Where is the safest place to keep my budgies, indoors or outdoors?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Depending on the type of bird you are planning to get, a more social environment may be best. I would also recommend considering proximity to the kitchen in your home as well as lighting in the room. It’s best to keep the bird in a room further from the kitchen to avoid potentially toxic fumes and in a room that does not get too hot or cold during the day. It is always best to acclimate birds slowly to their new environment. I hope all is well with your new pet!

The ideal temperature for budgies is about 60-70 F (15.5-21 C) and they can handle as low as 40 degrees (4 C) if needed for a short time, however if it is going to be consistently cool in the aviary for long periods of time, I would advise adding in heat lamps or other lighting to warming up the space and keep your birds comfortable. Adding in places they can nest and roost comfortably with lots of cover (and to hold in warmth) is also a good idea.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It would be safer and better to leave them with your friend in the cage. While they may get a bit stressed, they are likely going to get used to it and it is safer than letting them loose in a house without supervision. They are likely going to be just fine inside of the cage. Have a good day!

The short answer is yes. But there are a lot of factors to consider before putting birds into an outdoor aviary. Primary is whether, in some areas it may get too cold during certain times of the year for Greys to live comfortably. He can potential he be a factor in some areas and sprinkler or misting systems may need to be incorporated into the aviary. Birds in outdoor aviary's are also more susceptible to the spread of disease from wild bird populations and insects. I recommend speaking to aviculturists or avian veterinarians local to you to get an idea of the challenges of housing birds outdoors near you. It can be a great situation for some birds and owners but requires some research and care to develop the right habitat. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Jumbo will benefit from being where the action is. The living room or family room is often a great place for your bird since they will feel a part of the family and get to spend more time with you there. If space is an issue in the living room, the cage could be put in a bedroom or office and a smaller play stand can be set up in the living room. That way, the bird has a quiet room for sleep but can be on the play stand for more interaction through the day. I would avoid putting a cage in the kitchen because of the bird dangers that exist there. Hot stove tops, Teflon pans, etc all can be extremely harmful or fatal for birds. Wherever you locate the cage, make sure it’s free of drafts and that other family pets can’t access the cage or pose harm to Jumbo. Good luck!

Having a playpen or something your birds can rest on while out of the cage is a good idea. Also making sure they can get back into their cage for food and water (and to close it when you're ready for them to be back in) is also best. You may also want to have a bird net on hand to catch them if they aren't super tame and won't go back into their cage. Clipping wings can help make them easier to handle and catch, and if you are unsure how to do this, having a local vet show you before allowing them out and about is best. Making sure the room doesn't have any harmful objects such as fans, open windows, cooking items, etc is best to avoid injury to your birds. If there are sharp objects or things they could be injured on, removing them before allowing your birds out is best.

Hello. Yes, it is safe to bring them indoors when it is especially cold & wet. They would do best in a cooler part of the house, even the garage, but they will adapt nicely when out of the worse of the weather. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.