How to bring together a pair of parrots, rules for dating a wavy boy and a girl before mating, you can make friends between two males or females

If a person cannot pay too much attention to the wavy bird, then the bird begins to get bored. Therefore, if your pet is alone throughout the day, you can pick him up a friend or a mate.

In nature, parrots live in large flocks, so they usually react positively to a new fellow member. But purchasing a pair for a parrot should be done after preparing a new cage and other accessories. You cannot add a new animal to your pet without quarantine and adaptation.

How to introduce birds before mating

In the wild, wavy birds independently choose a mate after communication and the appearance of sympathy. But at home there is no such diversity, so the birds have to establish contact with those individuals who are introduced to them by humans.

If you plan to mate budgies of different sexes, then for their successful acquaintance the following rules are taken into account:

before purchasing, the age of the individuals is assessed, since it is desirable that the male is 2 or 3 years older;
Read also: The best breeds of talking parrots
the birds must have the same plumage so that there are no conflicts about this;
it is difficult to find a mate for an adult female, as she often behaves aggressively with males and also begins to fight for territory;
parrots with a similar character are selected, so it is not advisable for a calm male to buy an active female;
It is advisable to buy a second bird directly from breeders, so as not to make a mistake with the age.

Even if all these rules are taken into account, there is a possibility that the birds will not be able to establish contact, so they will always fight.

Dating begins only after quarantine and adaptation. To do this, the birds must reach out to each other from different cells. Only after the appearance of the first sympathy can the female be transferred to the male. At the same time, a person must observe the communication of birds in order to stop fighting and aggression. Adaptation may take several weeks, as it depends on the nature of the birds.

How many parrots do you have?

Determining the sex of parrots

First of all, when selecting a pair, it is important to know exactly the gender of your feathered pet. If you bought a bird at a pet store or nursery, then you must have a veterinary certificate that records all the data about the parrot. If you bought it second-hand or at a poultry market, then you will have to determine the sex yourself. And this is quite difficult.

There are several ways to determine the sex of parrots.

1 way

You can determine the sex of a parrot by differences in color. Some species of parrots have striking differences in the colors of the female and the male: different colors of the beak, feathers and eyes. Another distinctive feature is the size of the parrot: usually females are smaller in size than males.

Method 2

Take your parrot to the veterinarian. He uses an endoscopy procedure, which, after examining the internal organs, can give a 100% accurate result. However, this procedure is expensive and can cause harm to the parrot.

3 way

Conduct DNA analysis. This test can also give an accurate result of 97%-98%. For DNA analysis, you must bring a bird feather, blood or eggshell. The feather must be plucked by the bird itself or pulled out by you from the chest part of the parrot's body. Blood can be collected through the claw by cutting it short and applying a little pressure. DNA analysis usually takes 1-2 days.

Does the wavy require steam?

If the owner pays a lot of attention to his pet, then the wavy does not need additional communication. A small cage is suitable for keeping one individual, and the bird easily makes contact with humans. It is very easy to teach her to speak, and also the wavy rejoices at the arrival of a person. If birds are in each other’s company from a young age, then they are not drawn to people.

A lonely pet gets bored when left alone, so if a person spends a lot of time at work or with friends, then it is advisable to find a mate for your pet.

Habits and character of the male, in contrast to the female

Observing pets at home, you can notice behavior patterns that directly or indirectly indicate the sex of the birds. How can you tell a boy's parrot from a girl's parrot if you look closely at their habits?

The male is nimble, restless, talkative. If you hang a mirror in a cage, the boy will show off in front of his reflection and try to bully his imaginary opponent. Even the songs of budgerigars are different: in the male they are loud, complex, and drawn-out. During his walk, he flies a lot and explores every corner with interest. Emphasizes its dominant position, puts its paw on its cage neighbor. The boy parrot is more successful in mastering human speech; his onomatopoeia is better developed.

