To get a second bird? Or to not get a second bird?

[PockyMommy]

So I've had Pocky for a year and a half now. I've noticed he's a small little baby in a huge mansion (his cage is actually for an African Grey, I went a little crazy buying his cage ) so I was thinking of getting him a friend.

I was thinking of getting him a female friend just because I have a cute name picked out (Pocky and Saki they rhyme! cute right?)

I guess I'm just worried this might all go down the drain.

Pocky has met other birds before and is friendly with them cleaning their feathers and feeding them/giving kisses.

Do you think Pocky would not take to the new friend well? Or should I house them separately?

I have enough time to play with them both individually and together so I'm not worried about that but more of...will I be tossed to the side?

 

[PockyMommy]

Also does anyone have any tips as to how to tell a male and female apart?

 

[ShellyBorg]

They have to be DNA or surgically sexed. On the other hand parrots do not care is they have a male or female name. GCC can get vary cage aggressive when they bond to another bird. A big cage just means lots of places to play and you can set up a great forage areas.

 

[ZoeS]

I took a long time to decide whether to get a second bird, also. In the end I did, and I do not regret it!

Definitely get a second cage, maybe even two. It doesn't have to be a rolls royce! Just so you can separate them at first. I say two because you could possibly put them together in the original (huge) cage when it is neutral territory, but I didn't do that.

I had no specific plans about when, if ever, I'd house my birds together. Within a couple months it was clear that they were getting along very well, so I did put them together with no issues. They do squabble sometimes ("kick" each other and flap at each other) but they don't seem to do this while they are in their cage (not that I watch them every minute). I, too, have a very large cage which I recommend.

Your bird may change a bit. My first bird, Libby, was very affectionate and sweet before I got my second bird. However, that event coincided somewhat with her going through puberty, so it is possible that her adult self is just not as affectionate as her baby self. She's still awesome - they both are! But snuggles are rare now. They are still super outgoing and friendly, but seem to prefer to turn to each other for physical affection, even though they do not appear to be sexually interest in each other (no idea what gender they are).

If your bird is pubescent (by which I mean that he has already gone through puberty, not that he is currently going through it), and is friendly with other birds, it will probably be fine. But you need to commit to being willing to maintain two cages and separate "out" time, just in case they hate each other. This is unlikely! And they may end up in the same cage together within a month or two. But sometimes things don't go as planned.

At any rate - despite all that, I recommend it! I feel less stressed having to rush home after work and stuff because my bird has a friend.

 

[kq_fan]

If you did get him a girlfriend then he and she will shun you and love on each outher I am sorry to say and I have heard that GCC don't get alone sometimes and it gets ugly. But if your heart is set then do it and if they have baby's well maybe if packy saki don't like you much than maybe the baby's will get to love you! I almost got a boy for Lilo but my friend did the same thing for pups and flower her GCC and they loved each other and hated her. So later on she got two more why I don't know and they bob and tilla did the same thing! So then she got two more that we're females and they HATED each other! So just be careful!

 

[crimson]

with someone who has almost 50 birds, I guess I'm not one to dissuade someone from getting another bird, unless it's right for you.

My Kahlua is very bonded to me, she also gets along very well with all my other birds. About a month ago, I got another conure, a female, like Kahlua. I was not worried wether they got along or not, if it worked, then they can be caged together, if not, that's ok too, then I'll house them separately, and rotate them on different days for free flight time.
As it turned out, they are very very bonded and hit it off immediately, and I love that they now have each other as friends.

I don't worry about 'what could happen' if it happens I deal with it, so far I've been very blessed. My 4 lovebirds, 7 cockatiels, 1 senegal,& 2 conures, get along, with NO fighting....maybe some minor bickering, but never had any blood shed, ever. I have 11 birds in our bedroom, and most are out everyday.
so IMO you should go for it, but only if it's right for you.

 

[kq_fan]

Yes I agree with crimson, I looked back at my post and i think that was a bit to much cons.... yes get one and see what happens! If you really feel its right for your family and baby then thumbs up! Good luck!

 

[Chelle]

I have 2 Conures and they are in the same cage. At first each of them had their own cage but that didn't last long. They bonded right away. For a couple of days I was afraid I had lost my bond with my birds but then they started calling for me to come get them. They love each other very much but they still love the rest of us just as much as they did before they bonded. It is so amazing to see them together! I am glad things worked out the way they did. Good Luck with your decision.

 

[ZoeS]

I have 2 Conures and they are in the same cage. At first each of them had their own cage but that didn't last long. They bonded right away. For a couple of days I was afraid I had lost my bond with my birds but then they started calling for me to come get them. They love each other very much but they still love the rest of us just as much as they did before they bonded. It is so amazing to see them together! I am glad things worked out the way they did. Good Luck with your decision.

That was my experience, too! They seem to feel we are all one big, friendly flock. Sometimes I miss my super cuddly little bird, but the tradeoff is that she has a good friend and partner to spend her time with when I'm not around.

