Do budgies bond for life

[ashgate]

if they seem bonded as young around 10 weeks old do they stay together bonded for life and if male and female breed for life? Or is that false information I’ve read online? I’m starting to feel guilty for not bringing home my yellow wings buddy from the store, they were preening and feeding each other at the store. Lmk your thoughts.

 

[Budgiebonkers]

No they do not bond/mate for life that is a myth

 

[Sylvester]

I didn't think any bird did.

 

[ashgate]

Lol, that’s what I thought.... proof bunch of b.s. on the Internet

 

[Mizzely]

Many species are socially monogamous but not necessarily sexually.

Do Birds Mate for Life? » Bird Watcher's Digest

Do Birds Mate for Life? – Ornithology

Audobon says Scarlets do but Im not convinced either lol Till Death Do Them Part: 8 Birds that Mate for Life | Audubon

 

[ashgate]

Thanks for the links, interesting

 

[Ripshod]

Yeah, I never believed the life bond else they'd never partner up again. We often see the acceptance of another m8, that urge to spread genes wins out.
The loss of a long term friend however, especially male-male, does openly show a 'mourning' period more than the loss of a mate.
Mates before dates lol

 

[Zara]

I didn't think any bird did.

Swans and penguins do...

 

[ashgate]

I brought home the yellow winged one on Tuesday 2/19, do you think if I went and got the recessive pied one today they would remember each other? Since it’s only 2/22? (I’m feeling guilty for not Getting them both at the same time)

 

[geff]

I am not sure, but making assumptions that in the wild where birds live on the edge, finding food water, predators etc, I doubt if lifetime bonding exists.
But in a domestic situation, with just a couple of birds, as opposed to hundreds of birds flocking in the wild.
I really could see that in small domestic setups then lifelong bonding could happen. This is purely my own reasoning.

 

[ashgate]

Yea I know I’m most likely over thinking it, but it does make ya wonder...

 

[Mizzely]

Yes they would remember each other

 

[Zara]

Aww They were so sweet together.. I know if I were going to buy a bird from the petshop and saw the two like this I would have bought the pair of them.

 

[Gribouille]

they do remember each other, and us, for much longer than 3 days.
I had a little 5 week-old guy for 2 weeks in February 2017 here before I had to let him go to someone else since it was only chaos home with him and my 2 other males.
He came back 2 weeks in July while his owner was on vacation and I visited him some time in September again to pick a forgotten bowl up after my birds had been there while I was on vacation.
The then 9 month-old little guy jumped on me to say hello, which his owner said he never did with strangers, so he clearly remembered me as his "first mommy", although we only had 2 + 2 weeks of history together and he had spent most of his time with my birds, not me.

That has also happened with swallows I had taken care of at a wildlife hospital in UK, they recognized me after several days of not seing me, and came to me, which is something the staff had never seen wild birds doing.
And when my 2 budgies escaped and I found them back after 3 and 4 days, they recognized both me and each other, as do all my birds when I leave them in someone else's care for 2 or 3 weeks in the Summer. They clearly recognize me when they see me again and show how happy they are.

It has also been proven that singing birds give "names" to their kids, each of them has a distinct sound that the parents use only for them. In my opinion, this implies much deeper bonds than people used to think small birds are able to, and we should not underestimate the trauma and sorrow we submit them to when we separate them from their friends and mates.

 

[Zara]

@ashgate Maybe there is a space in your home for his friend?

 

[ashgate]

I m going to see if he is still there this morning

 

[Begone]

I m going to see if he is still there this morning

Yes please do that! I know someone that will be very happy! ♡

 

[Begone]

Swans and penguins do...

Yes and their is more too.

I am not sure, but making assumptions that in the wild where birds live on the edge, finding food water, predators etc, I doubt if lifetime bonding exists.
But in a domestic situation, with just a couple of birds, as opposed to hundreds of birds flocking in the wild.
I really could see that in small domestic setups then lifelong bonding could happen. This is purely my own reasoning.

I agree with you that their is some difference.
In the wild their main goal is to survive and reproduce.
I think that most specie will bond again, but some never will. (That is sad)

 

[Zara]

I have my fingers crossed, I can´t wait for the update!!!

 

[ashgate]

I went first thing this morning & I was all set to get him, but then I noticed one of the others had wet poop stuck all over its vent and the skin looked pink, they had a bowl full of veggies that they were eating, so maybe diarrhea from too much veggies every day? Or some illness. So I didn’t get him, I notified the store manager. Might check back this week.... but felt unsure and sad leaving.