How Long Do Budgies Live? (On Average 8 Years!)

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If you love your budgies, you might wonder how long they’ll be with you. Because it’s tough to think about losing your beloved pet unexpectedly.

So, how long do budgies live? Well, I suggest you read this article to find all the answers regarding budgie lifespan and other facts.

Summary Points

• Budgies usually live 10 to 15 years in captivity with good care. It is longer than their 5 to 8 years in the wild.
• A poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, and inadequate veterinary care can shorten a budgie’s life in captivity.
• The oldest budgie lived to 29 years and 2 months, named Charlie from England.
• A healthy diet, regular exercise, a safe environment, mental stimulation, and routine vet check-ups help extend a budgie’s life expectancy.

How Long Do Budgies Live?

Budgies can live a long time with proper care. In the wild, they usually live 5 to 8 years due to the risks posed by predators. However, in captivity, with better conditions, they often live 10 to 15 years.

Indeed, their genetics and the care they receive are pivotal to their longevity. That includes a nutritious diet, exercise, companionship, and routine vet visits.

An interesting fact is that the oldest budgie on record lived to be 29 years old, which is INSANE! I will go into more detail about this below.

What Is The Life Cycle Of A Budgie?

The life cycle of a budgie is a journey from being tiny hatchlings to grown-ups and then to their older years.

A budgie’s life starts in a small egg. In about 18 days, the egg opens up to reveal a small chick. For the first few weeks, they need their parents a lot. Surprisingly, they grow up really fast!

By 3-4 weeks, they begin exploring outside their nest. At 8-10 weeks, they are young adults and ready for life. However, adult budgies love to fly and socialize a lot.

Have you thought about a budgie’s older years? Like us, older budgies slow down and are less active! But, they still enjoy cuddles and chirping around us.

How Long Do Budgies Live In The Wild?

The average budgie lifespan in the wild is around 4 to 6 years. It is certainly low because the reason is wild budgies face more natural challenges and predators.

Budgies live in the grassland or open woodlands, they often move around from one place to another. Whether during migration, scarcity of food, or other challenges, wild budgies cannot live in the same place or hide forever.

So when they go out hunting or looking for food, they often encounter predators. That is one of the common reasons why wild budgies don’t survive long.

How Long Do Budgies Live In Captivity?

The average budgie’s lifespan in captivity is around 5 to 8 years. In some cases, pet budgies have been known to live longer, as long as 15-20 years of age.

Since budgies in captivity tend to get more care and live in a safer environment, they tend to live longer. However, budgie’s life expectancy in captivity relies mostly on factors like providing a safe environment, healthy diet, socialization, and companionship.

Moreover, exercise is important too for their longer life! I am not only talking about their physical exercise, mental exercise is also crucial for them. So give them different types of toys to keep their minds active and engaged.

What Makes A Budgie Live Short In Captivity?

Budgies tend to live longer in captivity than in the wild. But if you think your budgies are getting shorter lifespans, there might be issues such as an unsuitable environment, poor diet, lack of stimulation, regular vet care, stress, etc.

Underlying health issues can also be one of the main causes why budgies are not living long in captivity. Besides, while birds in the wild are more active due to hunting, flying, and other activities, the ones in the cage do not experience such things.

It often results in obesity, and the budgie dies from suffering various health issues. That is why it is vital to keep them stimulated and interact with them for their mental well-being.

What Is The Oldest A Budgie Has Ever Lived?

The oldest budgie ever recorded was Charlie from England, UK. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Charlie was born in 1948 and tagged as the oldest budgerigar in captivity. Charlie was 29 years and 2 months old when he died on 20 June 1977.

After Charlie from England, there has been a record of another budgie who is also named Charlie. He died at the age of 22.

There has been news of another budgie named Pretty Boy in New South Wales in Australia. According to his owner Betty Cummings, Pretty Boy is 26 years old and could be the oldest budgie in Australia. He can easily break Charlie’s record if he can live for a few more years.

What Makes Some Budgies Live Longer Than Others?

In captivity, some budgies live longer than others due to having a favorable environment and a nutritious diet. Other factors that help them live longer include regular exercise and proper healthcare.

Budgie’s environmental impact is one of the first things that affects its lifespan. If the environment is safe, with the right cage size and proper placement, then there is a possibility of increased longevity.

Then comes the budgie diet effects. Budgies that don’t eat healthy and nutritious food get sick easily and don’t survive long. On the other hand, those who get a healthy diet have a good metabolism and live longer.

Pet budgies commonly suffer from obesity and terminal illness due to lack of exercise and veterinary care. However, it has been seen that budgies who exercise regularly or stay stimulated and receive veterinary treatments on time tend to have a longer lifespan.

Can Budgies Live For 20 Years?

While a well-cared budgie can live a long and healthy life, 20 years is a very long budgie lifespan. As I mentioned above, there are records of budgies living over 20 years, such as Charlie and Pretty Boy.

