I have been thinking recently of getting Pippin a friend but have really been unsure as I dont want him to lose his personality. He is a really friendly little thing and loves his mum to bits. Anway on Tuesday night I caught him being over friendly to his see-saw mirror on the top of his cage. I left him alone thinking it might be a one off situation, but last night when I let him out he went straight to it and carried on where he had left off. Is this hormonal or does he need some company.

it is hormonal and I would remove the mirror for at least a week

you can reduce daylight hours by covering him up sooner at night and taking the cover off later (I do this with my 2)

Also an abundant food supply can stimulate this so I don't know if you over fill the bowls at all.

and lastly any water source like a fish tank or running water he can hear is also a stimulate.

 

Only get a friend if you want the responsiblity

Thanks for that Lovey I will remove the offending toy to see if that makes any difference. I really would like to get a friend for him as I am out at work most of the day and he is here on his own listening to the radio. Do there personalities change much when they have company. I just want what is best for my little man

You know Pretty didn't change to much to be honest. Bea & Una's budgies are very tamed and they are still very affecionate.

 

Right before I intro Merlin, Pretty was getting more friendlier like running up to the side of the cage, pecking my nose, and he started to talk. Since I got Merlin that has ceased but he is still finger tamed out of the cage, still listens to me intently and I believe if I continue talking to him he will start up again.

 

If not that is okay, but the best part about having 2 is the impact it has made on bring out his personality as a bird which I enjoy. I don't think I would ever have a lone budgie again.

 

Before Merlin, Pretty was very quiet, sat in 1 spot and really didn't play. Merlin has taught him a thing or too about having fun and Pretty has taught Merlin that veggies are awesome.

 

2 is fun and I don't feel guilty leaving Pretty home alone anymore.

Thanks Lovey you have helped me make my mind up about a friend for my little man. I do feel bad when I leave in a morning knowing he his on his own all day. I'm being selfish not wanting him to change, its just that he is such a good little talker and is so sweet and loveable and comes with me all over the house, in fact he wont let me leave the room without him when he is out of his cage. The breeder I got Pippin from has had to give up breeding birds due to ill health, so I need now to find a good breeder which seems hard to find in my area. Anyone know any good breeders in the north west of England.

I know pixie25 is from England, I don't know which part you may want to contact her and see if she knows. Give her a quick IM.

 

oh your welcome

and by the way I got another male because I didn't want any breeding behavior going on, and they are the best of friends as you can see in my siggy.

I know pixie25 is from England, I don't know which part you may want to contact her and see if she knows. Give her a quick IM.

 

oh your welcome

and by the way I got another male because I didn't want any breeding behavior going on, and they are the best of friends as you can see in my siggy.

 

 

I'll do that thanks.

 

 

You have two cute, beautiful little men there Lovey, its easy to get addicted to them.

 

I'll let you know how I get on.

 

Thanks once again for all your good advice

I just thought i'd add my experience with adding a second budgie. In January of last year i choose my budgie Blinkie from a clutch of babies one of my breeding pairs had. At that time i was home schooled and so i was home all the time to keep him company. Ever since i had him i spent a lot of time wondering whether or not to get him a friend. The only thing that stopped me was my fear that he would untame. This year i went back to regular school so i felt terrible leaving Blink on his own, especially as he's such a friendly, social budgie. So in April (i think) i got Ozzie. In the quarantine time i tamed Ozzie so when it was time for the two to meet i was introducing two tame budgies. Ozzie being less tame is better bonded to Blinkie but i believe that i am still Blinkie's number one flock member, which is an even better feeling now that he has a choice of budgie or human. You have to be prepared for the two not to get along though, i've had Ozzie for months and i'm only just able to keep them in the one cage. Every other time i've tried Ozzie has bossed Blinkie around too much and kept him from eating. Yesterday and today however i have been able to leave them together while i go to school and i come home to find them preening each other (although once i'm spotted Blinks runs over for a kiss :fear).

Thanks for that Bea. You obviously had the same concerns as me about not wanting to spoil the relationship you have with your little man. I know it may sound selfish, but he is so precious to me I would hate to think that by getting another budgie I would spoil it. I really do think that he needs company during the day and the radio isnt enough for him. The reaction I get from him when I get home from work each night is so touching, he is so excited to see me. I need to do some research now and find a good breeder, there doesnt seem to be as many about in the UK as there used to be and I'm not too keen on buying from a pet shop. I will let you know how I get on. Thanks Bea and Lovey for your advice.

look on petfinders.com too for the UK and in your local papers too

see if there is a local breeding club by you this is another way to get in contact with breeders. Ask the other breeder if she knows of anyone.

 

If you want 2 tame ones I really just going to a breeder vs a big chain petstore I see the difference in both of mine. Pretty was a pet store bought, Merlin was a rescued baby that was hand tamed.

Pippin was from a breeder and from the first day I brought him home he has been such a social little bird This is why I prefer to get a baby from a breeder against buying from a pet shop where they have been bred purely to be sold in the shops.