Do two female birds mate?
Even if you cage same sex birds together, they will often form a mate bond and behave like a breeding pair. Two females will sometimes lay eggs and incubate them together, even though the eggs are not fertile. So keep this in mind when caging birds together.
Yes, as you have found out, two same sex birds in captivity will bond as if they were a male & female, and often they will mate, and if both females, one or both may lay eggs. I would keep your females in separate cages, but they can interact outside of the cage.
Before I point out some of the possible reasons for such behavior, remember that female budgies tend to be more aggressive than male budgies. This is the reason why keeping two female budgies together is such a bad idea.
What kind of behaviors might I observe in my bird? One of the most common behaviors in a sexually excited bird is regurgitation. This represents an offering of food that a bird would give to a "mate" during courtship. Budgies, co*ckatiels, co*ckatoos, and lovebirds seem to do this the most often.
Under the right conditions, parakeets will breed easily. Provided with all of the right environment, the birds will simply just get on with it. Parakeets in an aviary will usually pair up with one another. However, for many breeders, this isn't quite it.
When birds become sexually mature, their instinct is to find a mate. Birds don't have 'casual sex'. They choose and court a mate, select or build a nest and have sex for procreation rather than recreation.
Breeding between siblings can lead to genetic defects and health issues in the offspring. It's best to separate them to prevent further mating and consider consulting with a veterinarian or a bird breeding expert for guidance on how to handle the situation.
There's been some nonsense written over the years about hen parakeets being more aggressive and noisier than males. Most of it is sexist nonsense, though. Hens cohabit perfectly well most of the time, and actually squabble less than males, usually.
Getting a second parakeet can be a great idea, as parakeets are social birds and often enjoy the company of another parakeet. Having a companion can provide mental stimulation and prevent loneliness for your current parakeet.
In general - no. Ideally, budgies should be kept in pairs, even if you don't plan to breed them, or you don't have the same amount of males and female (I'll go back to that later). Two is minimum, specially if you're busy and don't spend much time at home.
What arouses a bird?
Physical hugging or scratching around the head is acceptable, but scratching, stroking or petting your bird around the back, rump, and hind end may cause sexual stimulation.
“But in some cases, birds may see their owner as a mate; this stimulates abnormal reproductive behavior affecting nesting, chronic egg-laying, and territorial behaviors.
Furthermore, a review of the literature revealed that inbreeding avoidance via kin recognition is common in cooperatively breeding birds, but pair-breeding birds such as robins and saddlebacks mate randomly with respect to relatedness.
They will begin to perch, feed and preen together. Providing bathing water will help them get in the mood for mating. The male will display to his mate, this will include lots of head-bobbing and feather-fluffing, and his pupils will often dilate to pinpricks.
Egg Laying in Pet Birds: Background
In wild birds and breeding birds, egg laying is a natural, seasonal process. However, female pet birds can also lay eggs, even without the presence of a male. Such eggs are infertile and will not hatch, even if incubated.
Summary: Female birds in species that breed in groups can find themselves under pressure to sexually show off and evolve the same kinds of embellishments -- like fanciful tail feathers or chest-puffing courtship dances -- as males, according to new research.
Do birds ever mate with other avian species? The New York Times recently tackled this question, and I found the answer fascinating: about 10% of the 10,000 known bird species have mated with another species.
"Birds recognize each other by their voices or calls. They can identify mates, parents or offspring by voice, much as a blind person might do. During courtship and pair formation, birds learn to recognize their mate by 'voice' characteristics, and not by visual appearance."
Most birds do not recognize their family members after their first year. There are exceptions to this, especially among social birds such as cranes, crows, and jays. Canada Geese also remember their parents, and may even rejoin their parents and siblings during winter and on migration.
You are correct that related birds should not be allowed to breed with each other, particularly siblings from the same parents, whether they are from the same clutch or not. They either need to be kept separated by gender, or if males & females are kept together, any eggs should be immediately discarded.
Are birds loyal to their mates?
Although an estimated 90% of bird species partner up for life, the same can't be said for mammals.
A pair of budgies will, generally, be happier than a single budgie. They are sociable birds, and in the wild they live in large flocks. Two birds, and a couple of mirrors, will recreate the contact and noise of a flock (albeit a very small one).
However, it's important to note that individual personalities can vary, and not all parakeets will conform to these generalizations. I spent years hand raising them, and owned eight at one point (rescues). I can say on average males are more docile, and calm down and tame easier.
I would recommend getting two birds of the same sex With parakeets, the males are generally better companions for each other or for people. Two females in a cage are much more likely to fight that two males.
Parakeet Lifespan
The most common parakeet in captivity is the budgerigar or budgie. In captivity, budgies can live anywhere between 7-15 years of age. This is almost twice the life expectancy of a wild budgie. In the wild, budgies can live between 4-6 years because of threats of predation.
References
- https://currumbinvetservices.com.au/sex-and-your-pet-bird/
- https://www.bbcearth.com/news/seven-animals-who-mate-for-life
- https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/masturbation-in-birds
- https://www.petmd.com/bird/how-long-do-parakeets-live
- https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/social-birds-part-1/
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091209134638.htm
- https://www.omlet.us/guide/parakeets/parakeet_keeping/parakeet_cage_companions/
- https://www.quora.com/Can-I-keep-two-female-budgies-parakeets-together-in-the-same-cage-They-are-3-months-old-and-they-are-sisters
- https://www.audubon.org/news/the-amazing-world-hybrid-birds
- https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/budgies/budgie_keeping/keeping_budgies_in_a_cage/
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/most-unbred-animals-engli/
- https://www.quora.com/I-caught-my-co*ckatiels-mating-and-they-are-siblings-but-from-a-different-egg-batch-is-that-okay
- https://www.omlet.us/guide/parakeets/nesting_and_breeding/
- https://www.omlet.us/guide/parakeets/nesting_and_breeding/breeding_behavior/
- https://www.budgie-bubble.co.uk/post/is-it-ok-to-keep-3-or-odd-number-of-budgies
- https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/questions/preventing-breeding/
- https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/questions/female-lovebirds/
- https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/sexual-behavior-in-birds
- https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/20/3/575/185847
- https://www.quora.com/Is-there-a-behavior-difference-between-male-parakeets-and-female-parakeets
- https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/questions/males-or-females/
- https://mickaboo.org/resources/discouraging-egg-laying
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/do-young-birds-recognize-their-parents-after-theyve-grown-up/
- https://www.quora.com/Should-I-get-a-second-parakeet