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Should I Get Another Budgie

Discuss the methods and techniques of clicker training, target training and bonding. These are usually the first steps in training a young parrot.

Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby Lia and Sky » Fri Sep 26, 2014 3:51 am

I know I sort of had this question mixed into another post but I kind of wanted to be a bit more specific
I've had my budgie Sky for 3 years now. She's well bonded to me and loves learning new tricks. I'm just concerned that being a flock animal, that she should have company from her own kind as well.
I've read that she won't want to be with me anymore. Will she remain tame and still want to do tricks? Please help and let me know if you have two budgies.
Thanks
Lia and Sky
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby GMV » Fri Sep 26, 2014 5:49 am

Not to experienced with budgies but I held on to one for three weeks and here's what I have to say. she will be less interested in you and more interested in her budgie buddy, i have a friend with 8-10 budgies and none of them socialize with humans. If you give her a lot of attention and you want to have the strongest relationship possible, I wouldn't get another one.
If you don't have much time for her it would be reasonable to consider a friend to keep her happy.
Bottom line is as long as you give her enough attention and you keep her happy as she is, I don't think it is necessary, because you will somewhat be her flock member.
GMV
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby Wolf » Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:56 am

Although I don't have any budgies, I have an opinion on this matter, too. But I will hold off and see what you get for responses before opening my mouth on this one, other than to say that I am not entirely in agreement with this first response.
Wolf
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby shiraartain » Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:26 pm

The thing with budgies is that there isn't any guarantee they'll get along. Do you have space and time for 2 separate cages? I don't know, in my experience I'm extremely iffy about introducing budgies to new members.

I will say, however, that it is possible to main rain a strong bond with a budgie even while having a second bird present. Your first bird should not lost its tameness, rather its trust for you should positively affect the second bird. This was my experience from my first pair of budgies and later on, with my tiel and budgie.
shiraartain
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby Pajarita » Sat Sep 27, 2014 10:20 am

I've never had a single problem introducing new budgies to the flock. They just love to be with other budgies and would accept and bond with the same gender without a problem, too(something that doesn't happen with other species unless the individuals are homosexuals). I have two sisters (Maria and Magdalena) that absolutely love each other. Magdalena is handicapped (no feet) and has a boyfriend she loves and which loves her but she still loves it when her sister flies to her platform and starts kissing and preening her (she tilts her head to the side and closes her eyes). Now, as to what is best.... well, as with everything else, there are two ways of looking at things. If you put yourself first, then keep just one bird as Gordon suggested BUT if you value his happiness and health more than your convenience, then get another one.

Large species can be kept reasonably happy by having a human with them all the time but you simply cannot do it with the small species, especially budgies. They are very small and flighty and a human is just a HUGE, clumsy big thing that can never in a million years begin to interact properly with one. You just can't. You can tame them and they will love us if there is nobody else to love but this is a testament to their need for affection and not our own personal lovability. When you see budgies (same as tiels, lovies, plets, linnies, etc) together and observe their interaction, you realize that it's just plain impossible for a human to do it.

Will you lose some of your attraction to the bird if the bird has a companion of its own species? Yes, you will - but it doesn't mean you cannot retain a great, close relationship with it or that the bird will stop loving you. And, taking into consideration the HUGE improvement in its quality of life, the richness it brings into it and the improvement in its health (reduction of captivity stress which is inevitable when keeping undomesticated species captive) when they have a mate, personally, I would not ever consider having a single one. I would feel guilty and selfish every single second of the day.
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby Lia and Sky » Sun Sep 28, 2014 2:08 am

Wow, I love the responses and have decided that I will get Sky a friend, probably a male. :)
Lia and Sky
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby Pajarita » Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:51 am

YAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!! :thumbsup: Good for you and better still for Sky!!!!
Pajarita
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby Navre » Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:38 pm

How about the same question, but with a GCC? They are also small, I guess between Budgie and Cockatiel size. Sometimes I feel bad when she sees the sparrows outside, or answers the bluejays. This bird seems to know that she is a bird.

(My daughter thinks that if we ever got another that they would spend all day tweeting to each other. I don't know how a creature without thumbs can use Twitter. Maybe there is an app for that? :D )
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby liz » Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:55 pm

GMV wrote:Not to experienced with budgies but I held on to one for three weeks and here's what I have to say. she will be less interested in you and more interested in her budgie buddy, i have a friend with 8-10 budgies and none of them socialize with humans. If you give her a lot of attention and you want to have the strongest relationship possible, I wouldn't get another one.
If you don't have much time for her it would be reasonable to consider a friend to keep her happy.
Bottom line is as long as you give her enough attention and you keep her happy as she is, I don't think it is necessary, because you will somewhat be her flock member.


I think your friends budgies are not socialized because with that many she is not taking time with each one to be social. I have 6 cockatiels and picking up a 4 year old this evening. I don't really play with them. I don't trick train. The ones I have had for years will step up and give kisses. They will talk to me with their limited vocabulary because I did not give them very many words. My 3 new cockatiels only step up if they need me but that is how the others started.
I did not know the names for 2 of them so had to give them names. It still amazes me when they know who I am talking to when calling by name and they come to me. They also know each others names. Maggie, a 4 year old breeder bird that I have had a few months, comes to the side of the cage closest to me so we can tell secrets. She did not come socialized. When I can't be with them they are still a happy little flock.
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Re: Should I Get Another Budgie

Postby Wolf » Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:18 pm

I have waited long enough to see what most think. I say yes by all means get your bird a mate. They will be happier for it in the long run. They may back off a little with you, but if you keep giving them the attention and love you too will remain a welcomed part of their lives.
Wolf
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