Do you all think I am the right home for a second bird?

[Ann333]

Some of you kinda know me - and Pumpkins story. I've been absent on the forum I've been busy with college.

Anyway, I literally put about a year of research into different species before looking for a gcc breeder and settling on Pumpkin. I have had him sense January, and have really been wanting a second bird. I think I could give a second bird a really happy, safe, and loving forever home. I like to think I have provided Pumpkin with all the necessities and have gone above and beyond the minimum requirements. I have pictures and videos in past posts and links to my Facebook with more videos of Pumpkin and his setups.

I am thinking of either a parrotlet or a lovebird. I want another small bird. I live in a small house and small birds are easier to accommodate for when space is an issue. I was hoping to get a bird that would fit well in this cage because this is the cage Pumpkin has and I'm hoping for matching cages.

https://www.toenic.com/us/petco-des...ot-cage.html?gclid=CP2B-cin7cgCFZKMaQodDDYCvA

So I have a few questions, compared to greet cheeks, how loud are parrotlet's or lovebirds? Compared to green cheeks, are parrotlet's or lovebirds more or less nippy, or cage territorial, or playful? Thanks!

 

[OOwl]

Hi, Lovebirds are my most favorite parrot (and I also live with parrotlets, who I enjoy and love). My personality and a lovebird's is just a perfect match. They are part playful, part snuggly, part mischievous, and all kinds of intelligent. My pets are a 14-year-old creamino Peachfaced hen and a 5-year-old Peachfaced male. They were both from great breeders, which I attribute to their stellar pet qualities. They were hand fed AND socialized with tons of people as babies, which make it a whole lot easier. Since you already picked a great GCC breeder, just use that same criteria when choosing your potential next lovebird or parrotlet breeder. Because they are small, relatively inexpensive birds there just aren't a whole lot of people that will go to all the effort it takes to raise them properly like they should. BUT, there are some and you'll just have to look carefully. I'd ask your local bird club for a personal recommendation.

That said, after living with both parrotlets and lovebirds, I will say that I just prefer the little-bit larger and more mellow lovebird if I could only have one of the two. My two pets are such the loves of my life. I work from home and one of them is out with me almost all the time (and, no, they do NOT get along, so never together). Neither of my lovebirds is nippy at all. In fact, neither one of them has ever really bitten me. My parrotlet, well, that's another story. LOL My parrotlet is extremely high strung (cute as all heck, talks a blue streak, but hyper-hyper and super reactive to stuff), but that's just him and they aren't all like that. My husband's parrotlets (he has two) are both more mellow, but both are fairly communicative with their beaks.

Good luck on your choice. I'll be looking forward to hearing about your new bird someday.

 

[RavensGryf]

I've never had either species, but I can say they're both adorable. I also have a soft spot for the little ones. OOwl has given some outstanding insight above .

What is the bar spacing with that cage? It it's more than 1/2" I wouldn't use it for a Parrotlet. Actually 1/2" is recommended for Lovebirds too, but can probably be fine in 5/8 which is the very next size up. Only 1/8" larger. I hear you about wanting matching cages, as that particular one and the color would look best with the same kind. If you chose to go with a different one, then maybe black would clash the least.

 

[Flboy]

Have you looked into a cockatiel? I ask, because I am also right where you are at. My JoJo is my life and I so go back and forth on a second bird! SBS! (Single Bird Syndrome)
My JoJo lived with 2 cockatiels and 30 parakeets before I got her, all in the same pen! Awesome vocabulary! What I saw as overload stress on her was very different from her viewpoint!
Anyways, cockatiel, most do calm down, but never become major Velcro birds, and I seem to see a lot of cockatiel/GCC families on here.

 

[Ann333]

The bar spacing is 1/2 inch on that cage which is wonderful for a cage that size, I was so excited when I found it. Not to mention the price is reasonable.

OOWl - I have hear that lovebirds get jealous easily when bonded to a person or a bird, do you think this is true? I am just worried that may cause problems. You almost have me sold on the "more mellow lovebird" Green cheecks are pretty fiesty and hyper so having a bird who is a bit more relaxed would be nice.
Also lovebirds are a touch closer to Pumpkins size so if a fight does occur there may (hopefully) be less injuries.

Also, the same breeder who I got Pumpkin from also has a breeding pair of parrotlets and lovebirds and quakers. She is a great breeder and provides her baby birds with a lot of love and attention. She starts them off on a great varried diet, which is the same diet Pumpkin eats. Which would be fantastic for me if I didnt have to switch the new birds diet. Im starting research right now because she doesnt have birds all year round, she is just a small at home breeder and allows her birds one clutch a year.

 

[Ann333]

Have you looked into a cockatiel? I ask, because I am also right where you are at. My JoJo is my life and I so go back and forth on a second bird! SBS! (Single Bird Syndrome)
My JoJo lived with 2 cockatiels and 30 parakeets before I got her, all in the same pen! Awesome vocabulary! What I saw as overload stress on her was very different from her viewpoint!
Anyways, cockatiel, most do calm down, but never become major Velcro birds, and I seem to see a lot of cockatiel/GCC families on here.

My mom has 2 cockatiels and two budgies. While adorable, and I LOVE the laid back personality of the cockatiel, I am not a fan of the constant chattering. Pumpkin gets really loud about 2or 3 times a day and for the rest of the day he is quiet. I really prefer that over chatter every minute of every day.

 

[Flboy]

My mom has 2 cockatiels and two budgies. While adorable, and I LOVE the laid back personality of the cockatiel, I am not a fan of the constant chattering. Pumpkin gets really loud about 2or 3 times a day and for the rest of the day he is quiet. I really prefer that over chatter every minute of every day.

