der

Pflegeversicherung. Die Pflegeversicherung, pages 68-119.

https://www.petbarn.com.au/petspot/bird/care-and-maintenance-bird/getting-a-

bird-good-for-health/

https://www.msdvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/pet-birds/

management-of-pet-birds