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Of all the birds, budgerigars are most often kept in apartments. These cheerful birds have won the hearts of many people with their liveliness and talkativeness. It’s great to have a bright, active little ball at home whose chirping lifts your spirits. Where did the budgie come from? What are the features of keeping it at home? How can we ensure that this amazing bird is always healthy and pleases the eyes and ears for as long as possible?

Life of budgies in nature

The name of this bird in Latin is Melopsittacus undulatus. Melos – “sing”, psittacus – “parrot”, undulatus – “wavy”. The parrot received its definition for the characteristic pattern on its wings - it resembles waves. In English, “budgie” is Budgerigar. The abbreviation Budgies can be seen on food packages.

Survival

Wavys were not always pets. These are free birds whose homeland is Australia. They live in colonies and move in flocks, so on the plains you can often see huge, dazzling green “clouds” quickly flying from place to place. Collectivity allows parrots to survive because they easily alert each other to danger. And it is more difficult for a predator to catch a specific individual when a colored carousel is constantly flashing before his eyes.

It is no coincidence that budgerigars have a bright grassy color. This allows them to see each other from afar, and males use their richness to conquer females. The wings, on the contrary, are faded gray. This allows them to camouflage themselves from predators while feeding. After all, budgerigars look for the bulk of their food on the ground.

“Curious! All wild budgies are green in color. Other colors (blue, white, yellow, lilac) are the result of many years of selection of domesticated birds.”

But the protective coloring of the back does not always save budgies, and many of them still die from the paws birds of prey, animals or snakes. Dry weather is also destructive for wavy birds, so in unfavorable seasons the birds often die. To minimize losses, the flock is forced to constantly wander from place to place, following the clouds. Where it is more likely to rain.

Reproduction

Despite many risks, budgerigars maintain their population. A short breeding cycle and litters that are quite large for such small birds help them in this. Once in favorable environment With a sufficient amount of food and water, the wavy birds immediately begin to engage in procreation.

Already 10 days after mating, the female lays from 1 to 6 eggs, from which chicks hatch within 20 days. The mother feeds them for up to 2 months, after which the chicks leave the nest and begin to feed on their own. At 3 months they are already able to mate and give birth to their offspring.

Nutrition

Wild budgies are not sophisticated eaters. They happily eat the seeds of land plants and grass. Occasionally they feast on young shoots and berries. Small insects are included in the diet of wavy fish only during times of famine. Sometimes flocks of budgies attack wheat fields cultivated by humans.

Keeping at home

The domestication of budgerigars began in the mid-19th century, when they began to be captured en masse in Australia and exported to Europe. To have one a strange bird It was considered fashionable, so the demand was very high. Australian authorities feared that the population might disappear and ordered ornithologists to start breeding parrots in captivity. And since these birds willingly give birth to offspring in favorable conditions, the wavy soon ceased to be a rarity.

A modern person, when getting a budgerigar, must definitely get acquainted with information about their content. This will improve the quality of life of the bird in captivity so that it is always cheerful and active. At home, a parrot can live up to 15 years, or even more, with proper care.

Convenient cage for birds

The larger the cage, the more comfortable the budgie is. Its minimum dimensions for one bird should be 40*30*30 (length, width, height). If you keep a pair, then 60*45*60. The cage must have:

• wooden perches (2 or more, located at different heights so that the birds can flutter from one to another);
• 2 feeders (one for grain and cereals, the other for wet food);
• drinking bowl with clean water;
• toys (mirrors, ladders, bells).

There is no need to completely fill the cage with toys and rocking chairs. The budgie should have enough space to move freely. And it is better if the cage is not round, but rectangular or square, because parrots need corners where they feel safe.

“Curious! Wavy birds have one peculiarity: when they are awake, they do not sit in one place, but constantly run around the perch. This is due to the instinct of self-preservation: in captivity, budgerigars are forced to move in order to avoid being captured by predators.”

It is important to choose the right place for the cage. It is optimal that the place is well lit, because the activity of the wavy depends on the length of daylight hours. But you should not place the cage near the window, because the birds catch cold easily. It would be good if it was a separate bedside table approximately in the middle of the room. The cage can also be hung from the ceiling.

What to feed

The cage is installed, the birds are settled. What to feed them? The diet of domestic budgies is no different from the diet of wild ones: seeds, fruits, twigs. In order for the bird to receive a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, you should buy ready-made feed (the daily amount is indicated on the package), which includes oats, millet, flaxseed, meadow grass, and sunflower seeds. Additionally, a piece can be secured in the cage mineral stone, which the wavy fish will peck, replenishing calcium reserves in the body.

In addition to food, you can feed budgies with various treats:

• fruits (apples, pears, kiwis, peaches) and vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, beets);
• greens (lettuce, dandelion leaves, chickweed, dill);
• twigs (willow, birch, maple, alder);
• boiled eggs (white), low-fat cottage cheese;
• porridge with water (buckwheat, millet, rice, pearl barley);
• unsalted crackers, crackers.

Everything else should not be given to parrots. Human food can harm the bird's digestion and make it sick.

"Attention! All herbs and twigs collected on the street should first be doused with boiling water or washed with soda, and only then given to the bird. And make sure that the parrot does not eat house plants: they can be poisonous.”

There should always be water in a budgie's cage. It should be changed every 1-2 days. Settled or filtered tap water is best suited for drinking wavy. Boiled water does not contain the minerals the bird needs. The water should be clean, cool and fresh, without gas. As a treat, you can sometimes give your budgie natural freshly squeezed juices, slightly diluted with water.

Lifestyle

Day budgerigar starts at dawn. The cage should be covered at night, because as soon as light enters it in the morning, the bird will chirp and run around. One side of the cage must be left open so that the wavy does not suffocate.

During the day, the parrot is usually cheerful: he runs around the cage, jumps from perch to perch, plays with a bell, and communicates with himself in the mirror. If this is a couple, then they are passionate about each other: they preen their feathers, kiss, and flirt.

In the wild, budgerigars fly a lot, so they need to be released at home more often. The bird must regularly stretch its wings and maintain its physical shape. This will allow her to stay healthy longer. When releasing a bird, you need to ensure its safety: close the windows, turn off the gas on the stove, warn your family to watch where they land.

"By the way! At home, budgerigars often die precisely because of accidents, and not from old age or disease.”

If you have time, you can play with the wavy. These birds quickly get carried away by the most different games, and any object can become a toy for them: a pencil, a hair band, a spoon, etc.

Hand Taming

You can have absolutely any budgie. And if someone’s bird is wild or aggressive, then the owners themselves are to blame. You need to engage in taming from a very young age - from 3-4 months. By this time, they are already completely independent birds that can live without their mother.

1. Having brought the bird home, you need to give it a couple of days to master it. Let the apartment be quiet all this time, and when you pass by the cage, stop and talk to the wavy in a calm tone.
2. On the third day, you can open the cage, step aside and watch the parrot. If the bird becomes interested and starts to come out, it means it is used to it. If she's sitting in a corner for now, give her a couple more days.
3. As soon as the wavy leaves the cage, quietly approach it and hand it a treat (seed, apple). Did the parrot take food from your hands? Amazing! No? Then wait some more. Let him get comfortable and fly around the apartment.
4. Gradually you can offer the bird your palm so that it sits on it. If you do everything calmly and measuredly, without sudden movements, then after 1-2 weeks the parrot will begin to fly to your sofa or computer desk.

It should only be done after he gets used to you. Choose one word that contains the sound “r” and also sibilants (for example, “good”) and say it to the wavy every day, sitting next to the cage. The bird should respond to communication: move its beak and look at you. If she's sleeping or preening her feathers, try another time.

Breeding

One budgie is still bored, even if people constantly play with him. And if you are rarely at home, then your pet definitely needs a friend. Some owners don't get a second budgie because they don't want to deal with the chicks. But you can have two same-sex birds! If you intentionally get a couple of wavy birds in order to, pay attention to the bird’s wax. This is a small growth above the beak. To put it simply, “nose.” If the wax is brown, this is a female, and if it is blue or light blue, this is a male.

Budgerigars monogamous. But breeders recommend immediately buying two birds raised in the same flock, so that they definitely do not abandon each other. Although domestic wavy birds rarely behave obstinately towards a new friend or girlfriend, so the risks of being left without bird offspring are small.

Nest house

In captivity, budgerigars reproduce quite actively. But in addition to warmth, light, food and water, one more condition is needed - a house. The female will not allow the male to approach her until she has built a nest in a place hidden from prying eyes. Nesting houses for wavy birds are sold in pet stores and resemble birdhouses: a wooden or plastic box with a hole.

A female budgerigar can lay up to 6 eggs. All this time she will sit in the house and come out only occasionally - to feed. Although some especially caring males fly into the house and feed the hen. You cannot get the eggs out, otherwise the female may refuse to hatch. You need to check the offspring through the removed top cover of the house. If the eggs sit for more than 3 weeks, they are empty.

A small bird cannot always cope with warming a large number of eggs, so it is necessary to maintain an optimal temperature. If the room is cool, you need to warm the house from outside with a lamp. And no drafts.

A nursing female and grown chicks should be fed with water-based porridges: millet, wheat, barley. When the babies turn 1.5 months old, they will begin to crawl out of the house. As soon as the last chick leaves the nest, the house must be removed. Otherwise, the parents can immediately move on to the next litter. The female needs to gain strength for at least six months.

It is impossible not to love budgies. If these charming birds appear in an apartment one day, then people keep them all the time. Cheerful chirping, perky disposition and friendliness perfectly brighten up loneliness and lift your spirits. You just need to feed the wavy birds correctly and ensure their safety.

If you want to have cheerful talkers in the house, budgies are suitable, the care and maintenance of which will not bring much trouble, but must be systematic. Birds need conditions that do not pose a threat to their lives, and that contribute to the favorable course of their life processes - adaptation, communication.

What does a budgie look like?

The bird has the following characteristics:

• size about 18 cm without tail, wings 10 cm each;
• tail – elongated, stepped, 8-10 cm;
• limbs - reddish or bluish, with 4 long fingers and curved claws;
• eyes - dark blue, with white or yellowish edging;
• the beak is strong, curved, like that of birds of prey. A cere with nostrils is noticeable at its base;
• the tongue is short and thick; if caring for budgies is accompanied by their upbringing, then the birds begin to copy human speech.

The bird attracts with its catchy, beautiful outfit and cheerful, sociable disposition, ease of keeping, and the ability to make it tame. It is always interesting to be with such a pet - he is noisy and talkative, plays with toys (bell, mirror), imitates the singing of birds and human speech. The most gifted remember up to 600 words and small phrases.

Colors of budgies

Wild wavy flowers are lemon-colored. The wings, back and head are covered with stripes of yellow and a little black, the lower part of the back is brilliant green, the tail is blue, and there are dark spots on the throat. Budgerigars, the care and maintenance of which are carried out in captivity, are divided into two color groups:

How many years do budgies live?

Owners are concerned about the question of how long budgerigars live in order to adjust their menu, for example, when caring for and maintaining an elderly individual, a lighter diet may be needed and. IN wildlife with many dangers and epidemics, their lifespan is 8-10 years. Budgerigars, which are cared for and maintained at home, with high-quality food, constant access to fresh greens and fruits, and the possibility of daily flights, can last up to 10-15 years of age.

How to determine the age of a budgie?

Before that, you need to find out his age. A young bird is better tamed, speaks faster and gets used to a new environment and owners more easily. The difficulty is that a pet at 5 years old looks the same as at 15. Only by purchasing a young chick before the first moult can you be sure of its age, then it is difficult to determine it.

Young males have a violet cere; in females it is beige or blue with a light border around the nostrils. The plumage of chicks is more faded, there is no white iris on the eye (up to 6 months), the wave goes all over the head (after molting at 4 months, it disappears in the front part), their beak is darker than that of adults. Birds purchased from breeders have rings on their paws with the year of birth - they are used to determine the exact age.

Domestic budgies are not picky, but their care and maintenance involve observing light and temperature regime. Chronic lack of sleep or hypothermia can cause colds, molting, self-plucking, and loss of appetite in birds. Keeping budgies:

1. Lighting. Daylight hours should be 10-12 hours in winter and 12-14 in summer. At night, the cage is covered with a cloth.
2. Ultraviolet. UV rays favor the production of vitamin D3 in birds and the absorption of calcium by their bodies. If properly maintained in the summer, the pet should be given sunbathing for 30 minutes a day. In winter, artificial UV lamps are placed above the cage.
3. Temperature. Optimal - +22-25Gdeg;C, sudden changes and drafts are not allowed. When caring for and maintaining a pet in a sick state, it is heated with 40 W lamps.
4. Activity. Birds should fly for 20-30 minutes a day. It is important to close the windows and ensure that the pet does not bump into dangerous objects.

