I'm not sure if this is the best area to put this in, but here we go,

 

First of all Happy New Year!

 

Secondly, l have noticed recently that Sherbert is getting lonely in her cage. She has a million and one toys, which l rotate everynow and again.

 

I was thinking of buying a second budgie to keep her company.

 

My cage is big enough, which isn't a problem, l have plenty of toys, l just don't know if l should.

 

She is about 5 months-6months old. I bought her from a pet shop, and since then she's been on her own. I have a mirror in there for her, which she loves (she talks to "it") and l really think she'd benefit from having a real friend.

 

I'm just not sure (if l get one that is) if it should be a boy or girl? I think l've read somewhere that two girls dont mix, so would a boy be better instead?

 

Simply, l have two questions:

 

1. Should l get Sherbet a real life budgie friend, and

 

2. Should it be a boy or girl?

 

Thanks everyone

I say yes give her a man to love .

I am sure she will love you for it .

Thanks for the fast reply

 

Just wondering - will she lay eggs if l get her a male friend? She doesn't have a nesting box, and l don't want her to go beserk laying eggs.

 

 

Also - how old should the new budgie be?

It would be usual for the hen to lay eggs without a nest box , but it can happen , if for some reason it did then just remove them.

Even without a partner she can still lay eggs .

If you get a young cock bird you have the chance to tame him as he grows .

He may get bullied by sherbut if you put him straight in the cage and at a young age he may stress, but in saying that budgies like company and most bond very quickly just keep an eye on them when you introduce them together.

Secondly you can try and find a bird closer to sherbuts age but unless you buy from a breeder you may not know the exact age and at this age if they have been in the avairy flights then they become a little flighty and they require a bit of work to calm them down.

Me personally a young bird is always best and settles quicker , keep them separate for a while then introduce them .

Also two birds are more work than one , but on the flip side its twice the enjoyment.

Thanks for your help lonebudgie

 

I have one other concern - Sherbet can be a little aggressive - with me, with her toys. However, she's never aggressive with her mirror. I'm worried she may be aggressive with the new bird, however - the new bird may stick up for itself? Its hard to tell and l think the only way l will truly find out is if l give it a shot?

 

I have another cage, one thats smaller that l used to have sherbet in, do you suggest l buy the new male, put him in this cage, and have the cage near hers for a few days? Just so she gets used to another bird being near her turf?

 

I'm sure two birds would make much more mess than one! What other extra work would be involved, other than cleaning the cage more often?

 

I am strongly thinking about buying the male tomorrow, thats why l thought l'd better ask the professionals on here before l buy.

Perfect . Put him in your spare cage and allow him to settle and get use to you first , then as you say put the cages near each other after a couple of days and see how they go , your right you never know till you try.

Im sure it will all work out .

Post some pics when you can . Goodluck.

All sounds good and I would get another as you have decided to do also, but please try and remember that a few days is NOT quarantine and certainly not if the cages are next to each other. Quarantine is for 30 days and in separate rooms. Its easy to be tempted and shortcut quarantine but members on here have done so and lost birds because of it. Some members have done so very recently if you read back through very recent posts. Please, please do the 30 days.

When its time to introduce the birds, it would be a great idea to keep the two cages going until you are sure they will be happy about sharing the space and toys. I would remove the mirror now anyway. If there is a new budgie in another part of the house and they are hearing each other there is anticipation.

I would choose a younger male too as others have suggested.

With regard to nesting and egglaying, MOST budgies wont lay unless they think they have a place to lay eggs and raise babies, so just think like abudgie and rethink all inside the cage...dishes, snuggle huts etc.

 

Cheers kaz

Edited January 5, 200817 yr by KAZ

Thanks Kaz, but what exactly is the quarantine for?

 

My understanding of quarantine is to ensure that the animal isn't diseased and will not disease the existing animal. Am l right?

 

Sherbet is outside 24/7, so would it be bad for me to put the new budgie outside too, but not close? Maybe so they can see each other, and hear each other clearly, but not be close - say... from one side of the awning to the other? Would that be enough or is that too much too soon?

Thanks Kaz, but what exactly is the quarantine for?

 

My understanding of quarantine is to ensure that the animal isn't diseased and will not disease the existing animal. Am l right?

 

Sherbet is outside 24/7, so would it be bad for me to put the new budgie outside too, but not close? Maybe so they can see each other, and hear each other clearly, but not be close - say... from one side of the awning to the other? Would that be enough or is that too much too soon?

 

Since some diseases are airborne via dried faeces dust, distance is important. Many people think that if a bird looks fine then it IS fine. Not often the case.

