Introduce parrots to each other: When I brought my budgie, Micheline, home, I thought it would be a solitary bird. I didn’t have the confidence to tackle more than one bird. Fortunately, Micheline turned out to be an easy and patient little bird, and so my confidence increased.
After a few months, I noticed that Micheline didn’t sing or play much. He peck at his toys several times, but none of them seemed to interest him for long. I tried spinning his toys and adding new ones, but he didn’t care – just a few pecks and that was it.
What was wrong with Micheline?
Silent behavior on the part of a bird can indicate a health problem and should always be checked first. Luckily, Micheline was and still is a very healthy bird, so I had to look for the cause elsewhere. The absence of vocalizations in birds can also indicate fear, but Micheline happily jumped on my finger and sat on my shoulder, all without a single pinch. Anyway, he wasn’t afraid of me.
I finally came to the conclusion that Micheline felt lonely, despite the hours of attention I gave her. In nature, budgies gather in herds and are very sociable. Micheline needed to be part of a herd. As I could not stand that he was unhappy, I decided to give him a friend. But before bringing this new companion home, I had several things to do.
An important thing
Those who want a talking parakeet may have to be careful not to add a second bird. Solitary parakeets are most likely to speak, but those that are raised in pairs and flocks sometimes become vocal. Helping a budgie learn to speak takes a lot of time and work, and there’s no guarantee your budgie will ever speak – some don’t. I wanted Micheline to speak, but in the end, her happiness was the most important consideration. He may still speak one day, but even if he doesn’t, he is still my bird.
Make sure your cage is big enough for two parrots
The size of the cage is crucial for budgies. Before buying a second budgie, make sure your cage is large enough for two birds. In general, a 2’x2’x2′ cage will be sufficient for two budgies.
Your cage should be long rather than high to allow budgies to get enough exercise. You will also need an additional crate to keep your new budgie during the quarantine period.
When buying a cage, look for options that will make daily maintenance easier. Seed keepers can reduce clutter on your soil. Bins should be easy to remove and clean. There should be at least one large door so you can easily move items such as toys and bathtubs in and out of the cage.
Quarantine
Any new birds introduced into your home should be kept in a different room than where your current budgie or flock is located. Keep the new budgie apart for 30 days to make sure the bird is healthy.
Other considerations on cages
Remember that your budgies will spend much of their time in their cage. Make sure their home is comfortable.
Other factors to consider will be the location, size, and type of cage doors. Check that the doors are conveniently located to access what you need in the cage. An opening cage roof is an ultimate comfort.
Keep in mind that you will need two cages: one for your current bird, and a second temporary one for the new bird in your flock. The second cage may be smaller than the one in which the birds will eventually live since the bird will live in the second cage only during quarantine.
Choose the perfect companion
In general, budgies mate well. Temperament plays a role in choosing a companion. If reproduction is not a problem, two males will form a harmonious pair, but two females can give rise to much bickering.
Parakeets raised in odd flocks tend to fight each other, with the majority clustering around the unpaired bird. For best results, make sure each budgie has a companion.
Babies?
Consider the gender of your budgie before buying a new bird. If you want to breed your birds, you will of course need a female parakeet and a male parakeet.
Male and female pairs are usually happy. The monogamous parakeet forms long-term bonds with its partner.
Making a decision on livestock farming
Parakeets reproduce easily, but does that mean you need to activate them? Breeding budgies requires an investment of time and money. In addition to the cost and difficulties, you’ll need to find homes for your new birds, unless you plan to keep them all.
Breeding birds will at least need vitamins. Reproduction boxes are relatively cheap. Baby birds will also need a special formula if they are hand-fed. Check with your pet store to make sure the necessary supplies are available.
Parakeets can lay up to eight eggs at a time, so think carefully about your ability to house so many new birds. The sale of babies is usually not profitable for the home breeder. Before breeding, plan for the well-being of your new brood.
How to introduce the new parrot
After quarantine, take out the new budgie cage and place it next to the cage of your current budgie. If they seem to care about each other and there is no fight, allow them to mingle during the period out of the cage.
Once they seem comfortable with each other, place them both in the same cage. If a fight ensues, go back to the first step and proceed slowly.
In general, budgies get along very well, so don’t worry. In most cases, this process won’t take much time and can take a day or less.
Micheline and Bella hit it off right away, although I think Micheline was a little overwhelmed by all this attention. Now they are a devoted couple, with only a few occasional arguments.
Easing the transition
To help the birds coexist in the same cage, add new toys and an extra food dish. Having one dish of food per bird helps avoid fights for food.
The new toys will help birds bond while exploring and having fun. Remember to spin the toys every two weeks to stimulate your herd.
Toys
Entertain your budgies to keep the peace. But do not overload the cage with toys. Two or three will be more than enough, and toys need to spin often.
Do not raise a solitary bird
Parakeets that are bred alone need a lot of attention. You need to balance your desire to have a talking bird against the happiness of your budgie.
If you don’t have time to pay much attention to your budgie, you can find him a pet bird that will help him stay happy and healthy. I found that having a second bird was the best choice for my flock.
Care
If you want to deepen your knowledge of how to care for your budgie, you will find many reference books on this popular bird. Whether you are a beginner in budgies or an advanced breeder, you can find a guide to help you take the best care of your budgies.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great had his own parakeet: the Alexandrian parakeet. Parakeets were part of Alexander’s booty in India.
How to get a parrot into its cage
My son left us his birds while he went to university. We wanted to clip their wings so they could get out of the house without any problems. We were very careful, but in the end, one of them, who had become attached to me, saw me leave and flew toward me just as I was leaving. He saw the great beyond and we have never seen him since. My heart broke like my son’s. Since then, we have clipped the wings of his companions. It was wonderful to see them flying around the house and I hated doing it, but I think if you want to keep a bird, you have to do what’s in its best interest, even if at first you don’t feel like it. Since then, we have created a playground for Azra and I am looking for a playmate for her so that she can have a happy life with us.
Never clip the wings of a budgie. If you are a responsible owner and you are watching your bird when it is out of its cage, then it will be perfectly fine! Simply put dogs and cats in another room and never let out a large amount of water into which they could fall. God gave the birds flight for a reason. We should not change them just to tame them. Let your bird have the flight freedom it deserves.
Yes! It provides them with a safety net and, anyway, birds don’t think like that. Of course, they have feelings, but once the wing clipping is done and they try to fly and feel that it’s different, they adapt and move forward with their happy self. –anonymous
I think you shouldn’t because I have two: one came with the wings clipped, and the other didn’t. I don’t think the one who hasn’t been cut considers her an equal.
I think that’s a good idea. Just recently, we found a very tame parakeet outside. She had to escape from someone. Her wings weren’t clipped, so she flew far. If they had been cut, she might have had a chance to come back as she couldn’t fly too far.
I think it is cruel to clip the wings of a bird. I have a cat, so if I clip the bird’s wings, it can be injured. And birds love to fly, so it would break my heart to clip their wings. I always make sure to close the door when my bird is flying. I’ve owned budgies for 16 years and none have ever had their wings clipped. I have 9 birds and none of them have ever escaped. – retake
SOURCE: Parrot Wizard
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