Thinking of a Hamberley

[ariella]

I’m in the process of considering adding to my budgie family. I’ve always had a single budgie as I am home-based and so offer almost-constant company and if I’m in a different room for a while, the radio has always been wonderful to keep my budgies happy and content.

I’ve been reading and researching and can see the Hamberley is a really nice cage and I have a perfect spot for it where it’ll fit, which is a good start. I like that it comes empty so I can add natural perches, stainless steel bells and suitable enrichment, which I think will be fun, ensuring plenty of flight space through the centre of the cage during non-free flight time. 

Jasper is in a Hagan Vision and very happy in it and I’ve been reading about the best way to quarantine and introduce new birds. 
Of greatest importance is ensuring Jasper will not become upset or intimidated by having some friends. With that in mind, her cage would remain so she will always have the choice of remaining where she is familiar.

So, my main questions are:

I don’t want to breed budgies, so should I therefore ensure I only get males to share the Hamberley and in that instance, as a hen, how would Jasper be having so many males in the same room? Would having a single hen make the cocks fight? Would it be okay for them to have free flight time together (after quarantine and a period of time sharing the same room where they can see and hear each other) or should Jasper only have free flight when the males are in the cage?
...or perhaps Jasper’s cage should be moved into a separate room? I’m hoping that would not be the case. 

I know there are methods to discourage breeding between cocks and hens but I’m not sure if they’re fail proof. I’d have to do more research as I don’t want to get into the worry of egg-binding. I know hens can lay regardless of mating but I wouldn’t want to make it more likely.

I spend a few hours of the day in a different room working, or in the kitchen and this means cage time, so with that in mind, how many birds could comfortably spend time in the Hamberley? I was thinking along the line of 3-4 birds, but then does it matter having an odd or even number? I know all personalities are different but what would be more harmonious and better for the birds?

I would go to the same breeder where I bought Jasper as her set-up and knowledge was amazing. Would it be okay to get all the new additions at once? Either from the same clutch or from different clutches? 

I know I’ve asked loads of questions but I’m not in a hurry to rush into this until I’m happy with the best way to do it and so I’d be grateful for opinions on the Hamberley as a suitable cage and appreciative for anyone able to plough through this post and try answering my questions and advising me. 
Thank you! 

[Hezz]

Get a Hamberley by all means. They are great cages for a couple of budgies, maybe up to four if they all get along.

To answer some of your questions ...
Whether the cocks fight will mostly have to do with Jasper’s personality - whether she is interested in pairing up with anyone, or continue to be her own bird. I’ve had hens do both. If you have nothing resembling nesting sites and Jasper doesn’t get broody your one hen and possibly three boys should get along fine. Even with a broody hen, my boys have not fought over her - she made her choice and stuck to it. Nesting sites are to be discouraged, so nothing dark, boxy, cupped etc.

Odd numbers are not an issue in my opinion. Most of the time I’ve had an odd number of budgies and while some people feel that one is left out this way, that has not been m experience. I’ve noticed each individual bird take time out to be on its own rather than one be excluded by the others. Since Jasper is your first responsibility, I would suggest one bird initially would be less intrusive to her, get that relationship happening and then think about adding the one or two more. That is less likely to have her being that odd one out, as well. Which goes on to answer that other question of whether the new birds be siblings or not. Personally, I’d look for unrelated birds, because you never know what the future might hold.

[ariella]

Thanks, Hezz. I’m glad going for unrelated birds is the best idea as I can choose a variety of colours, which aesthetically would be nice.
So discouraging nesting would be top of my efforts. It’s a lovely bright room and I ensure once back in the cage in the evening, and the evening meal is over (the dining room is home to my vision cage), I draw the curtains and quickly Jasper, and before her, Gaia, would go to their roosting place, so I’d then give it a while as I do the dishes and then return to cover the cage, so that routine should continue to work and discourage any hanky panky in the evenings. But of course Jasper could choose to go back to her own cage rather than sleep in the Hamberley, which would alleviate that issue.
The dining room is south facing and bright so no dark areas and there’s nothing boxy or cupped.
It’s reassuring to know it should work well by introducing gradually but going for all new males is still the best option I presume?

[Hezz]

Yes to the “all male” question as the easiest option. Hens can be very territorial in general and with other hens in particular. Is she a bit of a prima Donna, or is she more laid back? Has she shared with another budgie before? You know her better than anyone else, but no one can predict how any budgie is going to react to another in their space. Most thrive with having another of their own around, they are flock animals after all, but some are content with their own company.

[ariella]

I’ve got the approval of my hubby (he’s used to me adding to our zoo!) and am ready to go ahead and buy the Hamberley and all the perches, feeders and fun stuff.
My bank account is going to take a hit but I think it’ll be worth it and I won’t regret it. 😀

[ariella]

And it’s built! 😁
Can’t wait to get in all my perches, swing and fun stuff from the Natural Bird Co.
Took an hour with my teenage son and was fun to assemble. Very simple actually and easier than I’d anticipated. Just need to set it all up and once any newcomers have been quarantined, fill it up with bud antics and chirping.

[Deleted]

It looks great ariella ! Can't wait to see what it looks like when cage is setup and buds are inside!

[ariella]

Mar 26, 2021 22:58:21 GMT @birdlover123 said:

It looks great ariella ! Can't wait to see what it looks like when cage is setup and buds are inside!

Thanks, neither can I! Really excited about setting it up.