Are Budgies Monogamous??

[sunrays20]

If you have a group of budgies together, will the male try to hook up with every female?

What about the females, will they mate with more then one?

[Monica]

I'm not a breeder by any means, but I have heard of colony breeding budgies, which usually results with males trying to "hook up" with more than one female, and females accepting food from other males, but not necessarily mating with them.

[sunrays20]

Originally Posted by Monica

I'm not a breeder by any means, but I have heard of colony breeding budgies, which usually results with males trying to "hook up" with more than one female, and females accepting food from other males, but not necessarily mating with them.

So, you're saying the males are promiscuous and the females are not?

[Monica]

More like both sexes are, however males more so than females - as I understand it. Breeders who don't colony breed - i.e. they set up pairs in individual cages may have 1 male for every 2 females, or perhaps he'll pair a male up with a hen for one season, and the next season pair him up with another hen.

But like I said, I'm not a breeder. I can only share what I've heard others have done or experienced.

[RXK]

my brother's males would approach several of the females. and, the females would occasionally be "friendly" with other males.

[usamma]

They will usually stick with one mate at a time, but both males and females will occasionally shop for another mate if one catches their eye and "break up" with the first mate. It's kinda sad to watch.

My budgie couple that produced my clutches of babies last year decided that, after the babies matured, they each preferred the company of one of their own babies, than that of each other!! Since I'm not breeding them anymore I don't care who they pair up with.

[sunrays20]

Originally Posted by usamma

My budgie couple that produced my clutches of babies last year decided that, after the babies matured, they each preferred the company of one of their own babies, than that of each other!! Since I'm not breeding them anymore I don't care who they pair up with.

That's incest and happens only in captivity. You should not allow it.

[Monica]

Originally Posted by sunrays20

That's incest and happens only in captivity. You should not allow it.

Actually, I question that. I doubt it only happens in captivity, TBH, as I have read about it happening in the wild with finches/sparrows. Not only that but when you are dealing with species who are near the brink of extinction, incest is more likely to occur because there's not enough "new blood" to go around.

Simply put, saying that incest only happens in captivity is like saying only hybrids occur in captivity, and quite frankly, they don't. Animals (non-human) do not have the same principles and morals as we do. I just wouldn't be surprised to hear that incest happens more frequently in the wild than many people would like to believe.

[sunrays20]

Originally Posted by Monica

Actually, I question that. I doubt it only happens in captivity, TBH, as I have read about it happening in the wild with finches/sparrows.

But, have you read anything about budgies?

Not only that but when you are dealing with species who are near the brink of extinction, incest is more likely to occur because there's not enough "new blood" to go around.

Budgies are not near the brink of extinction.

Simply put, saying that incest only happens in captivity is like saying only hybrids occur in captivity, and quite frankly, they don't.

Simply put, SHAME on you!

[Monica]

Shame on me for what???? For allowing hybrids to occur in the wild when it's beyond my ability to stop them? There are hybrid lorikeets, cockatoos, rosellas, waterfowl, and more --- all wild! I've mentioned these in past posts, even with articles and/or pictures to for proof.

I suppose "shame on me" too, for also accepting the fact that there are gay animals in the wild. It happens. Scientists just like to turn a blind eye to it, even though they know it's happening!

So who's to say that incest doesn't happen as well? Unless you can personally identify every bird in a flock, I'd say it would probably be rather difficult to tell whether or not incest does happen... and generally speaking, birds of the same species within a flock look all the same to us.