Hmmmm. Should I or Should I not?

[LemonLover]

I have been wanting toget Dimas a friend. Hes fine with other sun conures and green cheeks. ( I found this out when I went to PetsSmart and they let me hold a GC and SC which Dimas was chatting with. Making noises and preening. I got to say it was really cute. I dont have the money, (YET! I will eventually, Im saving up ) and Im asking my parents for one at Christmas. But I wanted to ask you guys before I ask them or anything. What do you think?

[AlbertaAviary]

Just don't keep them in the same cage at first. But yeah, go for it! Seems like Dimas is fine with it. Keep them in separate cages though, there is always a risk of a fight.

[LemonLover]

Yes, I know that you shouldnt out them in the same cage when they first meet. I have to put him/her in a cramped cage sadly. But it'll only be for about 1-2 days. Until Im sure they'll get along.

[marie83]

Yes, I know that you shouldnt out them in the same cage when they first meet. I have to put him/her in a cramped cage sadly. But it'll only be for about 1-2 days. Until Im sure they'll get along.

What are you planning on doing if they don't get on? Dont forget you need to quarentine for 1 month before introducing them too.

[LemonLover]

If they cant get along my grandparents said they would take some money out of what they saved up for me in the bank and get her a large cage.

[Grey_Moon]

I don't know how old you are exactly, but let me give you a little tip from someone a bit further up ahead than you.

I'm 21---and as it stands I'm *struggling* to make sure everyone is vetted, fed and enriched as needed.
You're living with your parents now---but what about 5 years from now?
Will you have the same amount of income to spend on your birds?

From your signature, I count 4 birds already. From what I remember with my tiel, he was a good $50 minimum a month if I counted in months where he needed his perches replaced, nails trimmed or some replacement toys.
That wasn't counting vet bills or other large sometimes expenses like new cages or carriers.

SO if we take that $50 a month and quadruple it...can you afford to spend $200 a month? What about when you're trying to pay for university, groceries or your studio apartment?

I know you might want another bird..but can you honestly afford to do it long term or will you be just squeezing by giving everyone the bare minimum?
Its not right to leave the birds at your parents when you leave for school or wtvs and I don't think you'd be wanting to stay for 20+ years at home till your birds live out their lifespan?

[Nir]

well i mean.. if he already has like 4 birds who are being well taken care of then i think he will be able to handle a 4th. but still, hopefully you make sure you considered all the variables figured out and handled.

[Grey_Moon]

Variables change though Nir, particularly as one moves out from the parental home and have to afford all their stuff on their own.

[marie83]

Variables change though Nir, particularly as one moves out from the parental home and have to afford all their stuff on their own.

Exactly this. I've had to sacrifice alot of stuff like holidays and other opportunities too so its not only financial stuff. Pets are a massive commitment and they must come first. We need a new matress as we are literally sleeping on springs but it is time for me to buy more food for them and I'm also looking at water filters to get rid of any contaminants and chemicals in our tap water to see if that helps with their sickness. I hate to say it but not many youngsters know that level of commitment and even those that do will usually justify certain things by incorrect logic.

I know because I have always been really commited and responsible to my pets but even then I have had moments of not being commited enough and I've made mistakes that I really shouldn't have. Others are the same which are why they are giving such harsh warnings, they don't want you to have to learn by making the same mistakes.

[Grey_Moon]

Exactly.

LemonLover, its not out of being a jerk that I say these things. Its a warning and reality check that perhaps you hadn't thought of this or you can't quite wrap your head around it.

I've been stuck before, and I'm scrappy but I've had some close calls.
The next few years money will be tight, and keep your pet family as small as you can in order to deal with that so no one gets left behind or neglected and you're not scrambling trying to provide.
You can't expect your parents or grandparents to either take on your birds or bail you out if they need food or vet care.

Let me share my little cautionary tale:

A few years ago, at the worst possible moment---I got a bladder infection (sorry if tmi) and Sully my cockatiel got sick---we both needed medication and the rent needed to be paid or else...
I had nowhere to turn and no one to borrow money from (lest they accuse me of having no pride).

I ended up in the emergency room.

I had a fever of 104 and my kidneys were inflamed and I was going into septic shock---I spent 4 days in hospital hooked up to an IV and I'd awaken at night ice cold but sweating and shivering. It took nearly a month of antibiotics before my blood was free of bacteria (I was swimming with e-coli and my blood was becoming acidic). If I hadn't had my lover there that night (I was stubborn and was sure I'd be ok) who insisted on taking me to the hospital I would've died.

Sully got his meds. I put him before myself because that was my duty as his guardian. The rent was paid.

But for me that was a wake up call---and I realized I couldn't afford two special needs birds. I placed Sully in a rescue not a month later.

Since then, I've acquired two reptiles---but they do not need the amount of care a bird does, nor the expense. And both, I'll admit (especially now with my grey just being diagnosed with possible heart issues) were stupid stupid impulse buys after I miscarried my baby in November.
I will not get any more. If I had known Jacko was gonna need the care that she did I'd never of gotten them. Heck I might not even keep them if it comes down to it.

Its just a word of warning, you never know how life will go.
But you should prepare for the worst.