How to split my time with a new bird in quarantine?

[thefeyra]

Hi all,

So, I currently have 1 hen budgie in her first molt <3

I first got her as a 2month+ old handfeeding chick, and to further bond with her I carried her cage around, talked to her whenever I could etc. It worked, and I currently spend almost all my free time around her (I have the luxury to do so due to COVID-19 and the work-from-home thing). Even if I don't directly interact with her, I'm at least in the same room as her.

However, I think she would be happier if she at least got to interact with another bird, I'm thinking that things will change once COVID-19 lets up, and so I would like to get a baby cockatiel.

I plan to quarantine it on the ground floor. My question is, how do I split my time between my existing budgie and the new bird while bonding with the new cockatiel and not having my existing budgie be lonely? Clearly, I can't be in two places at once.

I heard that frequency of interaction is more important than length of interaction. Should I, I don't know, set 30-min intervals throughout the day and interchange which bird I interact with? If not, how do you do it?

Would appreciate your input and experiences!

[Hezz]

I’m wondering why you have decided on a cockatiel rather than another budgie as a friend? If you want a friend for her when you are required to work away from home, a budgie friend is going to be a better option. Budgies are much more independent than cockatiels once bonded, and two budgies will keep themselves and each other company and entertained. a cockatiel is a much more needy bird.

How you split your time, regardless of what bird you decide on, has to fit in with other routines, but you will need to make sure you follow quarantine rules to make sure that it does actually work. This means washing hands before and after each visit, it should also include a covering over clothes so that one set is for the quarantined bird that is put on and taken off prior to and just after interaction.

[thefeyra]

May 27, 2021 21:37:14 GMT Hezz said:

I’m wondering why you have decided on a cockatiel rather than another budgie as a friend? If you want a friend for her when you are required to work away from home, a budgie friend is going to be a better option. Budgies are much more independent than cockatiels once bonded, and two budgies will keep themselves and each other company and entertained. a cockatiel is a much more needy bird.

How you split your time, regardless of what bird you decide on, has to fit in with other routines, but you will need to make sure you follow quarantine rules to make sure that it does actually work. This means washing hands before and after each visit, it should also include a covering over clothes so that one set is for the quarantined bird that is put on and taken off prior to and just after interaction.

Hi Hezz! Yeah, I'm planning to wear an apron or poncho and wash my hands before and after interacting with the new bird.

The reason I would like a cockatiel is because I had been debating between a budgie and cockatiel for my first bird. The budgie won out only because of the decreased amount of dust. She's a hen budgie, and if I got another hen, they'd duke it out. If I got a male, they might mate and I just don't think I'm equipped to handle that yet. If you're wondering why I didn't get two budgies from the start, it's because my current budgie was fighting with all the other budgies in the store and I didn't think she'd get along with any of them. But I think cockatiels are equally adorable and I'd like one.

[mona]

I have a male female budgie pair. There are some simple ways you could keep them from mating.. by not adding anything that looks nest like, letting them sleep for 12 to 14 hours and so on. A budgie friend would be great for her, but then, as you decide

Getting along with female could be difficult for sure. But, I also wonder she could be mean to the cockatiel too, if she really wants to.

[Hezz]

mona is correct, regarding whether she may not get on with a cockatiel as well. There are more cockatiels bullied by budgies than the other way around. Budgies do tend to forget that they are as small as they are.