Keeping more than one parrot?

[HiteshParmar]

Hello Friends,

Keeping more than one parrot is Good or Bad? Or two parrots better than one?

I'm planning to buy any two male of these three.
(African grey, Bluefronted Amazon, Sun conure)

Friends please suggest and help me because I'm really confused.

Thank you.

 

[noodles123]

2= more complicated than 1, so make sure you can handle 1 because 2 comes with double the time, double the cost and added bonding issues for you (as a human), plus the risk of sexual behaviors between birds (even same gender) which can lead to all sorts of bad behaviors like screaming, aggression etc....They can also (quite literally) fight to the death.

When it comes to the birds you mentioned, if you can't do 1 (which is the same as a human toddler, btw) do not do 2....

 

[noodles123]

They would need to be housed separately in VERY large cages and you would need 3-4 hours time to allow each out of the cage (supervised) without the other around- in the event that they do not get along..so, in theory, to be humane, 8 hours of out-of-cage/ interaction time daily for both combined...6 MINIMUM.....Also, babies will almost always get along....the problem comes at puberty/after sexual maturity, which will happen at different times for different species and last for a lifetime in many cases).

 

[macawpower58]

IMO if you have the time, space, and educate yourself, it's good for the birds to have a flock mate. Someone to chatter back and forth with. Not necessarily be mates or even friends. But the company of another bird goes a long way when you're at work.

Same size birds are easier to deal with. I have 2 of mine that are similar sized in the same room. They chatter back and forth all day. If my Goffin gets out, she opens my Amazon's door and I find them both companionably sitting on the same cage.
Also, as Noodles has said though, even same sized birds can fight and/or dislike each other. It's a gamble you have to be ready to deal with.

My macaw is so much larger, the danger of one of them accidently getting on his cage is real, so he's in a separate room.

Just realize, if they are both young when you get them, they may bond and exclude you to a degree, or entirely depending on their bond.

 

[clark_conure]

It depends...2 is good if you work long shifts, but then again...pic related.

 

[Ira7]

Never in a million years:

To buy two parrots at the same time, and try to bond with and train them both? Forget it.

MAYBE if you kept them isolated from each other in different rooms and MAYBE if you didn’t work and you have all day to devote to this, and MAYBE if you had more experience with parrots...

But WHY!? Do you think two is better than one? For most people, one is a LOT better than two!

Don’t do it.

 

[clark_conure]

two can be ok if you say have a year between them.....so you learn one bird then you both learn another. When people collect birds like cats.....unless they can be home 24/7 I dunno if I like. I don't want to state an all encompassing opion because some make it work...

I think it has more to do with how much you want each individual bird you want to see you as the master flock leader......or the human that comes by and feeds us.

1 or 2 seems right to me....if you want a bird on you all the time watching youtube and netflix. And helping you make the bed do chores etc. 1 or 2 is like the perfect flock for s single individual.

 

[noodles123]

two can be ok if you say have a year between them.....so you learn one bird then you both learn another. When people collect birds like cats.....unless they can be home 24/7 I dunno if I like. I don't want to state an all encompassing opion because some make it work...

I think it has more to do with how much you want each individual bird you want to see you as the master flock leader......or the human that comes by and feeds us.

1 or 2 seems right to me....if you want a bird on you all the time watching youtube and netflix. And helping you make the bed do chores etc. 1 or 2 is like the perfect flock for s single individual.

Puberty also changes everything, so age is huge...but ether way...wouldn't get 2 large birds at 1x if I wanted a personal bond...and either way, would house desperately.
I would never get 2 at once EVER...but even less so if I had no experience with owning large birds.

 

[Ira7]

Greys are the best! Do you know there are two types? Congo and Timneh? The Congos are a little bigger.

I had a Congo that died from egg-binding, and it’s all my wife’s fault. One day, I will tell the story here.

Look for a YOUNG bird, or one that readily steps onto your hand. DON’T buy a bird that seems very scared of you. It is not your responsibility to “save” a problem bird, and don’t be tempted by a low cost. You don’t need or want the aggravation! Look for a friendly bird who LIKES you, even if it ISN’T a Gray!

Parrots aren’t like cats and dogs. They’re not going to suddenly change their opinion of you after a day.

Below is a photo of my Yellow Nape Amazon, 15 months, after eating sweet potato.

 

[HiteshParmar]

:08:

Greys are the best! Do you know there are two types? Congo and Timneh? The Congos are a little bigger.

I had a Congo that died from egg-binding, and it’s all my wife’s fault. One day, I will tell the story here.

Look for a YOUNG bird, or one that readily steps onto your hand. DON’T buy a bird that seems very scared of you. It is not your responsibility to “save” a problem bird, and don’t be tempted by a low cost. You don’t need or want the aggravation! Look for a friendly bird who LIKES you, even if it ISN’T a Gray!