Budgerigar Cage

It is recommended to keep parrots in a rectangular cage made of metal rods. Its minimum size is 40x25x40 cm, when you plan to breed budgies and buy a couple of pets, the dimensions of the home must be increased. Until a nesting house is installed for them, they will not reproduce. A home for budgerigars, which are cared for and maintained at home, is equipped with:

• retractable bottom;
• perches 1.2 cm thick;
• feeders for grain and additional feed;
• drinking bowl;
• Coarse calcined sand is poured onto the bottom.

House for budgies

As a rule, a budgerigar does not reproduce at home in a species enclosure. In order for a couple to have an instinct for procreation, another house needs to be inserted into it. When keeping several pairs in an enclosure, each needs to build such a structure, otherwise the females can beat each other to death. For one couple, a horizontal plywood house with a height of 15 cm and a bottom of 25x15 cm is suitable; it is hung at the top of the house. Arrangement:

• The lid of the box is removable to put things in order;
• a tap hole with a diameter of 5 cm is cut on the side at a distance of 3 cm from the top;
• A perch is attached under the hole for lowering and raising birds into the house.

Nest for budgies

A convenient nest for budgies is built inside a plywood box. To keep the female and chicks, sawdust is placed on the bottom of the house in a layer of 2 cm, a special recess for laying is made in the litter - 8 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm deep. Otherwise, the eggs will roll out all over the box or the girl will throw out all the shavings when arranging the nest. To ensure proper skeletal growth of chicks, calcium powder is poured onto the bottom.

Caring for budgies at home

Caring for birds does not take much time. How to care for a budgie:

• change the water in the drinking bowl daily;
• take care of feeders and drinkers every day - wash them with hot water and baking soda, wipe dry;
• Place the bathing suit in your home once a week and remove it after the procedure;
• With proper care, a thorough cleaning should be carried out once a month - the cage and equipment should be washed with chamomile decoction and dried.

What to feed your budgie?

Birds have a fast metabolism, so the main food should always be present in the home; with proper care and maintenance, it is important to diversify it with herbs, vegetables, and fruits. What do budgies eat:

• The basis of the portion is grain mixtures, consisting of approximately 70% millet different types, 10% oats, 20% - wheat, canary, hemp, flaxseed;
• fresh vegetables: cucumbers, sweet peppers, beets, carrots;
• greens: parsley, radish tops, lettuce, dandelion, spinach, clover;
• fruits: pineapple, apricots, quince, cherry, grapes, bananas, watermelon, strawberries, plums, raspberries, citrus fruits.

Reproduction of budgies

A young couple over the age of 1 year can be allowed to breed; the process begins in the summer, when there is a lot of green food available. The couple is provided with 16 hours of daylight, a week before mating they are saturated with vitamins - they are given egg mixtures with semolina and carrots, greens, and chalk. How to determine the sex of a budgie (after 3-4 months):

• in males the cere is bright lilac;
• in females it is beige or brown with white edging of the nostrils.

When keeping a pair intended for reproduction, a nest box is placed in the cage; within a month, the female lays 4-12 eggs and incubates them for 20 days. After this, the chicks hatch - blind and without feathers. A week later they begin to see the light, after 10 days the fluff sprouts. During the first weeks, the mother takes care of them - she feeds the chicks with crop milk, then gives them softened adult food. After 30-35 days, the babies leave the nest. They are kept and cared for in a separate cage when they are already eating on their own. After 1-2 clutches, the nest is removed so that the female can rest.

How to tame a budgie?

Wavys are very smart and friendly. They are careful, but even a distrustful pet quickly makes contact. The main thing in training is patience; everything must be done without haste. How to tame a budgerigar to your hands:

1. After the store, your pet does not need to be disturbed for several hours so that he gets used to the environment.
2. The house is placed at human eye level, so the bird can better see who is approaching it.
3. The taming process begins by offering the pet his favorite treat through the bars, affectionately calling his name. In case of failure, attempts are repeated the next day. As a result, the bird will take the treat out of curiosity.
4. Next you need to try to feed the bird from your hands in the cage. It is better to do this in the morning when she is hungry.
5. Afterwards, you need to teach the parrot to sit on your finger by slipping it under the perch. They soon understand what they want from them.
6. Then you can offer the bird treats outside the cage. There is no need to chase the parrot - he should come to the hand himself as soon as he gets used to the situation.

How to teach a budgie to talk?

Wavys are able to repeat human words, each individual has its own degree of talent - some talk a lot, others less. How to teach a budgie to talk:

• It’s better to buy a young male and conduct lessons in a quiet place;
• first you can learn his nickname, repeat the word clearly and legibly. When he remembers it, move on to the next one;
• start with easy words, lessons become more difficult gradually;
• it is important not to forget to praise the bird and give treats;
• the more time spent on training, the more extensive vocabulary parrot;
• You can record several phrases on the player and place them near the bird.

Diseases of budgies

Domestic budgies that are not properly cared for and maintained may become ill. This happens due to poor quality food, non-compliance with hygiene rules, lighting, and temperature conditions. Budgerigars - common diseases and treatment:

1. Cold. Symptoms are sneezing and runny nose. Care in this case: irradiate the bird with a 40 W table lamp, give vitamins, put a chamomile decoction in the house.
2. Damage by ticks and feather eaters. Signs: itching, self-plucking, feathers spoiled by holes. Moving insects are visible in the tray. Down-eaters are expelled with the drug Frontline, applied to the back of the head. Ticks are destroyed with aversectin and novertine ointment, applying the product with a brush to the paws, beak, cere, and cloaca.
3. Delayed oviposition. Sign: the female does not leave the bottom of the cage, breathes heavily, and a swelling forms near the cloaca. Girls rush even in the absence of a male. A stuck egg can be released if you drip Vaseline oil into the anus and place a heating pad covered with a cloth at the bottom. If it doesn’t help, you need to take the female to the doctor, otherwise she will die.

Birds that get along well with their owners do not get bored in captivity, and therefore they are most often chosen by lovers as pets.

If you are planning to keep these bright and sociable birds, then you need to familiarize yourself with the information on how to care for a budgie.

This knowledge will help make your feathered pet as comfortable as possible.

