Meyer's & Budgies

[ddobs]

I'm thinking seriously of getting a Meyer's. It would be housed separately (of course) from my two budgies. My vet hasn't said I shouldn't do it but is strongly cautioning me because of the size of the Meyer's beak and the risk of accidents (think budgies' feet). It seems that loads of people have budgies and larger parrots, including conures, which are known to be somewhat aggressive.

What do people think - is this automatically a bad idea? I don't really want a cockatiel (no offense to cockatiel fans) or other small bird. But I do want a somewhat larger single parrot because I think it has the potential to be a different kind of companion.

 

[Laurasea]

I don't know. But my green cheek conure bit off several toes from sweet budgie...so the risk is real

 

[ddobs]

Thanks. Did the happen when the budgies were in their cage through the bars?

 

[Laurasea]

They were on top of her cage. Definitely my mistake. I have clear acrylic sheets on top of all the cages now. Best thing ever! As my parrots spend most of the time out if the cage. Now poops can't fall down into food or water or toys and perches! And toes are safer.

Having them flighted. Having out of cage perches, 10 perches per per bird, i have about 8 different perch play areas for them, with food, treat, chew stuff, and water available st each station. Taking things very slow with introduction, in neutral area with layers of postive association helps. But budgies nature has them in the face of other burds, and some individuals and species are less tolerance for that. Poor budgies have no defense, and lack larger bird flock manners. My male quaker Neptune was very predatory towards the budgies for a long time. Then he started looking after them like they were his young...My current male Pikachu showed some of that predatory behavior this breeding season. ...granted the budgies were courting Penny, whom he has bonded to...

Male budgies try to court everything and everybody year round it seems. They seem unable to take the hint if the other parrots aren't interested.

 

[ddobs]

Thanks for the insight!

 

[Noahs_Birds]

I wouldn’t risk it with a Meyers and budgies around each other, at the drop of a pin you could have a dead budgie on the ground - Big beaks make small work of little necks

By saying this I don’t mean that you shouldn’t have a Meyers altogether, you just have to take extra precautions to make sure they’re as far away from each other as possible and don’t leave any unsupervised

 

[ddobs]

So as some of you know, I went ahead and am getting the Meyer's. He will live in my bedroom/office for the time being (quarantine period) away from my budgies. We'll see if they can live in the same room eventually so they can all talk to each other. If I do put them in the same room, I won't have them out of their cages at the same time and will cover the others' cages while I'm removing the bird(s) to a different room for play time. Logistically challenging, but worth it I think. I'll post a photo when we pick up the baby end of April. Thanks, all!

 

[Laurasea]

Oh such a long wait!!!!
I can't stand it and it's not even going to be mine!!

 

[ddobs]

Thanks Laura! Yes, such a long wait. The breeder sent me a video of the baby waiting to see the vet (my request) being very cute. I feel like I'm getting ready for a new baby.

 

[JamesC]

I have a suggestion, something that I do because my Senegal is very aggressive towards my two blue crowns. I've had 4 budgies so I know how in your face curious and friendly they are and have no doubt that yours will come investigate the Meyers. Get a roll of screen material that you can make barriers with. I cover the top and one side of my Senegal's cage with it because my younger Blue Crown wants to go land on his cage any chance he gets. Sidney got him once, fortunately the injury was minor. At first Sidney wanted to chew on the screen, which I deterred because it is a fiberglass type. But now it is just a part of his home and he completely ignores it. But it does a great job at keeping Rosco away and prevents any direct contact if Rosco does land on top. Or if he stands on the end table and tries to irritate Sidney from just out of distance. I found that it worked great so far for me. Plus the bird inside still gets fresh air and can see what is going on around the room.

 

[ddobs]

Thanks. Can I ask why you only have to cover the top and one side? What kind of fiberglass screen are you referring to? Did you buy it or make it?

 

[JamesC]

The top just to keep Rosco from landing on the cage. He is afraid of it or does not like the mushy feel of it. The one side just because it blocks off access from the end table that is next to Sid's cage. Rosco liked to go to that table so he could get up to the side of the cage and I had a couple of instances where they tried to fight through the bars. As for the screen, it is just a roll of window screen material bought from a local hardware store. I had some left over from a project and one day tossed it over the cage as a test and it worked out.

 

[noodles123]

I have a suggestion, something that I do because my Senegal is very aggressive towards my two blue crowns. I've had 4 budgies so I know how in your face curious and friendly they are and have no doubt that yours will come investigate the Meyers. Get a roll of screen material that you can make barriers with. I cover the top and one side of my Senegal's cage with it because my younger Blue Crown wants to go land on his cage any chance he gets. Sidney got him once, fortunately the injury was minor. At first Sidney wanted to chew on the screen, which I deterred because it is a fiberglass type. But now it is just a part of his home and he completely ignores it. But it does a great job at keeping Rosco away and prevents any direct contact if Rosco does land on top. Or if he stands on the end table and tries to irritate Sidney from just out of distance. I found that it worked great so far for me. Plus the bird inside still gets fresh air and can see what is going on around the room.

If you do this, make sure it is stainless or at least bird safe. Most screens contain high levels of zinc, which is very toxic when mouthed by parrots