Can I add another budgie to cage?

[nhlfanrg]

I have a Budgie that I have had for about a year. I want to add a new one but can I put it in the same cage or is this a recipe for disaster?

[Monica]

Possible recipe for disaster.... You first need to buy all the supplies for a second budgie (cage, toys, food, perches, etc), and quarantine the new bird for 30-60 days. If possible, you would want to take the bird to have an avian vet exam... After quarantine, you will need to choose one cage, or buy another cage, and introduce the birds together... If you are going to choose one of the cages, you will need to completely revamp that cage, moving all the perches, toys, dishes, etc, and having 2 food and 2 water dishes in the cage. After the single cage is all set up, you can introduce the two birds into the cage together...

However, a better way of doing this would be have the new bird quarantined, then brought out near the first one for a while, just in the same room and close to eachother, but not having the cages touch or anything. You could then let the birds out at the same time and see how they interact for several days. If all seems well, you may be able to introduce them into one cage together...

Next question would be, are you planning on a male or female? Or simply put, do you plan on possibly breeding. If you don't plan on breeding, it would be best to get a male as two males can share the same cage together and not have any major fights. I myself have two males caged together without any major problems. If you plan on getting a female however, as she matures (if she is not already mature) she WILL boss around the male and WILL pick on him extensively (some female budgies can really have the PMSing syndrome and take it out on the males!).

[Christine9]

I just thought I would mention that both my mother and my aunt each have had two parakeets (my mother years ago, and my aunt does now). My moms were both females, as are my aunts. Neither my mother nor my aunt were ever able to keep both females in a cage together. They would get along fine, until mating season came along and then they would start fighting to the point of almost killing each other. Just thought I would share this info, in case yours is a female.

[Monica]

Randy's budgie is a male.... females normally don't do well together in the same cage UNLESS they have a cage that is minimum 2' x 2' square... of course that could even be TOO small for two females! They should have one that is min 2' high x 3' wide, as females tend to bicker so much... My two males actually bicker quite a bit, however it's usually over pity stuff...

However, I'd also like to point out, that if the two females were raised together, who have known eachother since they are only babs, they have a more likely chance of getting along where-as one being several months or years older than the other female, and them being total strangers...

[Samm]

Originally Posted by nhlfanrg

I have a Budgie that I have had for about a year. I want to add a new one but can I put it in the same cage or is this a recipe for disaster?

I've had 6 budgies in one large cage for over 4 years......no problems, they all play well together.

[nhlfanrg]

Thanks for all your answers. As far as breeding I'm not planning on this. I really just enjoy my bird and obviously would enjoy having another. But the way it sounds I would be better to get a whole new set up then try to put them together. Thanks again for all your help!!!!!

[Samm]

From my experience, they won't breed unless you mount a nesting box for them. They are communal birds though, and enjoy playing together.

[Tiki]

Here in their native Australia, they live in large flocks in the outback and seem to get along. I would make sure they are both healthy, then I see no reason why they shouldn't live together.