New budgie arriving tomorrow

[Chirpies]

Hello feathered friends
I’m falling in love with birds again.
I am adopting a parakeet tomorrow from Craigslist. She’s coming with all her supplies and luggage.
I’ve had cockatiels in the past but this will be my first parakeet.
I’m excited to work on training and cage-free perches/gyms.
I have tons of questions about DIY items and projects. I don’t want to use anything toxic or unsafe.
I’m also planning to get her a friend soon.

So, I’d like to ask a few questions here in my intro thread if no one minds.

Can I use silicone glue to make toys and other items? (Its an aquarium safe glue)

How long should I wait before introducing a new bird to the one I’m adopting tomorrow?
How should I introduce them?

That’s all I’ve got for now!
So glad I found this community and I’m happy to be a part of it.
Thanks!
-Kelly


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[Laurasea]

Hi welcome! I don't know about the glue.... sorry. Very excited to meet your new one.
There are different thoughts on budgies. Some prefer to keep the. Alone so as to better bond with their budgie. Some like me, think it's better to have two. But with my two we aren't bonded, could be that's my fault, or because I have two... Since she is coming to you as one, I would just keep her by herself till you guys are bonded. And if you add a second later make sure they are same sex so you aren't having unwanted babies. And make sure if you get a second you quarantine the new one and have a vet check before putting them together. They should get along budgies usually do, might they might not. Read the blue sticky threads at the top of budgies forum. Welcome. Lots if people here to help, and for you to share stories with!

 

[britebore]

Welcome Kelly,

I hope you can bond with new bird but, it will take time if it's possible. I bought my current budgie at about 6 weeks of age because the younger they are the easier it is to bond with them. It still took a full year for her to come around.
In your case, i would ditch the high expectations and just focus on providing the best care you can for the newcomer. If the bird bonds with you it will be a cherry on top.
Please research what you will feed your bird. My first budgie only lived five years because of her diet. It was mainly seed from the Pet Dept. of your local big box store. A Vet told me that type of diet can cause fatty tumors. Now, I use Zupreem Fruit Blend mainly. It is about 80-85 percent of my budgies' diet. For treats I offer Zupreems' 'Smart Selects' or 'Pure Fun' outside the cage. She also gets about 1" of a millet spray before lights out.
I hope this helps a little. Good Luck!!

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[EllenD]

Welcome to the community!!1

Big NO on the glue!!!! Birds aren't like any other animals, they are extremely sensitive to any type of fumes, scents, etc., and if you put silicone glue on a toy they will simply chew on it and swallow it, and it will kill them. So no glue of any kind at all on toys or anything else you make for them...

As far as "buying a friend" for your Budgie, the first thing you need to know is that they may very well hate each other and you'll end-up with 2 Budgies that need your time and attention...So NEVER buy a second bird unless YOU want it as a pet for you, and not ever as a "friend" for your first bird...YOU are this Budgie's friend, and as Laura said, if you want to have a close-bond with this Budgie, then simply concentrate on this bird, because if you do bring home a second Budgie and they do like each other and bond with each other, chances are that neither will want anything at all to do with you any longer...So work on building a strong bond/relationship with this Budgie first, then if YOU want a second bird sometime in the future as a second flock-mate for yourself, then that's fine, but approach it like it's a whole new bird that has NOTHING to do with your first bird...

If you do ever get a second bird, you must do a 30-day quarantine in another room behind a shut-door from this bird...After the quarantine you can put their cages in the same room, but across from each other, and let them get to know each other that way for a few weeks...Then you can start letting them out together, but ONLY under your supervision...If they seem to like each other, great, if not, then they don't...

You cannot get another bird under the assumption that you will just put them in the same cage as this Budgie, so you'd also need a whole second set-up for a new bird: cage, bowls, toys, etc. Some people make the mistake of "buying a friend" for their current bird, then they just plop the new bird into the cage with their current bird, and they start fighting immediately, and then they have no cage for the new bird...So approach any other birds as totally separate pets that have nothing to do with this first Budgie...

For the near-future, just focus on giving your time and attention to this Budgie, be it's flock-mate, bond with it, and don't worry at all about "buying it a friend" for now, because that never goes well for one reason or another..Better that YOU bond closely with your new family member...

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you and yours!

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, Kelly! Great information so far, feel free to explore the specialty sub-forums and ask any questions!