Budgie Parakeet, The Best Pet Reptile?

Budgie parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus) are the most common pet bird, and one of the most common pets in the entire world. The are popular for a lot of good reasons, they are personable, intelligent, beautiful, and widely available. But are budgies good pets? Is the budgie parakeet the best pet reptile (yes, you read that right) for you?
#budgie #parakeet #clintsreptiles
Aquarimax Pets: / aquarimax
Video Sponsored by Ridge Wallet: www.ridge.com/CLINT
====
"budgies_4" by Jim Bendon under CC BY 2.0 www.flickr.com/photos/jim_ben...
====
Clint is a professional biologist and educator, but above all, Clint LOVES reptiles and he loves to share that love with everyone he meets. Whether you're lover or a hater of reptiles, you can't help but get excited with Clint!
We post a new video every Saturday morning! So stay tuned!
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE: kzbin.info...
====
PATREON: / clintsreptiles
MERCHANDISE: www.clintsreptiles.com/merch
SUPPORT Clint's Reptiles by shopping AMAZON here: www.amazon.com/shop/clintsrep...
Schedule a virtual ONE-ON-ONE with Clint! square.site/book/JYBMZXG2X02F...
====
FACEBOOK: / clintsreptilevideos
INSTAGRAM: / clintsreptiles
TWITTER: / clintsreptiles
WEBSITE: www.clintsreptiles.com/
DISCORD: / discord
====
To contact us for BUSINESS purposes: [e-mail]
====
You guys are so RAD!
====
Fan mail? Yes Please!
Clint's Reptiles
770 East Main Street # 127
Lehi, UT 84043
If you would like to send a LIVE animal - FIRST: please send us an email to make sure we can take it in. [e-mail]

[@ClintsReptiles]

Big thanks to Ridge for sending me this wallet and supporting the channel! Here’s the site if you want to check them out! > ridge.com/CLINT

[@faneyazepeda3170]

What you said!

[@dripdownroad5198]

My Saturdays get better with your videos Clint

[@djaluyudhistira3835]

clint, I was trying to do aviculture by taking one egg, marked them with a marker, and then put it on the container filled with rice. And then, I put a small cup of water for humidity and use the 25 W table lamp as an incubator. Will the egg hatch ?

[@Raygathex]

Im genuinely curious what you think of Emus as pets

[@SobrietyandSolace]

Could we do button quail/ Chinese Painted quail next?

[@TitoTitoTitoTito]

Sadly, budgies are probably one of the most neglected animals

[@aurorasurrealis1032]

Definetly.

[@kated3165]

Ugh my aunt and uncle have one that they keep alone in the tiniest of cages with no enrichment... they don't understand that animals have needs beyond food and water, and unfortunately there's no convincing them otherwise.

[@sauceboss9797]

@@kated3165send them a video on how to take care of them and then they might change their minds

[@PimpolloMorales]

@@kated3165 steal it. The greater good beckons thee

[@Erika-xe2ns]

Yeah birds, fish, turtles, small rodents and rabbits. They all get the short end of the stick in care

[@Miranda-bi7zo]

“This little guy is the perfect parrot” *frantically reassures my cockatiel that Clint is wrong*

[@sampagano205]

Cockatiels are the other best parrot I feel like.

[@heisenbruh4547]

@@sampagano205 IMO eclectus are the best

[@KiomonDuck]

I think ducks are the best.

[@dacisky]

@@KiomonDuck Ducks and geese are wonderful.

[@petersmythe6462]

cockatiels are I swear to god the most jealous animals ever.

[@JoannaHammond]

My problem with budgies is that they make dogs look independent.

[@aurorasurrealis1032]

That's usually only the case if they're kept alone.

[@caughtafaygo]

Dogs are soooooo much better than a poop machine that needs u 24hra a day. Bird people are a whole other level of cat lady

[@TheAwesomes2104]

Yeah, I've known for my entire life that children are not the right pets for me. My mom seems intent on believing that I will one day change my mind, however she's going to be very sorely disappointed when the screaming, attention hogging, expensive lifetime commitment I change my mind about is a bird and not her imaginary grandchild.

[@rexon31]

@@caughtafaygo eh ?? birds a really rewarding and nothing like cats. plus dogs also poop and its smells to high heaven , rather pick a little poop up with a tissue than scoping it stuck to my yard or carpet

[@BrandonNielsen87]

I cannot understand why anyone would want to own giant dogs. Had to pick up big poop for a dog before. Not pleasant.

[@anothersquid]

Your message about parrots being a lifestyle, not an ornament, is very good. More people need to understand that message!

[@erikarsov4365]

100% true

[@AllCanadianReptileGirl]

"Mirrors create fake rooms guarded by forcefields" is the most accurate description of a mirror that I've ever heard. I'm right there with you budgies!

[@HHLucifer666]

Is it bad that sometimes I play in my toilet with my friends budgie?

[@dan_e]

Yes I love that!

[@thegaminglechonk9211]

@@HHLucifer666 u wot

[@augusth7975]

@@HHLucifer666 just fill up your sink. That is so unsanitary

[@brightbite]

Picture frames, too! Don't let them fly into them!

[@AntsCanada]

"Mirrors create fake rooms guarded by force fields!" Love it! 🤣🙌🦜 Parrot fan here!

[@susanmartin3762]

My favorite

[@El_Presidente_5337]

My budgies always hang around the mirror in their cage.

[@FishCantFly]

true lol

[@velvet1371]

Yo ant! Nice to see you here!

[@PCrailfan3790]

Hi antscanida

[@N7Tigger]

When I was a kid in Australia we had a big outdoor aviary full of budgies. When it got real hot (like 40+ celcius) they would sit with their wings pushed out at the shoulders tryng to cool down. I'd go out and spray them with the hose and they'd see me coming and fly over and hang from the wire at the front waiting for me. After a while wild budgies figured it out and would come and join in.

