Budgies are beautiful and social birds. They make our homes lively by singing, chirping, and being colorful due to their physical appearances. With their low maintenance costs, providing a conducive environment for them to thrive is easy. Providing enough resources, quality playtime, and companionship is essential for our feathered friends to be comfortable.

Budgies need a friend for a number of reasons. The following are some of the reasons why your budgie needs a companion.

1. For Interaction

Budgies are social birds and are happy when in flocks. They groom, scratch, and play with each other, which helps to strengthen their bonds.

Through socialization, budgies can enhance their emotional well-being and feel safe from danger in flocks.

2. To Make Babies

If you wish to have baby budgies in your home one day, you ought to work on obtaining a second budgie. As neither male nor female budgies can fertilize and lay eggs, you should consider getting a bird of the opposite gender to the one already at home.

With proper introduction, the budgies will be able to bond well and hence mate during the breeding season.

3. Presence of a Friend Reduces Stress Levels

When in pairs, the budgies can look out for each other and raise the alarm whenever there is danger. They feel safe in a group and can do their daily activities without stress.

Due to the reduced stress levels, the budgies can feed well, which translates to good health.

4. Two Budgies Can Exercise Together

Two budgies can play together, preen each other, and exercise together. They can burn the extra fat through these activities, which helps prevent obesity. This reduces the risk of your budgie suffering from respiratory diseases and other lifestyle-associated illnesses.

5. To Ward Off Loneliness

A budgie can get lonely if;

1. It is left alone for long periods, and you only interact with it when providing food and changing its water. 

2. It plays with the same toys without changing them, or a favorite toy gets lost.

3. A cagemate dies. The remaining budgie may become lonely and depressed.

4. You change the position of the cage, which can lead to stress due to a change in the environment.

If you have a tight schedule and little time to socialize and play with your bird, you should provide a friend.

A pair will bond, interact, play, and explore together. The renewed energy and activity will prevent boredom, and your budgies will be happy and lively.

How Do I Know If My Budgie Is Lonely?

Since budgies cannot communicate using words, they usually express their feelings through body language and behaviors.

The following are signs of a lonely budgie:

1. Isolation

When lonely, the budgie separates itself by hiding in the cage whenever you attempt to play with it.

2. Loss of Appetite

A sick or lonely budgie eats less or can refuse to eat. Regularly checking your bird’s weight is vital to ensure it remains healthy.

3. The Budgie Becomes Aggressive 

Due to loneliness, the budgie can become unfriendly and aggressive toward the owner, which usually translates to bites and attacks whenever you go near the bird.

4. It Can Self-mutilate

A budgie can indulge in self-destructive behaviors like skin chewing when lonely. This should be discouraged to protect your bird from infections through open wounds.

5. Reduced Vocalization

When lonely, a budgie will stop singing and talking, a sign that something is amiss with your feathered friend.

6. It Fluffs Up Its Feathers

With the feeling of neglect, your budgie can fluff its feathers accompanied by inactivity. However, it can also signify that your bird is cold, ill, or feels threatened. Spending more time with your budgie will allow you to know it better.

7. Feather Plucking

When bored, budgies tend to engage in feather plucking. This is due to the stress they feel from being left on their own.

How Do I Keep My Single Budgie Happy?

After going through the importance of having a friend for your budgie, the next question is, Can I keep a budgie alone?

Yes, a single budgie can live happily if provided with a comfortable living environment.

The following conditions should be adhered to when creating a conducive environment for your budgie to live in:

1. Giving Your Budgie Enough Attention

This can be achieved by spending quality time with your budgie as you talk to it, give it treats, sing for it, and play with it. Your bird will be happy due to the attention and be less likely to become aggressive.

2. Out of Cage Playtime

Freeing your budgie from the cage for 2-3 hours daily will allow it to explore its surroundings and relax.

3. Adequate Sleep

Letting your budgie have enough sleep is essential for their well-being. Your bird should get at least 12 hours of sleep per day to ensure enough rest. Having a quiet and dark sleeping area for your budgie does the trick.

4. Providing a Stimulating Environment

An inviting environment is key for your budgie to be happy. Installing swings, perches, ladders, mirrors, and toys in the cage is essential when preparing a place for your budgie.

5. Balanced Diet

Feeding your budgie various nutritional foods is crucial for it to remain healthy. To supplement the daily seeds, fresh veggies and fruits should not be lacking in a budgie’s diet.

6. Hand-feeding Your Budgie

By feeding your budgie from your hands, the bird builds trust in you, making it easy to bond and be comfortable around you.

7. Getting a Companion for Your Budgie

Since your budgie will require more socialization from you if there is no other budgie, considering obtaining a companion is essential to remain happy. This will also give you time for other activities.

What Gender Budgie Should I Get

Care should be taken when choosing a companion for your budgies to live happily with fewer conflicts. You can consider having the following;

1. A Male and Female Pair

For this pair, the budgies can live together comfortably without conflict. Since budgies mate for life, once bonded, your pair will groom and feed each other, thus reducing aggression.

2. All Male Pair

This is a perfect pair if you only need a friend for your budgie and no breeding. Males are known to get along well with other budgies and are less aggressive.

3. All Female Pair

Despite their aggressive nature, female budgies can cohabit happily. Through a proper introduction and having enough resources for your two friends, their coexistence should not have any issues at all.

Is It Better to Have 1 or 2 Budgies?

When deciding whether to have a single budgie or two, a budgie’s personality should be considered. Having a single budgie is advisable for an outgoing budgie that loves to play. However, if your bird is shy and prefers quietness, you must find a friend.

Pros and Cons of Having Two Budgies

Having two budgies is advantageous since;

1. A pair of budgies is happier than a single budgie.

2. It’s easy to maintain the budgies as they have the same food requirements.

3. The budgies require less attention as they can play together.

4. Less medical visits to the vet are required since a happy budgie is a healthy budgie.

As much as it’s good to have two budgies, it also has disadvantages, such as:

1. Double expenditure, as you are required to have a pair of each item used by the budgies.

2. Frequent fights between your budgies.

3. Once your budgies are bonded, they will tend to ignore you.

4. Your budgies are likely to breed, which is bad if you don’t want babies.

Can You Keep a Male and Female Budgie Together Without Breeding?

No. You cannot keep a male and female budgie together without breeding. This is because your budgies cannot live together without mating.

Nevertheless, you can stop them from breeding by:

1. Ensuring no potential nesting areas in the cage for the female to lay eggs.

2. Discouraging breeding behaviors such as regurgitating food, mating dances, and flirting. Your budgies should be separated once you see such signs.

3. Let your budgies sleep early; having them up late makes them think it’s breeding season.

4. Destroying eggs once laid and returning them to the nest to prevent hatching.

Related Articles

Is It Cruel to Keep One Budgie?

How to Introduce Budgies | Tips on Introducing a New Budgie

Why Do My Male and Female Budgies Fight

How Long Does It Take for a Budgie to Trust You?

How to Stop Budgie from Laying Eggs | Preventing Budgies from Breeding

Should Parakeets Be in Pairs? | Is a Companion Important to Birds?