We have guided you about adopting your first budgie and then quarantining it after taking it to your home. Now you should know, how will you introduce your new parakeet to the existing flock. Will they accept the new member or not?
All pet bird owners should be able to understand the nature of budgies and how they behave before introducing a new member. Let us dig deeper and learn more about adding a new member to the flock.
How Do You Introduce a New Budgie to Your Flock?
This is a very delicate process and it needs your patience and proper monitoring to protect birds from hurting each other, as budgies are highly social creatures and can be territorial.
Introduce the Budgies Gradually
Once the quarantine period is over, you can start introducing the budgies to each other gradually. Start by placing the cages side by side so that the birds can see and hear each other but cannot physically interact. This will help them get used to each other’s presence.
Let them Interact in a Neutral Area
After a few days of getting used to each other’s presence, you can let your parakeets out of their cages in a neutral area, such as a separate room. This will allow them to interact with each other without feeling like they need to defend their territory.
Monitor their Interactions
Keep a close eye on your budgies as they interact. If there is any aggression or fighting, separate them immediately and try again later. You may need to repeat the gradual introduction process several times before they can coexist peacefully.
Refurbish the Existing Cage
Remove the parakeets from their cages and redecorate the cage with a new color, perches, and toys to deceive them that it’s a new home. This is because if you add the new member into the same cage then the old budgie might fight over its territory.
Provide Plenty of Resources
Make sure there are plenty of resources, such as food, water, and toys, to prevent any competition between the birds.
Do not Make a Colony of Budgies
Even though parakeets in the wild lives in a flock but the resources are in abundance which is why chances of fighting remain very low. The main reason for fighting in the budgies is because of the territory and resources.
In general, they choose to live in high perches/pots. If they see any other budgie coming near to their pot or perch which they are not bonded with then they might kill it.
We recommend all pet bird owners to keep pairs of budgies in separate cages for their protection.
How Long Does it Take for a New Budgie to Settle in?
It can take several weeks for a new budgie to fully settle into its new environment. During this time, the bird may be nervous or skittish, and it may take some time for it to become comfortable with its new surroundings and with interacting with your old birds.
Generally, the time it takes for a new budgie to settle in depends upon variety of factors such as,
Age of the new Parakeet
Young budgies tend to adjust quickly to the new environment in comparison to mature budgies.
Gender of the Budgie
Female parakeets need more time to adjust to the new environment and bonding with other birds.
The Dominance of old Budgies
Your new parakeet will remain scared of other budgies if you do not monitor your old bird’s behavior. They might show dominance to the new member over food and other resources.
To help your budgie settle in more quickly, make sure to provide it with a comfortable and secure cage with plenty of toys and perches. Spend time near the cage talking to your budgie in a soft, gentle voice to help it get used to your presence. You can also offer your budgie treats to help it associate you with positive experiences.
