old parakeet bullies new one :(

When we got the new parakeet we had to redecorate the cage, the old one flew out so while it was out we let the new parakeet in. I’m worried because my bird seems confused, she goes on the cage floor and looks for food instead of going to the food bowls (they’re very big and white) i don’t know if it’s because we got new bowls or the cage is confusing her but i need help with this too!!

My new parakeet is very tame for coming from a pet store she’ll eat millet from my fingers, and i was feeding my old bird food from my hand and it seemed like she wanted some, she would come closer to get some but my old parakeet would nip at her, same if she gets too close to her. They share the same perch and the new one seems to be following her everywhere. I’m just worried my new one might starve to death because my old one won’t let it eat. I just got the new bird yesterday so is it just adjusting? Are they okay? Should i leave them together?

I wouldn't...I wouldn't ever put two random birds together. I would separate them. They (parkeets) are super smart...like....as smart as a large parrot. They should have been quarantined for a month anyway (because they both could be asymptomatic disease carriers....and they should go the the vet before being around the other), but one should never assume that it is safe to put 2 random birds together..birds die this way.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSltVBW0I2k&disable_polymer=true"]Disco the Talking Parakeet - Pets Wild at Heart - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFJeY9fL5tk&list=RDCMUCRkcS2wS92KMUrLMAVijwZw&index=4"]I'm Disco and I Know It! - YouTube[/ame]

yeah but i don’t know what to do now, they’re already together and they seem to be doing fine, besides the bullying sometimes. idk what to do, we don’t have money for another cage or the space. what should i do about the bullying ??

It's going to be your call overall.

I may not have the advice you want to hear. I hope they will be okay (hard to say). I wouldn't ever get 2 birds without 2 cages, as this can happen. You said you were worried, and it's a real concern--birds can and do die this way. On the other hand, things may work out. It is just a big gamble and not something I would recommend, as it isn't ideal for the birds. I hope it works out. I would think you could find a decent new temporary cage for under $100 (while not cheap, isn't crazy given that you bought a 2nd budgie with the intelligence of a human child). Birds are not cheap and its very important to plan for them.

Unfortunately unless you can separate them that might not change now. Even though you rearranged the cage, your OB (original bird) is used to just being alone. The better introduction would be to have them in separate rooms (for quarantine,) then to have them in the same room, then cages side by side. Then if they wanted to do the same cage, they would (you’d know because OB and NB would choose the cage they liked most and both go in there together.)

If you can, keep an eye on Facebook market place I regularly see inexpensive/free cages on there. If you have a website like Kijiji or Craigslist local to you, those are good places, too. Thoroughly clean the cage to avoid introducing bacteria to NB. If end goal is to house them together make sure you get a large enough one that it’s comfortable for them.

If kept together, it’s hard to say what would happen. The bullying could continue or worsen and turn into behavioural issues, and worst care scenario could end in injury or worse.

In the meantime, see if you can find what’s causing the bullying. You miiiight find it’s linked to a certain toy, food, or something & you may be able to minimize it by offering an additional toy/food bowl, or whatever. But yeah. I’d say separate them and start from ground 0. That’s really the most responsible choice you can make..


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I got my old bird with a partner, he died a year ago, and they got along perfectly i was just waiting to get her another friend cause she seemed a bit lonely. they don’t have a problem sharing a perch or anything. just when i’m hand feeding them my old bird nips at it when it’s eating too much or the only other time is when she gets too close. i haven’t seen the bird try eating out the bowls yet (the only time is out my hand) cause she’s probably still adjusting as we just got her yesterday. My only option right now is keeping them together, so i hope they both get more comfortable around each other. In these circumstances, do you think they’ll be fine together for a while?

amyyxo said:

I got my old bird with a partner, he died a year ago, and they got along perfectly i was just waiting to get her another friend cause she seemed a bit lonely. they don’t have a problem sharing a perch or anything. just when i’m hand feeding them my old bird nips at it when it’s eating too much or the only other time is when she gets too close. i haven’t seen the bird try eating out the bowls yet (the only time is out my hand) cause she’s probably still adjusting as we just got her yesterday. My only option right now is keeping them together, so i hope they both get more comfortable around each other. In these circumstances, do you think they’ll be fine together for a while?

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Ahhh. Ya a lot of people try that and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Largely depends on the bird.

I’d make sure the new bird is getting reasonable access to food & that the OB is not bullying her away from food and water. Otherwise, I can really only offer the advice I already did. I hope that someone else can maybe chime in and offer more.

It’s tough to say, either way. Budgies do tend to be more likely to flock together than other birds, but even then it’s on a bird to bird basis, depending on their personality, from what I’ve seen.


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amyyxo said:

I got my old bird with a partner, he died a year ago, and they got along perfectly i was just waiting to get her another friend cause she seemed a bit lonely. they don’t have a problem sharing a perch or anything. just when i’m hand feeding them my old bird nips at it when it’s eating too much or the only other time is when she gets too close. i haven’t seen the bird try eating out the bowls yet (the only time is out my hand) cause she’s probably still adjusting as we just got her yesterday. My only option right now is keeping them together, so i hope they both get more comfortable around each other. In these circumstances, do you think they’ll be fine together for a while?

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I know your intentions were genuinely good, but they feel grief/confusion and need time to process it (much like humans) and while it hurts to watch it, a random new bird will not generally replace what has been lost...I am not saying to never get your bird a new companion, but the idea of replacing is what generally does not work.
If a kid lost his/her best friend to an accident and suddenly you showed up with another 4-5 year-old, like, "here kid, take this new friend in place of your old!"..A replacement companion sounds fine until you consider how truly complex these creatures are.They are so smart and so bonded, so wanting to patch up the hurt shows that you care, but buying another over-simplifies the issue. I am also not saying it NEVER works, but there is often conflict when people plop two random birds together-- especially in place of a lost companion.