Keeping budgies alone? No thanks!

Although the advantages of keeping budgies in pairs or flocks are numerous and undeniable, many people still hesitate to get more than one budgie or to give their single bird a companion. However, the arguments put forward in favor of keeping budgies alone are without exception outdated or can easily be refuted.

Only a single bird becomes tame

For many people, the tameness of their budgie is a very important factor. But anyone considering getting birds must be aware that these animals are not pets to cuddle.

Anyone expecting to get a super-tame, affectionate bird that sits on their shoulder all day and talks should quickly let go of this idea, because it is unrealistic and can become harmful to the bird.

With very few exceptions, birds that are completely fixated on their owner are often acting out of desperation. Their tameness expresses the absolute loneliness of a bird that depends on “its human” as its only social contact.

However, owners of several budgies do not necessarily have to give up on tame birds. Whether a budgie becomes trusting depends mainly on its character and on how often and how patiently you interact with it. With patience and millet, several budgies can become just as trusting as a single bird.

Even if budgies remain shy, one should never forget: tameness is a “bonus” and should never be the reason for getting a bird. A single bird can remain shy for its entire life as well — but such a bird will most likely become sluggish, listless or aggressive, while a non-tame flock can still be happy, lively and entertaining.

These budgies also became tame in a flock and come onto their humans’ lap for millet.

Two birds make more mess

The calculation “twice as many birds = twice as many feathers, seed husks and droppings” is correct. But the calculation “twice as many birds = twice as much work” is not.

The cage has to be cleaned whether one or two budgies live in it, and whether the vacuum cleaner picks up twice as many feathers makes practically no difference. The additional mess is minimal and certainly not a serious argument against keeping budgies in pairs.

Two birds make more noise

This statement is not necessarily true either. Of course, two budgies may sometimes sing louder than one, but a single bird calling out for contact is far louder than two normally chirping budgies. And after all: all birds make noise — you have to live with that. Anyone who is very bothered by this may be better off with a silent pet.

Two birds cost more

The main expense when getting budgies is the cage or aviary. Usually, its price far exceeds all other costs. The additional expenses for food, bedding, toys and similar items are barely significant.

However, before buying any animal, it must be ensured that the financial means for its complete care are available in every case. Veterinary costs in particular can quickly amount to several hundred euros and must be affordable. Anyone who cannot guarantee this for at least two budgies should not keep birds.

But I don’t want chicks

Preventing offspring is a good idea in most cases, because breeding budgies involves considerable risks and requires official permission. However, breeding can usually be prevented quite easily. Those who want to be absolutely sure can get two males — but please not two females, as this often leads to conflicts.

But my bird is happy alone!

This argument comes up again and again — often as the last one. At first glance, some single birds may seem content: they eat, preen, are tame and playful. But none of this guarantees that they are truly well. No human can read a bird’s thoughts, and no one knows for certain whether it is happy or not.

Tameness can be a sign of desperate contact-seeking, and a bird can be physically healthy while still being mentally underchallenged and emotionally lonely. Courtship, feeding a partner, flying and playing together, communicating with other budgies and mutual preening — all these essential needs cannot be fulfilled when a budgie is kept alone.

Many former single-bird owners who were convinced their bird was happy were amazed at how much their bird blossomed after being successfully introduced to a suitable companion. Only when their budgies had contact with other budgies did they realize what had been missing before.

My bird is a loner

One has to ask whether loners can even exist among flock animals such as budgies. In my opinion, the need for the company of other budgies is an elemental instinct in social animals, making it extremely unlikely that a budgie would generally be happier without other budgies.

In fact, this statement is often based on bad experiences during introductions, for example when the supposedly “loner” bird attacked one or more potential companions. In most cases, however, the reason is not the budgie’s character, but an incorrect approach to introducing the birds or an unsuitable partner.

No human can replace a budgie partner — after all, they will never be able to preen its head so beautifully.