A friend for my Yellow Naped Amazon?

[Bering]

Hey everyone.
I have a 12 year old Yellow Naped Amazon, who lives with my boyfriend and I in an appartment. He's best buddies with him, he can handle him, move him around. I can't without using a perch, however I can pet and cuddle him loads.

He's super comfortable with both of us, loves us and generally is very trusting, even to new people.

We're moving into a larger house later this year, and I've considered if we should get a friend for him. (Doesn't need to be the same species)

And - would he need a friend? We work around 8 hours 4-5 times a week during the daytime. His cage is infront of the garden window; and he's out at least 3-4 hours a day; and much longer on weekends or if we're working from home.

However, I am of course concerned, as he is spending a lot of time alone in the cage, by himself. His behavior, feathers and so on, are all in pristine condition.

And would it even be a good idea with a friend? We're both busy people, but we both love birds. He's a very quiet bird, extremely quiet in fact - and we don't want to upset that, by getting a very loud bird.

We definitely have an interest in birds and could imagine ourselves getting a 2nd one, however it would be stupid to adopt - if the whole dynamic at home, falls apart.

In the end, we want what's best for the parrot, but also what works with our daily lives. If we get two birds, we'd like one that can be out simultanious with the other, on the same perch and so on.

We're going to buy a 2nd hand bird. Way too many are less than 2 years old, and obviously a purchase of regret... It took me 6 years, before my parrot and I really hit it off. However, all that effort is worth it, for a buddy for a lifetime <3

 

[SailBoat]

Lots of members have multi-Parrot households and things go well!

We have been long time single Amazon household and honestly see major advantages to that World.

In your Amazon's World, everything makes sense. The Humans are around and then they are gone, but back at a consistent time, which allows your Amazon to get time self-entertaining, making big things into tiny things, long uninterrupted naps, etc... Life is stable and more than acceptable.

If you bring another into this setting; that means he gets half the Human time he currently gets and the Humans have twice the clean-up! There is also the likelihood that they will become best-of-friends and may have zero interest in the Humans.

Your Amazon's World is working for him!

 

[saxguy64]

As is commonly said around here, only get another bird because YOU want another one. There is no way to guarantee that two will get along. I have two. Tucker, my 4 year old Ekkie came first. I had no intention of getting a second, but while visiting him at the refuge, Baxter, my 18 year old YNA found and chose me. I fell in love with her, but fought it for several months. Denial... It was meant to be, so she finally came home with me too. Now I have TWO amazing birds, and have to divide my time between them. Baxter wants nothing to do with Tucker, and would injure him badly if given the chance. Tucker adores her and wants to be in her space if it was allowed. It's complicated... I knew this was a possibility going in to it, so I was prepared for it. I love them both dearly, and have zero regrets. I do wish every day that I could have them both out at the same time though. For now, not going to happen.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Bering]

Thanks for all the awesome replies.
I think it's probably best we keep him as the only one; as he seems very happy around us.
But I think we will purchase an even larger cage for him, and perhaps a garden cage too once we move into a house later this year.

It's great getting all this knowledge from all of you.

 

[SailBoat]

Thanks for all the awesome replies.
I think it's probably best we keep him as the only one; as he seems very happy around us.
But I think we will purchase an even larger cage for him, and perhaps a garden cage too once we move into a house later this year.

It's great getting all this knowledge from all of you.

When you get the new cage(s), remember to let your Amazon to be a major part of the placement of the boxes, the removal of parts from the boxes, the review of parts, the assembly of the parts, and the arrangement of the perches and hanging toys both in and on the cage. This will greatly increase your Amazon's interest in moving into the new cage... Yes, it will take longer to complete, but everyone gets to be included in the assembly activity of the new cage...

Before moving day, take your Amazon for a ride to the new house and complete a full Real Estate Agents tour of the new home. The more this happens, the easier there transition will be for your Amazon.

Consider having the air ducts and forced air furnace cleaned prior to moving in, whether the home is newly built or has been in service for several years.

Enjoy!

 

[noodles123]

Yeah- getting a "friend" often causes more harm than good (unless you have a ton of free time and can allow them out-of-cage time individually, in the event that they don't get along or want to mate). Plus, there is the issue of them potentially bonding and you becoming the "3rd wheel". I say, "let sleeping dogs lie".

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I have been a two-bird parront for over thirty years. When Smokey passed away at age twenty-five ( she was with me for 24.5 years) I was heart broken and so was Amy..and Amy had been with Smokey and I for all those years since he was 4 months old. However,Smokey was an extremely jealous African Grey who wanted nothing to do with Amy,going as far as to torment Amy by sneaking up from behind,pulling Amys tail to make him scream,then run back home laughing about it. One time they went beak-to-beak making kissy sounds and Amy let out a blood curling scream..Smokey BIT Amys tongue,requiring FIVE stitches That was the last time I let Smokes get anywhere near Amy.

After Smokey passed away,both Amy and I were devastated. Amy just sat for days and days in his house,only to come down from his perch for a bit of food and water and I became extremely despondent. However Amy was the one I was concerned about and after weeks went by he got us out of our funk.
Then Jonesy comes in. My friends brother had a Goffin 'too he needed to rehome and heard I had lost Smokey so I adopted that little beady-eye'd so-and-so. Amy and Jones got along fantastically!! playing on Amys house top playpen. One night my then girlfriend and I were playing cribbage at the kitchen table..Jonesy on my shoulder and Amy on Arleen's shoulder. All of a sudden Jonesy walks down my shoulder,walks across the table,jumps over the cribbage board and climbs up Arleen's shoulder to Amy. Arleen's eyes grew ,wondering what was going to happen! Amy go beak-to-beak making kissy noises,preens Jonesy's hat,Jonesy turns around and climbs back down Arleen's arm,walks across the kitchen table jumping over the board and climbs back up my arm to my shoulder!! Arleen and I look at each other like WTH just happened! We think Jonesy just wanted to introduce himself LOL.
Sadly,about a year later I had to rehome Jonesy myself. Something just snapped in that head of his. He went from a very friendly,silly,lovable dude to a monster over night..SCREAMING constantly from when he awoke to long after bed time...and he became a flesh eating dinosaur..MINE!! drawing blood at every chance he got.

Amy and I were alone once again But both of us NEEDED another buddy!
After tons of research and talking to all the awesome folks here,I decide on a young Cockatiel,so in came 4.5 month old normal grey BB :04: Beeb's ( as he is known around here) will be with Amy and I for four years come May 20th. He is a goofball lol VERY bonded to me,almost to an obsession. And Amy will NOT leave him alone! Amy does ANYTHING he can to be with him. He will immediately climb down his house to climb onto of Beebs..last night Amy even went as far as to climb INSIDE BB's house. however,after four years now,it is evident that Amy would not harm BB. Amy even goes as far as to run after ME,eyes pinned and rudder flared (tail) BB tolerates Amy to a point..will sing/whistle/talk to him,then fly over to me. Luckily Amy never learned to fly (didn't fledge my mistake) So Beebs has a way to escape when he wants to lol.

SOOOOO...getting a buddy for your buddy can be a crap shoot!!
Sorry for the LONG post!!!!


Jim