New bird!

[Chris&Akilah]

So I was thinking about getting another bird for awhile. Both for me, but also because I don't like the idea of Akilah being 'in solitary' when I'm not there. I have been teetering between another parrot, or some finches, and was looking at finches today but a budgie caught my attention instead. It came to the front of the cage while I was looking at them, and was very curious about me whereas the rest were terrified. I think it is albino - mostly yellow with ruby eyes, so does that mean I won't be able to sex it from the colour of the cere? His/her name is Micky 3. The first two being from my childhood.

My goal for this bird is to have in the same room as Akilah, but not to interact (I'm assuming that's too risky). I'd like the budgie to be friendly but not dependent on me for a companion...so I'll get another budgie but I was also curious about what other birds could be pals with a budgie in a large cage?
For now I have a basic cage, with basic stuff. Micky is upstairs whereas Akilah is downstairs, how long before I can introduce them? (in cage). I won't worry about out-of-cage for now. Is it within the realm of possibility for a budgie and senegal to become friends?

[TheNzJessie]

wow congratulations! budgies a very smart and underrated in the pet society, pure yellow with red eyes is called a lutino budgie pure white with red eyes is a albino

im sure he/she will be awesome

[michellet]

I'm not sure about a senegal...but Missy my GCC, and Charlie and Snowy our budgies, all get along quite well. Missy has her own cage, the budgies share a cage, but they share out of cage time and a playgym and there is only the occasional squabble...and its never anything major. We owned the budgies first and they were both very tame when I brought Missy home as a just-weaned baby....i'm not sure if things would've turned out differently if Missy had been an "only bird" to start with, and then the smaller birds had joined the family. Two weeks ago a baby lutino cockatiel joined us, and so far it seems that Missy adores him! The budgies are slightly less impressed. I'm not sure if we have been lucky with everyone getting along, or whether we've unknowingly done something right but we always closely supervise any out of cage time when they are all interacting together.

[kaylayuh]

Lutino budgies are just as easy to sex as are normal colored budgies. Females will have a white cere, while the males will have a darker pink cere. Because of the lack of pigment making cells, males ceres don't change color and females ceres will just lighten.

Also -- I personally wouldn't house any other types of bird in a cage with the budgie. In general, I'm not a fan of mixed species cages no matter what the birds are. I would be too nervous about accidents happening to mix them together, but I have seen people house cockatiels in with budgies. I would just get another budgie as a companion for the one you have already.

[zazanomore]

Congrats!

I'd take introducing them slowly. Senegals have a reputation of being bullies. Be careful when you take just one of them out, as if your budgie lands on her cage, you might be risking a toe.

Michael had a budgie at one point with Kili. I'm sure he'll have some advice!

[Red Moppet]

wow congratulations! budgies a very smart and underrated in the pet society,

im sure he/she will be awesome

I AGREE! Congrats on your new bird! That's so cool.

Also -- I personally wouldn't house any other types of bird in a cage with the budgie. In general, I'm not a fan of mixed species cages no matter what the birds are. I would be too nervous about accidents happening to mix them together, but I have seen people house cockatiels in with budgies. I would just get another budgie as a companion for the one you have already.

I also agree with kaylayuh. I have seen different budgies friends with a finch, a linnoleated (spelling?!) parakeet and a cockatiel but I wouldn't house any of them together (except maybe the linnie?) I would get Mickey 4 as a budgie buddy for Mickey 3.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

A month of quarantine is a good rule. Keep the cages separate, wash your hands between birds, handle Akilah first when possible, and change shirts if you think you may have collected feather dust etc. Has the budgie had a checkup yet?

[GlassOnion]

Congrats! They're such sweet little buggers, I love wathing mine fly around and play. I really do believe they have so much more fun and become funnier to watch when they have flight. Do you plan on keeping flight?

[kaylayuh]

Congrats! They're such sweet little buggers, I love wathing mine fly around and play. I really do believe they have so much more fun and become funnier to watch when they have flight. Do you plan on keeping flight?

I agree with this. My budgies have become much more active since their flight feathers have grown in. They play a lot more and seem infinitely happier.

[Natacha]

Congrats! Sounds like he/she chose you in a way