[@sourlemon3337]

That’s actually amazing 😂

[@hannahfreedman8295]

Seeing videos of budgies nowadays makes me melancholy because we used to have a pet budgie when I was a kid that we didn't take proper care of at all. We really had no idea what we were doing and the poor thing was miserable as a result. We gave him food and water and a couple of toys, but didn't interact with him nearly as much as we should have. After several years of this, my mom decided that we should just release it outside rather than continue to try and care for it. Fortunately, I knew enough about animals at that age to know that this was a terrible idea and ended up calling a local bird sanctuary in a panic. I told the owner of the bird sanctuary what my mom was planning and the owner talked some sense into her over the phone and agreed to take the budgie in. The next day, we brought the budgie over to the bird sanctuary and said goodbye to him. Flutter, I'm sorry for the crappy time we gave you and I hope your life at the bird sanctuary was a million times better!

[@caughtafaygo]

I don't think he's watching KZbin bro

[@julianhanna37]

Knowing how crowded and full of disease bird sanctuarys are, he probably had a worst time tbh, unlucky for him

[@jablastoff5237]

I know some great bird sanctuaries and I believe he likely was much happier with someone who had the knowledge and concern to care for him properly. I am in the same boat- when I was a kid we had several birds, cockatiels and parakeets, and we didn't know how to care for them properly either. Looking back I feel bad. They either died, escaped outside and flew off, or were ultimately given away. As the years passed both me and my parents learned and became better animal caretakers but I still cringe over our first failed attempt. There's so much misinformation out there, too, that didn't help. Hopefully now with internet more people have more access to info and can make better choices if they care to research.

[@bestaqua23]

Same :(

[@dirtpoorchris]

oh he definately loved the bird sanctuary its a huge place thats like a party with other birds and he cant be eaten by any crows.

[@sampagano205]

Would you be willing to explain to my emerald tree skink that it is not a bird and should stop making the attempt to fly?

[@ClintsReptiles]

It just wants to play with you 😊

[@sampagano205]

@@ClintsReptiles I'm fairly convinced she thinks she's one of those cool gliding lizards that run from the cool gliding snake.

[@Dragonemperess]

Show it a video of a watermelon being thrown off of a roof.

[@Lucifer-do7mf]

@@Dragonemperess youre insane.... i like you

[@Kai_The_Kai]

Oh yeah, my cat makes bird noises, I guess some animals just think they’re birds

[@Aquarimax]

My daughter, our budgie Twilly, and I all enjoyed filming this with you, Clint! I think you did a fantastic job highlighting the pros and cons of budgie ownership!

[@alimery07]

how did u comment on this yesterday?????? the video got uploaded rn tff????

[@error-qt5sp]

@@alimery07 lol

[@rebeccaconlon9743]

@@alimery07 patreon

[@alimery07]

@@error-qt5sp thank u ur so helpful 😃🔫

[@error-qt5sp]

@@alimery07 he made a joke about it in the vid i thought u were joking

[@AaronHendu]

I knew someone who had a Macaw, Cockatoo, and an African Grey that just had free roam of the house, and all of them "talked"...it was wild in there. I had no idea Budgies could talk. So cute, and much less intimidating than a giant blue Macaw coming towards you literally saying the words "piss off", and other profanities.

[@Psittacus_erithacus]

having volunteered with a parrot rescue I can attest that a sufficiency pissed-off macaw can be a quite convincingly dinosauric creature.

[@greenetea6035]

A budgie currently holds the record for most words spoken by a bird! Check out Disco the parakeet!

[@jmdenison]

So you got a rescue. Be glad you rescued.

[@ledumpsterfire6474]

I volunteered in a shelter with 24 medium to large parrots at any one time, about 25% of them macaws. Also adopted a blue-gold. They were always my favorite, but they are very powerful, and more dangerous yet, they have a mind very similar to a toddler. Ever seen a toddler throw a temper tantrum? Then imagine a toddler that has a scream that can reach literal jet engine volumes (150-160 dB) and a biteforce that rivals large dogs. As an aside for anyone seeing this, please don't teach your birds curse words like this. It seems like a fun, harmless thing to do, but birds that cursed were many times less likely to be adopted. You may think, "Well, I'm not going to give my bird up anyway." It's a nice thought, but many of our permanent residents were there because their owners died or became otherwise physically incapable of caring for them. You could have a stroke tomorrow and see the same thing happen. Don't make bets on an undecided future at the potential cost of their own future and happiness.

[@the_blue_jay_raptor]

​@@Psittacus_erithacus Hey... >:/

[@-cosmicrogue-]

My childhood pet was a budgie. I've had cats and dogs and loved them all dearly. But the most _special_ bond I've ever had with an animal was with my Budgie. All of the happy memories I had with her are a warm fuzzy glow in my heart. My parents bought her for me after my grandmother suddenly died when I was 8 years old. I was still grieving when I got her. She used to sit on my shoulder and kiss and nibble away my tears. She loved listening to Chopin and mimicked R2D2 noises. She loved to manipulate and knock over board game pieces like monopoly. She LOVED when I would sing to her, she often danced along. She also "helped" decorate the Christmas tree. She would sit on my santa hat and play with the white fuzzy ball. She literally ate my homework. (Well, she would often nibble on the edges of the paper while I tried to focus.) She would preen my hair and tunnel through it like a little feathery tarzan. I was an only child and that little bird was my best friend and playmate. I had her from age 8 to 18. I'm 28 now and I still miss my little bird. She taught me so much. The amount of love that one can feel for and from a tiny little creature is palpable and poignant.

[@SilientShadow]

Same here. I grew up with a yellow budgie named Petey. He passed at the age of 14 while I was off in college, and I've never been able to replace him since.