Description of the species

Upon reaching adulthood, they have the following physical indicators:

• body length - 17–20 cm;
• body weight - 40–45 g;
• tail length - up to 10 cm;

The bulk of budgies have feather colors green or a combination of green and yellow. The color of feathers is white, acid yellow or blue; this color is characteristic of breeds bred as a result of directed selection.

Birds of this breed have wavy dark stripes in the back of the head, on the wings and back. The stripes are often located, on the head they are thin, gradually descending towards the wings, the lines thicken, become clearer and brighter. Because of these lines, parrots are called budgies. Before the first molt, young birds have a much shorter tail than adult parrots (6–8 cm).
The wings of budgerigars reach 9–10 cm, they are strong, with a well-developed flight feather. Wavy birds only use their wings to fly; they do not use them for climbing or sit on them. The neck has good mobility - in order to look back, birds only use a turn of the head. The paws have four toes, two of which look forward and two are turned in the opposite direction. The skin on the paws is gray-blue, dark.

The eye color of these birds is dark blue, sometimes the iris is yellow or white. The parrot's eye is designed in such a way that it has a wide angle of vision.

Lifespan

Before giving your child a feathered friend, you need to find out how long budgerigars live at home. If she lives very little, then her death will become a serious psychological trauma for the child.

They can live in your home from 5 to 15 years. The difficulty in determining the age of a bird is that both young and old (fifteen-year-old) parrots look the same. If you purchase an adult bird, you cannot be sure of its age. The lifespan of birds depends on living conditions and diet.

A bird will live long if:

• the menu will regularly include fruits, vegetables and herbs;
• the birdhouse will be spacious and comfortable;
• the parrot will fly freely around the apartment at least once a day.

The color of the strong and downwardly curved beak in young parrots is dark, while in adult birds the color of the cornea changes to a bright yellow color.

How to distinguish between a female and a male

In budgerigars, you can distinguish males from females by the color of the wax (growth at the base of the beak).

What does the color of the cere mean?

• light purple is a young male;
• bright blue - adult male;
• light blue - young female;
• light brown or dark brown - sexually mature female.

The feathers on the female's forehead have a fluorescent property and glow under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Ornithologists are convinced that the unusual spot is provided by nature to attract males of this breed to the female.

Did you know? Budgerigars have an unusual high speed visual perception, it can see up to 150 images in one second. For comparison, a person manages to see only 16 images in the same time.

Budgerigars come from Australia, where the climate is arid and hot, with rare, heavy rainfall. Proper care of these birds involves keeping them in suitable climatic conditions so that the parrots feel comfortable in different periods their lives (during the period when birds molt, adapt or reproduce).

To ensure proper conditions of detention, it is important to observe:

• light mode;
• temperature regime;
• permissible air humidity in the room where the cage is located.

Light mode for parrots

This mode implies not only the change of day and night so that the birds are awake and asleep in time, but also the brightness of the light in the room. Lighting is so important for birds because vision is one of their most important sensory organs. environment. With the help of vision, birds navigate in space and choose the most suitable food.
Lack of light causes depression in parrots, and anomalies in behavioral reactions occur (birds begin to peck feathers on themselves and other birds). Insufficient lighting causes disruptions in health - the body lacks vitamin D, and, as a result, female parrots fill the nest with unfertilized eggs, and male parrots lose interest in the opposite sex.

The light regime is very important for parrots because its disruption negatively affects the endocrine glands, which are located in the eye area.

For parrots, the night period (the period of rest and sleep) is very important. If birds do not have enough rest period, their immunity decreases, irritability increases, long-term stress occurs - the birds get sick.

The length of daylight hours for parrots should be:

• in summer and spring - from 12 to 14 hours;
• in autumn and winter - from 10 to 12 hours.

Light intensity

Ultraviolet light helps the body produce vitamin D, which promotes the hardness and elasticity of bone tissue. This is why lighting brightness is very important.

In summer, parrots benefit from sunbathing. To do this, choose the morning, not hot hours. The birdcage is exposed to the sun for some time, the time of the first five procedures is no more than 5 minutes. After the pet has adapted to the sun, the time for “tanning” is gradually increased to 30 minutes.

In winter, the same procedures can be carried out under a special ultraviolet lamp; it can be easily purchased in “Everything for Animals” stores.

Daylight hours should not be too long or too short, as deviation in either direction can lead to a deterioration in the health of the bird.

Abnormally long daylight hours lead to:

• lack of sleep;
• nervous condition;
• reducing the threshold of stress resistance;
• general loss of strength;
• the awakening instinct of reproduction at the wrong time.

Abnormally long night time leads to:

• exhaustion of the bird (it does not have time to eat);
• constantly being drowsy and depressed;
• the beginning of hormonal imbalances.

Humidity

The air humidity in the room should be as close as possible to the natural habitats of wavy birds. It doesn't rain often in Australia, but the air humidity constantly fluctuates around 55–70%.

What threatens excessively dry indoor air for a parrot:

• skin diseases;
• loss and brittleness of feathers;
• prolonged period of molting;
• depressed state;
• to the fact that the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose and mouth suffers;
• to decreased immunity;
• to an increased likelihood of respiratory and viral diseases.

In order to avoid these unpleasant consequences, there should always be a bath of water in the cage for bathing. Budgerigars enjoy splashing around in the water.

Room temperature

Wavy plants do not do well at room temperatures that are too high. The optimal room temperature for keeping them is considered to be +22–25 °C. The bird should be protected from sudden fluctuations in air temperature and drafts.

Parrots do not have sweat glands, so when they overheat, they raise their wings, open their beaks and stretch their necks - this helps them lower their body temperature to an acceptable one.

How to determine heatstroke in a parrot:

• the bird is breathing heavily;
• trembling throughout the body;
• unsteadiness on your feet;
• disorientation in space;
• loss of consciousness.

How to warm a bird

If your pet is sick and its body temperature has dropped significantly, it is important to warm the bird. Regular light bulbs (40–60 W) or special ornithological heating lamps are perfect for this.

In winter, there are interruptions in heating, and to raise the air temperature, you can install a heater in the room. When installing a heater, it is important to remember that it should not be placed near the cage.

Did you know? In Australian nature, you can observe huge flocks of budgerigars numbering over a thousand birds. When a flock sits on a tree, from afar it seems that thousands of bright exotic flowers are blooming on it at the same time. Although the noise is deafening.

