Second bird - heart vs mind

Off and on I have considered a second bird. The Petco near my work work has a young black-capped conure that has been there since last summer. He will be one year old in May. Everytime I go there I pray that someone has adopted him, but nobody does. I feel bad for him. To my eyes there is nothing wrong with him besides the price. Through the glass he is playful and engaging, but he is not hand tamed. The staff work with him a little. I've been there during cage cleaning, and he will take seeds from my fringers but that is about it. I say "him", but I have no idea if it is male or female. [Update: store doesn't know either]

My heart wants to rescue the little guy, but my mind tells me to walk away. I need you guys to arbitrate between by head and my heart.

Pro: I've been thinking about getting a friend for my female black-capped conure. Especially since she's alone while we're at work.
Con: I have no idea if my female conure wants a friend. 2 Conures means squables and bitten toes, plucked feathers, and 100 other ways to end up at the vet.
Pro: They could end up best of friends.
Con: It could be a male. How do you keep a male/female pair without breeding?
Pro: I'm 95% ready to take on loving another bird.
Con: My husband is 0.0005% ready to take on tolerating another bird. Though there is room to smooth it over. He has a recent large purchase to atone for.
Con: I despise feeding the breed/sell/breed system that put that conure in that Petco in the first place knowing he'll be replaced by another bird in a couple months.
Pro: The bird needs a home.

I'm at odds with what to do other than to stay out of Petco.

Hi. You need to find out the gender id say first and foremost x

You're better off getting a weaned baby through a reputable breeder and saving money. They'll also likely be more tame, hand-fed and easier to train this way, and you'll get charged about half as much as I know pet stores really like to jack up their prices for these birds.

And you are right in assuming double the costs. There will be no guarantees with a new bird coming into the home that they will get along but there are things you can do to help. Lots of members here are households with more than one bird.

Male and female together, there is no way to tell -- they could get along okay, not at all or perfectly fine -- though if they spend a lot of time together they may pair and try to mate. In my eyes, if you want to keep your bond with your female, get another female.

Haha I've posted so many times with similar sentiments. Normally it's a new colour IRN that's in need of a decent home. I can be an enabler or a voice of reason, take your pick

Two birds, two cages, two times the mess.
Flighted birds of the same species....you shouldn't need to worry as much about squabbles. My four, after proper socialization etc, all get out together and are fine because they just take off if they get annoyed with one another.
Birds are flock animals. Singletons do just fine! But if they do get on with their buddy, and they might - then it can be really, really cute.

SassiBird said:

He has a recent large purchase to atone for.

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This made me LOL....That's how I got Henry! But, clearly it wasn't an issue because it was his determination that landed us with Clarke.
And on that note, hubby doesn't tolerate this conure too well, so therefore are you better to allow hubby to choose the next one? Even if they are in cages, in the same room they're providing company to one another, and it is possible to run multi=species households. You get the joy of a second, and hubby might be more willing?
THAT being said, I get the not wanting to support petco thing. You'd be better with a rehome, or a breeder babe. But, that little conure is alive and breathing, and needs someone to love him, and it kinda sounds like you already do.....

Many here have found that they have to separate birds permanently... some have been fortunate and multiple birds get along.
You just never know! Never, ever.
GREAT brainstorming and pro/conning on your part.
Good for you for being so responsible and serious, and for reaching out!
I think that as long as you're willing to deal with whatever happens (e.g., separating them, if needed, handling added expenses, etc.).
You'd be a great home... I confess I'm a little excited.

Ive had mine 6-7 month and i definatly have room in my heart for another so im getting one soon. Mainly for the love and enjoyment part but also to minimize the lonliness when im at work or out. I think like you on this. If they dont hit it off i know we will still be fine and i can supervise them both still. You can use positive reinforcement when they are together too to train good behaviour around eachother but theres also a chance 2 parrots can hit it off also but i wouldnt expect it, just a nice bonus. Obviously plenty of time and attention with the parrot you have if you do get another to prevent jealousy. I think someone will take that little Conure home if you dont. They are so cute plus he/she is still young. Go with your heart id say x

I speak as a single parrot owner not looking to buy a second parrot, but sometimes in life something or someone or somebirdy comes along and even though you weren't necessarily looking, you find yourself considering things you never expected!

I know there are definitely things to consider, but it sounds like you've formed some connection with this bird. The fact he's not (yet) tame or from a reputable breeder is irrelevant. He's still a precious little life who can't help his background and still deserves a loving home. Can you be that home? I'm not sure but I also see no glaring red flags in anything you've said that screams it would be a bad idea. If it were me and I completely lost my mind and fell for a bird in a pet store I went back repeatedly to visit for a year, personally, I'd be cashing in on that "big purchase" your hubby made with a little lovely feathery one of my own

My first two came as a pair and they share a cage. My newest addition, Bindi, had known me for a year (I volunteer at a rescue)....I kept “thinking” about bringing her home, and finally did. She’s an absolute joy and I don’t regret it for a second! Bindi doesn’t love Baby and Tango - but she has her own cage and I’m sure that they chat throughout the day while I’m at work. I can have them out at the same time - they don’t interact much, but they don’t fight either. I don’t find that it’s much more work... I already make chop, I already have hundreds of bird toys, and what’s one more cage to clean lol? Not sure that I’m much help, but if something is calling to my heart....it’s hard to say no

itchyfeet said:

...Singletons do just fine! ....