[@-cosmicrogue-]

@@SilientShadow OMG! My Budgie was named Petey too! We named her before we knew she was a girl, so we later said her name was short for Petunia. She was green and yellow.

[@SilientShadow]

@@-cosmicrogue- Aww, that's sweet. Yeah, mine was yellow and green.

[@ameliagrein5070]

I am happy to read this story. I grew up with Buddy. He was a little olive-colored mischief maker. He was my special pet. I chuckled reading your story cause he did most of those things too. I will never forget him and how he brought joy to my life for 15 years. 💚💛 I have to add… his last Christmas he said “Merry Christmas” crystal clear and no one had trained him. 🥰

[@jmdenison]

Thank you so much for sharing. I have 6 birds and love them all

[@reywashere5284]

Human children also let you know that they want attention by screaming. Funny how that transcends species.

[@gildedbear5355]

And then they leave it up to you to figure out what they want 8)

[@mechanicalslrlounge5138]

My girlfriend does the same thing

[@Black-Swan-007]

My cats scream even when they don't want ANYTHING.

[@dewdbrowatch1446]

yeah so does my boyfreind c:

[@darthplagueis13]

Well... That's why I keep fish.

[@thechickenwizard8172]

You should talk about pigeons someday; I've heard that they are amazing pet reptiles

[@shabadagoobalikeameeboomee7358]

Yesyesyes he should

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

I would love to see Clint talking about pigeons! My apartment looks out onto the roof of a church, and I have a bunch of excellent pigeon neighbors who hang out there, making lovely soft noises and generally being awesome!

[@motherlandbot6837]

Pigeons are potentially much longer lived than Budgies, and far less susceptible to cancer. Budgies are more likely to develop cancer in middle or late age than any other animal, except domestic strains of House Mice and Brown Rats that have been bred for susceptibility to cancer. Avian Leukosis Virus is endemic in nearly all Budgie stocks. Too often, so are Scaly Face Mites (Knemidocoptes pilae). Look it up in the veterinary literature. Budgies usually live to only 5 to 8 years of age. Pigeons routinely live into their late teens or early 20s with good care, and friendly Pigeons are actually much more handleable than most Budgies and even some friendly Cockatiels. Pigeons don't scream or screech, and can't bite as hard as Budgies if they are angry. They are far easier to train for free flight, though raptors can target them. Pigeons that have bonded with you will even accompany you as you cycle about outdoors.

[@ledumpsterfire6474]

@@stellabelikiewicz1523 I got friendly with a flock that lived in my porch roof. They're such underrated wonderful little birds.

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

@@ledumpsterfire6474 best urban neighbor critters! I love squirrels but they’re often [extremely entertaining] assholes, and I adore rats but they’re usually trying a little too hard to become uninvited freeloading squatters [I get it, rats, I really do, but you cannot live in my house], but pigeons just want to trot around being so inoffensive and cute!

[@lizzy-np2dr]

I had a beautiful blue parakeet named Bing for about 15 years. He never learned to talk, refused to be trained to do much of anything, was insanely picky about food, toys, and treats, and had the temperament of a very angry old man. I loved the little turd to death and cried my eyes out when he finally passed on.

[@walllyisbestbird5227]

i have a bird called wally. i spent a week making a playstand for him, he hates it. i spend money on fancy toys, but he prefers a bunch of pellets rolled up in a kleenex or burls I literally find in the woods. he's bitey sometimes, demanding, loud, and i love him so so so much.

[@sydhenderson6753]

@@walllyisbestbird5227 We had several which we unimaginatively called Tweety.

[@bigchunk1]

"If you want a pet that can't fly, I would point you to the rest of the reptiles." - Clint

[@timothyfulton9312]

"If well socialized, your little budgy will be your best friend" So THAT'S why they call speedos "Budgy-Smugglers" in Australia

[@AntonDiwa]

oh no

[@mark6302]

LOL

[@meisteremm]

Everybody's a friend until they use the sharp parts of their mouth. Budgie smuggler+speedo=my right eye twitching.

[@caughtafaygo]

Better than grapes smuggler

[@wootejoimage]

@@meisteremm shouldn't have been eating those beans. it wouldn't be biting you so much. :)

[@kellyhamergia]

Clint singing- who knew he had yet another talent???😁😁😁😁😁

[@SpliffingBrit]

Waiting for him to drop his debut album

[@lisakay2810]

He's a man of many talents and much knowledge. We are only lucky enough to see a little of what he can do.

[@lukasaaron102]

Cringe. Wish i could dislike twice after reading this lol

[@TinPrince]

@@lukasaaron102 Way to be an ass for no reason

[@Blue_Lugia]

​@@SpliffingBritImagine every song being about a speficik animal.😂😂😂

[@patricknyhan7491]

“This is absolutely what I’d recommend in you were a tiny pirate” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@a_whitlow21]

When I was young, we had a parakeet. She used to whistle for our dog and then throw seeds at him when he came. Her name was Sweetie, unfortunately she wasn’t very sweet lol.

[@amandacardone4063]

Haha, the same thing happened to me, as a child I had a cat named Candy and she was the most unbearable animal I've ever met! Bit everyone, always. She ended up living to 18, that damned cat

[@MaddyBlu9724]

Not sweet? But it sounds like she was trying to share her food lol.

