Need help with decision

[Reeny]

I am new to the forum, I lost my caique 1 month ago and got a new little senegal to make the mourning easier. In my research I came across a breeder who's yellow sided green cheek conure babies have stolen my heart. I think what has impressed me the most is how loving and caring she is with her babies, they seem very socialized. I actually was looking for a Meyer parrot but missed out as all were sold. I found myself going back to her website several times to look at her videos and babies.

I have already fallen in love with my little senegal he is doing really well. Do you think it would be a bad idea to purchase a yellow sided green cheek conur. The two birds will be very young and hopefully grow old together. I know there is no guarantee, that they will get along.

What are everyone's thoughts??

 

[Devann]

I say if you have the time and love for both, go for it!

 

[Peeker]

I would wait but that's me. You have a wonderful baby and should enjoy him to the fullest right now. You want to work with him to create a wonderful loving relationship and spend time teaching tricks and having a great time. If you have two babies at once you will have to split your attentions between them. Also with them both beginning a new relationship with you, they could be drawn more to each other than to you. Just my opinion--FWIW.

 

[noblemacaw]

I am kind of in your same boat. I have a 7 month old RFM I have had 3 months and love him very much. I have considered adding a second parrot but the decision has been very hard for me. I go back in forth of purchasing another baby parrot or adopting a parrot that needs a home. I go back and forth between what would be the best for us.

For now I have taken a step back and put the decision on hold. I am enjoying my RFM and am very busy with his training and raising him to be a wonderful companion. spring is very slow in coming and with the rescue being a 5 hour drive the weather is forcing me to put the decision on hold as well.

Enjoy your baby for now. Take your time with the decision. For now concentrate with bonding with and raising your current baby. Those are the best times because soon the parrot will be an adult and the baby moments are gone.

 

[crimson]

I am also in the same boat as noblemacaw, debating on getting a companion for my senegal Safari. she has gotten along very well with my conures, and turned into a real cuttle bug, but quickly realized I was the odd man out.
she was no where near as affectionate with me, so I had to separate Safari from the conure.
I'm still toying with the decision on whether Safari would be happier somewhere else.
I feel terribly guilty not spending enough time with her, but she is so good about it, that when we do get quality time together, she is awesome, I'm really just spending minutes with her here and there. I really want what is best for her, it's a very tough decision.
It really depends on what you want from your relationship with your bird.
do you want another bird to keep it company? cause if you do, chances are it will change your relationship.
there are many multiple parrot owners on here who make it all work

 

[Reeny]

If only we could predict the future, "will they get along?" "will they both continue to bond to me?"

There are many people on here that have multiple birds how do you make it work?

 

[noblemacaw]

I have had three parrots at the same time. My "boys" were suppose to be it and out live me. Sadly that was not to be and I lost all three of my parrots for different health reasons. Eclectus to cancer and my mini macaws heart disease stroke (Illiger's) and heart attack (Noble macaw). I had all three parrots with me at the same time.

My Noble macaw was my oldest parrot. He was my only parrot for several years until I got the Eclectus. Both such different parrots helped me have a balance in the household. Then I got my Illliger's macaw Diego.

For years all three parrots and I had balance. Diego was extremely bonded to me while Mihijo my Noble loved anyone and everyone. Each parrot had their own cage and none of them took to each other (pairing up so to say) Although I could never take them all out at the same time they all got plenty of time out of cage because each person would have one parrot, switch parrot, put one back take one out kind of thing. It worked well and we had nice balance in the home.

When we were in the planing stages of getting Valentino my RFM we only had Mihijo my Noble left. The plan was after quarantine the two cages would be side by side and the parrots would be able to give each other some company when I could not be with them. It was never the plan for them to be companions but more like buddies. I felt bad with Mihijo being the only parrot and I have wanted a RFM since 1997.

Two months before Valentino was to wean and be shipped to us Mihijo died of a heart attack. I was devastated and almost didn't take Valentino. Mihijo would of been 18 years old this past Feb. He died in October. After much soul searching, grieving, discussions with the breeder, my partner, friends and doctor and vet Valentino arrived in December during a very bad snowstorm. I have never regretted moving forward with taking Valentino. He has been instrumental with my healing.

In my research I have learned that RFM's do better in flocks. I feel bad that Valentino is the only parrot but I enjoy it with just being him. The high demands of taking care of the baby parrot along with the training and bonding helps move me forward but in the back of my mind I know I will get another parrot.

How would I make it work? It helps to have another adult that loves parrots and helps you with them. Each parrot was different and I had a different relationship with each parrot. I am the primary caregiver with Lupe enjoying the benefits of my labors. I work from home while Lupe leaves each day to attend work so it is me that is the main caregiver, trainer and nurturer. I also take great pains to socialize the parrots to all kinds of people to keep them social and flexible.

More parrots does double the work and training, socialization and one on one time does and will be cut down. However the quality of that one on one time will determine the bond. You get out of the parrot what you put into them. The relationship is always changing, evolving, and will always need to be worked. I never took any of them for granted because I always had to work to keep my relationships and this is what I find the most rewarding about parrot companions.

First never bank on the parrots being able to get along. always have in mind that they don't and accommodate for that.

If you have in in you to give as much to the second parrot as you do the first then get a second parrot.

The relationships will always change and evolve. They can get better they can get worse but it is never constant and you have to be willing to adapt and work to what you want for your relationship.

Remember to enjoy your parrots. When it becomes a "chore" or you look at the parrot with resentment you will need to reevaluate what is going on there.

Treasure the best moments the love they give because as we all know parrots are hedonistic creatures and I am always amazed and blown away when my parrot actually does love me.

Crimson - I have been following your posts about your softbill birds and my heart went out for you and your troubles. I am now concerned that you think your senni would be happier somewhere else. If you need to talk about this more please PM me and I will gladly share with you my experiences with your situation of how you feel about your sennie.

 

[Jtbirds]

Ha living with multiple is a whole different ball game. In my case it is because they are all rescues none of my birds have I raised since babies. I go through the same quarantine process and so on then slowly introduce the new bird to the flock. I watch the response of the other birds. I usually have no problem introducing a new member as they all are very willing to be social. I guess I have it lucky in that ay that my birds at very laid back compared to some.

As for you I would enjoy that baby and teach him manners and so on before considering a new baby. I think that would be best then once the senegal has grown with you consider another bird.


Noble I can attest the flock per say is in the wild not so much in captivity. I know a couple people with red fronts and they prefer there own time and space. They do ok in the houses they are in which all of the houses have multiple parrots, but they are more so independent then the other birds in the houses.