Is it hypocritcal?

[Klaery]

I agree. 99% of the time parrots should not be kept as pets. People here are generally part of that 1%.

When you can provide constant mental stimulation via toys and foraging behaviour, space to fly every day, constant companionship and a varied, healthy diet (as well as have the back up funds for any vet bills etc) then I think it is fine to keep a parrot as they have access to those things that they have evolved to need in their lives. For most people that will mean keeping at least a pair as face it, almost nobody has the time to be there all day, every day for their parrot. For larger parrots it is also going to mean outside flight time and a huge cage. I will never keep a large parrot long term for these reasons (except for the rescues/ holiday care I occasionally take in). I am just unable to keep a pair and provide the flight time/freedom I feel is necessary.

 

[tab_xo]

Here is just a thought, after reading Dans post about in most cases you should have pairs...


Do most people think you should not have one bird?



I am one of the few members on here that probably only has one bird.. and i will never get another. I dont have that bird fever where you see a bird and want more hahaha

Is that a very bad thing?

When i visited the breeder, Fargo was always by himself, they said he was very independent from the other babies.. So it isn't like he was this social bird at the beginning ?


Can you use other animals to bond with? When Fargo got filmed for this documentary with an avian vet, he said because i dont have another bird, that Fargo should bond with the horses..

To me that was a stupid statement, because that means he would have to be out with the horses each day to 'bond' with them.. and they are totally different animals.. they cant exactly bond, and the only way they could is if the horses lived in the house with us

BUT.. Fargo has bonded to my possum, he sits with the possum for ages!

Of course the possum has to be released soon, so Fargo will be without a bonded friend, although i doubt he will care.. Cause he just loves me

For the next 3 years i will be studying at home, so nothing is going to change and Fargo gets to be with me most of the day.. After that i will get a job, and fingers crossed work night shifts, so i can be with Fargo during the day anyway!


Fargo does have the right accommodation in the house, he has a very large room which he flies around, and plays on all day, he is never bored..
And my parents are looking at buying another house, which means i get to move there, so Fargo will have a full house to himself



But, just back on about bonding with other animals, i dont have a cat, i am not a huge fan of cats, plus they are dangerous for birds.. But, i like dogs..
We did have a golden retriever, but he killed one of our outside cats, and almost killed another, then was killing the wallabies around here.. so he was definitely a hunter, my brother has him now..

BUT i used to have a maremma, these dogs are protectors, they dont attack, they guard baby sheeps, and protect chickens... My boy was the sweetest dog ever, wouldn't hurt a fly..
And a year later i have finally got the courage to find another pup... So because these dogs are so laid back, is it possible to have Fargo feel that he has another friend, by introducing him to a pup?
I am not stupid and know the dangers, i would never let them be alone with each other, but just have them around, so it makes Fargo feel like he is part of a flock? :S

Or does a dog not really make it better and wouldnt help?
Because after the possum goes, it is going to be me and him again.. Even though i am sure he will be fine..



Wow that was a very long off topic post, but just wondering peoples thoughts on if keeping one bird isn't good, then how would you make it better, without getting another bird..

 

[Kalidasa]

I think it would be awesome if you found a puppy that would fit in well with him. Poor Fargo and these marsupials he gets attached to I think as long as he has you tab he'll be just fine ....and the occasional marsupial.

 

[Klaery]

Parrots have evolved to be very social animals that form tight bonds. They need it to survive in the wild for all manner of reasons and when they don't have it in captivity we see the negative consequences quite obviously. Fargo is bonded to you Tab and that is fine if you can be there the majority of the time (for the next 60 years or so). It is just that most people cannot. Also you might be lucky but the bonding behaviour/need can get a little more full on once maturity is reached.

 

[tab_xo]

But dont they form tight bonds with one bird? In the wild, do they not bond for life ?

So is it needed to have a big flock and be bonded with them all? :/


All birds are different though, ALOT of people get their bird a friend, so they aren't lonely, but it just makes the original bird upset, because it doesn't like the other bird..

So even if i got another bird it could just be a waste of time...


Humans are meant to be social animals, we love socialising.... Me? Never, i hate socialising, i dont see any friends at all, because i cant stand being around people for very long...

For all we know, Fargo could be exactly like me, and really ENJOY being by himself.. Like i do..

If you can teach a bird to entertain itself, then i dont see a huge problem?

I have to go to work once a week, for a full day, 7-5..

Fargo sits in his cage.. All day, and he is perfect.. He plays!!! He doesn't have a problem being by himself.. He is almost 2 now, and he will happily go in his cage for however many hours..

I am being completely honest here, when i say Fargo NEVER screams, I hardly know what a macaw scream sounds like.. Maybe once a week i will here one scream quickly.. But Fargo is not upset being by himself..

When i go away for full days, my brother says he doesn't make a single peep.. He doesnt call out, he doesnt jump around...


Everyone thinks Fargo is so bonded to me, but i dont think Fargo really cares, yes he loves me, but he likes playing by himself :S





HAHA Thank you Kalidasa! Thats what i was thinking, if the pup grows up with him, then i think they could be friends, very supervised.. Especially considering these dogs protect chickens, and Fargo is like a big chicken




I was just interested about having one bird now.. Wondering if people think its cruel

 

[Abigal7]

Tab, Fargo no doubt will be fine. Like you tab I am not a member that has more then one bird. I may get a second bird but I am in no rush. I also know I do not desire to have a flock of birds or a bunch of dogs. I applaud the members that do have a flock of birds and find it to be a easy thing to do. The most birds I ever had at a time was two. Yes, parrots are flocks members (I never had a large parrot) but I can tell you from pass experience my cockatiel and green cheek conure hated each other. Yes, you must spend time with your bird everyday (same with dogs). Do you want to know one animal that a human can never give the bond it needs? A horse. I grew up on a farm and our dad bought us a Welsh pony. We had a bond till dad bought a regular size horse. We could ride the pony or the horse but it was apparent that the two liked each. One of my coworkers admits getting a second dog close to the age of her current dog kind of gave the dogs a companion while she was at work. She talks about how they will play with each other.

