Hello all!

 

Apologies that I have not been here in ages - I have just been having far too much fun with my darling Piccolo! My profile picture says it all - he has certainly grown into a very inquisitive and intelligent little man. He still bites a little, but I'm a tough woman - I can handle it! Ha ha!

 

However, I worry sometimes. Two weeks ago, I managed to get a new job (finally! Hooray!). Compared to my previous job that was 7:30am-3:30pm Mon-Thurs, this is a full-blown, 9-5, Mon-Fri employment-o-rama!

Also I am doing part-time university two nights a week which means that I don't get home until 7:30pm!

 

With the amount of time that Piccolo spends alone. I have noticed that he seems a bit 'starved' for attention - when I get home he sits and chatters away continuously - even moreso if I put on the TV for him! I stay at my partner's place two nights a week, and take him with me at those times (Piccolo chatters away to the two guinea pigs there). I will be moving into a bigger house with my partner in October, and we will be making sure that it is guinea pig and budgie friendly.

 

People have listed the pros and cons of more than one bird before. While I would love Piccolo to be absolutely bonded to me, I realise that it is not particularly fair if I am not around. That is the main reason that I am considering two budgies. If I got a second budgie, would they still socialise with me from time to time, or would I be forever cut out of the picture? I don't want to be a third wheel! Is there a particular ratio where, the more birds you get, the less amount of time they spend with you? I would happily get a third bird and invest in the Taj Mahal of cages if I could - I love them so!

 

Also, what implications would this have on housing them? I do have a smaller cage at the moment that I use to transport Piccolo to the vet - not very big. Should I get a larger cage for the two birds now, even though I won't know if they get along until after quarantine? If so, I would definitely love some advice on where to find an appropriate cage (I'm aware of dimensions, but I have no idea what stores in Brisbane would have the best cages...)

 

Any advice would be so greatly appreciated - not just by me, but also by my darling feathered friend!

I think it comes down to you and the bird. I currently have two boys together and they are very well bonded but still bonding with me. I know of other people who have three or more and they are all happy to have cuddle times with mum. I think the main thing is, bound with the second bird as well so that both of them come to the table with you a their friend that way one does not teach the opther to be scared of you (if you get my drift)

 

Others will tell you more but just know that you can have two birds both bonded with you it just takes a bit more time and practise.

Go for it , If you can . If you feel guilty that you are not spending enough time with your current one, then you may feel worse when you get your 2nd or 3rd. But it may keep No1 happy ... It is a catch 22 But do what YOU feel!

Make sure you quarantine your newest bird (s) for 30 days that is very important.

 

If you have 1 bird or 3 birds if you don't spend the time they will revert to their more "wild" self . Your tame one will probably always be tamed but most likely will not be as interested in you as he is now.

 

If you are going to add to your flock, I would keep the number even too so everyone has someone to chat with. Also you need to think different sexes. If you don't want a chance of eggs, I would get another male. I had 2 males they were BEST friends.

 

Here is an article from our FAQ's that I copy and pasted here for you to read too.

 

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

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.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. For now I have decided to wait until I can make a real decision rather than a "rushed" decision.

 

My partner and I believe that the current arrangement of letting Piccolo hang out with his guinea-pig friends is probably doing some good (he does talk to them, and is even picking up some guinea pig "whee whee!" noises in his chatter!). We are going to wait until we move in and then readdress the situation.

 

I have been very ill with a viral infection in my liver over the past couple of weeks, and have had to be at home in bed for most of it because of the awful stomach pain. And lo and behold, Piccolo was there. I opened up his cage, and he spent his days flying backwards and forwards between his cage and my shoulder. He is my special little man! Ha ha!

 

If anything, it has really brought up the situation of me being a responsible bird owner. Piccolo is my little buddy, and deserves my time. If I cannot find the time to be at home, that is not his fault - it is the fault of my schedule. So I have gone back and looked at my schedule again, dropped a university subject so I can have an extra night at home, rearranged my weekends so that people come to my place rather than vice versa, and found ways to be at home to give him the time he deserves.

 

Besides, he is getting really good at helping me with my university work....

Good to hear you are really going to think about it I do too many people make snap decision and then don't realize the consquences. As for your illness I hope you can fight that off and get better soon & good luck at the school .

Well I must admit, Elly, I am usually a person that makes very quick and very rash decisions. But a friend said something very interesting the other day:

 

You can say yes and mean it, you can say no and mean it.

When you say "I don't know", in some situations that is your mind telling you "no".

 

Thanks for the well-wishes. I'm going to try and go to work tomorrow - see how I go. At least I know my darling baby boy will be here to love me when I get home! The last few days at home with him have been really special. So I have to make sure I keep up my end of the arrangement and make the time to be with him.

 

And I love my studies. I'm doing a postgraduate degree in writing and editing - Sarah wants to be a writer someday! Ha ha!

Your friend is very wise... I'm glad you are happy with your decission thus far... you know what is best for both you and Piccolo, and in time, if getting another budgie is the right thing to do... it will happen. Good luck with work tomorrow and I hope you are feeling better. Also, please remember us when you are a famous writer... I EXPECT a autograph!!!