The female with a wavy pattern can be distinguished by her modest manners; she is quiet and economical - she likes to clean up the cage. She chirps more than sings, her voice is expressionless. There is almost no ability to learn, the cases of pronouncing words are very rare. In communication with a person he does not show initiative, but in his hands he behaves quietly. The released bird, after flying for a bit, takes an observation position.

Shyness and submissiveness do not guarantee that you will accurately know the gender of a parrot. Not all females have a balanced character. There are individuals that are distinguished by jealousy and aggression. They constantly quarrel with their neighbors, mostly female.

How to choose a boyfriend or girlfriend for a wavy girl

If you initially bought one parrot, then when finding a pair for it, simple rules are taken into account. For this purpose, an individual with a similar color is selected if breeding wavy animals is planned. The male should be older than the female, which will avoid dominance by the girl who shows aggression towards the new bird.

It is recommended to choose a female whose physique is smaller than the boy, otherwise she may peck at the male during the mating season.

He or she

Male

The boy is a very active pet

He will make noise, shout, in general, attract attention to himself in all the ways known to him. At the same time, the boy is very talented

He can imitate almost any sound, so he will delight you with interesting trills, songs and sounds all day long.

If you buy only one boy, you can quickly teach him human speech (in the case of regular lessons). However, a lonely male becomes very attached to his owner and gets very bored in his absence. It's best to find a pair for him. And it doesn’t have to be a girl, it can also be a boy – males get along well.

Female

The female budgerigar will be calm and relatively quiet. A girl does not achieve the same ability in imitation as a boy, so her songs are rare and short.

The girl would rather restore order than start screaming loudly and for a long time. If you decide to have a mate for a female, it is better to choose a boy. The female can start quarrels with a same-sex bird.

Rules for sharing

In order for the acquaintance of parrots to pass without any incidents, you need to follow some rules. Remember that a female is being placed with a male. Otherwise, the female will attack the new resident, defending her territory. If they are looking for a couple for a girl, then it is better to purchase a new, spacious cage, where the boy should be placed first.

To avoid unnecessary quarrels or fights between parrots, the cage must be prepared in advance - hang additional perches, another drinking bowl, bathing bowl, and feeder.

Don't forget about quarantine - a new pet must be kept separately for forty days to identify possible hidden diseases. During this period, you can “make friends” with a new parrot. When he is in a couple, it is more difficult to do this.

How to make a boy and a girl friends

Parrots who see each other for the first time often show aggression, so it is difficult to establish warm relationships. A person can help the wavy animals while establishing contact.

To do this, follow simple steps:

first there is a quarantine and a period of adaptation to the new place of residence of the second parrot;
birds must be kept in different cages, but within sight;
the wavy creatures begin to observe each other’s actions, becoming interested in their fellow tribesman;
usually the period of mutual interest lasts about two weeks, and during this time a person should pay attention to both birds;
During this period, it is not allowed to play music loudly, shout or show aggression towards birds, which leads to serious stress;
You need to communicate and play with the birds, which will allow them to relax and calm down, as they will feel safe;
they should not be released from the cage or left without human presence;
it is allowed to let them out for a walk, and this often leads to them visiting each other, which indicates a manifestation of sympathy;
if the owner notices that the birds are beginning to behave friendly with each other, then you can place the female with the male;
It is not allowed for a boy to hit or bite a female, as this is a manifestation of aggression, so the bird needs to be placed away for a while.

