As I mentioned in other threads, we have been thinking of getting Cosmo a friend now that we're in our new place. I am not in a rush, but just want to think of what would be the best timing with my whole situation in general.

 

The thing is... we have felt recently like Cosmo is reaaallly acting like he could do with a mate. We try our best but he has been quite attention seeking - whenever someone enters the room he'll start talking (as in, "pretty pretty boy pretty coshmo" etc etc) heaps.... come over to the side to be let out, etc. He hasn't always been like that, but over the last few weeks we've been so busy and we feel a bit guilty about it he is still bonded to his bell, and we have left it in there for him because he doesn't get aggressive over it at all. So he's probably okay, and once we get settled I'm going to start growing some plants and things I can feed him more regularly too so he has plenty of interesting things to eat on a daily basis. But I still feel that he wants more attention than he's getting.

 

This year I am doing my final year of study, and my husband works full time, typical sort of hours (he's usually out between 7 and 6). But when I finish my course, in November, I will be looking for full time work too, and then both of us will be out all day every day. We have thought that we would really like Cosmo to have a friend by then.

 

My current situation is that I'm studying online, but I have two pracs throughout the year. While I'm not on prac, I spend Mon-Tue at home, Wednesdays varies, and I work Thursdays and Fridays. Then on weekends we're both in and out for varying lengths of time. So, I do at least get to be home with Cosmo 2-3 days a week sometimes more.

 

My prac is coming up in May, and it will be for 4 weeks... and then my final prac is in October, after which I may possibly go straight into full time work. So, we thought it would be good to have the new budgie totally settled in by my second prac so he can keep Cosmo company while I'm busy from October onwards.

 

So our current plan for timing is this:

 

- Continue with Cosmo as an only budgie until I finish my first prac, giving him as much attention as we are able to

- Once my prac is over, in June, start looking around for breeders we can buy a baby budgie off. Can take our time in this.

- Keep the new one in quarantine for 30-90 days (depending on how our taming of him is going, and whether we have any cause for concern to keep him in for a longer amount of time)

- Slowly introduce the two to each other and eventually have them living in the same cage by the time I start prac 2, in October.

 

 

My plan for actually getting a budgie is that we want another pet type so it's not too much bigger than Cosmo! I don't know anyone on this forum who breeds pet types in Brisbane, and don't want to get one shipped, but closer to the time I might post a thread asking if anyone knows anyone... and if not, I could email local budgie clubs (Cosmo's leg band has BNS, so at least whoever bred him has pet types! and that club is near where we live) and see if there are any breeders I could get one from. If there's no luck, I do know one or two pet shops that I consider decent, but would rather not get a pet shop bird since I will want a head start on the taming if possible.

 

 

So.... do you all think this is a sensible plan? The only alternative is to start looking for a friend for Cosmo really soon. The reasons I don't want to do that are- it would be more rushed, and we're still settling into our new place, and we've just made a ton of requests to our agent related to our initial move in- would be nice to give them a break of not asking for stuff so they don't flip out when we're suddenly asking for another pet immediately. The reason for getting one now- Cosmo is already lonely so it would be nice to have it happen sooner for his sake. I also don't know when I'm most likely to find baby budgies available - what time of year? Because I'd want the new one by around August to have long enough to settle it in and quarantine and tame before October... are there less born in winter?

 

okay I'm sorry to have written such a long thing but I would really appreciate any thoughts, comments or considerations

I think you have a good plan and if you take your time you may find someone here on the boards who may even be willing to hand tame the baby for you . Unless I missed it which I could have you didn't say a boy or a girl, I would go with the same sex personally especially if you are not looking for any accidental egg incidents which can happen especially in budgies.

 

My 2 boys adored each other and I have been having similar guilt as you with Merlin.

 

Also the reason why Cosmo is so chatty when you come in the room is because he is really bonding with you and enjoying your company I know that Merlin does that a lot too .

the plan is well thought out and you sound happy with it which is a big point. Also in-between now and when (if) you have two together what about re-arranging the cage and introducing new toys (doesn't have to be shiny ones) he will be stimulated with his environment again that way.

Thanks for the advice, glad you both think my plan is good - and Nerwen yes that's a good idea about rearranging the cage, will definitely do that!

 

I'm going to buy a new (bigger) cage for the two of them to be in when we get a second one. I was planning on just keeping Cosmo in this one until I eventually put them together.. but maybe I could get the bigger one sooner and do it the other way around

That is what I did, I converted Pretty to a bigger one first and let Merlin have the smaller one for quarantine and introduction process . Therefore, the established budgie was already comfortable you don't want him to have to get adjusted to a new cage and friend all on the same day.

Great idea.... :grouphug:

 

In that case, I will first wait until we get permission from the real estate, and then get the bigger cage and put Cosmo in that before getting the new one