If you have a first parakeet and want to buy a second how can you determine if the two will be compatible? Are there places where you can buy and return them if they do not get along? Are there certain ways you can tell if the two will get along?
Can I ask why you want to get a second parakeet? In my limited experience, when you have two parakeets, they are far more interested in each other than they are in you. If your first parakeet is tame, getting a second may cause number one to bond with number two and become less tame.
My mom already has one but it is very stand offish so she is thinking a second parakeet will calm it down. The bird is already disinterested in us so that won’t be anything new. Plus she doesn’t want to get too attached to one bird then have it die so she figures having two birds will be better in case one dies she still has the other.
No answers to give really. Just wanted to say that a new girl parakeet showed up at our house yesterday to keep our boy parakeet happy. One of the kids bought her with his allowance. His stated mission yesterday morning was to “buy a girlfriend for Lucky”
I hope that things are working out between them!
I have three parakeets. I bought them at different times and never had a problem with the older birds not accepting the newer bird. When I bought a new bird I chose based on color and tried to buy females, since the birds at the pet store were all very young it was impossible to ensure the sex I wanted.
I would suggest before buying another bird go buy a good book. I bought “The New Parakeet Handbook” By Immanuel Birmelin and Annette Wolter. I think I paid $5 at Amazon.com
We already have the parakeet handbook but I’ve never heard of the new parakeet handbook. Are there any major updates?
I can’t make a direct comparison of “the parakeet handbook” and “the new parakeet handbook” because I have only read the “new” one. I did compare what I saw at Amazon and the “new” one looks like a repackaging of the first one. There may be some new material in the second book. It looks like you have basically the same book I have.
I would follow what your book says and things should be ok in regards to getting more birds. I never had a problem adding new birds. Just make sure your cage is large enough. Also more birds mean more clean up.