Quarantine is about diseases transferring and is really important. One of our member recently shortcut quarantine and started losing birds in a big way.

While one budgie can live with its diseases often without showing symptoms and another budgie does the same, once they are together such things manifest themselves and often are triggered by a form of stress by the new relationship. Those of us that have many budgies and have started out like yourself and not known the importance of quarantine have all lost birds due to shortcuts. We use all kinds of excuses....like...."ooops my husband or wife put them in together ...not me"

or....."but the other budgie wanted to make friends with the new budgie" and so on.

In reality is because of our own excitement and US not the budgies that want to put them straight in together.

Quanrantine time can be used for training. It is also best used for medicating for the common and easier things many birds carry but may not show. Mediacting for worms. coccidiosis, and sometimes even for psittacosis. Often a cheaply bought bird has his starting price used as a reason to not pay for a check over at the vets.

Edited January 5, 200817 yr by KAZ

Thanks Kaz, l read over the FAQ "quarantine program" while l was awaiting your reply.

 

Just wondering how much distance is the minimum? I'd like to keep them both outside if possible. We have a rather large awning in our backyard, its approx 8mx10m (l just went out and paced it). Sherbets cage is on wheels so its no problem moving her to one corner, and hanging the other birdcage with the new bird on the hook that Sherbet used to be on. This will be a distance apart of approx 13m... is this enough?

Thanks Kaz, l read over the FAQ "quarantine program" while l was awaiting your reply.

 

Just wondering how much distance is the minimum? I'd like to keep them both outside if possible. We have a rather large awning in our backyard, its approx 8mx10m (l just went out and paced it). Sherbets cage is on wheels so its no problem moving her to one corner, and hanging the other birdcage with the new bird on the hook that Sherbet used to be on. This will be a distance apart of approx 13m... is this enough?

I would say 13 metres would be okay. Be very careful hanging up a cage outside without watching etc. My sister lost two lovely budgies just before christmas doing that. A magpie or butcher bird killed them both through the bars of the cage...very sad

We once had psittacosis go through my husbands aviary and that was metres from all my aviary budgies. With careful quarantine and hygience procedures and plastic between both aviaries my birds never contracted the disease.

 

 

****On another note....a little story to tell you about my shortcut to quarantine just some weeks ago. BIG MISTAKE.

I bought two beautiful birds from a reputable showbreeder and they were quarantined together and away from the others. I bought a lovely cockbird from another breeder. Since all three were actually bred by the same breeder but not bought from the same aviary, I thought I would be able to put the hen from the first breeder with the cockbird also bred by him but bought from elsewhere in a breeder cage together. All was fine for a few days, and the hen began to lay her eggs. Then the cock bird went down like a ton of bricks.........Very Very suddenly he was not a well bird....within hours he has weeping runny eyes and a poopy bottom and he died very very quickly. The hen seems to have been carrying psittacosis. She did look really well and continues to look really really well. She sits on 5 eggs alone and away from the other birds and being treated with meds for psittacosis. He is dead and he was a stunning bird.

Just a need to show you that we all make mistakes in judgement and when quarantine is not adhered to we lose out bigtime in a lot of ways.

Edited January 5, 200817 yr by KAZ

My sister lost two lovely budgies just before christmas doing that. A magpie or butcher bird killed them both through the bars of the cage...very sad

 

Ouch Both of those stories are very sad

 

With our hook for the cage, its well underneath the awning, right underneath the eave of the house. We don't get any birds that far in, barely any under the awning at all, our awning is partically closed in, and the birds tend to avoid it because they get confused once they are in on how to get out

 

I also read in the Quarantine Program, that l need to use a disinfectant spray to clean the cage as preparation for the new budgie. I haven't got the same brand as what Daz recommends, but l do have one called "Cage Cleaner Spray" by Aristopet. It says on the label that it controls the spread and growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Is this one okay to use?

Edited January 5, 200817 yr by Missy

My sister lost two lovely budgies just before christmas doing that. A magpie or butcher bird killed them both through the bars of the cage...very sad

 

Ouch Both of those stories are very sad

 

With our hook for the cage, its well underneath the awning, right underneath the eave of the house. We don't get any birds that far in, barely any under the awning at all, our awning is partically closed in, and the birds tend to avoid it because they get confused once they are in on how to get out

 

I also read in the Quarantine Program, that l need to use a disinfectant spray to clean the cage as preparation for the new budgie. I haven't got the same brand as what Daz recommends, but l do have one called "Cage Cleaner Spray" by Aristopet. It says on the label that it controls the spread and growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Is this one okay to use?

