Birds as roomates? (Budgie and Parrotlet)

Folkeye

New member
Oct 11, 2012
58
0
So Cal
Parrots
Jacky- Pacific Parrotlet (Nude-subspecies...feather picker.)

Jasper- Lady English Budgie
Hi there! Just looking for more advice since I'm driving myself up a wall with stress on making a decision. To keep a second bird, or not to keep a second bird...

I have a 2.5 year old parrotlet who has some issues (super hormonal right now and chewing off his feathers when he has some, also the usual attitude of a big parrot, small body). I love him dearly and he's been number one bird.

I recently had the opportunity to test run having a second bird. I have a very young English Budgie for the week... so far he seems mostly fine being around a parrotlet. He acts as echo to his chirps. The parrotlet throws a fit, budgie throws a fit....

How can I tell if the two enjoy being in the company of each other? The budgie is used to other birds, but my parrotlet is a stubborn little guy set in his ways and attitudes and this is the first other bird he's seen since he was hatched. He hasn't shown any outright aggression towards the budgie, no fluffing or outright screaming at him so I hope that is a good sign. I think the appeal of a second bird (outside of company for me) would be company for the parrotlet during the day. I work the usual 8-5 and sometimes go out in the evening/weekends and have that guilt trip of the bird being alone and bored during the day (the radio is on for him, various stations)...

I'm super stressed on what to do right now, keep or not keep budgie. What signs should I look for that they actually like each other and will be well off living in the same room (separate cages of course, I'd want them to be companion roomates, not playmates in fear for the budgies safety). The budgie needs work in socialization and when I had him out last night my parrotlet didn't throw a fit in his cage...instead dove into his vegetable dish and pigged out.

Is there a way to tell if they are actually providing positive company to each other? I'm usually a single bird person...so this is sort of making me torn all emotionally. :whiteblue:
 

OtterKin

New member
Mar 22, 2011
115
0
Tallahassee, FL
Parrots
Squirrel-GCC (suspected male),
Alice- female cockatiel,
Beattle- male lineolated parakeet,
No name yet- female lineolated parakeet
Dingo- male American budgie,
Darwin- male English Budgie
I think all birds enjoy having other birds in the house. They're not by nature supposed to be alone all day, so even finches could help alleviate that need. If you like that budgie, keep it! They don't have to be best buds, just watching each other will provide entertainment. Just be very careful with interactions between the parrotlet and budgie, even be careful of the budgie landing on the parrotlet's cage. While he's not showing aggression right now, parrotlets do not have a good track record of interactions with other birds. I don't know if I'd even have them out together.
You could always get two budgies, so the parrotlet could still get all the attention, but the budgies would still be around for company. Or finches, for the same reason. Two budgies and finches don't need human interaction, provided their cage is large enough and toys (for the budgies mainly) are rotated.
 
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Folkeye

Folkeye

New member
Oct 11, 2012
58
0
So Cal
Parrots
Jacky- Pacific Parrotlet (Nude-subspecies...feather picker.)

Jasper- Lady English Budgie
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Yeah, I wouldn't trust my parrotlet around another bird let alone outside the two people he likes since he really is an attitude with legs and a beak. I was tempted with the thought of finches or two budgies...but I know me, I'd rather have a bird I can handle and give affection to outside of the ones just for visual company purposes.

This would be a first time having an English Budgie (my first bird was a regular, American parakeet and simply best...bird...ever), and if their reputation holds true he'd have a fairly calm personality and that'd be nice I think. I just want to make sure the budgie doesn't have a negative impact on my parrotlet when I give him attention and have a few more days to figure it out. The parrotlet will have remain the alpha bird of course, he'd comes out first, get first attention and food... I'd have to put him away for an hour or so to have the budgie out, put budgie away (he'd probably go to bed at that time) then re-open his royal highness' cage. Guess I can try that routine and see how it goes.
 

crimson

New member
Oct 8, 2012
3,223
Media
5
6
Ontario,Canada
Parrots
Senegal-Martini,1 pineapple conure~ Kahlua,1 GCC~ Flare, spl/b, 4 Lovebirds Halo,Tye-Die,Luna,Violet,8 Cockatiels,Num Num&Tundra,8-Ball&Angus,Magnet&Sunkist,Pearl, Blush, 1 gouldian finch, 7 canaries
I agree with the other comments, parrotlets can be territorial, and if they are not raised with other birds when young, I would not put a your bird with a sweet budgie, at one point, it will not end well. I breed parrotlets, and I have learned early on, socialize them early, and it may work. they accept their own species, but view other birds as a threat. However, you can never judge a book by it's cover, so it all depends on the temperment of the bird. I have many birds, they all get along, including my young conure and lovebird, two birds I would never put together, but they are both under 4 months of age, and have become pals....go figure, but I still watch them very carefully, especially the conure.Lovebirds can be the same as well, territorial, normally don't get along with other species, but again it all depends on the bird. keep a blanket over the top of your parrotlet cage, budgies love to climb on cages, and you don't want to the parrotlet to bite his toe.
 

Karigan

New member
Jul 3, 2011
682
0
British Columbia, Canada
Parrots
Kitoko: Female Senegal Parrot, born 2002
Talia: Female CAG, born 2008
Mateo: Female CAG, born 2008
Depends on the species as well. I've heard that lovebirds and senegals prefer to be alone, as they are naturally very jealous, but I know budgies prefer a flock... I'm not sure about parotlets though.
 

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