[@justme0910]

I love having budgies! They're extremely social creatures that are a lot of fun to observe, especially in a larger group (I recommend 4-6, ideally 50% male and 50% female, for best results). At the very least, you should keep a pair, unless you can literally be around your bird 24/7. Being alone is highly stressful for them and can cause all kinds of behavioral and even physical problems. People have this misconception that keeping several budgies at once will prevent them from becoming "tame", but the reality is that you can befriend almost any budgie in any group, at any age (although very young birds take to it more easily). They're very food-motivated, so approaching them with a snack (some favorites include millet, basil, chickweed, dandelion, lettuce, watermelon and cucumber) and a bit of patience will almost always lead to results. They really are loud, though, so they might not be a hit with family or neighbors. Also, it's super important to bird-proof the room they're in as they WILL need a few hours outside of their cage every day to stretch their wings, and they gnaw on freakin' everything they can get their little beaks on, including electric cables and things that may be toxic to them or cause a choking hazard (like copper, lead, plastic, houseplants, textiles ...). Hopefully, you're not too attached to your wallpaper. Oh, and female budgies will constantly seek out small, dark spaces to breed. On the upside, if you don't provide them with those spaces, they most likely won't breed. (They might mate, but just for fun ;) - no ovulation will be triggered.) I also recommend looking for a specialized vet. Most vets are so used to small mammals, they have no idea how to treat a bird. (That's not their fault, just letting y'all know.)

[@OrdinaryEXP]

Most if not all parrots are social animals which should be kept in a group. That's how they live in the wild.

[@ameliagrein5070]

I went from 2. To 3. To 4. Now I have 6. They seem more confident and happy in larger groups. And they definitely still want to interact with me for millet. 😂

[@OrdinaryEXP]

@Wattle They still form small flocks though. www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/major-mitchells-cockatoo

[@OrdinaryEXP]

@Wattle It looks like Mitchell cockatoos bond with their owners easily and quickly then become very hostile towards people and animal not bonded with them...yes they shouldn't be kept with other Mitchells* in the same household. *or other pets _and humans_ for that matter: www.parrotforums.com/cockatoos/26732-major-mitchell-vs-galah.html The general consensus is that Major Mitchell's cockatoos are not good pets due to their aggressiveness and exclusivity.

[@Lucifer-do7mf]

i have four male budgies and it works really well. theyre all best buddies witch each other and they still love to annoy me XD landing on my head and nibbling at my ear while im trying to work.... three of them are hand raised so theyre mostly tame. it really depends on the birds character traits.

[@Wulfgeist]

Thanks for bringing up the nonstick cookware, Clint! No-nos also include candles, air fresheners, etc. Keeping birds is indeed a lifestyle!

[@amberkat8147]

Ty for sharing that. I have an extensive candle collection and my power outage lighting plan is mainly candles, so that's vital to know.

[@Barakon]

You could maybe have a candle in a jar, just not any scented/smoky ones. I’d consider getting an enclosed menorah in a parrot’s home.

[@mauzawa]

The fact that the budgie fell asleep on his shoulder is just a sign of how much he trusts his owner. He's in a completely new environment with a bunch of other people, yet he was still relaxed enough to fall asleep

[@MrWolfie321]

"Parrots are unreasonable, they are big, potentially dangerous and they live forever!" My parrot watching this with me: (Disapproving noises)

[@muurrarium9460]

LOL, same here. (exept my male african gray whould *love* to be seen as dangerous but is a huge pushover and a cuddlebug. he is a gentle giant @ 577 grams and his keelbone still sticks out!)

[@MrWolfie321]

@@muurrarium9460 My red lored amazon does keeps up with being a full psycho, except with me and my mother, then he is just a cute noisy featherball, also what a big boy you have

[@muurrarium9460]

@@MrWolfie321 I love amazons, but they really are a handfull. Glad to read he is in good hands :) They are gorgeous birds! (All my parrots are hand-me-downs and are completely mental, but apart from that: utterly adorable.)

[@VB-92]

Is the Cassowary the best home defense bird for you, when?

[@VB-92]

@Wattle Of course it would be "Florida Man"

[@citin7829]

oh trust me it is thats why i dont have a nose

[@jadafranksain9369]

My grandmother always had a budgie when she was alive. The last one lived until the day after she passed away. I think the isolation while we were in the hospital for a week was too much for the poor thing and it perished. I would go check on it everyday and going the morning after she died to find her beloved bird also gone was pretty intense. I guess they were just meant to stay together.

[@rawtj1]

From my experience they can last 4-5 days without food. Had to find this out the hard way. For anyone curious about the story I decided to get a parakeet as my first pet ever. I researched a million things and decided to finally go to my nearest petco to get one. One of the things i didnt research was it's food. You see i got the parakeet and everything he needed but the food i got was pellets. Bc pellets are much healthier and better for them than seeds and i wanted the best for my parakeet so i obviously got the best for him. What i didn't know and what the lady standing right next to me didn't tell me was that they need time and slowly transition to different kinds of foods. That parakeet never had any pellets and only has eaten seeds his whole life. So he never recognize the pellets as food and died of starvation about 4-5 days later. The only reason i didn't notice myself is bc he loved to play with the pellets. I thought it was just some weird thing where he liked to also play with the food he ate. I shoulda researched more but tbh i thought the petco lady woulda at least told me that, she told me just about everything else and even asked me If it's my first time getting a bird, yet she said nothing and just watched me throw the pellets into the cart. After blaming myself for a while i decided to start again with my knowledge i gained the hard way and rn i have 2 really healthy and happy budgies. It's been almost a year since that incident. If anyone watches this and decides to get a budgie please ask ppl what exactly are they feeding the budgie and then buy whatever they say it's eating. Also buy the pellets, just slowly add the pellets overtime. Don't make my same mistake

[@The-Opium-Den]

Thanks for the heads up! Although I won't be getting a Budgie anytime soon, I know your comment will help prospective future owners who read it.

