Ask Lafeber

Are they compatible even though bonded

If my four month old budgie is bullying and behaving aggressively to my 8-month-old male budgie which happens almost daily, yet she regurgitates food and likes him to preen her, what does this mean? They live in separate very large cages and sometimes I take them out and they are fine and other times they are not and I can’t get her in her cage until she is hungry because she is not completely hand-tamed yet. I’m concerned because it’s causing stress in my male budgie yet he’s crazy about her

Hi,

To clarify terms, two birds can be compatible, but not bonded as mates. If two birds have a mate bond, then they are compatible.

As I said in my last response, these birds are too young to be together. They would be in a large flock of non-breeding birds in the wild, until they are old enough for a mate. Putting two young birds together, and still expecting them to be pets, is creating a confusing situation. It does not matter why either bird does what they are doing. You really can’t know why because they can’t tell you. What is clear is that the male is interested in the female to some degree, and she is going between wanting the attention and not, because she is not sexually mature yet. And even if she is, she is not fully developed and needs time to mature and grow up before letting her interact with a male. As this seems to be causing stress for you and the birds, finding a new home for the female may be best. Your male will be a better pet for you, and she will have the chance to be a pet for someone else.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda