Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 10/13/2007

Question
Greetings!
This summer I adopted a 5 year old budgie from the SPCA.  We didn't know anything about budgies, but we had heard there was overcrowding at the shelter and we wanted to give an animal a good home.

August (that's what we named him) had never interacted with people before, or been let out of his cage. We have gradually introduced him to both, and he's doing much better with us, although he still doesn't like to leave his cage.

We may be going out of town for a few weeks, we were worried that August would be lonely while we were gone. We called the SPCA, and lo and behold, they had just received another budgie. She is a female - they didn't know her age, only that she had been at an elementary school and had been badly bullied by the children. She was terrified and traumatized when we adopted her. We got a big new cage for her and brought her home to recuperate in a quiet room, separate from August.

Fast forward a month. It is amazing what peace & quiet, lots of toys, and TLC can do. Our new budgie (Summer) rapidly turned into the most outgoing clown in the world, although she is still fearful with us.  We also quickly realized that she is just a baby. Her pupils are all black (unlike August's eyes, which have a big ring of white around them) and she has these hyper attacks where she flies around the room like an out of control kitten with wings.  Very funny!

Once we finished her incubation and recovery period, we put the two cages side by side. August and Summer both seemed excited, so eventually we opened both cages and let them meet. At first it seemed to go well, but then, to our amazement, Summer started bullying August! It is amazing, because she is half his size, but she is fearless. If I allow her she will barge right into his cage and crowd him and eat his food and bathe in his water, and generally push him around. He seems intimidated by her, and ends up huddled on the side of his cage looking miserable.  

After a few introductions like this, I have been afraid to have them meet again. I leave Summer's cage open all the time because she is so young and playful she really seems to need to fly.  But I have been leaving August's cage door closed, because if I don't, Summer moves in and takes over.  

August came with his own cage which is far too small for one bird, let alone two. I would change it, but he has lived in it for at least 5 years, and the vet said it would be too upsetting for him to change it now. He is like an old man who is set in his ways! I tried putting him in Summer's huge cage, but he was miserable and huddled in the corner until I put him back in his tiny familiar cage (be it ever so humble, there's no place like home...)

I was hoping eventually August and Summer could live together in her huge cage, but I think she may be too much for him!  She does seem to like him, and is always clinging to the outside of his cage, but if I let her in, she pecks at August and pushes him around. (My husband says now we know where the expression "hen pecked" comes from!)

Am I being overprotective of August? I really want him to be happy. Should I just leave them alone to sort it out for themselves? Could Summer hurt him if I leave them together? Or is my grumpy old man too old for this spring chicken?

I really appreciate your input!  
Susan


Answer
Hi, Susan,

Interesting story!  I applaud you for taking a bird in from the shelter.  I wish there were more people like you in the world.

Not all birds are compatible with each other.  Each bird has its own personality, likes/dislikes, etc., just like humans do.  Too many people think they can just put 2 birds together and they should get along.  However, this isn't always the case.  What you are experiencing is 2 birds with completely different personalities and 2 different life experiences.  You'll need to treat each bird as individually as their personalities are.  I would recommend keeping them in separate cages for the time being, although you could keep them housed close together so they can "communicate" with each other when they want to.  With time, they could be compatible with each other, put it will take time.  The older bird, too, is now having to share his/her humans with another bird, so this is stressful for the older bird.  Don't ignore either bird, particularly the older one at this point, but you should respect the older bird's needs.  This bird feels safe and secure in his/her cage, this is his/her safety zone, personal territory, the only place in the world s/he can call his/her own, so when stressed, s/he likes to stay in the cage.  Don't force anything on the older bird, but encouragement is OK.  Once this bird feels more secure with the other bird, s/he may come around.  But again, some birds just aren't compatible with other birds.

I wouldn't go away for a few weeks and leave these birds alone unsupervised.  Too many things can go wrong.  If you have to go away, I would recommend you having someone come in each day to feed, water, and check on your birds.

Yes, Summer could hurt the other bird or vice versa, so they need to be supervised at all times when they are together until they show signs of compatibility.

Chrys