Hello,

 

This is my first time on the site.

 

I have a girl budgie (Sam), 9 months old. I recently took her to the Vet who advised (amongst other things) that because I work full time, Sam needs a partner. His reasoning is that Sam's still malting and her immune system is low. He believes she's stressed at being left at home by herself all day. I've bought her every toy I can get that's stimulating. She has 2 play-stations she lives and plays on. She lives in my lounge room and sleeps in her cage at night. She has the best life that I can give her meaning that I spoil her as much as I can. I stay home most nights so it's not as if I'm out all the time.

 

Questions: Do I really need to get her a boyfriend? If I do are they going to make Babies? I don't really want to become a breeder. I only want to make her happy. Also I'm scared that she won't have anything to do with me anymore.... selfish I know but I'm it's still a question....

 

If I get a boyfriend for her then I want to get him this weekend because I have been advised that I need to keep them separated for 6 weeks so I know he doesn't have any illnesses he can give to her.

Hi and welcome to the greatest budgie forum ever!

It might be a good idea to get her a friend. It doesn't have to be a mate. From what I have learned here, most budgies wont breed without a nesting box. It does sound like she needs a companion if she is alone all day. Just make sure that you spend the quarentine time taming the new one and keeping your bond with the one you have strong. Just my opinion but I am sure the experts will respond soon and give you the real low down.

Please, could we have pictures of your little budgie girl?

Shell

Hello,

 

This is my first time on the site.

 

I have a girl budgie (Sam), 9 months old. I recently took her to the Vet who advised (amongst other things) that because I work full time, Sam needs a partner. His reasoning is that Sam's still malting and her immune system is low. He believes she's stressed at being left at home by herself all day. I've bought her every toy I can get that's stimulating. She has 2 play-stations she lives and plays on. She lives in my lounge room and sleeps in her cage at night. She has the best life that I can give her meaning that I spoil her as much as I can. I stay home most nights so it's not as if I'm out all the time.

 

Questions: Do I really need to get her a boyfriend? If I do are they going to make Babies? I don't really want to become a breeder. I only want to make her happy. Also I'm scared that she won't have anything to do with me anymore.... selfish I know but I'm it's still a question....

 

If I get a boyfriend for her then I want to get him this weekend because I have been advised that I need to keep them separated for 6 weeks so I know he doesn't have any illnesses he can give to her.

 

Hi there,

It sounds to me like your Sam has a great life with you. I cannot fathom how a vet that says her immune system is low and she is stressed thinks that giving her a partner wouldnt add to stress ? Was this vet a bird vet ? or as we say an avian vet. Specialist bird vets know a little more about birds than an average vet.

If you were to take advice and add another bird ( if you feel its the right thing to do ) which may well be a good thing for Sam's company, you don't have to add a male to the equasion. It could be another female. A second bird usually does change the one on one relationhip with the significant human from what I understand. But YES you do need to quarantine and most people take that opportunity to bond and train the new bird before it is introduced to your existing bird. To add a male wouldn't mean instant breeding. Budgies will have recreational sex without creating babies. It's when you add a nesting box that gives them PERMISSION to make babies. If they have nowhere to make a nest, they will just have budgie sex and no babies (USUALLY).....some birds have been very creative about where they think a good nesting site might be found in the absence of a nesting box.

So, I guess its your choice knowing your bird. Is she stressed ? Would adding another bird give her more stress ? Would adding another bird enhance her life ?

You know now you dont necessarily need to add a mating partner, so the choices are yours. Other will be along to add some more. Good luck

You don't have to quarintine for 6 weeks. It is 30 days minimum, so basically 4 weeks. They won't usually breed without a nest box, so you are generally safe there. In regards to her becoming less tame if she has a partner; it depends on the individual, some become less tame some stay the same, if they do change it isn't often much. Sometimes the older budgie helps to make the newer budgie tamer.

Welcome to the forum.

If you are thinking about whether to get a male or female companion, from what I understand, 2 females do not always get along well. Girls tend to be a little more...well lets just say they get a little snotty about sharing territory. I am sure it depends on the individual, but in general boys get along better with everyone, male or female.

Shell

I have no problems with female plus female. But it all depends on space and who was there first. May mean a new and bigger cage.

I think that as far as getting along goes, it's much better to stick to same sex pairs. Males and males usually do great but females and males usually ends up in very bossed-around boy birds. The females can be overbearing whilst the males are likely to back down, thus be bullied often.

 

In female/female pairs they are often more equally matched. Like any mixture, there will be bickering but the dynamics between the birds will change a bit more. Meaning, there won't always be one bird ruling over the other as it would be if you had a male and female.

 

Of course, there is no guarantee that any two budgies will get along, but I've found that this works best when trying to keep things balanced. I feel so bad for male budgies that spend their entire lives under the overbearing wing of a nagging female.

 

Husbands, on the other hand, are meant for such things.

I love boy budgies they are so silly with their little happy dances. I know what you mean though Terri. I had just Izzy and Saffron by themselves for ages and Saffy would always bully poor Izzy. He is such a push over though he didn't really care and she is such a grumpy pants that she does it to everyone, even me. Since getting four budgies though, Saffy and Isis (the new girl) have hardly even talked to each other. On the other hand Isis and Arkady get on beautifull, they love each other and treat each other very equally. I think it really depends on the individual.

I feel so bad for male budgies that spend their entire lives under the overbearing wing of a nagging female.

 

Husbands, on the other hand, are meant for such things.

 

Edited January 11, 200718 yr by Bubbles

Little Trouble , Welcome to the forums