Looking into a second parrot

[yeegdugrommut]

I'm looking into getting a second parrot. I've had my Jardine's for a little over a year and am very happy with him, but I think I'd like to expand the family a little. I've been doing a lot of research into different species that may be suitable for me. I'm looking for something fairly playful/cuddly that wouldn't be more difficult than average to keep from being a one-person bird. I'm in an apartment so noise is a concern. I'd like something a little larger than my Jardine, but I understand that the noise concern is going to eliminate most birds in that category. I've talked to several breeders about different species that may work, but I'm hesitant to make a decision based on information that's just coming from people who may just be motivated by selling their birds. Additionally, not knowing their background, I don't know how much experience they have with older birds of a given species as opposed to just the babies they sell. Part of the confusion is contradictory comments, which may just be a difference in opinion. The most common is whether or not the bird is apartment suitable from a noise perspective.

A few species that were mentioned several times were Yellow-Collared, Severe, and Hahn's Macaws, Timneh's, Cape parrots, Eclectus, and Pionus. It would be really nice if I could get some opinions from you guys to help me narrow things down. I'm allergic to Cockatoo dust so they're definitely out of the picture. I'd really appreciate any help you guys could provide me.

[Nir]

well i would say a congo grey but they also have dusts. so i think a cape fits perfectly since they arent as loud. everything else you mentioned would be very loud and not suitable for apartments. MAYBEEE a eclectus but be ready for their diet needs.

[Michael]

I would very highly suggest holding off on getting another bird until you are really established with your existing one. There just isn't any good reason to rush into another one, you haven't tapped even remotely the potential of your existing one, there is still a ton that it should learn, I doubt you've had enough time to establish such a sturdy relationship that adding another bird wouldn't harm what you do have, and finally you haven't even dealt with an adolescent hormonal bird yet. You're still in for quite a challenge with the one you have and after you go through that you may regret having the first let alone not want another.

Here are some challenges I suggest you work on with your existing bird in the meantime instead:

-Carrier training
-Outings
-Socialization with many people and strangers
-Harness Training
-Not clipping wings anymore and flight training
-Handling (grab, opening wings, turning on back, etc)
-Toweling
-Trick training

I'm not saying there is necessarily anything wrong with wanting another bird but I do think it's too soon and I do think it will be much better for your relationship to wait at least a year or two before raising this question again. The absolute worst thing would be to end up having two birds and then as they hit adulthood realizing that birds really aren't right for you after all (this unfortunately is the case all too often ).

[yeegdugrommut]

Thanks for the responses guys! To address your concerns Michael, I realized that I didn't mention that I'm just doing research at this point. I'm not planning on buying anything until I finish grad school which won't be for about two years. Things could change a lot in that time, but part of the reason I'm researching now is so I don't end up rushing into things later. I know that there will most likely be behavioral changes with my Jardine when he becomes sexually mature, but I anticipate that will happen before I buy a second bird. If problems arise, I can take that into consideration when the time comes when I would be buying the bird. The other reason I'm looking into things now is that because of still being in college, I don't have many opportunities to visit non-local breeders. The ideal case would involve me handling the bird before I buy it, so given that I only get about four opportunities a year to visit a non-local place I think that 2 years will allow me enough time to visit enough breeders that I could potentially interact with a bird a fair bit before buying it.

As far as the challenges you suggested for my current bird, that sounds like a great list. My Jardine has been flighted for about four months now and I wouldn't have it any other way. We also do trick training in addition to flight training, but I haven't approached a lot of the other things on the list. He has a tendancy to be very nervous around new stimuli so it takes me some time to get him to habituate to new things and realize that they are ok. As a result, socialization and outings have been slow, but they are definitely something that are priorities to work on.

[Michael]

That's good! Focus on working on the things you need to work on. I admire your decision to wait till you graduate and hope you stick by it. And while I do agree that it's very important to take your time when researching a parrot buying decision, I think you are wasting your time thinking about this now (as fun as it may be to think about). So much will change between now and then. You may end up moving where noise factors will change. You may or may not be involved with other people and relationships. Hopefully once you settle down into work and routine life after graduation, you will be better prepared to choose a species for a long while.

I would also strongly encourage you to consider a rescue/rehome parrot, especially since you're getting an additional bird. You'll have more experience at that point so you'll sooner be able to handle the challenge. Furthermore, you will have a better idea of what you are getting into than a baby which is deceivingly benign. Lastly, I don't like it when people tempt themselves into getting something prematurely by thinking about it too much. Lots and lots of people have bought a cage for a parrot they were only researching and not planning to rush into or buy within less than a year and then two weeks later there's a bird in it that they're not prepared for. I think you are making good decisions and have a good plan in mind. When the time comes to research it, you can and will. But for now your resources will be better spent on overcoming existing issues and ensuring that when your parrot matures it will be a long time loving companion.

[pennyandrocky]

if you're planning on staying in an apartment won't work they are very loud. you should take the 2 years your waiting and visit rescues. the benifits of rescues are they will already have been around other birds so you'll know how they'll be with your bird. the rescue might even let you bring your bird for a visit to see how they get along. they are not trying to sell you somthing like you fear with breeders they are trying to find the best home possible for their birds.