Getting a friend for my galah?

[strudel]

So, I was just looking at furniture on the online classifieds, and one of the sellers also had a corella......

My girl is adopted and she came to me from an owner who also had a corella. I can't remember, but I think they were in an aviary together (and with another corella).

What's involved in getting her a friend if I come across someone suitable looking for adoption? She's a pink and grey galah. Would a corella be a suitable friend, or should she go with another pink and grey? Would it need to be a boy? (I'm told she's a girl, and I believe she was tested for it). What chances that they will hate each other? Will they fight when introduced? What's involved? Are they tolerant of strangers, or territorial and "fussy"?

 

[jenphilly]

Strudel - I think the general concession is if you get another bird, it should be for you, not a friend for your bird...

I do not have a gallah (would love one tho, I love photos of Strudel!!!), but do have the bare eyed (corella) and I'll only be talking about Ivory with this, not Folger who is an entirely different personality. I had always thought I would get another bird, actually I am really fond of a beautiful military macaw at the shelter who is quite interested in me as well. I figured after we move this year if Chyna was still there, I would be adopting him But I always had a worry about how Ivory would react. She is very much the center of attention for me, she has only recently become more independent and plays with toys on her cage or even go into her cage for a nap. But, she has to know where I am and will follow me most times when I leave the room, especially if no one else is home. And Ivory only is in her cage to sleep or when no one is home, otherwise she is out, Victoria posted the pics yesterday of the flock and the cage in the middle with the boing, perches and large java stand out the side is Ivory's cage. She was so anti cage when she came home that I turned the outside into a playstand so she knew her cage was a good thing! Anyway, I thought that she would be fine since she has plenty to do and I would still be there. But since Folger came home, and we all know I can't play with him, just talk to him... even when I am doing that or we are just laughing at him clowning for us and taking videos, she gets upset. There are a couple videos with Victoria on the floor with Folger sorting items and you will hear Ivory yell in the background and then I move the camera to her and she's doing her batwing show off and such. So at this point, I am doubtful that bringing home another large interactive bird would be a healthy thing for Ivory.

So many people will have different stories and I don't think Ivory may be typical, so Strudel might be very happy to have another bird in the house and not upset that someone else is getting your attention. I am just sharing what we've experienced with Ivory.

If you have a friend with a bird her size that is friendly, I would suggest having a few playdates or even bird sitting for a couple days for a friend and see how Strudel reacts. She may love having a bird around again especially since you mentioned she was housed with other toos in the past. And they are tremendous flock birds, well you live in Australia, I am sure you've seen the swarms!!

Best of luck with your quest, I hope it goes smoothly no matter what you decide to do!! And keep us posted, excited to hear you may get a new baby, while I doubt I'll be adding another too, I can live vicariously thru everyone else!!

 

[strudel]

Oh, I'd want another bird, I'd want a whole zoo if I could have one....

I just like my pets to have friends of their own type about. Because she is "different", talks and is tame and all, I thought I'd have her on her own, but she doesn't seem to like me much, I just wonder whether she'd like to have somebody else to "hang out with" aside from me. I'm not sure about birds and whether they mostly like people once they are tame or whether they still like other birds....

Also, I'm "embroiled" in something at the moment, and she won't just hang out on her own stuff, she climbs down and starts eating things and I have to put her inside her house so the dogs don't eat her. Maybe she'd play with her toys if she had a friend to show her how....

(BTW, her name isn't strudel, that's just my username)

 

[Anansi]

So what is your galah's name? How old is she and how long have you had her?

As for introducing a new bird, while there are tendencies according to species behavior, you really never know until the two birds meet. The fact that your girl might have been housed with a corella before is good in that it shows she is capable of peacefully coexisting with another parrot, (assuming, of course, that the relationship wasn't a contentious one) but it's always possible that this particular corella could rub her the wrong way. Or vice-versa. You know?

Unfortunately, I don't have any first hand experience with corollas... or galahs for that matter, so I can't speak on either species' behavioral tendencies toward other birds.