After establishing contact, the birds treat each other with care and reverence, so they look after each other, kiss and dance.

how to choose a mate for your budgie Dmitry 05.24.13, 17:08

Most experts (including foreign ones) agree that, if properly kept, a parrot should live in a pair. At home, a solitary bird does not have social contact with its own kind, and this should be avoided. When there are two or more birds, they are constantly next to each other, and boredom is not so terrible for them. So, if you are going to give your furry friend another one of the same lump, you are on the right track. Let's look at situations that often occur among bird lovers. • Do you have an adult

wavy bird
, which has been living without bird company for several years.
In this case, dating may become more difficult.
If the bird was tame, and - very often - considered its owner (human) as its partner, the feathered newcomer may be completely ignored. After all, the bird lived in the company of people almost from birth, and now it considers itself the same person, and in no case a bird, and does not even have a very good idea who it is. Therefore, you need to be patient and exercise maximum caution, starting from the first acquaintance. Imagine that you have lived alone all your life, and suddenly a complete stranger moves in with you. How would you react? Of course you wouldn't like such an intrusion. You would like to get to know this person before you allow him into your space. It's the same with birds. Before accepting each other, they must get to know each other. • Your first feathered fighter is an adult male.
What gender and age should I buy a parrot for a couple? This family problem can be solved in two ways.
1) You can take another male (age is not particularly important). This option is especially suitable for those who are afraid of offspring. Many people believe that two males will start endless fights, but here it’s just the opposite - the overwhelming majority of two boys get along well with each other, sometimes devoting time to mutual feeding and cleaning their feathers. 2) You can take a female. This does not mean that the birds will breed or the female will lay eggs (but since some people completely and without any doubt want to get rid of the risk of reproduction, method No. 1 is recommended). Here it is worth mentioning the morals of red girls. The fact is that matriarchy reigns in the world of parrots, and females are very wayward individuals. A young male may have problems communicating with an adult female; his childish playfulness and obsession will become a stumbling block in establishing contact with a sedate adult lady. About 90% of parrot owners claim that in a pair the female is the leader. It’s good if your male is strong and large, but even in this case the girl will constantly test his strength, although it won’t come to big fights. It should be mentioned that small disagreements are part of communication in a bird pair or flock, and they always happen. It is important to ensure that these differences do not become aggressive, and simply ensure that the parrots do not harm each other. • Your first parrot is an adult female.
In this case, take the boy.
Two females will fight; only a few will get along peacefully, and then, most likely, if they have been together since childhood. Again, the male must be older than her; it is very rare that an adult female accepts an unmolted male, and the matter is done without sacrifices. • You already have a pair, and it is made up of same-sex birds that get along well together.
Is it possible to separate them? There is no point in separating them.
Sometimes same-sex birds endure separation very hard, and then even in a flock they greatly miss their old friend. • Is it possible to keep several pairs at once?
Can.
In addition to paired relationships with each other, two pairs of parrots will also maintain friendly social relationships between the pairs, but group relationships between pairs will be minimal. In three or more pairs of birds, social relationships are much more pronounced! If you can keep several pairs, that’s just great! But do not forget that they will need much more space. • You already have a pair.
Is it possible to take a third one? This is highly undesirable.
The third parrot will be deprived of the bird's love and care and will remain lonely. Then you will have to take the fourth birdie, and there will be an equal number of all. An important rule to remember: if you have less than 10 parrots in your flock, then the number of parrots should always be even. • Maybe you already had a happy couple, if for some reason the bird living in the couple was left alone... Do you need to take care of purchasing another parrot?
There is an opinion that if one of the birds in a pair dies, the second dies after it from grief and boredom.
