please help. mini is about 9 months old and is generally a very happy chirpy budgie that is very inquisitive. the past week or two I have been waking to him squawking or what sounds to me are cries that are very loud and hard to ignore. he'll do them more when he hears other birds. it can go almost the entire day!!!!

 

has anyone figured out why budgies do this? he's gone through it once or twice before but snaps out of it. i wonder if it's because he's lonely and trying to call out to birds he hears outside. i spend pretty much all my time when i'm home with him, but i'm now almost working full time so he's alone alot during the day am thinking of getting a new baby budgie in the next couple weeks coz i can't bear hearing him like that. i much prefer his singing!

Budgies are flock creatures and you are his flock. So when you leave he will call to you this is very normal. Things have changed and now because you are not home with him all day he will have to adjust to your schedule and the calling will decrease with patience. So he is not particularly lonely but saying "hey where did you go".

 

When Pretty died Merlin did calling for him but now it has been almost 2 months the calling has decreased and I will find he calls for me now but it is not as bad.

 

You may want to consider getting a 2nd budgie but only if you want one for you and for him not just him.

 

Here are things to consider before getting a 2nd budgie.

I have been thinking about getting a second budgie, is this a good idea?

Categories for this entry

General Budgerigar FAQs

Getting a second budgie could very well be a good idea, but only if you think it over carefully and prepare. Here are some things you should think about:

 

Any new bird must be quarantined for a minimum of thirty days so that you can monitor him for illness. Avian vets suggest a longer quarantine of 90 days. A well bird check up during this time is a very good idea with an avian vet. You can also use this time to bond with the new bird so that it is tame before introduced to your other budgie. It is much harder to tame a bird that is already housed with another bird. Read: Quarantine Program

 

Not all budgies will get along. Most are okay, but introductions must be carefully supervised to ensure that the two birds will not harm each other.

 

In the event that your budgies don't get along, you must be prepared to house them separately. Many budgies who refuse to harmoniously share a cage will often do okay during out of cage time. However, this is not always the case. You may very well end up having to give your new budgie his own spacious cage and make time to give the two birds separate time out of the cage.

 

Speaking of which, a second budgie means a little more expense. Vet care, extra food, and an extra cage (at least for quarantine) must be taken into consideration or a bigger cage to house both birds comfortably. If you find your birds are arguing and not getting along check to make sure the size of the cage is big enough to accomodate two budgies. The most costly of all these is of course, vet care. Can you comfortably afford vet care for the bird you already have? If not, it would probably be wise not to add to the flock right now.

 

Lastly, make sure you really want that second bird too. If your biggest motivation is providing a budgie friend for your current bird then you might end up frustrated and disappointed if they don't get along.

 

Basically, make sure you have the time, patience, money, space, and desire to comfortably take care of a second budgie, even in the event that the two birds do not get along.

 

Another note is that two males will get along better than a male and a female. Females tend to boss and rule over males, who will more readily back. Getting two of the same sex birds will also prevent accident breeding and eggs being layed especially if you do not desire to breed.

 

answer by eterri

 

Last update: 2007-04-17 16:15

Author: Elly