 

[Jayyj]

I posted something similar with regards my galah last year and decided eventually to keep to one bird. It seems like there's no way of knowing how two birds will get on until they thrown in together. I hate leaving her alone when I'm at work but there's no guarantee another bird would provide a solution, so for the time being I'm concentrating on making the time I do have with her count.

 

[MomtoPercy]

I've always read that if you want your bird to bond with YOU, introducing another bird could interfere with that since they'd rather be friends with each other. I only have master Percy & Jackie and obviously, they don't interact because I fear Percy will eat little Jack! So, Percy has bonded nicely with me and with the whole family for that matter. I do remember when Jack still had his cagemate, Jill, he wanted nothing to do with us humans. He's getting better in his old age though

Anyway, enough about my fids, let's talk about yours. If your situation is going to occupy you for the foreseeable future and you suspect that your galah will be lonely, it may be good to get another bird but like someone else said - that bird should be for YOU in the first instance and friends with your current fid as an aside IYKWIM.

Hopefully more people with multiple fids can weigh in. I am also curious to know as I am on the foster list at the local SPCA and may at any time be asked to look after/adopt another parrot. I did forewarn them though that although I am very keen to help, I won't do anything to upset the applecart with Percy. Hey, maybe that's an idea for you! Foster a bird for a while and see how it goes - for you and your galah?

 

[Mike17]

Our corella boy Corey is very fond of Alex, our tame eccy, but hates Alex's friend Ariel the 'tiel, and is scared stiff of Coco the corella. I'd like to get Corey a female friend galah eventually, but have to balance the relative ease of obtaining a galah in WA, with the expense in Tasmania plus the hassle of importing.

 

[strudel]

Yes thanks, I'm not sure how old she is, she is adopted and I'm not sure of her history before I got her. I think the previous owner estimated about 3-ish? I got her last August, so I haven't had her that long, I suppose....

Jayyj, I think I did the same thing, my problem is that I keep waxing and waning in what I think I should do. I think she's fine by herself. She has me and lots of "stuff" and then I worry that she's lonely and doesn't have "enough".....

My main "problem" is that I browse the classifieds.... I just KNOW that sooner or later I'll see somebody needing a home and I want to get as much info under my belt as to whether jumping in and adopting somebody else will work and how to make it work or whether I should just not go there at all.

I got my weiros and a budgie all of a sudden from somebody being evicted and needing a home. I had spare houses for them and had looked into them, so I just brought them home. There's a difference when you are looking at rehoming/adoption, you need to have done your homework beforehand.

I know with my bunnies that I can't just get another orphan and plonk him/her in with mine. I could get another one or a bonded pair and put them in a different house, but getting 3 to like each other would be a huge drama and could even mess up my two's relationship. I would never want to ignorantly step into something like that with my galah, or put anybody together where somebody could get hurt.

After hearing about that awful disease, I'm quite spooked about the thought of fostering. What if they had one of those viruses? I need to do some research about the prevalence of those viruses in pet birds around here.

 

[MamaFuzz]

I would wonder how she interacted with the corellas in the aviary. If she kept to herself then just your budgie and weiros in the same general area would be company enough. If she wants to interact then she might be happy with another bird but it would possibly have to be a bird that likes other birds. There is no reason no to look into a secondhand bird that would be physically compatible with your galah as long as you'd be willing to handle all possible outcomes.
Indy my Senegal was never around other birds and started to go after Chico my conure when they were introduced. While Indy was in quarantine those two used to call to each other so I was a bit disappointed things didn't work out. Chico really wanted to interact with Indy so I ended up getting another conure that was kept with a clutch mate. When my kids broke quarantine on Raj it was love at first sight with Chico. All the birds still call to each other. Indy even imitates Chico though she still acts like she just wants to bite him to bits. If Raj and Chico continue to get along my only worry would be when they sexually mature. Who knows how they'll act once the hormones hit. I'd say go with your gut and remember that things always have the chance of changing.

 

[strudel]

Thanks, I have lots of cages so I could always get somebody else and see how they go. If they want to bunk in together they can, if they don't, that's ok too.

I think I'm just stressed because so much time is being diverted from what I want to do and I feel neglectful of everybody.