I dont know the product you have mentioned at all. I mostly dont buy any generic products from supermarket shelves or pet stores. But someone here who has used it would be able to say perhaps. The best person to ask about cage cleaning would be our Phoebe

Edited January 5, 200817 yr by KAZ

Thank you and yes l did buy it from a pet store, the same brand also has lots and lots of other types of treatments for birds, more than 10 l'd say. Thats why l chose them, they seemed to look like they knew what they were doing

A very handy site for the future...

VETAFARM who produce some of the best products for birds.

You can order online,

 

http://www.vetafarm.com.au/product_list.asp?category_id=11

 

Also Rob Marshall avian vet and his products....also top of the line products

 

http://www.birdhealth.com.au/product/product.html

Kaz has covered all the quarantine rules, may I suggest a male buddy? I have had problems in the past with couples laying eggs and there was no nest box or other handy container, they just laid the fertilized eggs on the cage floor. Better to be on the safe side! :ygbudgie:

I have bought a baby male budgie, the cere is still bright pink.

 

I've decided to call him Fizzy, only because sherbet is fizzy tasting (and the brand wizz fizz) so Fizzy it is.

 

When l am able to take some pictures l will.

 

He is currently indoors on a hook in our sunroom. I'm not sure if he has touched his water/food yet, but he still might be scared.

 

I have been able to get him to perch on my finger a couple of times, and he's comfortable with me rubbing his chest. Also when l do both he's fine. Still a little unsure, as he sometimes puts one foot on my finger and hangs onto the cage with the other but thats to be expected.

 

He's a cutie! :rip:

 

But l'm not neglecting Sherbet either, l bought her a new toy today (to join her other million in her toy chest!) and some new cuttlefish. She's my special girl!

Edited January 6, 200817 yr by Missy

Well done :rip:

have fun with your new boy.

I have just taken some quick pictures - sorry they aren't the best quality.

 

 

 

Your new Budgie looks cute, he must be quite young if you have him sitting on your finger already...good luck with him.

Congratulations!!! He is a darling. Fizzy is a sweet name too! I'm sure in time (after quarintine) Sherbet and Fizzy will be best of mates. I wouldn't worry too much about him not eating/drinking yet. He may have when you're not looking. He's prob just a little stressed. You're doing well with finger work already. :rip: Yah!!!!

Congratulations!!! He is a darling. Fizzy is a sweet name too! I'm sure in time (after quarintine) Sherbet and Fizzy will be best of mates. I wouldn't worry too much about him not eating/drinking yet. He may have when you're not looking. He's prob just a little stressed. You're doing well with finger work already. Yah!!!!

 

Thanks I hpoe thats the case. I have 3 perches in his cage, 2 dowel and a natural (which is the highest) and l haven't seen him move from it to the food/water containers which are at the bottom of the cage

 

He does like millet though :rip: l let him nibble on some earlier - he was quite hesitant, but l waited and he nibbled on it and realised "hey, this tastes good!"

Congratulations!!! He is a darling. Fizzy is a sweet name too! I'm sure in time (after quarintine) Sherbet and Fizzy will be best of mates. I wouldn't worry too much about him not eating/drinking yet. He may have when you're not looking. He's prob just a little stressed. You're doing well with finger work already. Yah!!!!

 

Thanks I hpoe thats the case. I have 3 perches in his cage, 2 dowel and a natural (which is the highest) and l haven't seen him move from it to the food/water containers which are at the bottom of the cage

 

He does like millet though l let him nibble on some earlier - he was quite hesitant, but l waited and he nibbled on it and realised "hey, this tastes good!"

 

They all seem to have a soft spot for millet. If you're worried about the food/water, you could hang small dishes (the ones with hooks) up near the top perch... Give him time though, he'll settle in. :rip: maesie xxx

They all seem to have a soft spot for millet. If you're worried about the food/water, you could hang small dishes (the ones with hooks) up near the top perch... Give him time though, he'll settle in. :rip: maesie xxx

 

Good idea about the higher food/water bowls, l will have to buy some, l don't have any with hooks.

 

He is chirping though he has such a different chirp to sherbets

It's always a good sign if they are chirping. You'll find Fizzy more vocal (being a male). If you're lucky, he'll learn some words too... some good ones to start off with are there names... so his and sherbets, the 'wolf whistle' (pretty easy to learn), who's a pretty boy?, hello sexy... and the list goes on. What ever you want him to say, you can pretty much teach him. If he's a talker, he'll learn them.