Budgie Growth Timeline

🥚 

Day 0 – Hatching

• Eyes closed

• No feathers (just pink skin)

• Can’t regulate body heat — stays under mother

• Needs feeding every 2–3 hours

🐣 

Week 1 (Days 1–7)

• Still blind

• Light fuzz starts to appear

• Crop becomes visible when full

• Very weak chirping sounds

• Still fully dependent on parent or hand feeding

👀 

Week 2 (Days 8–14)

• Eyes begin to open

• Pin feathers (dark “spikes”) appear

• Stronger chirps

• Starts stretching and wiggling

• Body size doubles compared to hatch day

🪶 

Week 3 (Days 15–21)

• Feathers start breaking through

• Can now sit up and balance better

• May begin preening

• Starting to look like a tiny budgie

• Crop feeding still needed, but meals may stretch out slightly

🐦 

Week 4 (Days 22–28)

• Fully feathered (may still have a bit of baby fuzz)

• Starting to explore the nest box

• Learning to perch

• May nibble on soft food

• Parents or hand-feeder still needed

🛫 

Week 5 (Days 29–35)

• Starts to flap wings

• May attempt short flights

• Learns to eat on its own (millet, soft foods)

• Still weaning, but more active and curious

• Can begin gentle handling and socialization

🍽️ 

Week 6 (Days 36–42)

• Mostly eating on its own

• Should be fully feathered and active

• Short flights improve

• Personality becomes more noticeable

• Ready to leave the nest (with care)

🏠 

Week 7–8+

• Fully weaned (eating on its own)

• Can go to a new home

• Learns to “step up” and bond with humans

• Perfect age for taming, training, and forming strong connections

📌 Quick Notes:

• Never rush weaning. Some chicks take a little longer — that’s okay!

• Track weight daily if hand raising to ensure healthy growth

• Handle chicks gently from week 3+ to get them used to humans

• Record milestones like first perch, first flight, and first independent mea