[@drrigel63]

I had a similar experience too. Now I understand it better :) my budgie got sick months ago, and vet recommended a new type of seed until he becomes healthy again and some vitamins + medicine to put in his water. We put everything, replaced his water and seeds. Even though he drank his water he didn't touch the seeds at all. After 2 days, I noticed that he was literally trembling because of hunger. I got him his old seeds, and while I was doing that he flew to my hand to eat them (when I was replacing) that's how hungry he was :( he would usually wait for me to do anything, but he was soo hungry. But we noticed fortunately :) I honestly thought he was just being really picky about it at that time

[@KikiYushima]

They also need fresh chop everyday!

[@neillcoetzer9133]

Please do pigeons or doves. Honestly I never thought I could have a bird and now I can't imagine having anything else. They're easy to care for (as far as birds go), they can be incredibly loving, and they're quiet (which for some living situations is essential). And they are just absolutely lovely (my specific dove is a laughing dove)

[@dingdongism]

I for the life of me can't understand why doves aren't more popular; they're easier to care for than parrots, couldn't draw blood if they wanted to, and are quite aesthetically pleasing. The whole "I can teach my bird to talk" thing gets far more mileage than it deserves, if you ask me.

[@magister343]

I had a white dove for over 20 years. She was most fun during the three years when we also had a lovebird or cockatiel, but she was much easier to care for and lived a lot longer.

[@gildedbear5355]

I love his little blue cheek feathers.

[@RainebowEvee]

They're adorable! Plus those feathers reflect UV light and a budgie's eyes are sensitive enough to pick it up

[@Vivi-cd1ic]

the thing about Clint is he makes me want so many pets............ and NOT want a lot of others

[@gregmeissner9960]

Of the many birds I have had over the course of 50 years, none (not even my African Grey) has ever proven to be more intelligent, more loving, or more eager to learn human speech than my budgie. Though his voice was comparably smaller than my Grey or my Yellow naped Amazon, he picked up words quickly and clearly. He immediately associated meanings and learned to both respond to and to give vocal commands! People overlook and undervalue these brilliant birds. I find their pet qualities far superior to many higher-priced species.

[@qradk8rkeruj8r27]

As someone who owns non feathered reptiles we really needed this video about a feathered reptile of this sort I’m not being sarcastic

[@dolphinboi-playmonsterranc9668]

I still miss my rat, Grandma. She was a sweet little thing.

[@katelillo1932]

Best name for a rat, ever 🥰

[@cramuel256]

Sorry about that but how does this relate to the video? Just seems attention seeking.

[@katelillo1932]

@@cramuel256 I think because Clint made the distinction that budgies are unlike rats in that they live a decently long life, instead of dying at year 2-3.

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

It’s a crime that their lives are so short! Ratties have so much love to give!

[@StopStealingMyNameTrolls]

I would really love to see more episodes with different species of "flying reptiles" (birds) if possible - there are so many interesting bird species that can be kept as pets. :3

[@CAMSLAYER13]

you could call them "Avian Dinosaurs"

[@tonydai782]

Feathered reptiles would be more accurate, since flightless birds exist

[@imaybestupid2045]

UwU :3

[@613-shadow9]

bird is just fine. they're birds

[@petersmythe6462]

handleability: Yes. Always handle the birb multiple hours a day.

[@patricknyhan7491]

I always love when you cover “unconventional” reptiles like birds on the channel! Keep it up! Would you ever consider doing a whole video on falconry (maybe feat. Mini man)? Have a stinkin rad day!

[@ClintsReptiles]

We cover falconry in our video on peregrine falcons.

[@damaracarpenter8316]

I would like a “turkey vultures, the best pet reptile?” Please!💞😭😅😅😅

[@AnachronousRex]

As much as I like this idea, I love Clint too much to want to see him covered in rotting meat-vomit.

[@miquelescribanoivars5049]

@@turkey4802 Birds are reptiles. That's the whole joke.

[@613-shadow9]

@@miquelescribanoivars5049 "are you sure about that?"

[@miquelescribanoivars5049]

@@613-shadow9 Yes.

[@Christolclear101]

Saturday mornings as a kid: looked forward to new cartoons. Saturday mornings as a adult: what animal is Clint going to talk about next. Gives me a reason to look forward to Saturday mornings again. 🙂

[@foreignbirb2579]

Thank you! Budgies are highly neglected $20 birds that children and adults buy, later neglecting. In reality, they are crazy balls of feathers that can and will establish a territory in your house near its cage, and you may wanna tread carefully...

[@brennencanfield4856]

I would feed mainly pellets because too many seeds can cause health issues with them not being as active as they would in the wild. I know this is the general rule for parrots and I'm guessing it's the same for parakeets.

[@kiki29073]

Actually, a chopped diet is the best main food source for all parrots including budgies. It is a mix of cooked grains, legumes, veggies plus fresh chopped veggies with some fruit. Pellets as topper and seeds for treats and training.

[@artwolf5447]

Yes I was looking to see if anyone would mention pellets instead of seeds. It is definitely a healthier choice for any parrot. We want our birds to live long and happy lives and an overweight bird with vitamin deficiencies doesn’t have that. And to go along with the pellets they will also need veggies on a daily basis with fruit and seeds/ nuts only as treats. I’m the lucky owner of a blue fronted amazon, a white bellied caique, a king parrot and a budgie☺️

[@tarajh]

Yes! My heart sank when I saw that fake colored garbage they called "food." 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@Korvotronn]

yeah, only issue i see with the video is recommending seeds as the main diet. chop, pellets and seeds combined will make a balanced diet for your bird and will ensure they are as healthy as possible.

[@katelillo1932]

Ahhhh! I’m so excited you did this one! Budgies are such wonderful little animals and unfortunately, the commercial pet trade has done them a huge disservice by making them so cheap and easily obtainable ☹️ they seem to have become viewed as a “disposable” pet, at least here in the US.

