Need advice on possible new bird

[Renae.Rango]

So we are thinking of getting a friend for our princess parrot rango. We have had him for 4 or 5 months now and he is about 9 months old. He's a good boy, really tame and happy living with us. Just started thinking he might be happier with a friend to keep him company when we are working and what not. We are thinking we were thinking of getting a cockatiel but will probably just get another princess as we want a bird with a similar life span.
I guess my question is, what are the chances of him becoming friends with a new bird after living with just me and my boyfriend for this long?
Will they be noisier together?
And if we do decide to adopt a new bird baby, how should we go about introducing them to each other?

 

[Merlee]

You have a 50/50 chance the birds will get along and a 50/50 chance that the birds will bond to one another and not want anything to do with you. If everybody is happy with the way things are, I wouldn't change what you have.

 

[mtdoramike]

Please listen to Merlee. Also, NEVER get another bird to keep your first bird company. That is the wrong reason. I know from experience. The chances of them getting along are 50/50 at best, it might even be a little less than that. You first bird will have to learn to share you and the attention that they have been used to getting just like a first child has to learn this when the second child comes along. They will get jealous of each other very easily.

My second bird (Eclectus) wants to rip the head off of my first bird (Senegal). The Senegal will literally lunge at my hand to bite me if she see's me playing with the Eclectus and not giving enough time to pass before attempting to play with her. She used to adore me, but now she ignores me for the most part. This has been since getting the second bird and that has been close to two years ago.

If you have a good bond with your first bird, I wouldn't do anything to upset that.
Had I known how getting a second bird would have affected my relationship with my first bird, I would not have gotten a second bird.

Oh yes, let me also add here, it's a lot more work as well. When thinking of getting a second bird, just think about doubling the work you have to do now with one bird. I clean my birds cages daily, which is why I have no issues with rodents, bugs or odors.

 

[aliray]

Also remember two birds or more will increase the noise level. More birds , more noise

 

[jakrob4]

If you are friends with both birds and interact with them regularly they will definitely want a lot to do with you bonded or not. Get another bird and just don't shove them in the same cage together. Take it slow and give them both treats together at same time with separate hands and praise them for being good together. You have more of a chance of them getting along if you get Rango a friend now than when he is older and even more set in his ways. Just make sure they get handled and fed treats regularly by lots of different people to keep them thinking they are part of the human flock. My macaw and lovebird absolutely hated each other for many months but I spent a long time with them on the same large perch, giving them treats for moving closer to each other without aggression. They still have few little fights these days if one bites the others blood feather too hard while preening each over or if getting jealous but nothing to really worry about. It is mostly a trust thing and you can teach them to trust one another. I must admit the biggest turning point was when we went away for 2 weeks and took them to my fathers; With no one familiar but each other they seemed to of bonded more and there was an extremely noticeable difference in attitude when we returned.

 

[Kalidasa]

That is an awesome pic^^^^ !

 

[Renae.Rango]

Aw man, didn't realise it could be such an issue... Would they bond easier if I got the same breed? Just thought Rango might enjoy having a friend and I would obviously enjoy having another feathered friend. Thanks for the advice guys and jakrob, that picture is beyond cute!

 

[MikeyTN]

Like it's been mentioned above, you have a 50/50 chance. It can go either way even if they're the same specie. I know what some of the above post is saying not to get another one just because you think they needed a friend. BUT I would tell ya, they are happier with other birds around. BUT they can be just as happy with just you around. You can leave the radio on, tv on, etc. when your not around. When we re-homed Java recently, Malachai got very very quiet the very night he left and was quiet for several days. He's usually chattering away cause he talk to Java quiet often on a daily basis. It took him days to start chattering again towards other birds. They may not show it sometimes but they really do enjoy other bird's company.

 

[aliray]

What a cute picture

 

[jakrob4]

Thanks, you can tell the lovebird is the boss lol.
I have read many times that same species have a much higher chance of bonding.
If you get a friend and he is constantly going out of his way to pick on them even with plenty of free space and toys you will be better off re homing them. Maybe get an older bird that is already known for being very calm with other species of birds, will make a big difference. I've seen perfectly happy, friendly and extremely sociable birds be turned into paranoid aggressive wrecks after being heavily picked on for a short period. Don't leave them alone until your 100% sure they are friends.

I must tell you I had a princess parrot named Percy I handraised as a young boy that lived free in the house I grew up in. He was pretty tough towards other birds.
We had a large deck on one side with stairs leading up to it and literally no front door or windows just completely open to the elements (was safe area never had anything stolen). Unfortunately the magpies I use to feed before getting Percy would come sit in the kitchen even though I had stopped feeding them. For a long time Percy would swoop them at first site and they would fly out even though they were 4 times his size. Eventually the dreaded happened and he ended up "Percy the one eyed parrot"; guessing it was a magpie that got him.
He still powered on for many more years but was never quite the same and definitely didn't go near the magpies anymore. Eventually a dog that was in a friends car jumped out when he saw percy land on the lawn in front of me and got him from his blind spot.
Was devastated but he had a good life.