Parrots aren’t like cats and dogs. They’re not going to suddenly change their opinion of you after a day.

Below is a photo of my Yellow Nape Amazon, 15 months, after eating sweet potato.

Definitely i would love to hear the story of your gray parrot.
I have heard from many people that female parrots have a lot of egg-binding problems. Is that true?

 

[noodles123]

:08:

Greys are the best! Do you know there are two types? Congo and Timneh? The Congos are a little bigger.

I had a Congo that died from egg-binding, and it’s all my wife’s fault. One day, I will tell the story here.

Look for a YOUNG bird, or one that readily steps onto your hand. DON’T buy a bird that seems very scared of you. It is not your responsibility to “save” a problem bird, and don’t be tempted by a low cost. You don’t need or want the aggravation! Look for a friendly bird who LIKES you, even if it ISN’T a Gray!

Parrots aren’t like cats and dogs. They’re not going to suddenly change their opinion of you after a day.

Below is a photo of my Yellow Nape Amazon, 15 months, after eating sweet potato.

Definitely i would love to hear the story of your gray parrot.
I have heard from many people that female parrots have a lot of egg-binding problems. Is that true?

Female birds in general come with the added risk of egg-binding when hormonal. I don't know about greys in particular with regard to that issue, but it can happen to female birds in general

 

[Ira7]

:08:

Greys are the best! Do you know there are two types? Congo and Timneh? The Congos are a little bigger.

I had a Congo that died from egg-binding, and it’s all my wife’s fault. One day, I will tell the story here.

Look for a YOUNG bird, or one that readily steps onto your hand. DON’T buy a bird that seems very scared of you. It is not your responsibility to “save” a problem bird, and don’t be tempted by a low cost. You don’t need or want the aggravation! Look for a friendly bird who LIKES you, even if it ISN’T a Gray!

Parrots aren’t like cats and dogs. They’re not going to suddenly change their opinion of you after a day.

Below is a photo of my Yellow Nape Amazon, 15 months, after eating sweet potato.

Definitely i would love to hear the story of your gray parrot.
I have heard from many people that female parrots have a lot of egg-binding problems. Is that true?

Oh, it’s true. But I’m not willing to tell the story now.

If I didn’t have kids, I would have left my wife because of this.

 

[Ira7]

:08:

Greys are the best! Do you know there are two types? Congo and Timneh? The Congos are a little bigger.

I had a Congo that died from egg-binding, and it’s all my wife’s fault. One day, I will tell the story here.

Look for a YOUNG bird, or one that readily steps onto your hand. DON’T buy a bird that seems very scared of you. It is not your responsibility to “save” a problem bird, and don’t be tempted by a low cost. You don’t need or want the aggravation! Look for a friendly bird who LIKES you, even if it ISN’T a Gray!

Parrots aren’t like cats and dogs. They’re not going to suddenly change their opinion of you after a day.

Below is a photo of my Yellow Nape Amazon, 15 months, after eating sweet potato.

Definitely i would love to hear the story of your gray parrot.
I have heard from many people that female parrots have a lot of egg-binding problems. Is that true?

The main point I wanted to make is, I love greys too. I had mine as a baby, when she was first weaned. She was loving and wonderful from the first day, but she didn’t particularly like my wife. This is TOTALLY natural. Please don’t think there’s anything “wrong” with a parrot who has strong likes and dislikes to certain people. The dislikes can be fixed with patience and time.

But that Grey (Tonto) and my Amazon (Archie) came home with me friendly and excited. They were both anxious to leave the cage and get on my hand. When I got Archie, I wasn’t even looking for an Amazon! It didn’t matter the breed. I was looking for personality and temperament.

So...

If you go to the bird store, and there’s a Grey who doesn’t behave friendly
like this...and there’s another species like an Amazon who does...

Buy the Amazon.

Yes, many birds will come around with proper treatment, but don’t you want to start with a bird who likes and trusts you from the very beginning?

In other words, the species, color, and size of the bird might seem really important now, but it’s not. What’s important is the personality and affection that bird shows you.

I would rather have a cool little conure than a nasty Macaw.

 

[noodles123]

:08:

Greys are the best! Do you know there are two types? Congo and Timneh? The Congos are a little bigger.

I had a Congo that died from egg-binding, and it’s all my wife’s fault. One day, I will tell the story here.

Look for a YOUNG bird, or one that readily steps onto your hand. DON’T buy a bird that seems very scared of you. It is not your responsibility to “save” a problem bird, and don’t be tempted by a low cost. You don’t need or want the aggravation! Look for a friendly bird who LIKES you, even if it ISN’T a Gray!