[@Zaotar1]

I got two budgies during the pandemic lockdown and they have been glorious little friends for the whole family. Hugely recommended, they have most of the upside of larger parrots while being extremely easy to take care of by comparison. Now I want a pionus parrot, but sadly I will not have a couple hours a day free to work with one each day in the near future. So that remains a long term aspiration.

[@chrisbarker5546]

Having only recently discovered this channel (and since having binged almost every video), the excitement of a brand new Clint video is indescribable.

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

Those little parrots are surprisingly one of the best talking species of parrot. However, very few know this.

[@Dragonemperess]

:D Disco the Parakeet!

[@A_REN78]

The budgie with the most memorized words and phrases learned around 1700 of them! Little budgie fun fact 😁

[@samadams8355]

Sadly, they are very rarely socialized well enough to learn words from their people. A lot of people get a couple of budgies and treat them more or less like display animals, which is not really fair to them.

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

@@samadams8355 why it isn’t fair to them? In might be better. If they have another member of the species to socialise in a natural way, they don’t need humans to interfere.

[@samadams8355]

@@stefanostokatlidis4861 in some ways, this is both a practical and ethical question. Humans have already "interfered" with that species by taking it out of the wild and breeding it domestically. Budgies are very intelligent, very social animals. If they're being kept in human homes, they should be given the opportunity to bond with humans for their own safety and enrichment. If they don't, it's harder to give them appropriate veterinary care, and it's nearly impossible to recover them if they get lost outdoors. They won't allow humans to get close enough to secure them and get them inside.

[@AaronHendu]

This video makes me super sad because I am now realizing every Budgie I have ever seen has been mistreated...they are so pretty and smart and deserve better. I had no idea Budgies could do much more than make random racket all day long while they are locked in their tiny cages...let alone actually learn to mimic human words so well and be so "pet-like" and just be content to have their owner's love and attention.

[@Aquarimax]

It’s true...most budgies don’t live up to their potential because they don’t have the opportunity.

[@tarajh]

They're just as smart & complex as big parrots!

[@mrnoodles5871]

My mom had a few conures over the years. Amazing birds. It’s like having a tiny little person who can fly. Man it was hard losing those birds.

[@Midnight-7411]

I love that the budgie is just chilling on your shoulder as you do the video, he seems so comfy and it’s so cute

[@CoffeeSuccubus]

Birds are the best reptiles honestly. And no one can tell me other wise. I love budgies! They're so cute

[@thunderrain789]

I have zero intention of ever owning a bird. Watching anyway. Birds are still cool and Clint makes everything awesome anyway lol

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

Same! I actually don’t plan on having any type of reptile, but they’re all just so very cool, and Clint is so good at spreading the love!

[@justjoshua5759]

I’m not even going to lie. Thought I would never consider a pet. But after watching this. My mind is somewhat convinced

[@TheGamingLiger]

@kaikemm birds are probably one of the worst first pets, and one of the hardest to keep happy and healthy. Some good first pets are cats and dogs, but you should do extensive research on any pet that you want.

[@146memory-lane]

@@TheGamingLiger "good first pet" isn't really a thing though. if someone wants a certain animal they shouldn't have to get some other animal first and end up with a pet they never wanted. As long as someone does the appropriate research they can get any animal they want and can take care of.

[@physetermacrocephalus2209]

"Parrots are unreasonable" See this is why your a doctor. What a profound truth. 🤣

[@scottyoung5524]

Thanks Clint for including birds in your presentations as they are indeed reptiles.

[@kiptelgat]

i never found birds intresting but this little guy looks like perfect the perfect buddy. Perfect for a pirate outfit.

[@KiomonDuck]

If you ever get a pet birb make sure it's the dumbest of all the birbs. The smarter the birb the less fun it is to have

[@chazsaw]

It would be interesting to compare this to Cockatiels some day; though I imagine they would be fairly similar, maybe just a tiiiiny bit lower scoring.

[@barrywilkinson8470]

Budgies can talk too while cockatiels can only whistle

[@ClintsReptiles]

A skittish budgie is an unsocialized adult. Get a juvenile and it will be your best friend.

[@Violet-Lily]

@@barrywilkinson8470 Incorrect, they're not as proficient as some parrots, but are perfectly capable of talking.

[@chazsaw]

Cockatiels can talk, but they will never be as good at it or pick it up as easily as budgies.

[@dacisky]

@@reinerbazzi9744 No they are not skittish. The more you work with them,the more trusting they become.

[@justrosie]

I’ve never heard a Budgie vocalize in human language so clearly. He is definitely an exceptional little guy

[@TenOrbital]

My grandad had a light blue budgie he taught tricks and phrases and looked after properly.

[@JasperCatProductions]

As a incredibly shy and lonely child my parakeet Freddie was the best pet. I loved his singing ,playing in his bath and eating so happily. I learned budgeting and how to put another’s needs before my own. I am very responsible and caring and I learned that from my Freddie. Fantastic pet you will never forget and miss badly when they are gone. Watch their feet and an keep an eye on their beaks ( mites), and a nice big cage so they can fly with a couple of perches.

[@slankerwanker1714]

I had a budgie called freddie he was a bright yellow

[@JasperCatProductions]

@@slankerwanker1714 mine was bright green.....The yellow ones are beautiful too.

[@petersmythe6462]

I think large parrots run into a weird paradox. Macaw or kea handleability should be low because it's a pair of sentient flying boltcutters with the temperament of a toddler, but they also need to be handled constantly.

[@donnametzcar5822]

"toss the hulls back in the bowl' 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 mine throw ANYTHING they don't like or want back out the bars onto the floor!!!

[@dominiquehebert4903]

Step 1: drop seed hulls to cage floor. Step 2: hover in cage and spray seed hulls and those tiny fluffy feathers all over the floor! (I don't know why he loves to hover IN his cage, the doors are open all day except when I have to leave the room or cook, he's just a goofball!)

