I introduced a new parakeet into my single parakeets cage today and..?

[jenerinlee]

I have had my parakeet for about 4-5 months since it was a baby (3-4 months old) and have worked with it and handled it and tamed it. I had been wanting a friend for my baby bird for a while now because I thought it might need a Companion. I went down to the local grange pet store today and bought another parakeet around the same age and size of my first bird. When I got it home I did exactly what I was told to do and cleaned the entire cage top to bottom changed all the food and water and even put out double the treats and another bowl of food in the bottom of the cage for the new bird (I did the food on the bottom of the cage because that is how the birds were fed at the pet store). Right when I put the new bird in the cage both birds freaked out. After the initial shock from the birds they went on to ignore eachother. After about an hour my first parakeet started pecking at my new bird. From what I observed the pecking got worse when I came into the room and even worse when I approched the cage. Watching from across the room I also noticed that anytime the new bird came anywhere close to any treats or food in the cage my first bird would go over to it and start pecking and attacking again. I think you get that picture...Will this stop? Is this just a normal thing that happens when introducing a new bird to a cage? Please, if you know what you are talking about, help me out!! I am at a loss and feel bad for both birds!
I feel VERY bad, and should have thought about separating them when I first got my new bird...I thought I had my questions answered throughly and with knowledge at this pet store. I specifically asked them if I could put the birds together too and they said YES! I am just angry and feel bad. I am going to try and find an inexpensive cage tomorrow that I can use to separate them for now, I guess. I feel so bad!
I'll give the two a couple days to try and start being loving towards eachother and I'll go from there. I love them both now and want whats best for them! Poor little things!

 

[ljb]

It is not normal for budgies to have this kind of trouble. Your best bet is to separate them. They should have been separated for 30 days anyway, to be sure the new one can't give any illness to the old one. What usually works is to put the cages side by side, and they will get used to each other over time. When the quarantine is over, they will be familiar enough with each other that they can be safely put in the same cage.