It is a myth. Parrots can easily get along alone after the death of a partner. But it is extremely undesirable to do this, especially if you notice that the bird hardly moves all day, it has lost interest in life, it has lost its appetite (and this state has been going on for a long time) - this should be a signal that the parrot needs make a friend. In any case, our advice is to find a mate for the parrot so that the bird does not get bored alone. • What are the rules for dating parrots?
It is customary to place a female with a male.
That is, if you have a boy, purchase a large cage for two in advance and move him there. If your first parrot is a girl, buy a spacious cage in advance and place the male there. After the quarantine expires, you will be able to place a female with him. Quarantine is a mandatory procedure for a new bird. The new one is put in a separate cage and moved to another room for 40 days. During this time, any hidden diseases are revealed (of course, if there are any). Quarantine allows you to make sure that the bird is completely healthy, and it can be placed with an old-timer without fear. In addition, quarantine is a great opportunity to tame a second pet, since taming a new pet in a couple will be much more difficult. Our advice: take advantage of the quarantine opportunities and introduce your budgerigar to your society. This is especially important if you want your parrots to be tame. After the quarantine expires, the cages are placed side by side and opened. Give the birds the opportunity to fly freely and get to know each other better. A parrot living alone for a long time may be afraid of a flying bird, but this fear will soon pass. Let the cages stand side by side until the female spends the night in the male's territory and feels at home there. Don’t be alarmed if the first time after they meet, the birds put their paws on top of each other and peck. This is typical of parrots and they do not harm each other in any way. Be sure to hang a second feeder and drinking bowl to avoid fights for food, and also place a pair of perches, swings, ladders, and toys in the cage, especially if we are talking about a favorite toy. Very important - remember to be patient. Sometimes, to see how birds mutually groom each other, you need to wait several months. Therefore, you should not draw conclusions after a few hours that the parrots are not going to be friends. Somewhere you will have to act more slowly than you would like. • The pair doesn’t work out, the birds are fighting, what should I do?
And why did this happen? This happens extremely rarely, but it happens that the birds did not like each other, despite the fact that you did everything correctly and introduced the birds gradually.
Don't force birds to live in the same cage. Let the parrots live in different cages that stand next to each other; let them out together only for walks together. In a larger space, it will be easier for them to sort out their relationships. If there is no improvement even after several months of such cohabitation, we can assume that the other bird did not like this particular bird. Sometimes it is impossible to reconcile the birds, and everything leads either to lifelong keeping in different cages, or to the acquisition of a new pair for each wavy. In rare cases, two parrots get into violent fights, resulting in blood and sometimes death. • We bought a second parrot, and now our tame parrot has become wild
.
Don't worry, sometimes this happens. The parrot is simply overwhelmed with emotions, and at first he is busy only with his new friend or new girlfriend. Continue to communicate with your parrots in the same way and treat them with healthy treats. After some time, the situation will stabilize, and your parrot will again see you as a friend. If you did everything correctly, gradually introduced the parrots and used the quarantine time for taming, then after a while your tame parrot will not only be tame again, but will also help you tame the second parrot further. And in the end, the main rules on how to properly introduce parrots so that living together becomes a joy not only for the birds, but also for you personally: • The sooner you
buy
a second bird, the better (easier) the acquaintance will be and communication will develop between the parrots • Mandatory observe quarantine and use this time to
tame
the second parrot • Introduce budgies only on a walk • Show maximum patience and understanding, allow your parrots to choose the time when they want to live together and begin to spend the night in the same cage • Provide the parrots with feeders, toys and perches in double quantity • Be sure to expand the place of residence: buy a spacious cage.