Parrots aren’t like cats and dogs. They’re not going to suddenly change their opinion of you after a day.

Below is a photo of my Yellow Nape Amazon, 15 months, after eating sweet potato.

Definitely i would love to hear the story of your gray parrot.
I have heard from many people that female parrots have a lot of egg-binding problems. Is that true?

The main point I wanted to make is, I love greys too. I had mine as a baby, when she was first weaned. She was loving and wonderful from the first day, but she didn’t particularly like my wife. This is TOTALLY natural. Please don’t think there’s anything “wrong” with a parrot who has strong likes and dislikes to certain people. The dislikes can be fixed with patience and time.

But that Grey (Tonto) and my Amazon (Archie) cane home with me friendly and excited. They were both anxious to leave the cage and get on my hand.

So...

If you go to the bird store, and there’s a Grey who didn’t behave like this...and there’s another species like an Amazon that does...

Buy the Amazon.

Yes, many birds will come around with proper treatment, but don’t you want to start with a bird who likes and trusts you from the very beginning?

In other words, the species, color, and size of the bird might seem really important now, but it’s not. What’s important is the personality and affection that bird shows you.

I would rather have a cool little conure than a nasty Macaw.

True- just also keep in mind that baby birds can change a lot at puberty--and there are certain tendencies that some species have more of than others which may not show up to their full extent until they are adults. I agree overall, but there is a lot to consider when it comes to noise, damage potential, cost etc...but like I said, I do think what you said is wise as long as the person is prepared for what the bird could grow into (not just in terms of size, but in terms of behavioral tendencies etc as well)

 

[wrench13]

THink of it this way. Would you rather have a boy or a girl..... or TWINS! 2X the cost, 2X the food, 2X the toys, your attention time divided by 2, etc etc. Jealousy - and you better believe parrots can get jealous. And thats besides the points made about the personalities, with them hating each other maybe, or liking each other so much they exclude you. Its hard enough to raise 1 parrot, espcially with no experience.

 

[Ira7]

:08:

Definitely i would love to hear the story of your gray parrot.
I have heard from many people that female parrots have a lot of egg-binding problems. Is that true?

The main point I wanted to make is, I love greys too. I had mine as a baby, when she was first weaned. She was loving and wonderful from the first day, but she didn’t particularly like my wife. This is TOTALLY natural. Please don’t think there’s anything “wrong” with a parrot who has strong likes and dislikes to certain people. The dislikes can be fixed with patience and time.

But that Grey (Tonto) and my Amazon (Archie) cane home with me friendly and excited. They were both anxious to leave the cage and get on my hand.

So...

If you go to the bird store, and there’s a Grey who didn’t behave like this...and there’s another species like an Amazon that does...

Buy the Amazon.

Yes, many birds will come around with proper treatment, but don’t you want to start with a bird who likes and trusts you from the very beginning?

In other words, the species, color, and size of the bird might seem really important now, but it’s not. What’s important is the personality and affection that bird shows you.

I would rather have a cool little conure than a nasty Macaw.

True- just also keep in mind that baby birds can change a lot at puberty--and there are certain tendencies that some species have more of than others which may not show up to their full extent until they are adults. I agree overall, but there is a lot to consider when it comes to noise, damage potential, cost etc...but like I said, I do think what you said is wise as long as the person is prepared for what the bird could grow into (not just in terms of size, but in terms of behavioral tendencies etc as well)

But all a new owner can look at is the here and now. So yes, if it’s an older bird with a great friendly personality, fine.

But if it’s a young friendly one, I wouldn’t fret about what what will happen in the future.

 

[noodles123]

The main point I wanted to make is, I love greys too. I had mine as a baby, when she was first weaned. She was loving and wonderful from the first day, but she didn’t particularly like my wife. This is TOTALLY natural. Please don’t think there’s anything “wrong” with a parrot who has strong likes and dislikes to certain people. The dislikes can be fixed with patience and time.

But that Grey (Tonto) and my Amazon (Archie) cane home with me friendly and excited. They were both anxious to leave the cage and get on my hand.

So...

If you go to the bird store, and there’s a Grey who didn’t behave like this...and there’s another species like an Amazon that does...

Buy the Amazon.

Yes, many birds will come around with proper treatment, but don’t you want to start with a bird who likes and trusts you from the very beginning?

In other words, the species, color, and size of the bird might seem really important now, but it’s not. What’s important is the personality and affection that bird shows you.

I would rather have a cool little conure than a nasty Macaw.

