How to Introduce a New Budgie

Introducing a new budgie to your home can be tricky. This page will guide you through the process of helping your new feathered friend settle in.

Bringing home a new budgie is exciting — but introductions must be done slowly and carefully to keep both birds safe, healthy, and happy. Whether you’re adding a friend to your current budgie or starting a small flock, the first impression matters.

🛑 Step 1: Quarantine the New Budgie (Very Important!)

Before ANY introductions happen, your new budgie should be kept separate from your current one for at least 2–4 weeks.

Why quarantine?

• To watch for signs of illness

• To prevent spreading infections or mites

• To give your new budgie time to settle in and adjust

How to quarantine:

• Use a separate cage, in a separate room if possible

• Avoid shared food, water, toys, or hands (wash your hands between handling each bird)

• Watch closely for signs of sickness: runny nose, weird droppings, puffed-up feathers, wheezing, or quiet behavior

• Take them to a bird vet for a checkup if unsure

🟡 Quarantine is the most skipped step — but also the most important to protect your birds!

🕊️ Step 2: Get to Know You Time

While quarantined, gently start bonding with your new budgie:

• Talk softly near the cage

• Offer treats (like millet) from your hand

• Let them watch and listen to household sounds

• Begin simple taming if they’re new to human contact

This builds trust and confidence before they meet your other budgie.

🪶 Step 3: Let Them Hear and See Each Other

After quarantine, begin visual introductions without letting them touch.

How:

• Place cages in the same room, a little distance apart

• Let them see and hear each other during the day

• Watch how they react: chirping, interest, or calm watching is a good sign

• Avoid: flapping, screaming, or aggressive lunging

Slowly move the cages closer each day if things go well.

Let this stage last a few days to a week depending on how they act.

🐦 Step 4: Supervised Out-of-Cage Time (Optional)

If both budgies are tame and friendly, you can try letting them meet outside their cages — in a safe, neutral space.

Important:

• Do this with full supervision

• Have separate perches or toys set up

• Watch for body language: chasing, pecking, raised wings = stop

• Keep the session short at first (10–15 mins)

Sometimes budgies will ignore each other, and that’s okay! That’s still progress.

🪺 Step 5: Cage Sharing (Only When Ready!)

Do NOT rush this step! Sharing a cage too soon can cause fights and stress.

Only move them in together if:

✅ They’ve interacted peacefully for a few days

✅ There’s no aggressive chasing, biting, or screaming

✅ They seem curious or friendly — chirping, preening near each other, feeding together

Before moving in together:

• Clean the cage so it feels neutral

• Rearrange perches/toys so it’s new to both birds

• Provide multiple food bowls, water bowls, and perches

• Give lots of space to avoid territory fights

⛔ If they fight seriously (biting, cornering, bleeding), separate and try again later.

🧡 BudgieBliss Tip: Go at Their Pace, Not Yours

Some budgies become best friends in a week. Others might take a month — or prefer to live side-by-side instead of sharing a cage. That’s perfectly okay!

Just like people, budgies have their own personalities. Patience is the key to a peaceful bond.

✅ Quick Checklist: Budgie Introduction Steps

1. 🦠 Quarantine the new budgie (2–4 weeks, separate room)

2. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Start bonding with the new budgie alone

3. 👀 Place cages near each other (same room, separate cages)

4. 🎯 Watch behavior — no aggression, fluffed wings, or panic

5. 🕊️ Try supervised out-of-cage meetups (optional, safe space)

6. 🏠 Move in together only when calm and ready

7. 🛑 Separate immediately if fights break out

8. 💬 Keep interacting and bonding with both daily!