Are budgies better off with friends

[ravenfern]

I have ended up with another budgie, i say ended up with as a family memeber wanted its and says it our budgie etc but guess who cleans it out feeds it, etc and whos room it lives in. Now i also have an indian ringneck, and in a big cage (separate cage) two cockatiels and two budgies. The budgies i got a long time ago and although they both appear to be male they are bonded, sleeping together, feeding each other etc.
I tried to introduce the new budgie to the others but the budgies ignored it and the male cockatiel chased it around and tried to bite it although he never bothers the other budgies.
My question is this, do you think my budgie needs a cage mate. His cage is next to the other bird cage, if i move it he goes crazy running up and down trying to see the others. He spends most of his time just sitting and looking at the other birds.
He is tame, was when he came from the shop, he will step up and sit on your finger or shoulder for ages and with happily eat seed from your hand.
He is a really sweet bird and i just want him to be happy, any suggestions of what to do for the best.

[truelove]

Honestly it is your choice, weather or not to put them together. I know my 2 budgies (who live together) are just so into each other they don't care much for me. But I also have 2 tiels who are kept together that are still friendly. So it's up to the bird, really. If you do put them together, just make sure you keep handling the tame one like nothing has changed. Good luck to you

[shosh]

That's a tough answer...
Budgies do love each other and if you get it another friend, it will bond with it....which could be nice for it since all the others have playmates and it's kind of out in the cold, so to say.
But if you do, I would work with both budgies individually so that you don't lose the tameness of the one you have as well as any additional buddy you may get him. That way, you could have the best of both worlds. A friend for this budgie and two new friends for you!!
Since the others are quite bonded, I wouldn't put this guy in with them...I think that is smart. IT could get hurt by the tiels and you wouldn't want that...it probably is already rather overwhelmed by all the hulabaloo going on around him.

[svolk]

I'd say to not put the new guy in with the bonded two either.

I think I have an odd experience. I got Jerry when he was young and he was an only bird for 3 months and then an only budgie for a year and a half - so he is very tame and bonded to me. My 2nd budgie was at least a year old and caged by himself - so when Winston came home he was a little overwhelmed by Jerry and did not want to live with Jerry. Jerry couldn't care less if he was caged with Winston. I've kept them caged separately until yesterday when I got them a huge cage (enough room for Winston to have plenty of space away from Jerry if he wants to, even though they are buds). Throughout this time Jerry has not become less tame with me, but I don't know how much of that has to do with living separately from Winston for over a year (they do play together outside of the cage every day).

I think it's varies so much due to the birds' personality. See how things go, let the new guy settle in and see if the other two warm up to him. If after he settles you still feel he'd be happier with a friend, go for it. I do believe that getting a friend for Jerry has greatly enhanced his life.

[Percy]

I am having a similar problem! I just bought a new baby budgie as a companion for Percy and he really isn't impressed. Percy has his wings and this new little one (currently without a name) doesn't so whenever I go to rescue little no-name Percy freaks out and flies to me and tries to attack the other bird. Percy has been an only bird for a year or so now and they each have their own cages so I'm hoping that in time they will both settle down.

[svolk]

Originally Posted by Percy

I am having a similar problem! I just bought a new baby budgie as a companion for Percy and he really isn't impressed. Percy has his wings and this new little one (currently without a name) doesn't so whenever I go to rescue little no-name Percy freaks out and flies to me and tries to attack the other bird. Percy has been an only bird for a year or so now and they each have their own cages so I'm hoping that in time they will both settle down.

I think with time they will become more fond of each other. Once your new budgie can fly then Percy may be more interested when he sees that his new friend can be tons of fun to fly and play with. It took my two budgies quite a few months to really become good friends.

[homebird]

I have heard from many people that 3 is not a good number for Budgies. I would look into getting him his own pal. If the cage is big enough they could all share together.

Budgies that have been kept alone, like my Laker had been, are very bonded to their humans & can get antisocial. Laker was happy to have a Budgie pal but as Rio was a baby his neediness & baby ways drove Laker a tad nuts I think. Laker would literally fly to another room & not return contact calls. But by the time they had been together a year they really had a nice routine. Rio was more mature & used to fending for himself for a bit each day & they were great company when they were alone. So I wouldn't get a baby for the other bird.

Now that I have lost Laker - Rio is turning into a different Budgie. He was aware of Step-up & Come & was interactive with us but his whole world was Laker. He would fly off at the least provocation & seemed a bit wild. In under a month of being alone he has become very attached to me personally. When I leave the room so does he. Today when I came home he flew to me & fed me on my cheek while hanging from my bangs. I was extremely touched.

Having said that we are looking for a pal for him as we can see that he would be happier with a pal who flies & hangs like a Budgie & is a Budgie. This time we would like them to share a cage at night - Laker would not accept another bird in his cage at night. Having said that, the cage wasn't really very big & contributed to the problem. I think 2 males need space.

So I vote you get him a pal of his own - about the same age & in a big enough cage for 2 will help their happiness, health & sanity.