The cost of keeping a budgerigar throughout its life

[MantisGirl]

This is for a school project. I am required to list how much it costs to keep a budgie throughout its life. I would much appreciate any bird owners out there reading through what I have done, and pointing out anything I may have missed, or if you believe any of my pricing to be off.

Budgerigar Price List

All items on this list are priced as they would be if bought new. Everything is rounded to the nearest pound.

Equipment needed just on the first day

- Cage (£30 to £80, depending on the size)

- Assorted Toys; bell, chew toy, swing, mirror (£9)

- And, of course, the budgie! (£10 to £20)

- Total: £80 average

Equipment needing to be replenished through the bird’s life

A budgie can live as long as 10 years, or as few as 5. Everything on this list will be priced at one year, then the total will be multiplied by 7.5.

- Food; budgie pellets, treats, millet (£135)

- Supplements; cuttlefish, mineral block (£28)

- Total for one year: £163 average

- Total for 7.5 years: £1222 average

Veterinary Care

- Unless major problems are present, average £250

Total

- £1552 throughout its life, if it lives to the average age

 

[schmiggle]

I don't keep budgies, but 10 years strikes me as an underestimate for a bird.

 

[MantisGirl]

I don't keep budgies, but 10 years strikes me as an underestimate for a bird.

Well, Google stated 5-10 years

 

[schmiggle]

Well, Google stated 5-10 years

https://www.parakeethome.com/parakeet-lifespan-how-long-do-parakeets-live/amp/
7-14, and even up to 20, according to this website. It also claims that it treated well they'll easily make it to the upper end of that.
https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/bird-life-expectancy-budgerigar
21 years according to this one
http://www.birds-online.de/allgemein/alter_en.htm
10-12 on that one
https://pets.thenest.com/lifespan-parakeet-6256.html
5-15 and up to 20 there, again saying they'll end up at the upper end if treated nicely
http://forums.avianavenue.com/index.php?threads/what-is-the-average-lifespan-of-a-budgie.153327/
Several responses here, there's some genetic dependence but it seems that, again, budgies treated well can be expected to live for over a decade.

Google just takes one of the top three websites and finds what they say. That works well for simple questions like "what is the diameter of the earth" but tbh much less well for something so dependent on other factors

 

[MantisGirl]

https://www.parakeethome.com/parakeet-lifespan-how-long-do-parakeets-live/amp/
7-14, and even up to 20, according to this website. It also claims that it treated well they'll easily make it to the upper end of that.
https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/bird-life-expectancy-budgerigar
21 years according to this one
http://www.birds-online.de/allgemein/alter_en.htm
10-12 on that one
https://pets.thenest.com/lifespan-parakeet-6256.html
5-15 and up to 20 there, again saying they'll end up at the upper end if treated nicely
http://forums.avianavenue.com/index.php?threads/what-is-the-average-lifespan-of-a-budgie.153327/
Several responses here, there's some genetic dependence but it seems that, again, budgies treated well can be expected to live for over a decade.

Google just takes one of the top three websites and finds what they say. That works well for simple questions like "what is the diameter of the earth" but tbh much less well for something so dependent on other factors

Ah, ok. I'll be sure to research better next time.

 

[darkness975]

Most of my birds make it to the upper end of their range. Especially now since I care for them properly. When I was a kid I made a lot of mistakes.

 

[Minty]

This is for a school project. I am required to list how much it costs to keep a budgie throughout its life. I would much appreciate any bird owners out there reading through what I have done, and pointing out anything I may have missed, or if you believe any of my pricing to be off.

Budgerigar Price List

All items on this list are priced as they would be if bought new. Everything is rounded to the nearest pound.

Equipment needed just on the first day

- Cage (£30 to £80, depending on the size)

- Assorted Toys; bell, chew toy, swing, mirror (£9)

- And, of course, the budgie! (£10 to £20)

- Total: £80 average

Equipment needing to be replenished through the bird’s life

A budgie can live as long as 10 years, or as few as 5. Everything on this list will be priced at one year, then the total will be multiplied by 7.5.

- Food; budgie pellets, treats, millet (£135)

- Supplements; cuttlefish, mineral block (£28)

- Total for one year: £163 average

- Total for 7.5 years: £1222 average

Veterinary Care

- Unless major problems are present, average £250

Total

- £1552 throughout its life, if it lives to the average age

I’ve kept a lot of budgies. I’ve never seen one for less than £15, personally. If you buy an English budgie they tend to cost £25+.

 

[Ellenantula]

Disclaimer: The smallest parrot I've ever had was a cockatiel -- mostly I've kept large parrots. But I will say toys are not a one-time expense -- parrots destroy their fun wood toys (gives their beak a good work out) and those toys can get expensive! Even a cockatiel can destroy a proper chew toy fairly quickly.
I consider parrot toys disposable and a monthly expense. I don't know if budgies chew wood toys as much as larger parrots, but it makes sense they might require similar care and toys.