My JoJo does that cockatiel chatter, and because of her history, perfect squeaky toy imitations! We chat back and forth all day, you do three kisses, she follows, clicks, clucks, and is desperately trying to learn how to whistle! Does the whole body movements, but her whistle sounds like she is an asthmatic!

 

[Ann333]

Haha that's adorable. Pumpkin chatters as well but not loud like my mom's cockatiel. He will talk to you, he knows a lot of different words and phrases and cak laugh which is the best.

 

[Flboy]

To help push you over the edge, this post, a bit old, but says a lot!
http://www.parrotforums.com/general...-impacts-dna-repair-long-short-telomeres.html

 

[MyFlock]

I second a lovebird, I think they are awesome little birds! They are big birds in a small birds body lol..! And they come in an assortment of colors just like cute little Jelly Beans

 

[itchyfeet]

I'm excited about the idea of being proven wrong here!
I thought all lovebirds should live with at least one other of it's own species?

 

[Ann333]

Yes I heard the same thing. Would a green cheek conure make a decent companion for a lovebird?

 

[Ann333]

I keep coming back to cockatiels. Before deciding on a green cheek the cockateicockateil was my first choice. The constant chatter worries me, but other than that, I just can't stop thinking of them.

 

[Doublete]

I had a cockatiel about 9 years ago but ended up giving him to my friend dealing with depression because she needed a buddy and it turned out that bird just wasn't for me.
My lovebird is not hand tame but has his own huge flight cage and tons of toys. He gets upset when I take both Loki and Chiqui away at the same time. Their cages are all in the same room and they DEFINITELY keep each other company.

 

[Doublete]

My lovie is fairly constant in noise but I find his sounds very pleasant. Noise doesn't really bother me though.
My gcc and lovie compete in the am.... Cracks me up actually.

 

[Mallory]

In my fairly limited experience with lovebirds, they are louder and much more constant with their noises than cockatiels. I found lovebird noises too shrill and irritating for my tastes. Then again, even some parakeets can be pretty loud for their size. You're doing the right thing researching your species "options" before making any decisions, and each individual bird will be unique as well.

The red flag to me in this post is that you are posting asking if you are the right home/are ready. You can always decide to adopt a second bird, but once you do adopt that bird you really can't go back. Only you can decide if you are ready for another bird and if it is the right decision for your household including Pumpkin. And the amount of birds you own does not say anything about your quality of care or ability so please don't feel pressured to add to the flock if it's not in your best interests. Sometimes it is better to spoil the one than simply manage a big group None of us know your situation the way you do, and if you are unsure you should definitely take more time to consider! Then again, if you know you are ready, start looking and start meeting the species you are interested in. You will know when you find "the one"!

 

[Ann333]

Thanks for you're response! I think I would could give another bird a happy, healthy and loving home, but it is always best to get other opinions from more experienced people. I only have experience with my individual gcc so I recognize the need for research. I would never bring home any pet without carefully consideration.

I have heard (possible myths) that scare me. Such as getting a second bird will make you first bird hate you and love the other bird. That would be terrible. Or the two birds might hate each other and need separate out of the cage time, which would also be horrible because that would not be fare to Pumpkin to cut his time in half when he's already so bonded to me. There are a lot of factors to consider. But I really want a second bird, and the possibility of giving Pumpkin a friend and making him happy is important to me.

 

[kalypso123]

My cockatiel is wonderful! She isnt loud except for when she first knows I am home. She will stay on my shoulder for hours and just preen herself. She is very laid back and very tame. Not to mention the cutest thing ever. I have her in a flight cage. She loves wooden toys especially cork. Easy to handle and fairly easy to train. Cockatiels are really great birds. They tend to get along well with other birds. As long as they are supervised a tiel and a gcc could be a great match!

 

[Mallory]

As long as the two birds do not pair bond and you spend time socializing and maintaining a relationship with both birds they will not shun you just because they have another companion. I would recommend separate cages, which should go without saying if you pick a second bird of a different species. The real concern, however, is not overbonding of the birds to each other but the two birds disliking each other. My Eva and Greenleaf do not get along, and since Greenleaf's beak is dangerously large for Eva we do not plan to work on that relationship. Instead we manage things by having separate playstands for each and also supervising when both are out together in one room. We also have a Siberian husky with a dangerously high prey drive so we are used to strict protocols on animal separation in our household. Flock dynamics and interspecies relationships definitely make a multi-parrot and in our case heavily multi-species home more work! On the other hand, having another member of the flock will also give Pumpkin a companion to keep him company when you are away from home. Even though my Eva and Greenleaf do not get along and could never be on the same playstand, they call to each other and seem to appreciate each others presence in the flock.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Hi Ann,

I too have been extremely busy and not on here too much lately. Personally I would look in to finding something that is about equal to the size of your conure. Parrotlets can become aggressively territorial. Not sure if you remember my story of Kiwi (parrotlet) and Rio (senegal) Rio almost killed Kiwi on several occasions. But Kiwi was ALWAYS the instigator. Both were kept clipped for their safety. And if they ever made contact, even though the cage it was ON! I don't want to discourage you about getting a second bird, or even a parrotlet, but talk to other parrotlet owners or breeders. I ended up getting another male canary as sort of a companion for Kiwi. He is faster then she is, she can't catch him.. LOL and they are about the same size, so she isn't too threatened by his presence. Both are flighted and fly around here like they own the place. He is a young bird, and he adores her. And he is a lot of fun to watch because he needs to be in the same room with her. If she is in her cage, so is he (in his own cage) if she is out and about so is he. It gets comical watching the two, and she barely tolerates him. PLEASE really weigh all the options, you don't want to disrupt Pumpkins happiness.