How to choose a home for a parrot

If a family has decided that a feathered pet is needed in the house, they need to think about where and how it will live. To make the parrot comfortable and cozy, he needs his own house - a cage. There is an opinion that the absence of a cage causes the death of parrots even before they reach the age of three. When choosing a cage, you need to take into account several factors: size, shape, height, density of the lattice, installation of devices necessary for the life of the bird.

Dimensions and shape

Budgerigars can be kept in cages various shapes and size. The most convenient form is considered to be a spacious rectangular cage with a domed top. The bottom of the cage is made of hard wood or metal, and the walls and dome should be barred with thin, strong wire. The wire for the grill should not be copper, as the pet can be poisoned by copper oxides by chewing the wire.

If the cage tray is made of soft wood, then the bird will constantly peck holes in it, and soon you will have to buy a new cage. In order for the bird to have something to chew on, the cage must be equipped with cuttings of branches with thick knots. For one parrot, the size of the cage should not be less than 35x35 cm, and for a married couple, the extremely small living area is 65x55 cm. The height of the bird's house is not as important as its length and width, because parrots do not fly in it, only climb on perches and ladders.

The frequency of the wire placement should create a grid of such density that the bird cannot stick its head in there and get injured. The diameter of the wire should not be thicker than 2 mm, and the distance between two wires should not exceed 15–20 mm. If the wire is placed thicker, it will make it difficult for the bird to see the room, it will take longer to get used to its owners and will be less contactable.

The cage size can be any, but the most acceptable size is one where the parrot can calmly spread its wings. Parrots often perform such actions, compensating for the lack of active movement.

You also need to plan for visits to the veterinarian. To do this, buy a small carrying cage. This cage has small dimensions (20x7x9 cm) and three walls that are impenetrable to view; there is a lattice wall only in front of the carrier. The opacity of the carrier cage is due to the fact that the bird experiences stress when moving outside or when seeing unfamiliar people.

Arrangement of the cage

After purchasing the cage, you need to equip it for the bird’s convenience. There are several perches in it. Such perches are located in places where a sitting parrot does not clog the water bowl or food bowl with droppings; the bird's tail should not reach the walls of the cage.

The following tree species are suitable for perches:

• oak, beech, maple, birch - these will be durable and strong seat supports;
• willow - these will be healing perches;
• apple tree, pear tree, cherry, plum, rowan - these will be “delicious” seats containing minerals and.

Important! Coniferous trees (spruce, pine, cedar) are absolutely not suitable for perches - they can give rise to the development of diseases in birds. It is also unacceptable to use poisonous tree species.

Drinkers and feeders are installed in the cage. There may be one or two drinking containers; the water in them must be changed every day.

Typically you need three feeders:

• for mineral feeding (crushed eggshells, red clay, sand, charcoal);
• for solid feed (millet and other grains);
• for soft food.

Birds love to swim, especially in the hot season, and use drinking bowls for this. During bathing, water splashes, the cage becomes dirty, fluff and feathers fly in all directions. This can be avoided by purchasing a special bathing container. This “bathroom” has transparent walls that protect the cage from splashes. It can be hung from the ceiling of the cage.

To ensure that the cage is always clean and the owner can quickly and conveniently clean it, the bottom of the cage is made retractable. This bottom is easy to pull out, shake out of debris or wash. At a height of 1.5 to 3 cm from the bottom, a fine mesh net is fixed in the cage. Such a net is needed to prevent birds from pecking at dirty food (that has fallen to the bottom of the cage and mixed with droppings).

Did you know? Your parrot may be left-handed. Take a closer look at him - a left-handed person will take the treat with his left paw, and a right-handed person with his right.

Caring for a budgie

Budgerigars are very curious birds and need to stick their beaks everywhere. When they are let out to fly around the apartment, they are interested in everything, they try everything to their teeth. Owners need to provide for this bird feature and ensure their pets’ safety in everything: proper nutrition, the interior of the bird’s house, and the conditions when walking around the apartment.

It is very important for future owners to become familiar with what budgies eat at home, because ignorance of such an important issue can undermine the health of their pets.

Most of the budgerigar's diet consists of millet of various colors (yellow, red and white). They also do not refuse oats, sunflower seeds, canary grass and wild grass seeds. Every other day, the bird's menu should include a soft mixture: grated carrots, finely chopped chicken eggs and nettles grated into dry dust.
If the parrot has hatched offspring, then the soft mixture should be given every day. You can change the components of this mixture and replace carrots with red beets, and eggs with homemade cheese. After lunch with grated beets, parrots can smear themselves from head to toe in the coloring juice and frighten their owners for a couple of days with the creepy appearance of their feathers.

In winter, sprouted grain feed (a source of minerals and vitamins) is beneficial for the birds’ bodies, and in summer birds are given greens (lettuce leaves, dandelion leaves, parsley and dill leaves) daily. It is necessary to ensure that the greens are not treated with insecticides so that the parrots do not get poisoned. Also, in winter and summer, branches of fruit trees should be present in the cage; willow branches are very useful.

From time to time you can treat your pet to a peeled piece of apple; it is undesirable to give soft fruits (bananas), which can clog the bird's crop, and pieces of white bread dried in the oven until crisp.

• rye bread;
• salt or salty foods.

Important! When kept in cages, birds should not be overfed, since their movement is limited by the space of the cage or apartment. Parrots can become obese.

Drink

The water in the drinking bowls is changed every day to avoid stagnation. In winter, you can add a little lemon juice to drinking water; for every 150 g of water, add 15 drops of juice. Lemon juice serves as a source of vitamin C and at the same time disinfects water.

When parrots go through particularly difficult periods in their lives (they are feeding chicks, molting, or have recently been ill), vitamins or fish oil are added to their drink or food.

