Realistic Budgie Startup Cost

How much does it really cost to own budgies/parakeets. obviously these prices vary a bit based off your area how many birds you have and where you shop but this is a rough estimate of that it will cost you to get set up. I will go through my maintenance costs for my flock further down this post.

• Budgie cost up to $100

• flight cage $350+ Petsfella 32-inch Wrought Iron Flight Cage with Rolling Stand (32×21″) : Amazon.ca: Pet Supplies

• Vegetables (monthly if you have multiple budgies) $30

• Pellets cost $25.25 for a medium bag of TOPS at the pet store I shop at

• Toys expect to pay in the range of 100-200$ can be cheaper if you DIY a lot of them 5 DIY Foraging Toys For Parrots

• perches range from $12 -32 a perch at least 5 = $60 – $160 you want to go for a variety of natural wood perches I buy mine at an online parrot store and encourage you to do the same, I have purchased perches from amazon but they came covered in dirt and mold so honestly it is better to be safe than sorry.

• cuttle bone twin pack for $14.99 Living World Cuttlebone, Large, Twin-Pack, White : Amazon.ca: Pet Supplies

• Food dishes – because the ones that came with your bird cage are most likely toxic Learn More – $22.99 3 Pieces Bird Feeder Bowl Stainless Steel Parrot Feeding Dish Cups with Clamp Holder Cage Water Food Bowl for Bird Parrot Dog Cat Hanging Water Food Dish Feeder : Amazon.ca: Pet Supplies

• Spray millet $9.99 Living World Spray Millet, 7-Ounce : Amazon.ca: Pet Supplies
• cleaning supplies – paper towel for wiping things down or lining the bottom of their cage I buy the cheap stuff from Walmart where you get 2 rolls for like 2$. poop off 27$ Poop-Off Bird Poop Remover Sprayer, 32-Ounce : Amazon.ca: Pet Supplies When cleaning the bottom tray of my bird cage i just use unscented dish soap and warm water. i do also have a little tooth brush those you can get for 88 cents at Walmart. dust buster/ handheld vacuum totally optional but i could not live without mine are roughly 50$ depending on brand etc.
• air purifier this is the one i have and it is currently $77.25 JINPUS Air Purifier Air Cleaner for Home with True HEPA Air Filter Upgraded Design Low Noise Portable Air Purifiers (with 1.5M USB Power Cable, Energy Saving Design No Adapter) : Amazon.ca: Home why you need an air purifier 5 Products Small Parrot Owners Need!

Start up cost not including the cost of at least 2 budgies Why you need multiple $970.35

Maintenance costs for my flock

• bird toy supplies – i make my own bird toys to save money and i estimate i spend roughly 15$ a month on supplies for my 2 budgies, some months are more and some months i am using what i have left over but it probably all evens out to roughly 15$
• food – I make a batch of chop that lasts my 2, 3 months and spend anywhere from 30 – 40$ on produce for that so call that 10$ – 13$ a month on chop.
  • pellets – my 2 only get a couple pellets a day as so to speak a multi vitamin so a 12$ bag lasts me an estimated 6 months $2 a month for pellets
  • seed – i make my own mix and spend roughly 40$ on different seeds and that lasts me 5 months ish 8$ a month on seed
  • TOTAL TO FEED MY BIRDS – 20 – 23$ a month to feed my 2 budgies
• cuttlebones vary sometimes they go through one a month and other times they have one for 4 months.
• Vet bills – everyone’s favourite, an annual check up is roughly $100 per bird so I expect to pay at least $200 a year on my birds vet bills that being said i put away 30$ per bird per month as my own version of an insurance policy since anything can happen you really want to be prepared. I know people with larger flocks who can easily spend 300$ a month at the vets office.

My monthly total for my 2 budgies is – 98$ (that includes the 60$ to my insurance but does not include their annual vet visit fee)