Budgerigars by nature are absolutely peace-loving birds. But a small cage can become a source of aggression even in the cutest parrot • The main rule: the smaller the flock of birds, the more delicate the acquaintance should be. What happens unnoticed in a large flock of birds can turn into a big mistake if you only have two birds. I would like to tell you how the acquaintance of my budgerigars went (below you will learn about some more nuances of keeping pairs). The girl Grisha lived alone almost from birth, for a year and a half. She was not tame; the most the budgerigar allowed himself to do was sit on her hand and eat from it. She did not imitate human speech, but she copied the singing of tits and canaries very well. And although they spent a lot of time with her (talking, playing), it was clear that Grisha was very bored. And so, after thinking very carefully, we decided to buy the bird... a 3-month-old Garik (yellow-motley wavy). Not forgetting about the forty-day quarantine, the new guy was put in a separate cage in another room. During these forty days, Garik simply amazed us. Firstly, by your behavior. How different he was from Grisha! This very active creature could only sit still for a few minutes. Grisha was a very stately young lady, and Garik was a real little hustler! Secondly, he quickly mastered human words (siskin-fawn, let's scratch myself, I'll scratch my belly, let's kiss, a little parrot came to me, etc., etc.), as well as various sounds. Thirdly, he was tame and clingy - he gladly allowed himself to be scratched, sat on his hands, and fed his fingers. In general, he was very sociable, and, as I understood, Garik could easily remain alone in the company of a person and not get bored if the person could spend 24 hours a day with him. But Grisha was terribly homesick for her friend... As you can see, the female was much older than the male, which means that the risk that she would fight was very high. I was terribly worried about this. Finally the moment came for the parrots to meet. Since Grisha herself very slowly gets used to new things, and especially to the new location of the cage, they decided that it would be more correct to move Garik’s cage to another room. But, again, it is more advisable to introduce birds to the male’s territory. And their homes are very close. Garik looks around for a while, Grisha looks out with curiosity: “Who came to me?” The girl would have remained hanging on the wall of the cage if the door had not been opened. Grisha carefully, thinking over every step, crept up to her comrade’s cage and carefully examined him. The boy was sitting next to a clamp in which a lettuce leaf was clamped. He began to crunch it, pretending not to notice Grisha. Well, to my surprise, the girl, following him, also took a bite and tasted the green leaf. Here is another benefit of keeping them together - the birds learn from each other how to eat healthy foods. I opened the boy's cage. Soon Grisha climbed into the male’s cage and sat down next to him. At first, the birds sat motionless, like statues, but after a while they began to show mutual sympathy - tenderly chirping and kissing. Grisha examined the male’s cage for some time, climbed onto the perch and... fell asleep. She looked very pleased, Grisha realized that now she was not alone. At night the female went into her cage. The next day it was clear that Garik was completely bored. He was unrecognizable - he stopped playing and talking, and began to shy away from his hands. It turns out that he just hasn’t had time to get used to the person well. Well, they carried him back alone to his room. Now he has learned to fly freely around the room and is better accustomed to his hands. It's time to try to introduce the parrots again, now on Garik's territory. If the birds like this room better, let them stay here. This time everything went smoothly. On the first day, Garik stayed in Grisha's cage overnight. When the bird houses were nearby, I lowered one of Grisha’s perches, where she most often sat, to the level of Garik’s perches so that the female would not dominate. The main thing is that the birds now live peacefully and do not fight (minor skirmishes over food do not count). If you have two parrots, then there should be two feeders, or one large one, like ours. The female has found peace of mind, and the male now always has someone to play with and someone to pester. Sometimes it seems that Grisha is Garik’s mother. She worries and calls him when he goes for a walk, shows him at the feeding trough - you have to give in to your elders!, teaches him good manners. Another interesting point. If one goes to eat, the other will definitely join. If one starts cleaning the feathers, the second one repeats the same thing. These are really parrots! Now Garik walks freely around the room and is not afraid of hands. He has not forgotten the old words he learned; in addition, he also learns new ones. Grisha, looking at him, learns to eat fruits and other healthy foods and tries to overcome his fear of flying in a new place - he goes out onto the porch of the cage. I'm sure there will be more progress! This is how my parrots met. During this important period of time for birds, the main thing for you is to show all your attention and patience.