[@iceheartfrost3740]

Chickens next! I sadly lost 2 budgies a long time ago before the internet was really a thing, and the Teflon issue was not widely communicated. I'm glad you mentioned it.

[@tjarkschweizer]

He already did the chicken. Check it out :)

[@newtscamander7713]

So if this bird is recommended for mini pirates, is Rus secretly a mini pirate??

[@Aquarimax]

Is my secret safe with you, Newt?

[@malusignatius]

Budgie is short for Budgerigar, which as a word seems to be descended from one of a couple of First Australian words for either 'good parrot' or maybe 'good food' (it's uncertain). I've been fortunate enough to see wild flocks of them, hundreds (if not thousands strong. Every now and then you can find a 'green leafy tree' out in the outback, only to have all the 'leaves' (actually Budgerigars) take flight, revealing that the tree's actually long dead.

[@malusignatius]

Another fun budgie fact: Those little dark spots on their face and their feet fluoresce in the UV spectrum.

[@jetfowl]

Cockatiel and lovebirds and conures, oh my. They are all small birds that are very friendly, too.

[@LaBelleGeckos]

I love birds, love the parrots, but I am realistic enough to know that I simply do not have the time to give any bird the attention it needs.

[@nathanielleack4842]

You should bring Emily over so she can talk about Cheyenne!

[@birbdad1842]

It's highly recommended to keep atleast two budgies, for a multitude of reasons: - naturality: providing a more natural environment keeps your animal healthy and mentally stable (happy) - convenience: you can't be around your animal 24/7, but a parrot like a Budgie or Cockateel needs 24/7 attention or else it is unhappy and stressed. No holidays or traveling for you! - health: when your animal is unhappy or stressed from being alone, it is more prone to being sick, either mentally or physically from harming itself (plucking of own feathers) That said, some people have great success when keeping only one bird, but usually they spend lots of time with it, for instance when you have a giant family and everyone there takes part in taking care of the animal. So, if you are working a lot, living alone or you're family doesn't support you with your pet, 100% take two animals.

[@markgouthro7375]

The funniest thing my budgie said was, "You're going to be late for the bus." And, yes I was.

[@LilyAvarA]

When my mom got a budgie, she was a 9 week old hand fed bird and ever since she's been absolutely great, giving head scritches is the best

[@humandoodad]

Even though I haven't owned a little feather dino in ages, I'm still incredibly resistant to letting Teflon into my house.

[@rayvnekieron8587]

I don't buy Teflon on the off chance that I might someday either have a bird or have a roommate with a bird, just in case.

[@MotherNature101]

I have eleven budgies and three babies from two of them that were born last month. I also have two cockatiels. But they love to be near me. But he is right about the screaming that says give me attention as well as other sounds that mean very different thing. They are funny when they mimic your sounds. They are like little kids. My birds love the shower, the baths I have for them, and the spray bottle. My flock likes to travel with me when I go to visit family that is suitable for my budgies and cockatiels. They know who the boss is, and they love getting rewarded with millet.

[@ravenm6443]

I wouldn’t ever want a bird but they are pretty. These birds seem like they’d be interesting to watch and interact with.

[@ruthlesslistener]

What good timing, this video released right after I uncovered and let my budgies out for the day! The two of them are currently bouncing around on the cockatiel cage and swinging the cords to the blinds like the little menaces they are, lol One important thing I will add on to here is that seeds really shouldn't make the vast bulk of their diet- it should be mixed in with parakeet pellets as well to prevent the onset of fatty liver disease. This is because a diet of all seeds is essentially like feeding your birds hamburgers and shakes for the entirety of their life, it doesn't give enough nutrients. Of course, most budgies hate switching over, but if that's the case, it's best to up the amount of greens in their diet and encourage them to get lots of time flying about to help :) Also, I've personally had a great deal of luck training them to not fly into mirrors or windows by gently holding them up to them and tapping their lil beaks or chests all over them to let them know they can't fly through it. Not all budgies picked up on this, but those that did learned to chart safe flight paths about our house that they could fly without smacking into things. They're pretty smart birds, but remember, they can't see glass, so its up to you to help them out with that! Glass collisions can be devastating to such a little bird

[@banndsand]

I'd love to see a video about pigeons. They are one of the few truly domesticated birds one can keep, and there are so many different breeds out there to discover!

[@seanrallis6714]

So glad he mentioned the Teflon pans. So many people don't know this, but it doesn't take a whole lot of heat to release those toxic fumes. Solve the problem... learn to cook the right way, and you'll never even want to use non-stick pans. Better food, and a healthier pet.

[@TheEnderEd]

I would love for Clint to cover other parrots/pet birds!

[@julialewis8573]

I absolutely adore the happy enthusiasm you share these fantastic pets with! I love watching these!

[@thewitchycat4984]

I wish more people followed videos like this, I've seen too many loose budgies since moving to the city I'm in now, and no it's not a feral population. You can tell the little ones are just craving friendship but once loose are being bullied by native nesting birds. Birds are so smart and loving, I wish more people would research them before buying. They need love and attention and care to be sure they are safe.

[@AnamLiath]

I've lived with a couple generations of Amazon parrots, double yellow head, lilac crowned and mealy. They are loud! And they have a very obvious preference for for some on the family and disgust/aggression for others (often the one who wanted the bird). Also a couple rescue blue and gold macaws. Most of my birds were older, cage bound, aggressive birds who ruled the house. When the parents were gone, often the kids were terrified or grossed out by the feathered tyrant! I can vouch for how charming parakeets and cockatiels are. It may take months or years to gain trust with the bigger birds, and minutes to hours to a handleable budgie. At present i have European starlings, which are the best passerines I've ever lived with! They are outgoing, clever, matter mimics, and their songs are gorgeous. I would put them on par with parrots. One last thing about the big parrots. They love deeply, even when their needs aren't really being met. They are loyal. They grieve horribly when given up or abandoned. It can take them decades to recover from loss, especially the grays and cockatoos. My first rescue was a furious ball of feathers who took years to gain trust, he was 45 when i got him and lived another 40 years. It's more a marriage than adoption! Please volunteer at a parrot rescue and see the realities of living with parrots before committing to one and finding the dander, poopy water and crepuscular screaming are impossible.

