Companion for male budgie: Male or female?

[Greenclaws]

I have an 8 month old male budgie. He lives by himself in a very large cage. It's the size of an African Grey's or cockatoo's cage. I want to get him a companion and was wondering... male or female?

My budgie is a yellowface type 2. I'm seriously considering getting him a female companion and letting them breed, as I want to produce "Rainbow" budgies. (Yellowface, clearwing, opaline, combined.) However, I'm concerned that a female may bully him or try to chase him off when he gets "in the mood" during their breeding season. Someone also told me that once they start breeding, its hard to make them stop. Is that true? I thought removing the nest box would end it. I would only want them to have one or two clutches before removing their box and letting them just live the rest of their lives as happy budgies. Don't want to stress the female out with nonstop egg laying.

My main priority is that Caspian has a companion who will love him and keep him company. Some rainbow babies would be a bonus, but if the female stresses him out and bullies him, I would much rather get another male for his sake. I personally just want one other bird but if anyone thinks that a small colony is the best living situation for budgies, please chime in! Please share your advice. Thank you!

 

[Kalidasa]

Truthfully, the best budgie pairs I've ever had were male/male. They become very devoted to each other without the pesky risks of breeding...which is very hard on the female (and male as well, though not as much as the female). If you've never bred before it mite be a bit much if you're not used to it...there's a lot of heartbreak with breeding...babies die, mothers die, babies get rejected or even killed. And of course the bond you have with your budgie can/will be weakened with a reproducing mate. But male/male pairs do become very bonded, seem to work very well with budgies. A few squabbles here & there, but nothing major. Females are a bit more fierce. When males bicker, it's more bluffing and harmless boxing. When a female is involved there is often more injuries and blood. And there always the risk of the female simply not accepting him.

 

[SilverSage]

Since they can be show animals, budgies and cockatiels are often bred for their mutation with little or no concern being given to the actual lives of the birds, which is sad. Do you plan to breed for show? If so, is your bird of show quality? Do you plan to breed for pets? Do you know how to hand feed? Do you understand the mental and developmental implications of hand feeding? Do you understand the ramifications of force weaning? Do you have a schedule that allows you to be home most of every day for feelings if you choose to hand feed, and to react quickly should an emergency arise? Do you understand what it takes not just to produce a sweet baby, but to introduce them to the world in such a way as to creat confident, healthy, friendly ADULTS? Have you researched wing clipping and the damage done when they are clipped too early? Have you prepared your home for a whole clutch of budgies learning to fly? How big is your financial reserve or savings fund for vet bills? Are you prepared to spend hundreds of dollars on a bird who will likely sell for only $20? Do you know HOW to stop a pair from laying once they get it in their heads? Removing the box is very often not enough. Do you know what your breeding budgies need to eat? Do you know how to prevent splayed legs, egg binding, and other common issues? What about a punctured crop? Do you know how to prevent these things? What is your plan for making sure that your chicks do not someday end up on craigslist or in shelters, contributing to the unwanted parrot problem.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against breeding, I am a breeder myself. However as a breeder I hold myself and others to a very high standard. You seem like a nice person asking an innocent question. I am NOT trying to be mean or rude, I am simply pointing out that these issues go far beyond how pretty your bird's colors are (and he sounds stunning) or how pretty of babies he can make (I was once privileged to own rescue a rainbow budgie, he was glorious, sadly he died within a week - a breeder who didn't know what he was doing). It is a question of ethics, espouse biliary, motives, lots of money, etc.

If your main concern REALLY IS th well being of your current budgie, I highly suggest a male companion for him. Bringing in a female invites breeding, and unless you have a deep, well thought out motivation besides pretty colors, and a well established code of ethics and a plan to make sure you maintain it, I do not suggest breeding. Two male budgies together are a joyful pair to share a home with. I truly hope you think through this choice and make the right one. Like I said, you sound like a nice person who cares about your bird. Feel free to pm me if you want to discuss anything I said that you feel may get too heated on the forum. Breeding can be a touchy subject.

Edit: kalidasa has some good points. I won't go into all the heartbreaking stories of losing babies on here, but things can go wrong in ways you never expect. The image running through my mind of what happened to one chick in particular is too graphic to post here, if that gives you an idea of the emotional toll breeding can take.

 

[veimar]

As far as I know two males is the best combination. I have two brothers who get along just perfectly, although one of them is crazily in love with my green cheek conure (also a male). LOL He runs after him everywhere like a little puppy, preening him and regurgitating, and my conure is enjoying it as well. So you never know who would be their best companion.

 

[tresanewgrieve]

I have found that it makes no difference whether it's male male for male female if you introduce them correctly they get along fine I have had combinations of both with no issues and if you have a female male combination then you just keep a nest out Of the cage. I have had my birds for years and as long as I don't have a nest I don't have to worry about babies.

 

[RavensGryf]

tresanewgrieve - You're right in that there are ways to keep a budgie male and female from breeding. Not providing a nest is one of the big deterrents as are some other factors. Good point of view to show that there is no need to stress about it 'having to be' male/male, although I see that reasoning behind it too. My male and female are fine with no breeding issues.

This is an old thread (dates in upper left of posts), but it is still good for information so will leave the thread open .

 

[rosembers]

I would get a male. They get along way better. Male vs female budgies have totally different personalities and males get along very well and are more engaging with each other.