do i need a second budgie.............?

[rochyne]

ive been posting a lot on this website recently.... haha you guys just seem to have all the answers
i got my first budgie, a week ago, ive decided on the name rumple, after much deliberation
but yesterday, everyone was out of the house in the morning, which hasnt happened yet, and he seemed to be overly happy when we got back, this got me thinking that he could well have been lonely, which come the start of the semester will become a more regular occurance, and ive been paranoid all night, because the last thing i want is for him to be lonely or bored he has plenty of treats and toys, and a large cage, but he wont be able to have free flying time out side of the cage in the living room, because of the crazy dogs.... even though he seems to really like them, i just dont want anyone to get over excited and do something they might regret..... ahah
he will however be able to fly around upstairs, in my room, and then when im at uni, but then he wont have the dogs, and the family for company.

any help would be greatly appreciated, ive read allllll over the internet, and theres so many different thoughts on the matter

thankyou

[rochyne]

just to clarify, ive read the pros and cons post that is on here, and numerous other bits and bobs im just looking for some personal opinions, just to throw into the mix, i will also be asking the breeder i got the first budgie from, as he said if i have any questions i can just call him

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

What is the longest amount of time you think he'll be left alone, and how often will he be alone?

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

By the way I love his name Rumple!!

[rochyne]

ive been talking to the breeder haha i get way too paranoid about these type of things, at uni, the longest day would probably be 10-3 or 4, but thats not a typical day, when hes back at home home, not at uni, through the summer, i reckon someone, or the dogs(which he seems to be liking more than me) will be in 80% of the time the breeder thinks he will cope haha im just being a crazy first time budgie person i think i will see how he copes with uni, if he seems sad/bored/lonely etcetc i will seriously consider getting him a friend, the tv, or radio is always be on, so he will never be subjected to silence, apart from sleep time aha and thank you, it took a lot of thinking

[stace]

I'd work on taming your first one for a couple of months first, then get another. You need to quarantine any second bird for a month, in a separate cage and airspace, to make sure the second bird doesn't bring any disease/infections and make both birds sick. That time is then put to use taming the second bird.

They do like to have a friend, and they don't like being alone.

[rochyne]

thankyou for the advice, the only problem with the whole quarantining thing, is that at uni, i wont be able to fit in taming two birds, in separate spaces, i need to think about my flatmates too haha, i dont think they'd be impressed if i take over the flat with budgies...... if the birds come from the same breeder/ place do they still need to be quarantined? or would separate cages be ok?

i need to see how he copes at university, if he adjusts to my schedule me and him will be fine

if he doesnt seem to be coping i will find a way to introduce another bird

[rose]

I got Ian and Marshall from the same breeder (the idea of quarantining just hadn't occurred to me in those days), a week apart. I guess it's a gamble, but I'll never forget how over-the-moon Ian was when, after a week on his own, his little brother turned up to join him!

[rochyne]

hmmm how tame can you get two budgies at the same time? im seriously considering getting a second on saturday, which would be a week and a half after i got rumple, i think i may have to get another, just incase i get really busy, id feel so guilty about leaving him on his own......... i need some people who have two budgies to tell me what they are like, interaction wise with people, because over the summer i do have the time to dedicate to two....

[rochyne]

i just need to make a decision. im 95% set on getting a second one................. haha rose, you have definatly poked me in the direction of getting him a friend

[rose]

Oh good! I have to admit that Ian and Marshall aren't exactly tame - they will sit on my finger if they can be bothered, though, and Ian likes to have a good chew at my wrist. But I'd much rather they were happy and I can fritter away ages watching them interact with each other.

Probably if I'd been at home more when I first got them (rather than having to go to work, sigh), they COULD have become tamer ...

[rochyne]

thats my problem, ive already got a part time job and uni, and then i may be getting a second part time job.... il just have top work extra hard on teaching them tricks haha i get the second one on saturday

[rose]

How exciting! Hope all turns out really well ... Keep us posted!

[rochyne]

i will!