Nevertheless, if you can provide the budgie with everything it needs, it can certainly reach an exceptional budgie old age. Yet, I suggest you keep your expectations low as such cases are rare.

How To Make A Budgie Live Longer?

There are a few things about budgie’s lifespan that we cannot control, but we can provide them with everything they need to help them live longer.

That includes providing them with a safe environment, a comfortable cage setup, a healthy and balanced diet, keeping them stimulated with toys and games, and taking them to vets regularly.

One of the common reasons pet birds gain weight and suffer from severe health conditions is the lack of exercise and a poor diet. So try to maintain the following:

• Be aware of budgie exercise benefits and don’t overfeed them.
• Keep the cage clean and provide them with fresh water.
• Always monitor their behavior.
• Keep them away from other pets and unsafe areas.
• Interact with them regularly and make them feel safe.
• Take the bird to a budgie veterinary care if you notice any sign of illness.

What Are The Signs Of A Healthy Budgie?

Signs of a healthy budgie include the budgie having a good appetite, bright eyes, stable breathing, being active, chirping cheerfully, preening regularly, normal pooping, etc.

A good appetite is one of the signs that tell your budgie is healthy. If the budgie is eating regularly as usual, it tells you a lot about its health. Additionally, the budgie will have clear and bright eyes with no discharge. Its breathing will be normal, and it will stay upright and active.

Another way of knowing your budgie is healthy is its usual and melodic chirping, something the birds don’t do when they are sick. Moreover, their feathers will appear clean, and the budgie will have no problem grooming itself. Also, the poop will have normal consistency.

How Long Do Budgies Live Without Food?

Some budgies can go 24 hours without food without major problems. However, many will become ill or weak if deprived of food for 24 hours. If they go 48 hours without food or water, the birds will begin to weaken and lose weight.

Budgies are small birds with a minimal diet. While some birds can go days without food, budgies are not the same. Even if they can go without food for 24 hours, staying hungry for longer will only make things worse.

On top of that, pet budgies are more sensitive to such things than the ones in the wild. Even if the budgie survives without food for 48 hours or more, it will already be weak and drop weight.

That is why it is vital to ensure the budgie has enough food and water even if you are to stay away for a while.

How Long Do Budgies Live On A Seed Diet?

Though it is impossible to say how long budgies can live on a seed diet, it is best to avoid keeping them on an all-seed diet.

Dr. Strydom from Pet Coach says that: budgies can survive on seeds. However, an all-seed diet is not good for them and shortens their lifespan.

Along with seeds, it is best to provide chopped food, such as fruits and vegetables. Budgies also love millet spray and it is a healthy supplement for them.

For food, you can add kiwis, apples, pears, grapes, oranges, melons, etc. As for vegetables, budgies enjoy eating spinach, celery, carrots, cabbages, etc. Adding powdered vitamins to their food is also a great way to keep the budgie healthy.

Can A Budgie Survive Without A Partner?

A budgie can certainly survive without a partner. In fact, some budgies thrive without any companionship if you provide them with a big cage with enough toys to keep them stimulated and interact with them regularly.

Having a single budgie has a few advantages. It will be easier to interact and train the bird if it is alone. But when you keep them in pairs of multiple budgies together, you will be pretty much ignored.

Can Budgies Be Left Alone For 2 Days?

Yes, you can leave your budgie for two days. But before you go, you must ensure the bird is well-fed, socialized, and gets enough light and darkness to maintain a healthy sleeping pattern.

Leaving a budgie alone is very risky. That is why it is best to ask a friend, a family member, or a pet sitter to check on the bird at least twice a day.

Even if you plan to leave it with enough food and water for the time being, it will not work. The bird can knock off or soil the water, causing a bacterial infection. Budgies can die from thirst if they go for a long time without drinking water.

They might also accidentally scatter food everywhere. And because budgies have a high metabolism, they are required to eat frequently and can easily die from starving.

Moreover, since budgies are social birds, they will require interaction. On top of that, they cannot live entirely in darkness or light 24/7.

So having someone to check on them is safe for the bird. And it will keep you tension-free.

Can Budgies Be Left Alone For 7 Hours?

You can leave your budgie alone for 7 hours, and it is safe to do so. However, it is also essential to ensure you leave enough food and clean water for the bird to eat and drink when you are gone. You can also leave them with their favorite toys to keep them busy.

If you are the only carer of the budgie and need to go to school or work, leaving the bird alone for the time being can be worrisome. The good thing is that budgies do fine without your presence for 7-8 hours. But it is best not to leave them alone for longer because it might stress them out.

Conclusion

So, how long do budgies live? Well, that always varies depending on how well you maintain them. But sometimes, it’s all about luck.

That’s why I suggest giving them your best and making sure they are comfortable and happy as long as they live.