Can I Put a New Parakeet in With Two I Already Have?

Parakeets, also called budgies or budgerigars, behave a little differently according to their sex. Female parakeets are territorial, especially in small cages, so if you already have two female parakeets and would like another one, consider getting a larger cage. Male parakeets usually get along better with other males than females, as the females tend to boss them around. A pair of male parakeets should accept another male with little ruffling of feathers.

All new birds carry a small risk of disease, so it's important to follow proper quarantine procedures to protect your current pair. Keep the new bird in another room for the first three months, and care for him last in your daily feeding and cleaning routine. To minimize cross-contamination, wash your hands with soap and use different food and water containers, and toys, for different birds. Parakeets don't often show signs of disease clearly, so extending the quarantine period in case of doubt is fine.

Although parakeets love living in flocks, they also need time to get used to a new friend. When first introducing your new parakeet to your current pair, place the cages side by side so they become familiar with each other. Once any aggressive behavior has stopped, let the birds out of their cages together in the neutral territory of the room. Your pair should accept their new friend in their cage soon after, but watch for signs of bullying and repeat the above if necessary.

Depending on the species, parakeets become ready to breed between 5 and 36 months of age. If you have a male and a female parakeet together, they may well become sexually active once they've reached maturity. Pairs of parakeets intent on breeding are at their most aggressive, so it would be unwise to try to introduce another bird if you suspect this may be the case.