Last month I went to visit one of my Step Dad's Nieces with my Mom. To say she is one of the strongest woman I have ever met is and under statement. She has 3 kids she raises on her own that are all mentally handicap and 2 are 100% physically handicap as well.Her house was spotless,the kids were spotless,heck I got tired thinking about what her day entailed. Well as soon as I walked in she asked me" Aren't you the one with all the birds?" Well what could I say She wanted to know how to keep her Budgies a little quieter.I had no answers at the time,I was just in awe at everything around me.First thing they(2) need is a bigger cage,what they are in now is the size I use to take my Quaker to the Vets.So what size would you recommend?? Second thing I believe they need is toys.They only had 2 toys and they looked like toddler toys I would give my Macaws for foot toys.So what kind of toys do Budgies like?? She has the Budgies because her 2 kids in the wheelchairs like to watch them.So any ideas you can give me would be great.TIA

That's great. With the cage, the bigger the better (as long as the bar spacing is 1/2"). The minimum is 18x18x18. I keep my two in about a 20x20x26 cage. My budgies love any toy with a bell, they have so much fun playing with bells. They also love toys with wooden beads on them that they can chew on and move around.

A long cage is best for budgies as they fly horizontally. Jerry's cage is 18x18x30 and can accommodate 2 budgies - and they have one of these at Petco on Monroe St. in Toledo for $40.00 I think.

As for toys, like C&C said, anything with bells. Jerry just adores a large bell on the end of toys (like on the end of a long plastic chain with other fun stuff tied to the chain), bells that he can stick his whole face up in LOL. He also likes thin pieces of soft rope to preen and toys that jingle and have movement - like a few strands of the smallest plastic chain with beads/pacifiers/tiny bells on the ends of the chain. He also likes balsa wood (thin pieces only for their tiny beaks) and those shredding raffia strips.

Bunch of show & tell videos - shows you some cool stuff for toys & cages:
1) here's 2 Budgies working at a Mineral Perch - nice activity as well ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNxxv4xAUHQ
2) A nice bunch of Budgies in a home-made cage. ~ notice the sprigs of dry grasses strapped to the perches. The use of natural branches - nice for their feet & working their beaks. [make sure they're clean & unsprayed - maybe use carrot tops or cat grass. ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Y6DLw7PDQ
3) Budgies in an aviary setting - using cat dishes & eating greens ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSERCoqPGfw
4) An excellent example of a big cage & all sorts of toys & perches. Re size of cage - bigger the better if they don't get out to fly - cause they love to fly! ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MElQLJo4sSA

These are some of my fav videos because the owners are so inspired. Check out Sally's [member name] cage that she got for her P"let. She has great lighting as well. Sarah's cage for Jerry is great but if you have lots of Budgies - well maybe bigger!