When to introduce a second bird, and how?

[dramanea]

Hi everyone!
In about a month I'm finally going to get a budgie! I think it would be fun to eventually get it a buddy, so they can keep each other company while I'm gone. A friend of mine has a pair, and they're always giving each other kisses-cuteness! I just have some questions:
How long should I have the first bird before I get a second, so that the original budgie will remain tame? Also, how should I introduce them?
Thank you very much.

[Ryan.W]

Once you get the first bird standing on your finger on cue, and get it used to you stroking it i would then get another for company. It must be quarantined for about a month in a separate cage and preferably a separate room, this is just to make sure there's nothing wrong with the new bird. You can also use this time too tame the new bird. After quarantine is over if it was me i'd just quite simply put them in the same cage, they usually hit it off straight away, budgies are very social creatures and are usually over the moon to have a bit of company so their's not normally any issues with introductions. They will likely squabble a little for the first week or so after introduction this is fine just keep a eye on the situation to make sure things don't get out of hand, they just do it make a kind of "hierarchy" if you will , you know who gets to eat first that kind of thing, sizing up the each other.

[Ryan.W]

Dec 20, 2012 19:01:18 GMT Ryan.W said:

Once you get the first bird standing on your finger on cue, and get it used to you stroking it i would then get another for company. It must be quarantined for about a month in a separate cage and preferably a separate room, this is just to make sure there's nothing wrong with the new bird. You can also use this time too tame the new bird. After quarantine is over if it was me i'd just quite simply put them in the same cage, they usually hit it off straight away, budgies are very social creatures and are usually over the moon to have a bit of company so their's not normally any issues with introductions. They will likely squabble a little for the first week or so after introduction this is fine just keep a eye on the situation to make sure things don't get out of hand, they just do it make a kind of "hierarchy" if you will , you know who gets to eat first that kind of thing, sizing up the each other. Also it wont really if you get a male and male or a male and female ,a male and male usually in my experience get on a bit better as females can be a bit picky as to which male they get along with and bossy at times not to mention noisy little swines ;D

[Bird Junky]

Hello. Introducing a new bird. Your first job is to quarantine the new bird in their own cage, in a separate room.
Unlike Cocks, the adding of a new bird into a cage with a resident hen, is something not to be taken lightly. Hens are usually very territorial & have been known to kill or injure new birds introduced into their space. The way round this problem is to introduce the hen into the newbies cage. Or place both cages close for a few days after the quarantine period.
Let them fly out together for a couple of days. If they get on, you can then put them together...B.J.