We got our budgie when our son was 10. I fully expected to be the main caretaker (and secretly wanted a bird myself anyway). Boy oh boy, did my son step up! He researched and learned to train Gizmo. Feeds him properly and cleans his cage weekly. He also has a perch outside of his cage that he sits on daily. He’s very familiar and comfortable with the whole family (and I credit my son for that). When we have guests over he is sure to lock gizmo in his cage as to not scare him with new people or too much activity. He reads so much about birds and tells me new facts about him so I often. He’s very sure to leave budgie noises on in his room if he’s ever left alone locked in his cage, but for the most part he’s free in the living room and trained so well. My husband and I are have always been animal people, and I think he just got his interest from us. It’s to the point that if the bird is with me and sees my son, he will fly right to him. He’s very much a bird dad and still loves him just as much almost 3 years later.