budgies as companions?

[Shelby]

It seems that a lot of people here have budgies, so I'm hoping to get some input from you. I'm very interested in trick training, and I've seen some pretty amazing videos on youtube of budgies performing tricks, including Michael and Kathleen's work with Duke. However, I also want a bird who will be my buddy. I've heard people gush over how smart and friendly their budgies are, but so far my only experience with budgies has been with untame, untrained ones.

How are budgies as companions? Are they pretty easy to tame, following the steps in Michael's taming article, or does it take them a long time to learn to trust you? Do they enjoy hanging out with you on the couch while you watch TV or something? Do they like interacting with you outside of training? Or would they rather play alone with their toys?

I won't be getting a bird for a while, but I'm considering a budgie or cockatiel for when I do.
Thanks!

[liz]

They are what you let them be.

Look for videos of budgies on www.YouTube.com. You will appreciate what they are more after watching.

[GlassOnion]

They're tons of fun! If you decide on one, I would really suggest you keep only one until you have developed a strong bond. Budgies tend to go wild very quickly when with other birds at first.

[Shelby]

Thanks you two! GlassOnion, I would definitely start with just one. I've never had a bird before so I want to get just one and get to know it, understand the body language, and make sure I have enough time to dedicate to training multiple birds before I get more than one. I don't want to overwhelm myself. Plus it would probably not be very tame, depending on where I got it.

There aren't really any budgie breeders around here except for the average bird-owners who have birds that randomly decide to breed, so they take it upon themselves to hand-feed them and try to sell them. (Not the best source for getting a bird.) The pet stores sell young ones that are generally wild but sometimes sort-of tame. If I get lucky, I might find one on Kijiji or at a local shelter, but birds are not popular pets around here.... crazy cat ladies - well, that's another story!