Budgie Digest - 16th February 2026

​Hi Members & Friends,
 
March Club Meeting – Tuesday 3rd March 2026 @ Unley Community Centre – 7pm.
 
Whilst we are still finalising all the details for our March Meeting, we will have our first “ Member on the Couch” interview for 2026, with our guest member being none other than the gentleman who is “hidden” in the photo below.  The article in the paper might give you a bit of a clue about the life of our Club Member outside of the budgie aviary, which I am sure we can delve into a bit more at the meeting!!  Stay tuned for more information next week.
 
 
 
BSSA On Line Auction.
 
We are very pleased to release our first auction for 2026, which is available on the following link.
 
https://www.32auctions.com/BSSAAuction1-26
 
If any of our Members have surplus birds they would like to enter in upcoming auctions, please give our Auction Coordinator Ken Harris a call  – 0456-160-553 for details and information.
 
Rodents & Budgerigars: A Hidden Health Risk in Aviaries
 
Often at our meetings I speak to members who comment on the numbers of mice and rats in and around their birdrooms.  Our responsibility to our neighbourhood is to ensure our birds don’t become an object for criticism in that they attract all the mice and rats etc., and keeping budgerigars healthy isn’t just about proper diet and nutrition — it also means protecting their environment. Mice and rats are more than just a nuisance; they can pose significant health risks to birds through contamination and disease transmission.
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How Rodents Spread Disease
Rodents are well-known reservoirs and vectors of infectious organisms. In bird housing environments, they can:
1. Contaminate feed and water with feces and urine
2. Spread bacteria across surfaces and nesting areas
3. Introduce parasites such as mites
4. Carry pathogens that survive in the environment
Research in poultry housing has shown that rodents play a key role in maintaining and spreading infections such as Salmonella in flock environments. While many studies focus on chickens, the same contamination mechanisms apply to ornamental birds, including budgerigars.
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What This Means for Budgerigars
Budgerigars are susceptible to several infections that can spread in contaminated environments:
1. Salmonellosis – Often transmitted through contaminated food or water
2. E. coli infections – Frequently associated with poor hygiene conditions
3. Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis) – A contagious bacterial disease that spreads in multi-bird housing
4. Mite infestations – Rodents may carry mites that can transfer to birds
Even if rodents do not directly infect budgerigars, they can create the conditions that allow disease to thrive.
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Prevention Is Key
To reduce the risk:
✔ Store feed in sealed, rodent-proof containers
✔ Clean up spilled seed promptly
✔ Seal gaps or entry points in aviary structures
✔ Monitor regularly for signs of rodent activity
✔ Maintain strict hygiene in bird enclosures
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Rodents in aviaries and breeding rooms aren’t just inconvenient — they can compromise the health of your birds. By maintaining strong biosecurity and hygiene practices, budgerigar owners can significantly reduce the risk of rodent-associated disease.
A clean, secure environment is one of the most powerful tools you have to keep your birds thriving.
As well, I have found the below traps are the most effective way to remove rodents from our breeding rooms, and would be available in a variety of shops.  The are reusable and should be placed on a ledge or beam in your shed or breeding room for best effect.
March/April is traditionally the time we notice mice and rats more so in that they are starting to seek shelter indoors to breed and prepare for winter, so now is the time to act!!
 
  
 
Important upcoming dates for 2026. 
Tuesday 3 March – March Monthly Meeting @ Unley Community Centre @ 7pm.
Sunday 29 March – Murphy Classic Intermediate, Novice & Junior Show @ Ascot Park Scout Hall.
Sunday 3 May – Stan Watson Breeders Show @ Ascot Park Scout Hall.
Sunday 17 May – Logan Shield & State Selection Show @ Kilburn Community Centre.
Friday 22 May – Sunday 24 May – 2026 ANBC Show on the Gold Coast.
 
Kind Regards and don’t forget to check out our website and share it as widely as you can.
 
Link to the BSSA website and facebook page is http://www.bssainc.org.au/
 
Link to the ANBC website for all the latest information on the 2026 ANBC Show in May is https://anbc.org.au/news/2026-anbc-show/
 
Have a wonderful week everyone. Take care and hopefully your birds are doing well.
 
Chris Murphy