A few basic care points, essential to a budgie/small bird's wellbeing:

- Budgies/parrots fly ACROSS, not up and down, therefore they need a cage which is WIDER than it is tall. Finches/canaries fly much more than they climb, and need more space in order to do so. Most of the 'finch'/'canary' cages sold in pet shops are too small.

- Cages should be rectangular; round cages or any cage with decorative features (eg. dome or triangular [roof shaped] tops) only limit whatever space a bird has available to fly in. Round cages in particular have been shown to cause psychological distress.

- Plastic perches should be avoided as they can cause arthritis and other issues in bird feet. They also offer no help in trimming nails. Dowel perches are slightly better but still not preferable. A bird which only has dowel perches can often develop arthritis, inflammation, and/or pressure sores. Ideally, perches should be natural. A good rule to go by is the more texture and shape to the wood, the better the bird's feet will feel - and it is also healthier for their beak and nails. Natural perches and foliage is fortunately easy to come by in Perth, with our abundance of beautiful native flora :)

- Unless it is necessary for the bird's survival, wing clipping does more damage than good; it removes one of their biggest forms of defence/escape and limits their ability to exercise, increasing risk of muscle wastage and respiratory issues.

- The RSPCA has guidelines for recommended minimum cage size at https://kb.rspca.org.au/what-size-cage-does-my-pet-bird-need_409.html. For a single budgie, the smallest is 45cm L, 45cm H, 45cm W (or 18"). However, this size should ONLY be used if the budgie generally has free flight and only sleeps in the cage.

- Birds shouldn't live on a diet of seed alone. Seed is high in fat and does not cover a bird's complete nutritional needs. A bird fed solely on seed is more likely to develop respiratory problems and other illnesses. They should be provided with fresh fruits and vegetables as part of their daily diet. There is plenty of information available online as to which are best to feed.
(Popular fruits/veggies with ours seem to be chilli, silverbeet/spinach, corn cobs, broccoli, capsicum, zucchini and cauliflower)
**Note: This is general dietary information. Some birds require different diets for medical or other reasons. Please consult an avian vet if you're unsure.

- Be wary of rope toys. Birds can chew on and ingest fibres from these, which can lead to compaction/blockage in the gut. See here for more info: http://www.currumbinvetservices.com.au/foreign-body-ingestion/

- Sandpaper perch covers (or anything sandpaper) provide little benefit and can be more dangerous for birds, potentially causing injury and infection. The rough sand on their flesh can lead to sores or conditions like bumblefoot.

- Budgies/parrots do not require grit. This is generally used to help break down seeds, but since they remove the husk from seed before swallowing, it is a lot easier for them to digest.

- Finally, birds are flock animals and should have a companion of their own species. Especially if the human family isn't around most of the time, it is highly likely that a single bird will suffer from loneliness and anxiety.