mixing aviary birds

[jenjenfer]

Hi I have 10 pair of budgies and 2 pairs of cockatiels in a 12foot by 4foot indoor and the same size outdoor aviary. They have the place 2them selfs. My ques is would it be a good idea to put a pair of plum headed parakeet or a pair of barraband's parakeet in with them. Any advice would be great.

[BigBird]

Hi Jen Im not sure if you have the budgies in with the cockatiels or not fromyour description.

I have two barraband parrots in with about 13 cockatiels and they live together quite happily.

I have another two barrabands in an aviary with finches canaries a few other varieties plus two budgies. I did have four budgies, but had to put two of them in with the rosellas when I found the female budge swinging a finch around by the tail, plus a couple of my canaries had bites to their legs in the first week with the budgies. This hasnt happened since the aggressive female was removed! Budgies are very aggressive and really shouldnt be in a community aviary.

I have seen the other budgie still in the aviary and barrabond male squabble and will be putting those two into an aviary of their own, with the other two in a few weeks.

Barrabands are very docile and nice natured. They get on very well with all the cockatiels and the smaller feathered friends. They squabbled amongst themselves when I introduced the other pair of barrabands and separated them after deciding the two males just werent going to get along.

I wouldnt recommend mixing the budgies with another variety and have read in many places that they shouldnt be in community cages because they are too aggressive. I cant advise on plum headed parakeet though. If its nature is like a cockatiel or a superb parrot (barraband) then they should be ok together, just be careful if you put anything in with the budgies, especially if you have 20 of them. They will be even more aggressive in breeding season.

[jenjenfer]

Hey BigBird thanks for your help. I have my budgie mixing with my cockatiels. I've had no fighting with the two. I've even had a hen budgie nest in the same box as 1 cockatiel pair(the eggs weren't filled). My budgies hens have fights. I've never had any other type of parakeet before. Thanks again for your advice

[Monica]

Some grass parakeets tend to do well with mixed aviaries as well... although I can onl echo that budgies don't necessarily do best in a mixed community. It is possible, but you've already seen how they can be!

[Tiki]

I have 9 Tiels, 2 Princess Parrots, a Quaker, a Nanday Conure and a Janday Conure all living together in one large indoor avairy. They get along just fine!

[BigBird]

Im sure they will be fine. Ive seen cockatiels and budgies in the same aviary and you are proof that it can work. I keep away from budgies. Only have four and one of them is very aggressive, well she was when she was in with finches and canaries, hasnt caused any problems that I can see with the bigger rosellas.

I have had barrabands for a while now, inside and outside. they are a very beautiful, placid parrot. Two males dont seem to like to live together if there are hens, but I dont have a problem with them with other varieties. One pair is with cockatiels and they get on really well. The other two look like giants with a bunch of finch and canary varieties. They have eaten all of the canary and finch cane breeding nests and if the budgies get too close they arch at each other. I think although generally quiet birds I dont think they have a lot of tolerance for being bothered. They dont go on the attack but sort of say back off shortie! I will be putting them in their own aviary when my husband ever gets around to putting the aviary in its spot instead of on the driveway where its been sitting for a month!

Try them together just keep a really close eye on them for a while and have a plan B ready if it looks like it is going to be messy especially around breeding time when they want their own space.