Question about Parakeets

[draper]

I was talking to someone today that owns a local bird store, and when I told her that I was looking for a buddy for Woodstock, told me that I would have to keep them in seperate cages for the rest of their lives? I know that I would have to do that at first to allow the new bird to bond with me, and to make sure that it wasn't sick and such. But I thought that I would eventually be able to put them in the same cage. She told me that if I did that, the bonds that I established with them would be broken and that they would bond with each other and eventually turn on me and start biting me. Anyone else heard of this? Anyone else have two parakeets that live in the same cage? How do they interact with you?

[adpace]

I'm a brand-new budgie owner, so I'm no expert - but I've read in a number of places that if your first keet has already bonded to you, that the second one should do the same and no bonds would be broken. I doubt your keet will suddenly reject you just because you house another bird with it. I wouldn't worry about it, but maybe someone who knows more than me can help!

[chirpy]

Draper, like you I only have one budgie and I am a bird owner for last than 4 months. I agree with adpace, as I also have read the posts by various bird experts, that once a budgie has bonded with you, the bond would not be broken simply because you have added a second budgie. Separating them at the beginning, like you said, is a good idea because you may want to let the second bird watch from inside his own cage how obedient and friendly your first bird is.

[draper]

I also figured that it would be a good way for the two birds to get to know each other.

BTW, my parakeet LOVES brocolli. I take the top of the veggie, and cut it off, making it look like green seeds and Woodstock can't get enough of it. Perfect healthy treat for him.

[krazy4birds]

That's a good trick there with the brocolli.....and a very healthy one too! I do not know if your bird would turn on you to the point of biting and such but pairs of birds put together tend to bond with each other really well. I have a pair of Cockatiels that still let me hold them and such but they are by far happier to be in their own little world there. LOL I really do not think you have much to worry about as long as you handle them everyday like you do now and another thing, if you notice that they start hesitating to come out for you and they lose their attention span with you worrying about what the other bird is doing then I would seperate them because that could be a warning of whats to come. Good luck