You tried doggie playdates and child playdates and everything turned out just fine.
Now you are thinking of taking your budgie for a playdate.
That sounds like a great idea, especially if you think your bird is bored.
See Also: What Are The Pros And Cons Of Having Budgies As Pets?
But, Can Budgies Have Playdates?
Generally, no – not advisable. But there are few reservations. Understandably, you may think of taking your bird to a playdate – maybe your budgie is bored of your voice or no longer gets excited with recorded budgie sounds. Either way, playdates are risky and, fortunately, not the only option available. Later in this post, we’ll look at what you can do to keep them active and happy.
But first, let’s look at why should remove playdates from your list of considerations:
1. Beware of Budgie Diseases
Playdates involve mixing with several birds from different homes.
The problem with this is that you don’t have even the foggiest understanding of the other birds’ health backgrounds.
Owners normally don’t reveal all the necessary details about their birds at the playdate ‘café’.
Do you think an owner would admit: “oh yeah, my bird is violently sick – he’s been diarrheaing for a week now, but please let him play here with others for a minute.”
Then some owners don’t observe their birds closely and may not be aware of the underlying health conditions or even recognize aggressive behaviors.
Yet these details need to be known for the safety of others.
There is just a lot to worry about.
Budgie diseases are quite common and highly infectious.
Furthermore, you can’t be so sure your budgie will only mix with other budgies.
It’s not uncommon for different species to mix in playdates.
Whether you end up mixing your budgie with canaries or small parrots, there’s a significant chance your bird will return home with an injury or one of these common bird diseases:
Psittacosis, Ornithosis, Chlmydiosis, or Simply as ‘Parrot Fever’
The most worrying thing, however, is that it also infects humans albeit with mild symptoms (humans are carriers, basically), and can devastate your bird.
This diseases is commonplace because of the wide variety of birds it attacks and the fact that it can use humans as a host.
It takes up to a month to down a budgie in most cases.
So, if you are not always near other birds from which you could pick it, the only other likeliest place your budgie might get it is at the playdate venue.
If your bird displays poor appetite, nose and eye discharge, ruffled appearance, yellow or greenish droppings (which carry lots of Chlamydia psittaci), and loose droppings (diarrhea), you are probably dealing with a case of Psittacosis.
PDD
It is sometimes referred to as “Macaw Wasting Disease”, a name that aptly describes infected birds.
It is not restricted to macaws as the name seems to suggest but the entire parrot family. Infected birds lose their appetite before developing regurgitating difficulties. If you spot undigested seeds in the droppings and rapid wasting, your bird probably has PDD.
PBFD
Psittacine beak & feather disease (PBFD), sometimes simply referred to as Psittacine circovirus (PCV) or psittacine circovirus (PCV) is yet another highly infectious viral parrot disease you need to worry about.
It mainly attacks budgies, cockatoos, lovebirds, cockatiels, and African gray parrots.
Feather necrosis is the first and most recognizable symptom but lesions on the beak may follow.
It is probably the scariest of all common parrot diseases because of the devastation it inflicts on the liver, feathers, and beak.
Even worse, it is one of the hardest to treat and can remain undetected in a bird for a long time though some birds die within weeks of the onset of the first symptom.
2. Bird Interaction Should Be Natural and Take Place Over a Long Time
Birds don’t really need a playdate – it isn’t their natural behavior.
Playdates often involves the mixing of different species of parrots. That’s contrary to how parrots interact in the wild – two different species seldom mix.
Rather, members of a certain species form a bond with each other at a certain age to form a hunting flock.
Another reason why close members of the same species flock together is to create a safety net against predators, not necessarily to have company.
In fact, when they attain a certain age, priority shifts to courtship with mates outside the flock.
That’s the moment they start to isolate themselves from their flock (though some species mate with closer pals from the same flock).
Your budgie is probably within the age bracket where casual interaction with other budgies would be great, but it would be better if she had a mate at home.
Unfortunately, many owners (including myself at the start) don’t understand flock dynamics.
It’s excusable as there are numerous species of pet birds. However, don’t take your bird to playdates or let them interact with just any other birds you find.
If your bird is very young, a playdate may be permissible but in consideration of an array of other factors.
Once the bird becomes mature and their hormones set in, playdates become unnecessary.
Another thing
Birds, more so parrots, started to be petted just recently. They are not like dogs and cats.
Your budgie still has wild instincts just like most pet birds because they are basically wild species flying around in your home.
Don’t be surprised if your bird gets in a crazy fight while on a “playdate” and ends badly injured or killed.
With that said, refrain from treating them like truly domesticated pets.
Instead, let them go through their usual behavioral changes through phases their entire life.
OK – No to Playdates, Now What?
If you feel you must break the boredom, there are other safe and better things you can do:
1. Acquire A Second and Even Third Bird
Rather than expose your bird to diseases and stuff, figure out how you can buy a budgie companion who will be around daily, ‘forever.
2. If You Don’t Talk to Him Often, Please Start Doing So
Yes – if your bird is used to recorded voices, do away with it and talk to him instead. Do it often.
3. Attend A Birding Webinars and Forums
You will be shocked by the wealth of care tips and tricks you will get from more experienced bird keepers.
If you MUST take your bird to a playdate then do it, BUT ensure you know two or three birds that have been there and are disease-free.
Also, don’t let your budgie mix with non-budgies. Just as important, don’t bring your budgie close to cats and dogs.
Conclusion
Can budgies have playdates?
Generally, No – not advisable. But there are few reservations.
The first reason you should take your bird to a playdate is that you don’t understand the health background of the birds you will find there.
Budgie diseases are quite common and highly infectious.
Don’t be surprised if your bird gets in a crazy fight while on a “playdate” and ends up badly injured or killed.
With that said, refrain from treating them like truly domesticated pets.