Introducing budgies at different ages and a few questions of budgies?

[Georgia Smith]

I have one budgie who I have had for about 7 years named Honey I'm pretty sure that it's a male, but couldnt be definite, how can i tell? I have been his only owner and I got him at about 2 months old. Anyway, I'm planing to get another one for him/her as i love budgies. I have a few questions on introducing an old budgie to a new one.

- should i get a baby budgie?
- how do i introduce them?
- will they fight?


I need as much information as i can get pleease?

Any answers appreciated

 

[Silver]

An adult male budgie will have a blue or violet-blue ceres (area on the nose) and an adult female will have a rough brown ceres. Getting a very young baby budgie may not be a good idea, as Honey might display aggressive behavior towards him, but a nearly mature budgie will probably do well. When introducing new budgies to my parakeets, I simply let the new bird climb into the cage at will. Introducing them in the cage is important, as it will give Honey a sense of security with the uncertainty of a new bird and the new parakeet will get to know his permanent home quickly. They may fight at first, depending on the personalities, but usually budgies adapt to one another quickly. Also a warning, Honey will probably like you less if he has another parakeet to bond with. Good luck!

 

[Mia]

If Honey is a male the place where his nostrils are, the cere, will be blue. A female's is brown or pink.
- should I get a baby budgie: No. I would go for a young one, but not a baby. The age they are Petsmart (but get from a breeder! always better!). They're a few months old.
- How do I introduce them: First your new bird will be quartantined for 30 days in a separate room from Honey to protect both from diseases they might not be immune to. Even a healthy-looking bird can be sick. In the wild, you have to cover your illness to survive. Then, place the new parakeet's cage on the other end of the room for 2 weeks, then a few inches from Honey's cage for two weeks. During this time, you can tame the new one to sit on your finger, but Honey might be jealous of that bird's attention. Give them equal attention always. Get one of each finger and slowly pull them from the cage so you have both out. Watch for signs of aggression. Those can be fluffed up neck feathers, screaming (or loud chirping in a parakeet's case. Never heard a screaming parakeet), lowering body and head, etc. Hopefully they have clipped wings so they can't fly to attack each other during the meeting. That would be bad. Now just do this every day for a little while. Have them used to being around each other, then buy a larger cage (that way neither bird can claim the larger cage as territory and attack the other bird for going in his territory.
EDIT: Will they fight (forgot it): They may fight at first. You'll have to watch them, though to make sure neither bird gets hurt. You could have them in the big cage when you can watch and the smaller cages at night when you can't, until they get along.

Good luck