 

[tab_xo]

Thank you!!! I think having something special with one is better, but like you said, i applaud the people with huge flocks and still get to spend quality time with them, it just isn't something i could do!!

That is sooooooo true about horses, because i guess you cant be with them all day, every day..
I have 3 horses, i would of been perfect with just one, but then problems happened, so got the second, then more problems so got the third

They love me, you can tell my three horses prefer me rather than my mum, and after you start riding them you kind of get 'in sync' with them, and feel as one, and you understand what they are thinking..

They will run to me when i call them, and give me kisses, they absolutely love me, or maybe just the food i give them but we aren't 'bonded'.. and of course they prefer being with each other!

I think if you had one horse that you could have a bond, but i have never had a single horse, because my mum always had horses

 

[strudel]

Wondering if people think its cruel

Everything depends on the individual circumstances, but I think it boils down to whether the bird's needs for interaction, companionship, stimulation, etc are being met. Some birds will be more needy of company than others. My first budgie looked so miserable when I got her home that I went straight back out and got her a companion. This other budgie that I adopted really seemed quite content in a cage by herself (she was right next to the weiros, so she wasn't totally isolated) but I felt she should have company and I think she's happy with her new "friends". My galah is the only one who doesn't have another of her own kind in with her. I think there may be different considerations when a bird is tame and trained. You need a lot of time to train each of a pair, so it may be harder to have a pair when you intend giving "lessons" than when the birds are just living "a life of leisure" doing their own thing. I don't know.....

 

[Abigal7]

Thank you!!! I think having something special with one is better, but like you said, i applaud the people with huge flocks and still get to spend quality time with them, it just isn't something i could do!!

That is sooooooo true about horses, because i guess you cant be with them all day, every day..
I have 3 horses, i would of been perfect with just one, but then problems happened, so got the second, then more problems so got the third

They love me, you can tell my three horses prefer me rather than my mum, and after you start riding them you kind of get 'in sync' with them, and feel as one, and you understand what they are thinking..

They will run to me when i call them, and give me kisses, they absolutely love me, or maybe just the food i give them but we aren't 'bonded'.. and of course they prefer being with each other!

I think if you had one horse that you could have a bond, but i have never had a single horse, because my mum always had horses

I do remember that I could handle the cockatiel and green cheek but they never wanted anything to do with each other (and preferred me). Captain Jack is like Fargo in the sense he will entertain himself with his toys and playgyms (the wooden one and the one on top of his cage). He will eat his breakfast while I sleep (I work the night shift). It is strange that he does not make a sound when I am asleep. However, he is not noiseless. He will squawk at loud noises such as the alarm clock or when we go on walks loud vehicles and dogs make him go off. I walk to my bedroom and he makes no noise but if he sees me leaving the house he sometimes squawks.

I hope you find the dog you want. I love dogs myself. When it comes to them being around parrots it depends on the dogs personality and sometimes the breed of dog. My dog is a Australian terrier/ Yorkie looking dog. I can post a picture of him if you want. Luckily he wants nothing to do with the bird but the funny thing is he chases squirrels, rabbits, wild cats, etc when outside. I know some people have cats and birds and even post youtube videos of a bird and cat together but I do not think I would allow a cat or ferret to be by a bird (but that is just me).

As for the two horses we had on the farm. They would come up for treats and we could easily ride either one (even as kids). But if we only rode one the other would neigh and run the fence while we rode the other horse (which would give a reply back). Some horse people do not want to put their horse with other horse because of the chance of their horse getting kicked, while others think making a horse be alone in the field is isolation (since they are herd animals). I even read on the internet of some people with only one horse putting a goat with the horse. The big horse that my Dad had was a beautiful Appaloosa (I loved that horse). It has been a while since I ridden a horse and honestly know a easy going horse (that is not a large horse) (or maybe a large pony) is the best fit for me. If I could move in the country and never had to worry about money I would try to get a easy going gelding.

 

[Klaery]

Humans are meant to be social animals, we love socialising.... Me? Never, i hate socialising, i dont see any friends at all, because i cant stand being around people for very long...

For all we know, Fargo could be exactly like me, and really ENJOY being by himself.. Like i do..

Hi Tab,
Like I said before Fargo has it good with you You have the time to spend with him and keep him happy and healthy.

I thought I would comment on the above though as its a topic I find interesting. Humans are a pretty social species and those that consider themselves loners tend to furfill their social needs in other ways (books, forums, games, pets etc can all do this). A human that truly needs no social interaction would be VERY hard to find. Those that are deprived of it, alot of the time end up crazy. Solitary confinement is a form of punishment that was famous for sending prisoners nuts. Even with plenty to do it can happen. I remember a Phd student that worked in the bush by himself for years on end and came back a very 'different' individual. He was busy the entire time but still found it very hard to integrate back into society (I don't know if he ever did). This was before the days when mobile phones and computers worked out there.

Humans in terms of social development don't rate highly either when compared to whales and some other very social animals. Many whales (the study I read was about orcas) have large parts of the brain hypothesised to deal solely with social interactions that we have not developed at all. It would be interesting to know where parrots sit on this scale, most agree that they would be right up there.

 

[Abigal7]

As for macaw behavior in the wild they do live in flocks (like all parrots) but if the info I read is correct they are not large flocks (while Cockatoos and African greys do have large flocks). Macaws also pair up and mate for life.