Keeping an only bird

[YSGC]

Awww.
He's a cutie-pie!

 

[mboundy]

Awww.
He's a cutie-pie!

We thought so too, thank you.

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[RemiBird]

Good luck with your new bird! He sure is a beauty
If only we knew what our birds are thinking, lol.

 

[GaleriaGila]

What great input.

Fortunately (unfortunately?) the Rb is so aggressive and territorial that I've never even dared to think of another bird...
Many here have found that they have to separate birds permanently... some have been fortunate and multiple birds get along.
You just never know! Never, ever.

I think that as long as you're willing to deal with whatever happens (e.g., separating them, if needed, handling added expenses, etc.), you'll be a great parront to another bird..
Good luck!
Keep us posted, please.

And good for you, for reaching out, and planning so responsibly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Agreed, Gale. Its all about each individual situation. I just hope that whenever a situation arises that involves an addition to the family, it isn't just the humans desire to get one that is considered but the current bird (and bond) as well as the new bird addition. I also agree with others that what one 'thinks' the bird wants is why a new one is considered. Sometimes its a good thing for the bird (company in a relevant situation) and sometimes its an assumption that isn't accurate. I also think the species of bird should be considered.

In my previous entry of this post I shared a lot and I gave it some thought and I don't want it to appear to be a hijack of the thread with stories that don't relate to the OPs original inquiry. I'll post my stories in the appropriate thread when the timing is right.

 

[RemiBird]

Skitty's dad - I agree. Species should be considered. Conures seem to be more territorial than budgies for example. Adding another conure to your conure may be more difficult than adding a budgie to your budgie.
I have had budgies before (up to four in the same flight cage) and they were always pretty happy as a bunch.
Remi is an attention hog. He requires so much of my time that I think at this point it may even be unfair to add another feathered creature, lol.

 

[RemiBird]

Also, I have spent eight months training him not to bite and be afraid of hands etc. I don't want all that to go down the drain by adding a disturbance to our lives.

 

[EllenD]

MBoundy, he's a cutie...I understand that your goal is to have this new bird bond closely with your son (I think that's what you meant, your "son"), and you want him to get along well with your current bird, and that's fine...Just make sure that neither you or anyone else in your household tried to at all force your new bird to do anything he doesn't want to do, because there is nothing that will ruin a bird's trust of you more quickly than continually forcing them to be with a certain person all the time or to force them to try to be with another bird (really you can't force 2 birds to get along, they'll simply start fighting and eventually hurt each other if you don't separate them)...Just take it very slowly with the introduction of the two birds (unless they just love each other to death right from the start, sometimes that happens too, usually not when one of the birds has already been the only bird for over 2 years as jealousy often becomes an issues, but not always, you just never know).

***If your goal is for this new baby Conure to be mainly your son's bird, then you'll want to make sure that your son is prepared right from the moment he comes home to be "his person", meaning he's always the one who does all the GOOD things like treats, pets/scratches, cuddling at night before bedtime, etc. All the good things have to do with your son...However, you still don't want to put the new bird's cage in a back bedroom like in your son's room, because you want the two birds to be able to see each other and talk to each other, and you want them both in the main room of your house where everyone spends time, like the living room. Just make sure your son presents himself as this new bird's "person", no matter where in the house they are, and hopefully the bird will also bond closely to him...

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Skitty's dad - I agree. Species should be considered. Conures seem to be more territorial than budgies for example. Adding another conure to your conure may be more difficult than adding a budgie to your budgie.
I have had budgies before (up to four in the same flight cage) and they were always pretty happy as a bunch.
Remi is an attention hog. He requires so much of my time that I think at this point it may even be unfair to add another feathered creature, lol.

I was actually going to point out the same thing. lol. I had budgies for my first bird(s) and I always found they seemed to be much happier as a bunch. But with conures, I really think the territorialism is a significant issue. I never had an issue with my budgies.

My budgie Sammy used to like to 'hang out' inside the armpit sleeve of my shirt and he was pretty oblivious to other birds being around me and was not affected at all. Even my cockatiel Peaches was fine and had no territory issues. In fact, I used to knock her off her eggs (gently, of course) so I could remove them and she never put up a fight. (This was before I found out from the vet that I was NOT supposed to do that with the eggs because of the issues it causes). I used to joke that I could 'toss Peaches around like a football because she was that passive around me. I would never do that, of course, it was merely a metaphor to show how she was. She NEVER bit me or anyone else for that matter. She didn't attack others who came near her, instead she would take off and come to me. She, like Skittles, wouldn't let anyone else touch her or hold her but she would land on their shoulders.

My medical POA, who is also my best friend, is WELL aware of the unique situation that Skittles and I have and should something happen to me she said she'll either keep Skittles herself or find him a proper home. But I have told her I do NOT want him going to anyone who has never owned a conure before and I want to make sure she explains to them our situation as him not being socialized would likely be a problem for a future owner.

 

[mboundy]

EllenD,
thank you for the informative reply. SO was short for significant other, my fiancee. I was just lazy typing.
We will take it slowly with the birds getting to know each other. Quarantine will have the birds on different floors for a month, so she will hang out downstairs, near or with the new bird, while Poco and I will be upstairs. Hopefully all goes well, but we are prepared to love both however it turns out.

Thank you!




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