Expanding to a flock? Good idea? For those of you who have multiple fids!

[Zumaria]

Hello fellow parronts!


I brought Jenga home a few months ago and we are making great progress, but she is coming along nicely

She seems so quiet and shy...I've been thinking that she could benefit from having a friend. However, I have a few concerns - not regarding my time or food or anything like that, but I don't want adding another fid to the family to undermine our relationship (think jealous of the new baby).

I've been thinking about a Sun Conure because they are in such contrast to African Greys in terms of their personality because it might bring her out of her shell having a boisterous friend. Also, they are small so she wouldn't be intimidated.

Note: This wouldn't be for a few months - I'm thinking spring/summer. I have a few other ducks I want to get in a row first - additional cage / perches etc.

What do you guys think?

 

[MikeyTN]

It just depends on you. If you have the resources and the time then go for it. Visit a few and see what you enjoy, no specific type of birds would be set in stone unless you feel that's what you should have

 

[riddick07]

I agree with MikeyTN it depends on you. If you are able to handle another bird than go for it. But don't except it to be a definite that a new bird will help your CAG come out of her shell. Our cockatoo Ivory is terrified of the little birds even though she is much bigger! They have actually chased her off her cage by just landing on it (we call Ivory chicken...)I love all my birds and don't remember what it was like having just one anymore....

On a side note I LOVE my sun! He is such a character and never stops chattering away. He thinks he is the biggest parrot in the house...well until he ran into my tiny Green Cheek Conures...

 

[GaryBV]

I'm not trying to talk you out of getting another bird, but my undestanding is that if you want another, do it for yourself and not for Jenga. You have only had her for a few months, really not long at all and a blink in the eye in a CAG's lifespan. Maybe in the next few months you just give her all the time you can, and see how that relationship develops. It could turn out if you get another bird that they both hate each other, it happens, and then you have double the work as both birds will require 'me time.' I would just give your current relationship some more time to develop before changing the dynamics that exist now. Just something to think about.

 

[wink]

I am also thinking about getting a new bird. I have worked out all the details and have decided on either getting a love bird or a cockatail or a lovebird.
I already have a budgie but he needs someone who could be with him 24/7.

 

[GaryBV]

Lovebirds most likely would be very aggressive towards a budgie/parakeet. The best company for a budgie would be another budgie - they are small and relatively defenseless compared to other parrot type birds. Even a smaller parrotlet could make short work of a parakeet.

I have heard of situations where cockatiels and parakeets have been good housemates, but that would require a proper introduction and patience on your part because of the difference in sizes. Cockatiels often have very sweet and peaceful natures compared to other small parrots.

 

[lquan]

I love all birds in general. I have a sweet young GCC and still dreaming of have a Sun or Hahn macaw, but I just can't find time for a second bird. I really admire people in this forum who has 5 or 6 parrots. I am out of the house for work at 9:30am and back at 5:30pm 5 days a week. And still don't see how I can add a second parrot. Not to mention my wife stays home all day and my Lily loves to hang with everybody in her home; 4 of us humans. Lily clings to us so much and she is so jealous of any other living thing (some times objects too) beside us 4 humans. We can't even go near our guinea pig with Lily on our shoulder at the same time without having Lily flies down and attack the poor guinea pig in her pen. And the guinea pig has been with us 2.5 years prior to Lily. She doesn't even let any object such as toothbrush, comb, dinning silverware, etc. come near my head when she is on my shoulder! When we eat, Lily has to back in her cage.

 

[Zumaria]

Thank you all for your feedback.

Let me elaborate a little more - I've always thought about getting a sun conure, I think they are beautiful and the ones I've met I adore their personalities. It is in my plans to have one someday, but the one thing I could not handle is if they didn't get along - it would be difficult for me (and them) for each of them to have a sufficient amount of their own time.

Has anyone ever had a 'test run' with their birds getting along with other birds? The concept of this I think could go horribly wrong so before risking it - has anyone had 'play dates'?

 

[MikeyTN]

I don't do play date and such cause your risking your bird chances of catching something you don't want. Some birds may get along to just to show you but change when they come into your home and sometimes it takes them little bit to show. Some birds may never like one another so you just never know.

 

[thekarens]

If YOU want a second bird you should get one, but not for Jenga. Greys are naturally reserved in my experience.

 

[riddick07]

There is no guarantee two birds will get along and it takes time for a personality to show. My male GCC is very quiet and timid but has attacked the new sun. I am not sure if this will fade or not. From what I have seen in my conures they are bossy little things and will try to rule everything. My sun has actually taken an attitude with the one cat recently and will hiss and fluff at it to chase it away. He is not scared just bossy... He also tried to bite my female GCC the other day. My female GCC is also bossy with the other birds and will chase the cockatoo across the couch if you let her. They can all exist peacefully out together but have to have their own areas that the others aren't allowed to invade.... To be honest I'm not sure 'pecking order' has been established yet with all of mine since a couple are recent additions...

Honestly, I wouldn't be able to handle all of mine if the cockatiels didn't have each other to entertain themselves. My conures are all caged individually so need more out time with me but my GCCs like to talk with each other for awhile when they come out! Then my female GCC will talk to me and follow me around when she gets bored with my male GCC. My sun is very attached to me already and will be the neediest of the group from what I have seen so far!

I still say if you want and can handle another bird go for it!

 

[Pinkbirdy]

My same species seem to be the ones to get along on a playstand together.Like my caiques ,conures [no Toos though] and the Macaws . You see all my birds . I do believe bird "pals" are important . They can be side by side and chit chat [I think they like another bird friend]. As for species ,go see all the kinds your interested in [a lot of time they pick you.Dont believe everything you read on the internet [talk to bird owners]

 

[thekarens]

Unless you have sennies. I have yet to see anyone say their sennie loves a bird buddy (unless they are breeders)

 

[Sassy]

When we added the second caique Neytiri really came out of her shell. She now thinks she's a caique and tries to surf my hair like they do. She also chases them around saying hey at them.

 

[Zumaria]

That's partly why I think Jenga would benefit, she could have a role model.