Bird

Who are you buying for?

This range mixes pet bird gear with products for wild garden birds and poultry, so read the label first. Topflite Budgie Mix and Cockatiel Mix are named for those birds, Topflite Wild Bird Nectar is for local native birds, and the Pet One Chicken Feeder is designed for groups of poultry.

Food

Our bird food guide says seed mixes are not a complete diet for budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds or parrots, and should be fed as a component, paired with pellets and fresh food. It suggests asking your avian vet which pellet brand they recommend. Read the analysis too: Topflite Budgie Mix lists fat at 6.1% and Topflite Cockatiel Mix at 14.3%.

Cage and liners

Our budgie cage guide says to get the biggest cage you can fit, wider than it is tall, with bar spacing of about 1–1.2 cm. Put it in a bright spot, out of direct sun and draughts, and never in or near the kitchen because of fumes. Measure the cage base for accessories: Topflite liners are 43cm x 28cm and can be cut to size, and the large Bird Cage Tidy suits a 47 x 47cm base.

Perches, toys and calcium

Use natural-branch perches of different diameters, not just smooth dowel, and place them so droppings don't fall into food or water. Our setup guide says not to overfill the cage on day one: start with a few useful items and add enrichment as you learn what your bird likes. For calcium, cuttlefish bone comes in a small 13-15cm size and a large size of approximately 16-19cm, and our cage guide lists a cuttlebone for calcium and beak care.