Care

When a new tenant arrives in the house, the owners need to anticipate all dangerous situations for him and prevent them. Caring for budgies is not difficult, but it is worth remembering what is contraindicated for your pet.
Dangers at home:

• open windows and doorways - a bird may fly out of the apartment and never find its way back;
• mirror surfaces made of glass - in flight, a parrot can hit them hard and get injured;
• electrical wiring - parrots love to chew everything, if a mischief maker damages the insulation of an electrical cable, the bird may receive an electric shock;
• poisonous indoor plants- Lily, narcissus, amaryllis, dieffenbachia, foxglove, monstera, rhubarb, English ivy, croton are deadly for birds. Conditionally edible for parrots: violet, aloe, ferns, edible fig, gardenia, grape ivy. Your pet can chew these flowers and survive, but this is best avoided;
• cords from blinds and thread curtains - the bird can become entangled and die;
• a smoldering cigarette or cigarette butts in an ashtray - the parrot can get burned or eat too much tobacco and get poisoned;
• open freezers, washing machines, ventilation grilles - a bird’s curiosity can lead to injury or death;
• water in the bathroom, without a lid, a bucket of water - a parrot can drown in them;

• unhindered access to the trash can - having decided to take a closer look at what is interesting there, the bird can be taken out and thrown away along with the trash bag;
• household chemicals, markers, felt-tip pens, insecticides - getting into the gastrointestinal tract or respiratory system can result tragically;
• and - the cat’s feigned indifference to its feathered neighbor should not weaken your alertness;
• inattention of the owners - an affectionate bird can nestle next to its sleeping owner, turning over to the other side a person can crush the fragile pet;
• newspapers - newsprint used as bedding in a cage tray can become a source of lead poisoning;
• New Year's garlands and toys - the parrot's attention is simply drawn to itself by the festive tinsel and sparkles, which the bird can die from eating, and the parrot also definitely needs to try electric garlands, which threatens with an electric shock.

When going on a short vacation (five to seven days), it is better to leave your pet at home and not give it away for foster care. A familiar environment, a sufficient amount of food and drink, a home cage, toys, swings and mirrors will help brighten up the bird’s sadness for its absent owners. By moving a cage with a parrot to relatives or friends, you cause the parrot much more trauma than with your short absence.

Did you know? With the body motionless in rotation, the parrot's neck moves remarkably, and the bird can turn its head almost 180 degrees.

In addition to ensuring safety, caring for budgies at home includes:

• daily cage cleaning;
• daily replacement drinking water and feed;
• washing food and drinking containers with hot water;
• feeding varied and fresh food that is beneficial for poultry;
• careful attention to the health of birds;
• walks around the apartment, ideally daily;
• ensuring a “day and night” regime, for which the cage is covered with a dark, light-proof fabric while the bird sleeps.

It is normal for budgies to defecate 35 to 50 times per day. The health status of a budgie can be determined by its droppings:

• white “blamba” with a green edging, odorless - the bird is healthy;
• dark green or brown droppings (the presence of seeds and grains in the diet) - this also indicates that the bird is healthy;
• droppings that are too light, droppings with blood, or a smell coming from the droppings are the first signal that not everything is in order with the bird’s health.

If, in addition to “improper” bowel movements, the bird’s physical condition is also far from in the best shape, it is vomiting, trembling all over its body, the bird sits hunched up and refuses to eat - you need to immediately contact a veterinarian!

Education

It is easier to start with a small parrot, but it is quite possible to teach the pronunciation of some words to adult birds. Both females and males are trained, but wavy birds in pairs refuse training. If a bird learned to talk before it found its soul mate, it will continue to talk and can teach its mate to do so.

Before starting training sessions, the owner must find an approach to his pet, gain his trust and love. The parrot itself must want to communicate; for this, the person needs to spend as much time as possible with him.

You can start talking to your parrot as soon as it stops being afraid of a person approaching the cage. Conversation with gentle intonations is the main element of taming a bird.

You need to address your pet by name; usually birds remember their name first. It’s good if the name has a rolling “r”, such a word is easily remembered and pronounced by parrots, but birds also readily pronounce other melodious names. Possible names for parrots:

• Gerochka;
• Kesha;
• Kuzya;
• Gosha;
• lemon;
• Arseny;
• Kira.

Features of reproduction

If budgerigars have a pair, they readily breed in cages. At home, they mature for sexual relations by four months, but the most successful reproductive age for males and females occurs after a year of life.

Parrots meticulously choose their mates and do not always agree with the owner’s choice. It is not uncommon for a female to refuse to allow a parrot bought by her owner to approach her. The bird has to be carried back.

In order to avoid such a situation, it is best to give the bird a choice of several partners that it likes - and leave that one. They remain faithful to this choice forever. When the owners notice that the parrot begins to care for the female (cleaning her feathers, carrying pieces of tasty food and feeding her from her beak), they can prepare for the appearance of offspring in the bird family.
In order for the birds to want to have offspring, they need to install a special house in the cage for hatching the chicks. If there are several bird pairs in one cage, then there should be one house for each of them. If this condition is not met, the females will fight among themselves for “living space.”

Wavys reproduce most readily in spring and summer, but you can get offspring from them in winter. There are usually six to ten eggs in a clutch; the bird lays eggs every day or every other day. When all the eggs have been laid, the mother sits down to hatch them. After 18 days, a new inhabitant appears in the cage, his brothers and sisters begin to hatch a day after him. The last chick emerges from the egg that was laid last.

Did you know? Swans are not the only ones famous for their loyalty. It is not for nothing that people call budgies - they create pairs for life. If one of the pair dies, the other parrot will remain alone for the rest of its life.

Possible diseases

Diseases found in budgies:

• poisoning- birds can get poisoned household chemicals, stale food, vegetables, fruits or herbs treated with insecticides and chemicals, salt or salty foods. Before visiting the veterinarian, the patient should be given crushed black activated carbon mixed in a spoon with boiled water, or a decoction of flax seed;
• occurrence of tumors- wavy animals are prone to tumors, which develop quickly and are difficult to treat. If the tumor is small, the veterinarian can remove it surgically; unfortunately, such an operation is not always possible. Almost always, the occurrence of such a disease eventually leads to the death of the bird;
• iodine deficiency - this disease occurs quite rarely; it is often the excess of iodine in the body that harms birds;
• broken legs and wings- Injuries are caused by falls from a height or impacts on a hard surface. As first aid for fractures, you need to tape the damaged limb to a solid base using electrical tape and contact a veterinarian. Such injuries in birds heal quite quickly;
• concussion- can be caused by hitting a wall, glass or mirror. The bird will behave unusually, shaking its head, staggering. Only a veterinarian can determine for sure whether a bird has a concussion, but if there is a suspicion, the parrot should be placed in a small cage, slightly covered with a dark cloth (twilight is created). At this time, the parrot is given medications: nootropil or piracetam;
• colds- tropical birds react to drafts, cold air and viruses. The parrot may begin to cough, runny nose, and begin to sneeze. A bird that has suffered severe flu may develop heart complications.

