One of the biggest fears for a budgie owner is their pet somehow getting away and flying off into the big wide, scary world with nothing but its feathers to keep it from harm.
If it were a wild budgie, it would obviously stand a chance. The thing is, we aren’t talking about a wild budgie. We are talking about your pet, virtually your baby.
If you are reading this and have lost your budgie, sit down, and prepare yourself.
However, even if you haven’t, you should still read the entirety of it so you can find out how to prevent your parakeet from flying away in the first place.
Can my parakeet survive if it flies away?
I hate to be the bearer of shocking news, but your pet parakeet has little chance of surviving out in the wild.
If you are unable to get it back, then don’t expect it to live long. There are many reasons for this, but the biggest ones alone are temperature and the fact that it is domesticated.
Temperature
The thing about Parakeets is that they are native to tropical or subtropical temperatures.
If you live in a warmer environment, say in California, Florida, Texas, etc., then you have that on your side if your parakeet escapes.
However, if you live in the Northeast, then your parakeet could be in big trouble depending on the time of year.
Parakeets’ preferred temperature range is around 70 degrees, so a couple of degrees colder than that could spell trouble for a budgie.
If your environment falls under this category, then you best count your budgie in trouble because chances are it will succumb to hypothermia at some point.
Domestication
The problem we face with all our pets that escape is that they are domesticated. They won’t have the skills that wild animals will.
For cats and dogs, they can adapt, but they are predators.
For parakeets, it’s more difficult because they are prey animals. In the wild, budgies live in flocks.
We know that there is always safety in numbers. Prey animals take advantage of this to survive.
However, the problem with domesticated parakeets is they don’t have the benefit of living in a flock.
They might have a cage mate or two, but it is certainly not enough help against a cat, snake, etc.
We, their owners, protect parakeets, so if they get away, that protection is automatically ripped away, leaving them completely vulnerable and at the mercy of predators.
Do parakeets come back on their own if they fly away?
I’m sure one of the biggest things on your mind is if your parakeet will come back to you. Once again, I must tell you that the chances are slim.
Being frightened and disoriented makes it unlikely that your budgie will make it back home. It’s not like they don’t want to, but they will just be unable to do so.
Fright
Once you’ve been a budgie owner for a few weeks, you’ll notice how nervous and scared they can be.
This will dissipate once they start to bond with you. But throw in an unfamiliar environment, then this fear will come back full force.
Outside of their cages, there are all types of stimuli that will frighten your budgie. If they are able, they’ll find a spot and stay there, no matter how much they want to get home.
The urge is there, but the fright will stop them in their tracks… or flight.
Disoriented
Disorientation is the other common reason your budgie might be unable to come back home.
Suddenly this whole new world is being thrust upon them. Being such a tiny creature, it’s a lot to take in, and they’ll quickly become disoriented by everything.
This will make it difficult for the budgie to find its way back home, even if it may be just in the tree outside your home.
How to get your parakeet to come home?
Even though it seems unlikely that your budgie will be able to survive in the wild or come back to you, there are some things you can do to increase the odds of it finding you again.
By finding a friend, keeping its cage in the open, or simply calling out, you can increase the small chance it will find you and once again be safely back in your arms.
Find a friend
They say two heads are better than one. When you are looking for a missing pet, this is true because you can get things done more quickly.
They can help post out fliers, post on social media, or just help talk to people around the neighborhood.
You’ll get the story of your missing budgie out there more quickly, so if someone happens to see a small bird, they’ll know it’s the missing bird they heard about.
Maybe consider giving a small reward because money can always be an incentive for someone to help.
Get its Cage
The two most popular sayings about home are “home sweet home” and “home is where the heart is”.
They are completely accurate because home is where you feel the most comfortable, and it’s the same for animals.
A fantastic way to lure your budgie back to you is by bringing the cage near the area where the bird flew away.
If the budgie happens to be nearby, seeing their cage can help it gather up enough courage to fly back to its safe nest.
Another way to make the cage seem more alluring is by placing some treats inside the cage because food is a great lure.
Call to them
Sometimes, simply calling out to your budgie is the answer to your problem. If your parakeet happens to be in the vicinity, try calling out to them.
Use its name and familiar phrases to lure it back to you. You can also try playing some music!
My budgie has a few songs he loves so if your budgie has a favorite song, play it.
This might be just the thing you need to get your budgie to feel safe and brave enough to try to fly back home to you.
Three ways to prevent a parakeet from flying away
The best way to keep your parakeet safe is to prevent it from flying away in the first place.
By clipping its wings, using a recall cue, and simply closing the windows, you increase the odds of never having to deal with this problem at all.
Clipping Wings
Clipping your bird’s wings is a wonderful way to physically stop them from flying away. Don’t worry; clipping their wings doesn’t hurt them, and eventually, they do grow back.
It’s just a simple preventative measure you can use. This can be done at home if a vet teaches you.
However, do not ever attempt to clip your bird’s wings until you’ve been taught by a professional.
If this is the case, you must take the budgie to an avian vet to clip them. Attempting to do it yourself without any prior training can hurt the budgie.
Recall Cue
A recall cue is a great non-invasive way to help your budgie stay at home where it belongs.
A recall cue helps your bird come to you when you use it and then fly to what is called a ‘station target’ for a treat.
Now, this takes a decent amount of training, so be prepared to spend a few weeks on it.
Depending on how difficult it is to train your bird, it could even take a few months. The best thing to do is just remain patient because it will pay off in the end.
Closed Windows
Now, the simplest way to keep your budgie inside the house is to do two simple things. Close the doors and the windows. See, if you do that, then there is little to no chance of them leaving the house.
Sure, they could fly out when you open the door or window briefly, but there must be a lot of factors at play for your parakeet to be able to escape.
If you make it a habit of having the windows and doors closed, then there is a good chance your parakeet will remain in the house and live a good, safe life.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks. I am sorry if you came here because your parakeet has flown away, and you just have no idea how to start the search.
The overall odds of finding your parakeet are not very good.
If you are lucky and are simply checking this out due to fear of losing your bird, then please take measures to keep your parakeet safe.
The fact of the matter is it isn’t safe if your domesticated parakeet gets out.
You can only try to prevent them from escaping in the first place to ensure their safety. It’s the only way and the best way.