Have a good date with your birds!

complain

Is quarantine required?

After purchasing a new parrot, it is forbidden to place it in the cage with your pet. A special quarantine is necessary, during which any diseases or parasites are detected in the purchased bird.

During quarantine, birds are not only seated in different cages, but also in different rooms . Any contact between two birds is not allowed, since during this contact various infections are transmitted that can be fatal to the pet. It is advisable that the birds do not even hear each other, since the singing and chirping of an outside bird can cause stress.

Dating nuances

As soon as a second pet is purchased, it needs to be kept in a separate cage for some time to undergo quarantine, and it lasts about a month. Such actions help prevent infection with any infectious disease.

Dating rules include:

Initially, cages with parrots are installed next to each other so that they can see and hear each other;
then you can let them fly around the room for a short time, but if they start to fight or quarrel, you will have to keep them in different rooms again;
if the second acquaintance goes poorly, then a new parrot must be replaced;
during the adaptation period, birds should not be frightened, so they are kept in a quiet and calm environment;
if breeding is planned, then the pets are kept in one cage, so it should be quite large, and a nesting house should be installed inside;
two drinkers and feeders are purchased, as well as many perches and toys to prevent fights.

If your parrot has lived alone for a long time, then the appearance of a pair is stressful for him, so you will have to prepare for difficult adaptation or even aggression on his part.

Adaptation period

Quarantine lasts at least two weeks, after which the adaptation period begins. To do this, cages with birds are installed in the same room. The wavy animals will be able to see and hear each other well, which will allow them to quickly get used to the presence of a relative.

If the birds communicate, constantly look at each other, and also try to touch a fellow bird through the cage with their paws, then you can let them out for a walk together, but it should be short-lived. If during direct communication the birds do not swear or fight, then they can be placed in the same cage.

What should the nest be like?

Budgerigars willingly hatch eggs in wooden boxes. Vertical nesting boxes have a base of 17x17 cm and a height of 23-25 cm. Horizontal nesting boxes have a base of 17x23 cm and a height of 17 cm. The hole usually has a diameter of 5 cm. There are cases when females artificially expand it by gnawing on the edges.

Outside, under the hole, a perch or twig is attached so that the male can feed the female and protect his nest from uninvited guests. Some owners make nesting boxes for their pets themselves. The nest box for breeding budgies should be similar to a birdhouse and have a rectangular shape.

Approximate dimensions: height – 17 cm, length – 23 cm and width – 17 cm.

Untreated softwood is very suitable for nesting. A small round depression 2 cm deep and 10 cm in diameter is made in the floor with a milling cutter so that the eggs from the clutch do not roll out in different directions. The lid of the box should be removable for ease of cleaning and disinfection. Sawdust mixed with chamomile powder is poured onto the bottom of the nest.

Once a week after the chicks hatch, a general cleaning of the nest is done. Thanks to the thick walls and floor, the nesting box retains moisture and heat well, and, consequently, the chicks develop better and fewer eggs die.

Plastic nesting boxes are available for sale. They are, of course, convenient to clean, but they will not retain moisture and heat as well as wood.

In most cases, successful nesting depends on the physical condition of the pair. The male should be young, energetic, during this period he should have a bright blue cere, and the female should have a brown color.

Why should the male be older than the female?

If birds that are more than 6 months old are bred, then in fact their age does not matter. For breeding, it is recommended to choose birds whose age does not exceed 4 years. The female should not be more than two years old.

A sexually mature female will not be interested in the chick, so he will only cause her irritation, which will lead to fights and loud chirping.

If both birds are over 1 year old, then the age difference between the wavy birds is not particularly important.

How to determine the sex of a bird

First you need to decide what gender of bird you want.

The older the parrot, the easier it is to determine the sex. If the chicks have just left the house, both boys and girls have almost the same, very light pink cere (the cere is a leathery structure located at the top of the base of the beak). Therefore, until the individual is 40 days old, it is simply impossible to reliably determine the sex.

Do you need a separate cage for each bird?

At the first stage of communication, both birds should have a separate cage. Some breeders recommend choosing a larger cage for the male, but this does not really matter. Each bird should have a fairly spacious personal space.

You cannot move a bird into a cage that is much smaller than its previous place of residence. Wavys have a negative attitude towards deteriorating living conditions. Such changes cause the bird to become nervous and behave aggressively. Even if at first a good relationship arises between the birds, but the female begins to feel uncomfortable in a new place, this immediately leads to a deterioration in the relationship.

Two males together

People who decide to take care of parrots are divided into two camps: those who acquire a pair of parrots in order to observe their life together and, in the end, see the appearance of little chicks; and those who have a same-sex couple. Let's take a closer look at the cohabitation of two males.

The first and one of the most important rules that must be followed unquestioningly: if you buy a gift for one parrot, buy it for the second one too. In general, two males should have everything equally: two swings, two feeders, etc.

When buying toys for your parrots, try to buy two identical models, otherwise quarrels between males will not be avoided.

It often happens that, having an identical thing, for example a toy or a mirror, one of the males does not use it at all. Do not rush to get rid of the toy, as the parrots will share the one that another male has left.

The cage should be chosen correctly: it should be equally comfortable for two males:

The cage should be spacious, as each of the two parrots should have their own personal space. In the worst case, the males will constantly sort things out and fight for a place in the cage.
There should be no unnecessary objects in the cage.
Choose more intricate cells that have several floors and branches. This will make the males' lives more interesting.
Don't forget about educational toys, which should be in moderation. The best option is to periodically change toys, and not litter the cage with them, which embarrasses the parrots.
Place the cage in a place without temperature changes, such as on a windowsill. Choosing the right place for a cage is the key to a good mood for males.

When birds move in together

The adaptation period lasts approximately 3 weeks, during which the owner must monitor the behavior of his pets. If a trusting and reverent relationship arises between them, so they preen each other’s feathers, dance and kiss, then only after this the relocation takes place.

The female moves in with the male, as such actions prevent competition for territory. The female does not feel very comfortable at first, since she is in the cage of another parrot. But a male with a good relationship will not oppress her and kill her, so he begins to feed her from his beak, as well as show other signs of attention.

In some situations, it is allowed to place a male with a girl, but only on the condition that the cage previously belonged to a boy. But even in this case, conflicts often arise, since the female, accustomed to the territory, will defend it even in front of the wavy she likes.

To prevent fights and conflicts, the cage is equipped with convenient paired accessories. Each individual should have a personal space, as well as a separate feeder and drinking bowl.

It is advisable to buy a two-seater swing, which will prevent infringement of the interests of the wavy animals. Young females are usually timid, so at first they live on the lower perches, fearing conflicts.

It is not recommended to let the acquaintance of parrots take their course, so it is necessary to closely monitor the behavior of the birds to prevent fights.

Chicks

You can try to understand what gender a budgerigar is when it is 3-4 weeks old, but to do this you need to understand all the intricacies of what these birds look like at different periods of their life.

At an early age, only experienced breeders are able to determine the sex of a budgerigar by its cere:

In a young girl's budgerigar, the beak formation is painted in light and heterogeneous colors. It can be pink, light purple and blue. White circles are visible near the nostrils of a female individual.
Violet, lilac and pink with a uniform color and with bluish circles at the nostrils will help to distinguish a boy budgie from a girl.

But you need to take into account that the color of the beak formation in budgerigars under the age of 3-4 months can change during the day, and therefore, in order to determine the sex of the chick by its beak with a greater degree of probability, it is necessary to focus more on the circles at the nostrils and the uniformity of color. Moreover, shades of purple and blue colors are present in both the boy and girl budgies.

Is it possible to house several couples in one cage?

If initially the birds (several males or females) live together, it is necessary to build an aviary for them.

Living together, they build friendly relationships with each other. Conflict situations rarely arise between them, since they are accustomed to sharing the enclosure between several pairs.

But if the bird initially lived at home and was not used to sharing a cage with relatives, then it will react poorly to such a neighborhood. There is a high probability that fights and conflicts will break out.

Even if the enclosure is used to house several pairs, during breeding each pair is placed in a separate cage. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the birds will destroy the nests.

What else you need to know about two males living together, watch the video:

Keeping a pair of birds

In order for the birds to coexist comfortably together, they need to choose a spacious cage and equip it with everything necessary.

Cell

The size of a cage for two budgies must be at least 60x30x40 cm. The bird must freely spread its wings in the cage and not touch the bars with them. The best cage shape is rectangular or with a semicircular roof.