Treatment of bird diseases should be carried out by a specialist. Therefore, if the owner notices that his pet is feeling unwell or injured, he should immediately contact a veterinarian.

Now we know everything about and see that there is nothing complicated in their maintenance, care is not at all complicated. The owners need to put in a little effort, affection and care, and in return they will receive the love of their winged pets.

There are two dozen simple rules for the daily care of a budgie. Read and follow them!

Funny little birds can live in a house for fifteen to twenty years, delighting their owners with their cheerful disposition and talkativeness. The friendly bird quickly gets used to the household and easily adapts to new living conditions. You just need to know how to care for a budgie and follow these simple care rules.

Budgerigar: features of keeping

In order for the bird to feel good, you need to provide it with proper care, excellent living conditions and good nutrition. Knowing how to care for a budgie at home, you can save your pet from health problems and admire the cheerful and cheerful nimble creature.

Don’t forget that you need to talk and play with the bird, otherwise how will it understand that you are its owner? The parrot considers you a member of its flock and it needs communication.

The pet bird has a weak heart, so it should not be frightened or handled unnecessarily, especially at first. You should take care of the safety of the parrot and protect it from other pets that pose a danger.

Keep an eye on the bird's droppings; based on their condition, you can notice the disease in time and understand how to properly care for your budgie so that it recovers faster.

Rules for daily care of a parrot

In order for a bird to feel good and live a long time, you need to look after it and create comfortable living conditions for it:

• a tall, spacious cage should be located in a bright room, away from heating devices and drafts;
• it needs to be cleaned at least twice a week, the bedding paper in the tray should be changed every day and the sippy cup should be washed to remove mucus;
• pay attention to the quality of food, pamper your pet only with fresh products;
• The bird should always have clean water;
• the budgie's home should be equipped with perches, rings, ladders and swings made of oak or beech;
• let your pet fly so that he can “stretch” his wings;
• In the evening, cover the cage with a thick cloth at the same time so that the bird gets used to the regime;
• maintain the required air humidity in the house and avoid sudden temperature changes;
• take care of artificial lighting for the parrot - it needs twelve hours of daylight in winter and fourteen in summer.

Advice: it is better to strengthen a grill over the tray so that the bird does not peck
food that has spilled and mixed with droppings

Attention - danger! What should you be concerned about?

Daily walks are vital for your parrot's physical and mental health. However, a person's home can be dangerous for a pet. The bird needs to be created safe conditions for being outside the cage, having figured out how to care for budgies in a city apartment. Unsafe factors:

• mirrors and windows - an inexperienced bird can hit and be injured;
• wires from household appliances– a curious parrot can chew them and get an electric shock;
• an open window - a bird that has flown out will not find its way back and may die;
• plants - the parrot can be poisoned;
• drum washing machine, ventilation shaft grille, refrigerator compartment - places where entry into which threatens the death of the bird;
• cigarette smoke and unextinguished cigarette butts are dangerous for a delicate pet;
• an aquarium, a toilet, a large container with liquid threatens the parrot with drowning;
• kitchen - fumes from a heated frying pan, a pan with boiling food, sharp objects, the smell of gas are harmful to a small bird;
• chemicals, paints and varnishes, detergents and cleaners, felt-tip pens, crayons and markers should not come into contact with your pet.

Feeding the parrot

A balanced diet is the key to a long and happy life parrot Vitamins and minerals should supplement the daily grain diet. Your pet should be delighted with low-calorie cottage cheese, boiled chicken eggs, vegetables and fruits.

In summer, you need to make sure that your parrot has access to fresh water. It is better to give drinking bottled or standing (15-18 hours) clean water.

You can add grated carrots, apples, cabbage, and lettuce to your bird’s diet. The parrot will perceive dandelion and plantain seeds as a delicacy.

In winter, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the water and do not forget about vitamin and mineral supplements.

What is the norm

Bird droppings are an indicator of the pet's condition. Ideally, it consists of a round piece with a light center (urate) and a greenish rim (fecal substance). A small amount of colorless urine is normal.

Does your parrot defecate often? This is good: 35-50 “trips” to the toilet are the norm.

If the bird is healthy, its droppings will be solid and odorless. Dark green color of stool is characteristic of a grain diet, while brown usually indicates that the bird has eaten pelleted food. If you see an unusual consistency or color of the droppings, remember what your pet ate - there may be no reason to worry.

The first signs of trouble

If you find too light, reddish-brown droppings or an admixture of blood, an atypical amount of it, an unusual color or smell, or the remains of undigested food - this is a reason to closely monitor the behavior of the parrot.

If the bird is ruffled, trembling, lethargic, refuses to eat, or you notice vomiting and diarrhea, you need to show your pet to an ornithologist veterinarian as soon as possible.

To notice unfavorable changes in time, place a sheet of white paper on the pallet. The droppings will be clearly visible on it, and you will not miss dangerous symptoms.

Diseases of budgies

If your pet is not feeling well, then it is important to know how to care for a budgie in order to relieve the bird of discomfort and cure it. Typical diseases of parrots: symptoms, causes, treatment:

• intestinal blockage - the bird is lethargic, ruffled, with poor appetite and diarrhea due to poor-quality feed or too fatty food. Treatment is a diet of liquid rice water. Drink – boiled water with chamomile decoction (1:1), a few drops of vaseline oil;

• mallophagosis (insects that feed on fluff) - the parrot is anxious, does not sleep, has no appetite, partial baldness and inflammation of the eye membrane are possible. Treatment - bathing in chamomile infusion, spraying with medicinal sprays, disinfecting the cage;

• diathesis - the parrot's beak becomes overgrown with a dry yellow-gray crust due to a deficiency of minerals and vitamins. Treatment is the introduction of fruits, herbs, vitamin and mineral complexes into the diet.

Tip: you don’t need to trim the bird’s beak and claws yourself with scissors;
You can accidentally hit blood vessels

First days in a new house

You need to prepare for the arrival of a new family member: a spacious cage, a comfortable feeder, a silicone drinking bowl, a bathing container and perches should be waiting for the owner.

It's good if there is a pet in the house charcoal, river sand and eggshells. Handle your parrot with care - he is excited about the move.

Do not pick up the bird unless necessary; place the cage at eye level so that the pet gets used to you. Make the music quieter, protect the parrot from the “friendly visit” of domestic animals.

