Getting a Second Bird

Birds naturally live in flocks. Especially Parakeets. Back in Australia where they hang out in the wild, there are HUGE flocks of parakeets that, only a century or two ago, would darken the sky and look like a cloud when they flew overhead. They're simply not meant to live alone.

True, if you want to teach your parakeet how to talk, you want to start with a single, male, very young parakeet. The parakeet has to think of YOU as its flock, and want to talk the way you do. However, once you get it talking (or give up after 8 or 12 months), it's time to get your bird a companion. To leave your parakeet alone is extremely cruel, and some birds even go insane if they're abandoned like this.

The first step is to get another young bird. Make sure it's got stripes on its forehead, and that it's as young as possible. You want it to be able to adjust easily to your current bird. Next, get a little cage for it, so it can have its own spot while the two birds get used to each other. It can be an inexpensive $10 one - just somewhere for it to have as its own. Keep the cages close, but keep the birds separate. You want the birds to learn to trust each other without feeling territorial.

Once they're relatively friendly, open both cages (with the doors and windows closed of course!) and let the birds get to know each other. With their own cage to retreat to for safety, they should get to become friends.

Now start letting both of them share the bigger cage. Make sure you have 2 of everything - 2 food dishes, 2 water dishes, 2 cuttlebones. You don't want them to have to fight for who gets to eat! The more they feel that they're both being taken care of, the happier they both will be. And, once they're content living together, they'll be a 'flock' and will be happy!

Note that I've read some nonsense on other websites about how multiple parakeets MUST all be male. This is NOT true. I have had male parakeets, female parakeets, and mixed groups. My current three parakeets are all female. They are QUITE happy together and preen each other! If you raise your parakeets in a stress-free, happy environment where there's enough food and bathtubs for all, they will get along fine.