New Budgie Owner Thinking About Getting Another Budgie

[FocusPoint]

Hello all!

I got myself a budgie 2 weeks ago from the pet store! He is around 3-4 months old and super cute! I named him Pterodactyl, Pterry for short with a silent "P" Lol.

I luckily have a lot of free time right now so I am able to spend time around him. I have been trying my hardest to bond with him and I am seeing progress! But he still seems to be very bored, whether interacting with me or not. He has one toy that I have gotten him to play with, but he will only nibble at it for a few seconds and then stop. I have a foraging toy for him that I will fill with snacks and he will engage with that for a maybe 5 minutes and then lose interest. He spends most of his time sitting on one perch in his cage, not making much noise throughout the day on most days. I leave his cage door open and he know where it is/how to get out of the cage, but he cannot figure out how to get back in without help lol. He was clipped from the pet store but has quickly grown his flight feathers back and has no problem flying to his tree perch. He will hangout on the perch for I'd say at most 30 minutes before he is starts looking for a way back into his cage. The little stinker refuses to bathe on his own, so I made a shower perch with PVC and vet tape. He LOVED taking a shower with me! I would even hold my hand over his head and sprinkle water on him and he enjoyed that too. Made me feel good!

I have been clicker training with him and using strictly millet spray because he seems to refuse anything else as a treat, fine by me for now I guess lol. He for the most part understands "step up" but does not want to do it unless he need the help to get somewhere, or if he sees the treat in my hand. We will get there!

This all leads to my question. I have read everywhere that budgies do best with a buddy. I eventually planned on getting another one once Pterry was tamed and we started growing a bond. I personally am feeling like it needs to happen sooner, to me he seems lonely and bored. I have tried playing budgie sounds on YouTube which does excite him, but then he starts looking for said budgies and I feel bad so I stop the video. I have showed him the mirror a few times and he of course takes interest.

Am I over thinking it? Should I wait a little longer? This leads to another question about quarantining if the answer is to get another budgie sooner than intended. Since I have had him for only 2 weeks. If I were to get a budgie from the same pet store, would the quarantine process still be necessary? If the full month of quarantine is still required, then I actually plan on bringing home a 7-8 month old male budgie that is being rehomed on Facebook Market place. Story goes he was bought by a 12 year old with Christmas money and planned to train him, but lost interest due to not seeing results quick enough. Poor guy just sits in a room all day alone now....

Thank you for taking the time to read my rambling! I am excited to see what you all can teach me on this thread and others!

 

[T. gillii]

I haven't read this yet, but my immediate answer is YES! Second budgie. Tagging a few people who may be able to give more insight: @Sparkles99 @AussieBird

 

[FocusPoint]

I haven't read this yet, but my immediate answer is YES! Second budgie. Tagging a few people who may be able to give more insight: @Sparkles99 @AussieBird

Thank you!

 

[sunnysmom]

Budgies always seem to do best in pairs. I volunteer at a parrot rescue, and we will actually only adopt out budgies in pairs or to a home with other budgies.

 

[Lady Jane]

Absolutely yes.

 

[FocusPoint]

I just watched a video about molting. He might be in the process of molting from what I saw in the video. It also said that molting can make them less energetic, which might explain what I mentioned above!

I appreciate the answers! I am still looking for a response on my quarantine question if any of you have experience or advice!

 

[Sparkles99]

A buddy would be ideal! He looks male, so any budgie of similar age would work well!

 

[Sparkles99]

Quarantine is ideal, but if you got a buddy from the same group (you would have to talk to the employees), it might work not to.

 

[AussieBird]

I can see the questions have kinda been answered already so I'll just throw a quick two cents...
I've never had a single budgie and never will. The friendship between a bonded pair of budgies is something truly special, us humans can't compare

Your baby is beautiful

 

[UserAZ]

Nice you got yours enjoying a shower. I have to spray mine with a water bottle once a week.
I love that middle picture. I see him thinking, "Dude, I am drying off, go away!"

 

[Davi]

Congratulations on bringing your friend home! It’s such as exciting moment. I agree with others here: budgies are extremely social and absolutely adore each other’s company (this involves fun squabbles too). Just keep in mind that their bond with each other usually takes precedence over their bond with you. But since you can never really spend 24 hours of every day with your budgie, it’s only fair that they’d have a friend.
Quarantining is always a good idea, but it’s easier said than done. Once you bring another one home, they’ll start communicating over the “airwaves” immediately. Best of luck and do keep us posted! Budgies are one of my favorite birds! I absolutely love their chatter, their antics, and their sweetness. Go Pterry!!

 

[UserAZ]

Is the existing cage a good size for two birdies?

 

[Switch]

I started with one Budgie too and can share some of my experiance. Short answer, I think that having the Pterry solo for a little bit if you are around all the time would be good.

When I had my budgie solo it was during covid so we were home all the time so it was not a huge issue. She was still pretty slow to get comfortable as well and we had a very similar experiance with her being pretty attatched to the cage. Eventually one day she decided that she was cool with being outside the cage like a switch was flipped. Once that happened I was able to gain her trust more and more but it took a lot of time. I feel like that time bonding together just us two really made an impact and was for the best. I knew I would eventually have to go back to work so we got a second budgie to keep her company and I'm really glad we did. Our first budgie and I are still really tight and I'm able to handle her no problem, still sleeps on my shoulder and does not mind being picked up at all while also having a good bond with the second budgie. The 2nd budgie also picked up on this and become pretty trusting but not to the point where he likes scratches or being picked up. One other thing I noticed is that the first budgies also bonded more with the 2nd budgie over time so while we are still cool for sure gives the 2nd budgie more attention. I think getting a second budgie is a must but if you are home all the time it is not an immediate need. Having that 1st budige tame can give you an easier path to taming the second one. I think It's important to have that close bond where you can handle them without freaking them out. If they are ever in need of being given medicine it will make things so much easier. Just my experiance as a first time budgie owner as well, I know its probably not the agreed upon way of doing this but it worked out well in our situation.

 

[Scorpi0]

I agree. If u can be home with your budgie for the next few months then spend as much time as you can with him and he will be super close with you. I have 8 budgies and my first one is the closest with me for this reason.

If youre gonna be away for extended periods of time and theres nobody else to keep your budgie company, then yeah u should get another budgie to keep him happy.