preventing regurgitating

Question
QUESTION: I have a 2 year old male budgerigar. It used to regurgitated in a mirror, in a wheel, mostly plastic toys so I took them out of the cage. Now, he's regurgitating in his own wooden swing and then eats back. I took to a vet that he's healthy, no problems but that's a typical breeding behavior. Due to several different reasons, I'm not able to get another bird now. I was wondering if there are any tips, special type of food, maybe even a medication, to prevent this from happening. I know it's a natural thing for them but it's I have to clean up the places all the time and it's nasty to look at. Is there anything I can do to stop it at least for some time? Thanks in advance.

ANSWER: Dear caroline,
thank you for your question.
You won't be able to rpevent this from happening. It's a good thing that you took out the mirror because mirrors and plastic birds make this behaviour even worse. It's a normal behaviour for two birds who like each other (not neccessarily a real couple, often two males or two females will do it, too), but with a single bird it can turn into a stereotypical behaviour very fast. It's a sign of loneliness and it can cause crop infections because the bird keeps regurgitaing and swallowing the food while normally the partner would eat it.
The only way to stop this or turn it into a normal behaviour is indeed a second bird. It's best if the bird is about the same age, but it doesn't need to be a female, male budgies get along with each other very well.
I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Jennifer, is there a way to know if a budgie is a male or female when they're still very small (like 30 days old)? My husband and I are considering your suggestion to put another male bird in the cage for our male budgie but I really dont know how to identify if it's a male or a female on the store when they're that small. Another thing: is it better to put a young budgie like this or a grown up one (2 years old for example)? I'd love if the new bird would learn to talk like our budgie do.

Answer
Dear Caroline,
thank you for your question.
This website has excellent pictures that show how to sex budgies:
http://birds-online.de/allgemein/geschlecht_en.htm
Young females has blue noses with white parts, mhe ceres of a male will look more blue-reddish/violet. The colours will change at about the same time when the budgie will start to get his adult plumage (the "waves" recede to the back of the head)

I think it's better to get a bird that is the same age as your bird. Young birds are playful and very energetic and this may annoy the older bird. But two years isn't that old, so if you cannot find a budgie of the same age, a young bird should get along with him fine.
I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer