Age of new companion??

[borisnbusby]

Well as some of you know I lost one of my birds yesterday gutted doesn't cover it he was my fave shouldn't have them but he was... Well now Busby needs a new pal he's never been so quiet usually he wakes me up with all his squaking in the morning.... I called the breeder and he said I can go up on Thursday too look.. Busby is only one and he said he has some the same age that I could choose from as sometimes an older bird would prefer that or he has some baby's.... in peoples opinion what would be the best age for me too choose? Cheers for any advice... Also is it best to get a cock or could I get a hen? x

[Rachael Kellett]

One year old isn't old at all! You could easily introduce an 8 week old or 12 week old to him, they are so playful at that age, it would probably give him a new lease of life Also at such a young age it will take less time (in theory) to tame them, if you were to get a 1 year old then they most likely won't have been handled as much.

Personally I think that you should get a male, hens can be very bossy and grumpy, although I love hens as much as males ;D but I think that a male would be best.

[borisnbusby]

My cock is bossy and grumpy lol he's a right little s**t ha just had him out then he bites me all the time not like the boy i've just lost my mum recons I should wait a few weeks see if I can get Busby more tame.. but figured I can keep em in seperate caes for a few weeks and do the taming of the baby??

[Rachael Kellett]

May 28, 2012 12:38:02 GMT @borisnbusby said:

My cock is bossy and grumpy lol he's a right little s**t ha just had him out then he bites me all the time not like the boy i've just lost my mum recons I should wait a few weeks see if I can get Busby more tame.. but figured I can keep em in seperate caes for a few weeks and do the taming of the baby??

With any new budgie you will need to quarantine it for at least 30 days before letting them meet. Quarantine means keeping the new budgie in a separate cage in a room as far away from Busby as you can. This is in case he/ she has any illnesses or mites etc. The 30 days will also give you time to work on taming both of them separately before they are in the same cage

[Rachael Kellett]

Oh and I have some cocks that are grumpy little monkeys too ;D

[borisnbusby]

I know all about quarantine done it before, I thought though cos it's the same breeder I didn't need too.....

[Hezz]

Still need to quarantine, Clo. After all a lot can happen in a year. You say Busby is a year old - I presume you have had him from a baby?

I also would look at getting young chick, as Rachael mentioned, should be easier to tame. As for gender, shrug, that is up to you.

[samwiseg]

So sorry to hear of your loss, it does hurt like hell but it will get better

As for gtting another budgie couldn't agree more with Rachael's comments, but would advise a male as the hens sometimes can be bullies, but as Hezz says its up to you.

Please let us know how you get on?

[Deleted]

i would always get as young as possible ....
and would say if your not going to breed...
stick to cocks . .

[borisnbusby]

Cheers guys, will get a young cock then I think... I'm going up there on Thursday too choose one getting my quarantine cage back from my freinds this eve give it a disinfect and do a toy rotation for Busby and get the new additions cage set up ready...still gutted over Boris gonna be for a long time, but it isn't fair on Busby to be alone he never has been( apart from quarantine )but then he could hear Boris and would call too him will be glad when it's sorted... hopefully the new bird wont be a biter like this one is lol he hurts! I'd think he was a hen but his cere clearly shows he's a cock

[Rachael Kellett]

May 29, 2012 7:58:50 GMT @borisnbusby said:

Cheers guys, will get a young cock then I think... I'm going up there on Thursday too choose one getting my quarantine cage back from my freinds this eve give it a disinfect and do a toy rotation for Busby and get the new additions cage set up ready...still gutted over Boris gonna be for a long time, but it isn't fair on Busby to be alone he never has been( apart from quarantine )but then he could hear Boris and would call too him will be glad when it's sorted... hopefully the new bird wont be a biter like this one is lol he hurts! I'd think he was a hen but his cere clearly shows he's a cock

I know how hard it is when you lose a budgie and I know that Boris will be in your heart and memories forever x

I have a cock, Alfie, that bites harder than any of my hens the little...lol. If you persevere with taming them both then you will be okay

[borisnbusby]

I'll def perservere I didn't do much with busby to be honest as he was there to keep Boris company it's like starting again with him to be honest... he would only ever follow boris when it came to getting out the cage so currently building our trust together... finding out what noises he'l chat back to me with he used to be SO vocal he's v quiet incomparasin lol will put photo's up of the new addition on friday when my new camera arrives

[borisnbusby]

breakthrough today done like 5 ten minute sessions with Busby today no biting lol

[Marianne Marlow]

Well done

I have a biter, he's 5 so unlikely to stop now

[borisnbusby]

Well, I did something I said I'd never do today....bought a pet shop bird... I went to one a few miles away to get things that were needed more cuttle bone iodine blocks etc... and just fell in love..he's not a real youngster will get some pics on later he's settling at the minute and Busby heard him tweet and hasn't shut up since he heard him tweet lol