True- just also keep in mind that baby birds can change a lot at puberty--and there are certain tendencies that some species have more of than others which may not show up to their full extent until they are adults. I agree overall, but there is a lot to consider when it comes to noise, damage potential, cost etc...but like I said, I do think what you said is wise as long as the person is prepared for what the bird could grow into (not just in terms of size, but in terms of behavioral tendencies etc as well)

But all a new owner can look at is the here and now. So yes, if it’s an older bird with a great friendly personality, fine.

But if it’s a young friendly one, I wouldn’t fret about what what will happen in the future.

I agree-- I just meant that you need to also research the species to make sure you can handle the noise/quirks/needs/costs etc of the adult that it will grow into (because it will change just like a baby changes into a teen)...Don't just pick a random baby from a random species because it likes you and is nice unless you have fully researched and are prepared for the adult version (physically, financially, behaviorally etc). At the same time, if you have researched the species and understand all of that stuff (including the fact that they all get much louder and less cooperative with age lol), then yeah, go with the bird that likes you.

 

[Talven]

Well I don't have any Amazons but I do have multiple birds. I can say unequivocally that having multiple tamed birds is very very hard to manage. I am home all day pretty much every day so I have the time to spend.

My two conures are about a year apart in age and can not under any circumstance be out together even supervised. It's on for young and old when they see each other and if you get in the way you will get shredded. So of course separate cages for them. My GCC hit puberty and went from a sweet baby bird who loved cuddles and head scratches to being barely willing to step up and very skittish. No interest in head scratches at all. Won't go to anyone else but me and will bite aggressively anyone who tries. The other conure will tolerate others but is my wifes bird.

My two Kakariki are super hyped birds. They can be out together but not with any other birds. You have to watch them or they will fight constantly. They have to be housed separately as they will fight viciously over food. No food and they are OK together so long as you watch them. The male is . . .Special. He has mild seizures where he freezes for several seconds. After one of these he is VERY aggressive. The female is friendly with everyone.

My two Cockatiels can be out together or with one of my Conures the other doesn't like them. They have to be housed together or they get very agitated. The male (Was supposed to be female) has become a jealous little brat. If the female gets any attention he will attack her. I may have to rehome him if I can't stop the biting.

I've recently added a Galah to the household who is not tame. I am working with her to get her handleable so I have to spend a lot of time with that. On top of that I have my family and other pets to spend time with.

Hopefully this will give you some idea on how difficult it can be having multiple birds, even of the same species. I doubt any sane person would try to manage as many parrots as I have when most of them don't get along.

From my perspective I would say don't get more than one. If they don't get along it is hard and time consuming to manage. Getting two birds and hoping they will get along for the rest of their lives is a toss of the coin.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I've had two parrots for over thirty years. The first was Smokey,a TAG..a year or so later came Amy. Smokes was my first "real" parrot. She was a wild-caught about six months old when she came home with me. I knew VERY LITTLE about parrots in general Amy was four months old when he chose me. Smokey was a nasty little cuss,growled like a pack of wild dogs,tried to make mince meat out of my hand,refused to step-up and had no idea what good food was. Amy was the complete opposite. Readily stepped up,ate pellets and veggies and fruit and wanted to be best pals with Smokey,however Smokes wanted no part. When out together Smokey would sneak up behind Amy and pull his tail and make him scream then Smokey ran back to her house laughing. One time they went beak to beak making kissy sounds and i thought Smokey had a change of heart,only to hear Amy let out a blood curdling scream.Smokey bit amy's tongue requiring five stitches! That was the last time I let Smokey get anywhere near Amy.
But Amy taught Smokey to eat good. She started to eat fruit and veggies..corn on the cob..loved banana's..chicken leg bones she'd rip from my hand and chow down..scrambled eggs..sweet peas..red grapes not green ones lol..she'd shred toilet paper rolls..she just refused physical attention.

After she passed away I adopted Jonesy the Goffin 'too ( thats another story) Amy and Jones became best pals hanging out on Amy's play gym for hours together. Now there is BB the cockatiel who Amy is infatuated with.

So..I have had two parrots since being owned by parrots. Yep it is/can be difficult at times but I manage.I would love to have another Grey,but me being 64y.o. that aint gonna happen!



Jim

 

[texsize]

I have had 2 (or more) amazon parrots since 1986.
Yes it's a lot of work but I don't regret it.

I bought my second bird about a year after my first.
Living in an apartment that did not allow pets

My African Grey is a late arrival and a rescue.
Never thought I would have the opportunity for a grey and never planned for it. It just happened, right place, right time.

You do have to keep a truth table in your head or written down about what combinations can be together and who must be kept separated.

What I get the most enjoyment with is how my "flock" plays with each other.
This does not mean physically, not with all of them. But Bella my Gray will imitate the vocalizations of my Greene Cheek Amazons and they can go back and forth with each other.