The bird may have poor appetite and digestive problems in the first days. Talk to your parrot quietly and gently, give him a name and call him often.

The purchased bird does not come with instructions for use and maintenance conditions, but we have discussed the basic rules of care. If you remember how to care for a budgie at home, then your pet will have a long and happy life.

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Many people decide to get a parrot, naively believing that these are the most problem-free pets. Like, caring for a parrot is not difficult. In fact, small birds need more care and attention than we used to think.
We will tell you further how to care for budgies and what you should never do.

Place for a cage

The first commandment in caring for parrots: protect from drafts and noise.

To prevent the bird's nervous system from suffering, budgies should live in a quiet room, preferably remote. Ideally, there should be no equipment such as speakers or a TV here. Because wavy animals do not like sharp and loud sounds. And also because miracles modern technology interfere with the bird's activity and rest schedule.

If there are no options, carefully monitor the behavior of the birds. And when budgies begin to nod and hide their noses in their feathers, cover the cage with a thick blanket that does not allow light to pass through. Just leave one side of the cage open so that air can pass through and the parrot does not get lost in space.

Caring for a budgie in the first days is to provide it with maximum rest. Let your pet get used to its new home and look around. All this time the cage should be located at the level of human height. This is how the budgie gets used to its owner’s face and voice. Later the cage can be rearranged a little lower. On a cabinet or coffee table, for example.

The cage should not be placed in the kitchen or in a dark hallway.

Keeping parrots in these premises has a negative impact on their health and life expectancy. So, in the kitchen, the feathered companion will be surrounded by various pungent odors, to which the bird’s delicate nostrils are sensitive. Again, people talk loudly here, the hood is noisy or the refrigerator is humming. People don't notice these noises. And the bird reacts to them anxiously. There are often drafts in the hallway.

And budgerigars will not be able to orient themselves in time: the biological processes in their bodies are subject to the daylight hours. In conditions of constant darkness, they even stop eating.

Correct lighting

Caring for budgies at home is a complicated matter.

Take, for example, lighting for these birds. In the absence of daylight, so that miniature organisms do not experience disruptions in their work, it is necessary to take care of its additional sources. And ordinary lamps will not work. In its light, everything will be seen by the birds in black and white.

Ornithologists advise purchasing a full-spectrum fluorescent lamp.

By the way, it is easy to find among products for budgies in pet stores.

They can and should be included during bird breeding periods. And also for young individuals whose bodies are just beginning to develop.

Under the influence of special light, vitamin D3 is produced - an important component of bone tissue.

Its deficiency can even lead to pathologies endocrine system, behavioral disturbances, metabolic problems.

High-quality ultraviolet lamps are equipped with a timer that controls the lighting on and off. Service life is no more than a year. Because the phosphorus in the lamp tends to disintegrate. And the lamp ceases to be effective.
Thus, caring for a budgie is impossible without organizing proper lighting in the cage.

Balanced diet

Caring for budgies also involves regular feeding.

The basis of the diet is grain feed.

There is a great variety of bird food on the shelves of pet stores. But not everyone will benefit. Those who have been supporting these for several years ornamental birds and they know everything about budgies, they unanimously declare: they eat mainly millet.

Oats and other ingredients that are useful, from the manufacturer’s point of view, remain at the bottom of the feeder. Where to go for pure millet? It is sold by parrot sellers. But it is better to purchase food from a trusted person. Because unscrupulous sellers do not follow the rules for storing food, which causes poisoning of parrots.

When choosing food for your budgie at a pet store, look at the packaging. It shouldn't be cardboard.

In it, the food becomes damp, and is also saturated with foreign odors if the boxes are stored next to goods that have a strong aroma. It’s good if the packaging is equipped with a zipper, which will allow you to “seal” the package of food after filling.

Do not get carried away with foods enriched with vitamins and iodine.

They should be given to birds as food only if the body has a deficiency of some microelements or problems with the endocrine gland. Of course, after one pack of food no pathological changes will occur in the body. But next time, be careful - do not overdo it in caring for your budgie.

Chalk is what a budgie needs at any time of the year.

It is available in any pet store. But the chalk pieces should be changed periodically. After all, the parrot will constantly clean its beak on it or grind its claws. As a result, a dirty coating forms on the chalk. As mentioned above, the main danger to parrots is food poisoning. And constant contact with a piece of dirty chalk is exactly what threatens you.

It also doesn’t hurt to add mineral supplements to your diet once a week. To ensure that your budgie gets a dose of nutrients, mix the food with millet.
There are also a variety of “spikelets”, which contain various seeds soaked in egg yolk. As practice shows, birds do not eat the “spikelet”, but simply gnaw it off. As a result, all the useful things and goodies lie at the bottom of the cage, and the budgie frolics with the piece of wood on which it was all attached.

Proper care of a budgie involves having several feeders. One is for dry food and mineral supplements. And in the second they put succulent food: vegetables and fruits according to the season. You can also purchase several holders for seasonal gifts of nature, because a budgie can throw everything out of the feeders to the bottom of the cage.

Caring for a parrot also means feeding it seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables.

To avoid having to spend money on vitamins for poultry, ensure the daily availability of juicy fruits and pieces of berries or vegetables.

In small doses, grapes, quince, and apricot will be beneficial. In winter, please your bird with steamed dried apricots or a slice of kiwi. Naturally, most of the treat will pass by the beak, but what is absorbed will benefit the body.

By the way, caring for a budgie at home in the summer involves regularly cleaning the cage. Indeed, in the hot season, the processes of rotting of the same fruits that you give to the bird are accelerated. Don’t be too lazy to once again clean the bottom of the bird’s house from debris.

Water procedures

How to care for a budgie during hot weather?

Provide him with access to saving moisture! True, not all parrots strive to plunge into specially equipped swimsuits. Some “conservatives” prefer saucers with water. Or green leaves soaked in water at room temperature. It could be cabbage, lard, parsley - anything. Even tree leaves will do.

When pouring water into a saucer, cup or bathing suit, make sure that its level does not exceed 2 cm. If the depth is greater, the bird may choke or get scared.

In special cases, bird fright ends in death. To avoid tragedies, we recommend playing it safe.


There is a separate point about budgies that do not like to swim. To gradually accustom your panties to the water, place a mirror at the very bottom of the bathing device. The bird will become interested and gradually begin to enter the water.