Hello! My entire life story about budgies :)

[paimonandeula]

I am new on the forum! I have two budgies. Here's is some more information about them:

Paimon: Paimon is a male parakeet. He is a light gray. I got him on May 12, 2021, from Petsmart (i know, I know). He is so sweet and loves to press his beak to my mouth. He flicks his wings at me while doing it. He loves meeting new people, and after a bit of hesitation, he will go and fly to them happily. He bites, but I have started saying 'No' and putting him on the ground when he does, in hopes he will learn not to. When I first got him, he was in this cage: https://www.petsmart.com/bird/cages...ducts-flight-bird-cage-20907.html?cgid=400103. I wanted to get him a big enough cage, but something cheap, since my parents were buying most of the stuff. Thank god I found this because it was only 48 dollars at the time. I made sure that before I got a bird, I did hours of research. I made sure he had plenty of good toys, natural wood perches, and a good diet with pellets. I tamed him earlier than usual, but he was never very scared. If he was, I would take my hand out from the bottom of the cage and shut the door. I never wanted him to be scared. The first time I let him out of the cage, he flew into walls. He was frantic and scared. So was I. He landed on top of my blinds, and sat there, pinning his feathers to his body. I was shaking in fear, hoping he wasn't hurt. Luckily, I got him back in his cage, by letting him start on a dowel perch. I didn't want to use my hands and scare him more. Now he is perfectly fine out of his cage. I was thinking about getting a second bird. I was doing in-person school, and it was hard to hang out with him when I still have my needs. The reason I mainly got a budgie was for him to hang out with, which now I regret. I decided that I shouldn't get another bird, as it would be too much work and I would have to get a flight cage. But I still decided that Paimon deserved a larger cage. So, I bought him a flight cage and he loved it. It was very easy to get him back in. That leads to my next bird, Eula:

Eula: Eula is a female parakeet. At least I think so because she has a white cere. I got her on August 8th (that could be wrong. somewhere in august.), again, from Petsmart. She is a very kind bird. She never bites, and only gently nibbles. She is much more nervous though. She doesn't like new people and will stay in the back while Paimon goes and interacts with them. She never really used to show affection to me, but recently she has. She is so sweet. I was sadly impulsively bought her when I was at Petsmart, but I'm glad because Paimons old cage was still set up. I put her in there. I didn't quarantine her, and let Paimon go in her cage the first time... I regret that. Paimon was VERY happy. He was touching his beak to hers, chirping, and getting in her space. Now though, they are great friends and live together in the same cage. The flight cage. Eula is sometimes territorial though and will peck Paimon away and chase him. She is an amazing budgie.


I'm is not sure what exactly made me love budgies, or want to get them, but I'm glad It did. Now that I do online school, I spend hours a day with my birds. I'm still trying to get them to eat fruits and veggies, but I hope they will soon. I'm thinking about getting a THIRD budgie. I'm wondering, would the flight cage ( https://www.chewy.com/prevue-pet-products-wrought-iron/dp/133569?utm_id=401602552&msclkid=8c18972c27c1103b21eaf6dde2f1218a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_NC_Bird_S_Pet Bird&utm_term=4585100933646777&utm_content=Habitat-Bird Cages ) fit a third budgie? I still have Paimons old cage, so I have a place for that bird no matter what. What do I do? Should I really get a third bird? Petsmart only sells young budgies, so I wouldn't know the
gender. Also, I don't know about a room for quarinting the budgie.. possibly my sisters? She has mice, so there is no harmful chemical threats there. There is also no bird rescues I can get another budgie from near me.


Paimon (Gray) and Eula (White):

 

[foxgloveparrot]

Welcome! Paimon and Eula sound great! We love pictures *hint hint*
I love budgies too; I have 3 at the moment. They really are wonderful little birds!
That cage would be fine for up to 3 or 4 budgies. But remember; there is no guarantee two or more birds will EVER get along. Also, I don't recommend buying from chain pet stores like PetSmart. They get their birds (and other exotics) from breeding mills, so a lot of them are inbred and have short lifespans. The condition at the mills is terrible and at the stores, not much better.
Craigslist? Bird-specific stores? Reputable breeders? ANYTHING that isn't PetSmart?
One more thing: I might wait a bit for a third. I only ever get another bird after at least a year, preferably more. Unless one bird is lonely.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to y’all!

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed!

 

[StormyPica]

Budgies are great! I have 3 budgies, and let me tell you something about PetSmart. Their budgies are bred at breeding mills, and therefore are prone to having a shortened lifespan and being very unhealthy, aging more quickly as well. This is why you SHOULD NOT get budgies from PetSmart, plus you are supporting them so they can put more budges is that bad situation.

I would also feel super bad taking a budgie away from it's flock. Stormy was one of the last 2 birds at the petshop where I got them, I got them both (unfortunately Sky later passed away for reasons completely unrelated), Picasso didn't like any other budgies because her personal space was not being respected by them, and Pepper was chased away and bitten by any budgie he tried to befriend (he is also disabled).

So I don't feel sorry taking them because they never had friends in the first place.

Just something to keep in mind, good luck on your budgie keeping journey!