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Thank you for validating that I am not depriving her! I'm at work now watching her on the web cam going from toy to toy playing her little heart out.

GaleriaGila said:

Many here have found that they have to separate birds permanently... some have been fortunate and multiple birds get along.
You just never know! Never, ever.
GREAT brainstorming and pro/conning on your part.
Good for you for being so responsible and serious, and for reaching out!
I think that as long as you're willing to deal with whatever happens (e.g., separating them, if needed, handling added expenses, etc.).
You'd be a great home... I confess I'm a little excited.

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Oh, your not making this easy! I was getting ready for work this morning with my little SassiGirl hanging out with me. I thought, "how would this work with two?"

SassiBird said:

...My husband is 0.0005% ready to take on tolerating another bird. ...

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Here's the story with hubby and miss Sassafras. Sassi likes me, but she LOVES my husband. My husband likes that she likes him. Her favorite thing to do at night after dinner is to climb into his hand and take a nap. But my husband gets annoyed if she starts to pester him too much - picking at his glasses, tromping around on him, and worst of all nipping. She's in a fairly pushy nipping phase right now. My husband is a yeller when she bites. I try to explain that his drama can be a reward but he looks at me like I'm nuts.

Jen5200 said:

My first two came as a pair and they share a cage. My newest addition, Bindi, had known me for a year (I volunteer at a rescue)....I kept “thinking” about bringing her home, and finally did. She’s an absolute joy and I don’t regret it for a second! Bindi doesn’t love Baby and Tango - but she has her own cage and I’m sure that they chat throughout the day while I’m at work. I can have them out at the same time - they don’t interact much, but they don’t fight either. I don’t find that it’s much more work... I already make chop, I already have hundreds of bird toys, and what’s one more cage to clean lol? Not sure that I’m much help, but if something is calling to my heart....it’s hard to say no

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Yes, I definately have enough "stuff" for 2 - or 20. It's heartening to know that someone who works outside the house can coordinate a small flock. Thank you!

Tough one... I've been considering a second bird also, for my own reasons. So I read your post and I can't help wanting to live vicariously through you and encourage you to go for it. Plus, I'm a sucker for a rescue.

If it's a boy and you don't want your Fid's breeding, that would surely mean a second cage or a divider, be prepared for that possibility. You'd have to keep them seperate for a while anyway to be safe, quarantined until you get the new guy a checkup.

All that aside... sometimes it seems like things are meant to be, especially when it comes to our little feathered miracles. My gut says this little guy wants you for a Parront and it seems like you want him too. I say go for it. (Easy for me to say, sure... but you DID ask! )

Squeekmouse said:

Tough one... I've been considering a second bird also, for my own reasons. So I read your post and I can't help wanting to live vicariously through you and encourage you to go for it. Plus, I'm a sucker for a rescue.

If it's a boy and you don't want your Fid's breeding, that would surely mean a second cage or a divider, be prepared for that possibility. You'd have to keep them seperate for a while anyway to be safe, quarantined until you get the new guy a checkup.

All that aside... sometimes it seems like things are meant to be, especially when it comes to our little feathered miracles. My gut says this little guy wants you for a Parront and it seems like you want him too. I say go for it. (Easy for me to say, sure... but you DID ask! )

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Another supporter for the heart. <3

Tis the reason God gave us 2 shoulders you know one for each Parrot x

itzjbean said:

You're better off getting a weaned baby through a reputable breeder and saving money. They'll also likely be more tame, hand-fed and easier to train this way, and you'll get charged about half as much as I know pet stores really like to jack up their prices for these birds.

And you are right in assuming double the costs. There will be no guarantees with a new bird coming into the home that they will get along but there are things you can do to help. Lots of members here are households with more than one bird.

Male and female together, there is no way to tell -- they could get along okay, not at all or perfectly fine -- though if they spend a lot of time together they may pair and try to mate. In my eyes, if you want to keep your bond with your female, get another female.

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The voice of reason. Planning, money saved, fingers less tortured.

Please keep us updated, if you decide to bring the new guy home.

No decision yet. I'm noodling on it until next week. I visited today. The little he/she was playing hard.

[ame="https://youtu.be/2qy9YSOADpE"]https://youtu.be/2qy9YSOADpE[/ame]

Poor thing has only 1 toy and a small cage with no bars to climb I love having a little flock. Watching everybirdy interact and fly together is so much fun, even though they’re not exactly friends. But keep in mind that 2 birds (or 4, in my case) means twice the cost, twice the vet visits, twice the toys, twice the food, and two cages. In my family, we have the rambunctious one (Kermit), the cuddle bug (Ducky), the vocal one (Pearl), and the independent one (Bluebell). Watching each bird develop their own personality is very rewarding, in my opinion.

FlyBirdiesFly said:

Poor thing has only 1 toy and a small cage with no bars to climb I love having a little flock. Watching everybirdy interact and fly together is so much fun, even though they’re not exactly friends. But keep in mind that 2 birds (or 4, in my case) means twice the cost, twice the vet visits, twice the toys, twice the food, and two cages. In my family, we have the rambunctious one (Kermit), the cuddle bug (Ducky), the vocal one (Pearl), and the independent one (Bluebell). Watching each bird develop their own personality is very rewarding, in my opinion.

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Thanks. As I go about the day I try to imagine what it would look like with two. There are times when I think it would be more difficult, training, chores and our one-on-one time. And then there's times when it would be nice to have another bird for her to play with so I could work without a constant companion.