 

[RiosMom]

I echo what everyone else has said...I don't have my girl want head scratches anymore, but she and Henry love each other! They took to each other within hours and when they are out they are inseperable. I did keep them in separate cages since Henry is a bit pushy and sometimes she flies to me to get a preening break! The only squabbles they did have were minor...to establish who's the boss (Rio won those lol). Henry came to me very affectionate and still gives me lots of kisses etc. I love having a second...just be aware that your relationship will change with them!

 

[ZoeS]

Haha, I love those little squabbles! Libby is the boss in my house - she will "kick" (push with her foot) Toby away from her favourite spot, treat, etc. Sometimes Toby fights back and that's when you get lots of vocalisation and wing flapping. So cute.

 

[PockyMommy]

Thanks everyone that's a lot of great in put! =]

I think I might just house them separately during the day and bring them out together to play and play with them individually at times as well(I'm a college student so I'm home a lot during the day). Not only that but my dad loves birds as well, he tries to play with Pocky, he's friendly towards my dad and everything, but once he sees me he just waddles or flies towards me. I feel kind of bad...like my bird abandoned my dad
As a matter of fact we had an indian ring neck before Pocky, but sadly he passed

So I'll probably keep Saki's cage in the living room and maintain Pocky's cage in my room. Then at night they can sleep together in Pocky's cage? Then some have some play days in Saki's cage?

 

[ZoeS]

Thanks everyone that's a lot of great in put! =]

I think I might just house them separately during the day and bring them out together to play and play with them individually at times as well(I'm a college student so I'm home a lot during the day). Not only that but my dad loves birds as well, he tries to play with Pocky, he's friendly towards my dad and everything, but once he sees me he just waddles or flies towards me. I feel kind of bad...like my bird abandoned my dad
As a matter of fact we had an indian ring neck before Pocky, but sadly he passed

So I'll probably keep Saki's cage in the living room and maintain Pocky's cage in my room. Then at night they can sleep together in Pocky's cage? Then some have some play days in Saki's cage?

Sure! Just keep yourself open to changes as the birds grow more accustomed to each other. They may eventually not tolerate being separate for lengths of time. My birds yell for each other when they are out of sight.

 

[PockyMommy]

oh wow haha I think it might be a bird thing to call out to another member of the flock =]

But I def. will bring pocky with me when choosing his friend, we're actually going to the breeder I got him from.

Actually as I type Pocky is trying to wiggle under my hand so I can pet him lol

 

[ZoeS]

oh wow haha I think it might be a bird thing to call out to another member of the flock =]

But I def. will bring pocky with me when choosing his friend, we're actually going to the breeder I got him from.

Actually as I type Pocky is trying to wiggle under my hand so I can pet him lol

Oh my god yeah, it's so annoying sometimes! Toby will fly away from Libby sometimes, because he was spooked (sneezing is TERRIFYING apparently) or whatever, and if he takes too long to come back... yell yell yell. I wish she could fly too!

They also yell when we leave the room.

Enjoy the affection now... it will likely subside when you get a second bird. But it won't go away entirely, as long as you keep spending time with them as a group!

 

[ZoeS]

You may want to develop a bond with the second bird as well. Some people do that - keep the birds apart (as much as possible) at first so the second bird bonds to you. I didn't bother, and it's kind of noticeable. Toby is more easily spooked, more likely to evade me if he doesn't want to, and is not snuggly or affectionate at all. Well, he is - he loves to hang around us and give me kisses, and will fly to us when he's sick of Libby, but he's never once accepted rubs from a person and is very stubborn when I try to teach him tricks. But I don't mind, really. Ain't nobody got time for that.

 

[sofiaee]

My two birds don't like each other right now. I still feel like this could change but who knows. I can have them out at the same time though, it never gets out of control. Of course they couldn't be housed together at this point. But they are both very sweet but with very different personalities. I'm still hoping they will be friends in the future! 15-30 years is a long time to spend with an enemy haha

 

[Birdman666]

The eternal dilemma... not to get a 6th, 7th or 8th... err... uummm...

Second Parrot.

I need another bird, like I need a hole in my head. But I still want another Blue Front, a BTM and a Hy...

I need another macaw like I need a hole in my head...

But I want two more...

What was the question again?!

Conures, I had three. Two that were bonded to each other, and one that was bonded to me. It's an inexact science. You don't know until you get one what will happen. Usually they will get along. Not always.

Sometimes they will bond with you. Sometimes with each other. Sometimes with all of the above. Depends on how socialized the bird is really and/or how jealous/bonded the bird is with you.

 

[Abigal7]

If you get a second bird I would at first build a bond with the new bird and then when you are done with quarantine slowly introduce them and make it a habit that all three of you hang out together when it is out of cage time. Unless you want to breed maybe make sure you have the same gender bird. If the birds are the opposite sex there may be a higher chance of you being kicked to the curb. Of course there are probably breeders who have breeding pairs that will step up on people, etc.