 

[paimonandeula]

Welcome! Paimon and Eula sound great! We love pictures *hint hint*
I love budgies too; I have 3 at the moment. They really are wonderful little birds!
That cage would be fine for up to 3 or 4 budgies. But remember; there is no guarantee two or more birds will EVER get along. Also, I don't recommend buying from chain pet stores like PetSmart. They get their birds (and other exotics) from breeding mills, so a lot of them are inbred and have short lifespans. The condition at the mills is terrible and at the stores, not much better.
Craigslist? Bird-specific stores? Reputable breeders? ANYTHING that isn't PetSmart?
One more thing: I might wait a bit for a third. I only ever get another bird after at least a year, preferably more. Unless one bird is lonely.

Welcome! Paimon and Eula sound great! We love pictures *hint hint*
I love budgies too; I have 3 at the moment. They really are wonderful little birds!
That cage would be fine for up to 3 or 4 budgies. But remember; there is no guarantee two or more birds will EVER get along. Also, I don't recommend buying from chain pet stores like PetSmart. They get their birds (and other exotics) from breeding mills, so a lot of them are inbred and have short lifespans. The condition at the mills is terrible and at the stores, not much better.
Craigslist? Bird-specific stores? Reputable breeders? ANYTHING that isn't PetSmart?
One more thing: I might wait a bit for a third. I only ever get another bird after at least a year, preferably more. Unless one bird is lonely.

added some photos! lol

 

[foxgloveparrot]

added some photos! lol

Ok, I saw them! Beautiful babies! What do you think of the advice I gave in my post..?

 

[StormyPica]

Also what Foxx said about 3 budgies. Wait a bit. I only got Pepper because Stormy flew away for about a week and Picasso needed a friend.

 

[Birdgirl24]

omgosh there gorgeous! i love them so much!

 

[paimonandeula]

Ok, I saw them! Beautiful babies! What do you think of the advice I gave in my post..?

I liked it, thank you! I looked for so many rescues in my area or people selling budgies but sadly I found pretty much zero. There were some for sale, but the birds there were in pairs or not the certain color I had hoped for. I ended up going to PetSmart (i know. I feel selfish) my new bird is named venti. glad he isn't showing signs of sickness! Sadly though, his wings are clipped.

 

[foxgloveparrot]

I liked it, thank you! I looked for so many rescues in my area or people selling budgies but sadly I found pretty much zero. There were some for sale, but the birds there were in pairs or not the certain color I had hoped for. I ended up going to PetSmart (i know. I feel selfish) my new bird is named venti. glad he isn't showing signs of sickness! Sadly though, his wings are clipped.

Congrats on the new bird…! When he’s no longer in quarantine what are your plans?

 

[paimonandeula]

Congrats on the new bird…! When he’s no longer in quarantine what are your plans?

i wasn’t able to quarantine him. i don’t have any other rooms, but i made sure he showed 0 signs a sickness before showing him to my birds. They seem to like him for the most part. Paimon never minded him, but he doesn’t like to get too close lol. Eula on the other hand tries to bite him and is pretty territorial. I make sure that they don’t actually start fighting, and separate them if Eula starts getting into his personal space where he doesn’t like it. Sometimes though she head bobs while near him, even touching his beak sometimes (in a friendly way. i’m not sure if budgies usually do this, and i think she actually got it from Paimon since he always does it) so it’s mixed signals lol. Here are some photos of Venti! He enjoys hiding in blankets after Eula bothers him. I think it makes him feel safer when he’s tucked in, so i always offer him that choice.

 

[Tiki Bird]

I'm wondering, about a flight cage.

The bigger the better is what people say but if your birds are being let out lots for flying and socialization, the cage becomes more of a resting spot to chill and doesn't need to be huge. That's probabaly an unpopular thing to say here but I think it's true. I think you need to keep the size of the cage small enough for easy cleaning. I think sometimes people get burnt out on bird ownership because keeping a huge cage clean is difficult, you can't just grab it and run it under a tap to get it super clean in the space of a few minutes like a smaller cage. And keeping their environment free of poop is important.

I've owned finches and they need a huge flight cage because it's almost impossible to finger train them and get in and out of their cage for some flying. Although i loved them, i'll never have them again for that reason, and also, keeping that aviary clean took a lot of time.

The budgies I've owned over the years seem to be happy in their middle class homes, but like I said, they got out a lot. My birds in one of their old school cages below. They have matching ones lol. Old Hagen cages from the 90s I think! This was after after being OUT for a chunk of the day.

 

[paimonandeula]

The bigger the better is what people say but if your birds are being let out lots for flying and socialization, the cage becomes more of a resting spot to chill and doesn't need to be huge. That's probabaly an unpopular thing to say here but I think it's true. I think you need to keep the size of the cage small enough for easy cleaning. I think sometimes people get burnt out on bird ownership because keeping a huge cage clean is difficult, you can't just grab it and run it under a tap to get it super clean in the space of a few minutes like a smaller cage. And keeping their environment free of poop is important.

I've owned finches and they need a huge flight cage because it's almost impossible to finger train them and get in and out of their cage for some flying. Although i loved them, i'll never have them again for that reason, and also, keeping that aviary clean took a lot of time.

The budgies I've owned over the years seem to be happy in their middle class homes, but like I said, they got out a lot. My birds in one of their old school cages below. They have matching ones lol. Old Hagen cages from the 90s I think! This was after after being OUT for a chunk of the day.


View attachment 36161

I haven’t really had any problems with the size of my cage. Defined now after getting another bird it has gotten way dirtier way faster, but cleaning is a huge part of bird ownership. Even if my birds are out for hours a day, I would love for them to have a large cage with plenty of nice perches and toys here is their current cage!