[@carhasenfratz]

European Starlings are amazing! I’d love a video on them.

[@kitsune0rei]

I never knew much about budgies, just had a friend with one when I was a kid and was mostly afraid it'd bite. You've totally changed my perception of them, thanks for leveling up my knowledge! What a delightful small friend to have if you can give them the time they need!

[@sampagano205]

I asked my partner why we don't have a budgie and her response was "I've never gotten one because they can't talk", so I think we're adding budgies to rats and reptiles.

[@MiniMimots]

Male budgie can talk! And will try to if you get them from a young age!

[@dacisky]

I taught every budgie I ever had how to talk. Watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZipkmiZd86Jps0

[@Kredige]

Wait, your rats can talk!?

[@sampagano205]

@Jerry I know, that was the point, that she didn't think they could and so that being wrong.

[@bigsprucerabbitry6238]

@@Kredige Not in human, but if you put an infrasound bat detector up to the rats cage, they are little chatty Cathys to each other and even make a laughing sound if you tickle them. I miss my ratties.

[@greenlizardballs]

"If you want a budgie, you must yourself become a budgie" - Tupac Shakur

[@moonliteX]

this was the best description of keeping a budgie!

[@olive_garden446]

Aww this brings back memories! I had a white/gray (female) and green budgie (male) when I was little, best pets ever, I will admit very noisy and loud, but they are super loveable! Sadly they passed many years ago but I still miss and love them! They had a beautiful burial in my backyard and I bring then fresh flowers over their burial spots often! They tend to live 5-10 years with proper care btw. :) ❤

[@newtscamander7713]

Yay Twilly!! Nobody can object to how adorable he is!

[@Aquarimax]

So true!!

[@hallstonx3]

oh oh do pigeons next! People need to know how domesticated they actually are

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

Yes, and the weird history where they went from prized to despised! As a New Yorker, I adore my pigeon neighbors!

[@Grinnar]

I have three parrots and one is a budgie. She is such a joy to be around.

[@roninjolin7687]

I miss my Budgie. He would fly on my shoulder and keep me company when I was alone

[@RadicalDreamer85]

Psittacines are certainly my favorite pet reptile.

[@pissfrog]

Watching this with my 3 unreasonable dinosaurs (cockatiels) gotta make sure they know their family history

[@Lowlandlord]

Watching this with my Amazon Parrot sitting on my shoulder, chirping happily and preening. Ready to go into T-Rex mode at the drop of a hat though.

[@Lowlandlord]

It's worth noting that for my purposes I was specifically looking for a birb that would potentially outlive me, he is 4, I am 35.

[@spotsandstripes2]

@@Lowlandlord same with me and my timneh.. I got him as a husband substitute.. he’s perfect as I don’t have to wash his pants .. he can be a bit abusive tho if I talk to other men 🤣🤣🤣

[@Queenofgreen515]

I love budgies. I’ve had a few over the years, and they’re always wonderful little companions. Cockatiels are fabulous little dinosaurs too. ❤

[@technoraptor7778]

Hes a handsome budgerigar...I would always recommend flight training birds...that way they get the proper exercise and get the best out of life.

[@Aquarimax]

He is generally flighted, but that just wasn’t gonna fly in the Reptile Room! 😊👍

[@technoraptor7778]

Yeah :) of course.

[@byungwha95]

LOVE watching your videos! Your enthusiasm for animals is very charming~! These bird videos make me wonder: will we eventually get a crow or a raven? Cuz they're little tricksters which make them incredibly rad mini dinosaurs (in my personal opinion) but they're also sadly almost always depicted kinda negatively in most media...

[@MissMeltyCat]

Yessss! I'm so happy to see this video! I've been hoping you'd do one on Budgies for so long now!

[@ericarichardson2983]

I really appreciate the way Russ differentiates the two social needs of direct and indirect. It’s something I wouldn’t have thought of and been like “I spend all day with you! What more do you want?!” Not realizing they want one on one attention instead of just company.

[@lovelife4111]

Clint, can you guys do a video on pet finches, too? I loved this video! 💚 Some of Russ's descriptions of his experience with the budgie sound like he's describing a baby (Begging for attention, mimicry, consistent care, time, cuteness, figuring out sounds and cues).

[@Aquarimax]

In many ways, very like a baby!

[@emkay8482]

the bit at the beginning made me tear up, evolution is so COOL, the planet is so cool

[@blon.djukey9956]

Dude it's been so cool watching your channal grow I've got a few more animals since I started watching you your videos let people really know what there getting into and give a good walkthrough and what your gonna need to know I'm sure many animals live much fuller lifes because of what your doing please don't stop man :)

[@watsonwrote]

I had budgies as a kid and teen, and I feel like they fit the lifestyle of older children very well. I'd wake up and change their seeds, water, and waste tray lining. After school my sibling and I would take them out of their cage and play with them. It helped me be responsible: making sure their cage was clean, socializing and training them, and later when they nested by researching the extra care they needed. As a single adult with a full-time job, I find it hard to imagine how I'd fit them into my life the way I could as a kid even though I'd like to have budgies again. Without my sibling and parents also giving them attention, I'd feel bad leaving them at home alone all day. I'm also not sure my apartment neighbors would appreciate their vocalizations.