There is no need to choose round, cylindrical, cubic, cone-shaped or shaped cages - they are difficult for the bird to navigate. The permissible distance between the rods is 1–1.5 cm. If it is larger, the parrot may want to leave the cage through the gap and get stuck. It is desirable that the bars in the cage are positioned horizontally; it is easier for the bird to move along them.

Important! Cage bars should not be made of galvanized metals (lead, zinc, copper). They are harmful to the health of the animal.

Some manufacturers install a grid over the tray to prevent the cage occupant from coming into contact with excrement, food waste and other debris that accumulates at the bottom. It is good if the cage is equipped with a pull-out tray. This design is easier to clean.

Video: how to choose a cage for a parrot and what should be inside the cage Having chosen a comfortable cage for a budgie, you need to properly equip it:

Perches (2–3 pcs.). They should only be made of wood, since plastic ones cause calluses and wounds to appear on birds’ feet.
Feeders (2–3 pcs.). One is for grain, another is for mineral mixture, and the third is for other products.
Drinking bowl. It is better to choose automatic, it is the most hygienic. But if such an object frightens your feathered friend, use a regular feeder to build a drinking bowl.
Fruit holder. It is convenient to attach fruits to the walls of the cage.
Toys (2–3 pcs.), swings. The number of toys may vary depending on the size of the cage, interest in them, and how long the bird has lived in your home.
Mineral stone. A must have as a source of essential minerals.

Feed and water

The basis of a budgerigar's diet can be special grain feed. They should always be in the feeders. One bird needs 1.5–2 tsp per day. grain mixture.

Read more about how to properly feed budgies, and also find out how to treat diarrhea in these birds.

Nearby, in a separate feeder, there should be a mineral mixture for normal digestion.

For proper nutrition, the birds' menu must include fruits and vegetables (apples, grated carrots and beets, pumpkin, pears, kiwi, mangoes, plums, strawberries, peaches). You also need greens: green salad leaves, dill, dandelion, spinach. To grind down the beak, twigs are periodically needed.

Important! Vegetables, fruits and herbs must be environmentally friendly, without pesticides. Even a tiny dose of them can cause the death of an animal.

You can give birds boiled eggs and cottage cheese.

Parrots drink a little, but clean, fresh water should always be freely available in the cage. It is advisable to use bottled or filtered, but not boiled. From time to time it is necessary to add a couple of drops of lemon juice to the water, especially in winter.

Budgerigars should not be on the menu:

smoked, salty, fatty and spicy dishes;
chocolate;
milk;
rhubarb;
potatoes.

Video: feeding a budgie

When buying a pet, questions arise:

Can a budgie live alone?
What is the best thing to do to provide the bird with a comfortable stay and a good mood?
Does a budgie need a mate?
Everyone knows that sooner or later any creature strives for procreation, so perhaps it’s worth purchasing a pair at once?

Of course, you might think that it would be cheaper to keep one bird. For two parrots you will need a larger cage, and food will need to be purchased for both. In addition, all the attention and love of the pet will be devoted only to you.

A parakeet can live alone if you give it enough time. He needs to feel constant care and attention to himself. Just wonder if your interest in the pet will wane after a while. What will the bird do when you are at work, visiting, or doing household chores in another room? Therefore, think about whether a budgie can live comfortably alone and whether a budgie still needs a mate.

What to name a pair of parrots

To emphasize the unity of a pair of birds, they can be given similar or consonant nicknames. You can choose the names of famous characters who always work in pairs or the names of fairy-tale heroes.

Popular nicknames:

Bonnie and Clyde;
Winnie and Pooh;
Banana and Kiwi;
Kiki and Coca;
Kiki and Tookie;
Mickey and Ricky;
Terra and Hera;
Toshka and Totoshka;
Chacha and Chichi;
Arkasha and Agasha;
Arsyusha and Arisha;
Gavryusha and Varyusha;
Tosha and Tesha.

We hope we have answered the question of whether a budgerigar needs a mate. If you still doubt the decision, you can watch your pet.