Will adding a second parakeet make my female quieter?

[chuckdylan]

I've had my single female parakeet for almost two years now. She has a very large cage, about ten toys, and is very happy. She's tame and spends about three hours a day outside of her cage. She has a ton of energy and is loud. Lots of high pitched squawks whenever I'm not giving her my full attention. I'm thinking that adding a male might make her do less loud squawks and more of the quiet, cute chatter that I enjoy. What I don't want to do is add a second bird and then have twice as much squawks!

This is my first bird so I figured I'd ask the experts for advice. Would a friend quiet her down?

Thanks!

 

[Ann333]

It depends why she's screaming really. And if it were me I'd get another girl and I might even keep them in separate cages but in the same room. This allows them to talk back and forth, but also help you bond with the new bird.

 

[chuckdylan]

She's screaming because she wants attention. She is loudest when I first leave the room and quietest while I'm interacting with her. Sometimes she's squawking because she wants food. I give her NutiBerries as a treat sometimes and that quiets her down for a little while.

 

[SilverSage]

No,madding a second bird will NOT make this better in all likelihood. I love having birds in flocks, but that does not quiet them, ESPECIALLY budgies! They are loud little birds! Of all my parrots they are the only ones who constantly express their joy with voice. My other birds are nearly silent unless communicating something, but the budgies SING! Lol. If she is truly screaming for attention, then TRAINING! Not more birds, is the way to go. there are plenty of threads on screaming here, but my guess is that she is actually just amusing herself with her voice; budgies are one of the most vocal animals I have. Ever encountered

 

[Ann333]

If it's for attention and you don't have any more time to offer her then I'd say go ahead and get a second one. She may do well with a friend, budgies usually do. But keep in mind the different ways to introduce the new bird. Keep in mind if you want two tame birds or if you want two parakeets that may end up liking each other more than you. Arrange accordingly.

 

[chuckdylan]

No,madding a second bird will NOT make this better in all likelihood. I love having birds in flocks, but that does not quiet them, ESPECIALLY budgies! They are loud little birds! Of all my parrots they are the only ones who constantly express their joy with voice. My other birds are nearly silent unless communicating something, but the budgies SING! Lol. If she is truly screaming for attention, then TRAINING! Not more birds, is the way to go. there are plenty of threads on screaming here, but my guess is that she is actually just amusing herself with her voice; budgies are one of the most vocal animals I have. Ever encountered

I love it when she sings and I enjoy the chatter. It's the short, loud, high pitched squawks that are bugging me and my neighbors. If I got her a friend and they chattered and sang all day instead of the squawks, that would be fantastic.

 

[SilverSage]

Without hearing what you are referring to it is hard to tell what sound exactly it is that you don't like. Honestly, every sound a budgie makes except their "I am about to be eaten" alarm cry is part of their daily vocabulary, and not something that you are going to eliminate. In all honestly, twice the budgies are twice the noise. These birds are in their own category. It sounds like what you need are noise control measures, not a second bird. Consider a loud air conditioner, lol. But seriously, closed windows, background noise, consistent schedule, keep the bird covered until decent people are awake in the morning, feed right away when you uncover, plenty of toys (no mirrors!)... So I was about to say no mirrors because they sing to and flirt with them which is loud, when I realized that is exactly what they do with other budgies. It's been so long since I have had only one budgie that I forgot they do that less alone... So twice the budgies probably means three or four times the noise.

Talk to your neighbors specifically, ask what exactly the issue is, is it the timing, the volume, or specific noises? If i is specific noises, you are in trouble, but timing you can help control, and volume can be dealt with to a certain extend through cage placement, closed windows, etc.

 

[Kyoto]

No,madding a second bird will NOT make this better in all likelihood. I love having birds in flocks, but that does not quiet them, ESPECIALLY budgies! They are loud little birds! Of all my parrots they are the only ones who constantly express their joy with voice. My other birds are nearly silent unless communicating something, but the budgies SING! Lol. If she is truly screaming for attention, then TRAINING! Not more birds, is the way to go. there are plenty of threads on screaming here, but my guess is that she is actually just amusing herself with her voice; budgies are one of the most vocal animals I have. Ever encountered

I found the same thing!! My budgies were very very loud always. I loved the chatter though I in fact encourage when Kyo yells because I love it I for some reason think it's adorable.

 

[RavensGryf]

I was surprised when I got my budgies, how noisy they were, and how loud for their size! It was especially noisy when I had 2 males. One died, and I still have Twigs, a healthy approx 3 year old who screams his little lungs out. I love the twittering and singing though.

I got him a friend this year, a handfed female English budgie. They're not real close friends even after a few months, but they keep each other company. Mink the English is super quiet. She does chirp, but she doesn't scream or sing. I'm not sure if English are just more quiet? She's almost 5 months old.

 

[chuckdylan]

Without hearing what you are referring to it is hard to tell what sound exactly it is that you don't like. Honestly, every sound a budgie makes except their "I am about to be eaten" alarm cry is part of their daily vocabulary, and not something that you are going to eliminate. In all honestly, twice the budgies are twice the noise. These birds are in their own category. It sounds like what you need are noise control measures, not a second bird. Consider a loud air conditioner, lol. But seriously, closed windows, background noise, consistent schedule, keep the bird covered until decent people are awake in the morning, feed right away when you uncover, plenty of toys (no mirrors!)... So I was about to say no mirrors because they sing to and flirt with them which is loud, when I realized that is exactly what they do with other budgies. It's been so long since I have had only one budgie that I forgot they do that less alone... So twice the budgies probably means three or four times the noise.

Talk to your neighbors specifically, ask what exactly the issue is, is it the timing, the volume, or specific noises? If i is specific noises, you are in trouble, but timing you can help control, and volume can be dealt with to a certain extend through cage placement, closed windows, etc.

Thanks for the advice. I'm surprised it's not obvious what I mean when I describe the sound she makes. Maybe she is unique, I don't have much experience with other birds. Every sound she makes is delightful except for the loud, short, high pitched squawk I am describing. It's 50x louder than her other sounds and the only one you hear through walls. It's not singing and is always singular. I was thinking that maybe if she had a friend she wouldn't feel the need to yell at me while I'm in the other room and she could just sing and chat to her friend with a volume you would talk to someone who's in the same cage as you rather than across the house. Thankfully the neighbors have not complained, but I think they are just being polite.

 

[SilverSage]

If you are talking about the sound I think you are, then adding a second bird will still not stop it, eu will do it to each other, face to face, at the top of their lungs.

 

[chuckdylan]

If you are talking about the sound I think you are, then adding a second bird will still not stop it, eu will do it to each other, face to face, at the top of their lungs.

That's what I was afraid of! I think I have my question answered. Thanks. She'll stay single for now.
It's crazy that they can go from making the cutest sounds ever to the most obnoxious sound in one second.

 

[Ann333]

Lol yea one minute Pumpkin is talking and the next it sounds like i have 4 birds all making different crazy annoying noises. Its impressive really. He really does sound like multiple birds... i dont know how hw make so many noises at one time.