Hello!

[ninaroo1216]

Good morning (and afternoon) to everyone.

We are currently owned by 4 birds and we adore them. Yes I'm one of the crazy ones that will be adding a female Sennie to the mix in a few months time.
My husband is of course freaking out about what he has read and I'm just trying to keep the calm LOL
I know they can be quite the handful, but I am determined to have her. We have a parrotlet that missed the memo on his size and talk about nasty and bitey Its alright, we love him anyway. So with training, persistence and lots of determination I think we can make a go of it!!!!

So give it to me straight friends, will I be sorry?

Im very glad to be here with 'like minded bird people!

[Wolf]

So get your parrotlet a mate, he will be much happier and you get to watch their antics. I have a female Celestial Parrotlet and although we come out for playtime she is a bit bitey, it is not her fault that she has a buzz saw on the end of her face. She get better after she is out for a while and calms down from the excitement of being on me.
I would really want my mate to be with me rather than against me when it comes to getting another bird as it just works out better in the long run. But that is about as deep into that issue as I will go as that is always dangerous ground.
I also have a Senegal hen and she thankfully bonded to me after a short attempt at bonding with my Lady. My lady tends to be hyper and forgets to make adequate time for the birds, she is more of a dog and cat type person. Kiki, my Senegal is a very loving bird, but she doesn't put up with much crap. When she is out, she wants all of my attention while she is on me and does not readily share space on me with other birds. This sometimes gets me bitten ( hard, like pieces of flesh removed) as most of my birds are all out at the same time. She is very much a one person bird, so my Lady has learned to just leave her alone most of the time unless Kiki initiates the contact. Will you be sorry? I could not answer that if I wanted to as that is a thing that you guys, you, your husband and the birds will have to work out for yourselves.

[Pajarita]

Welcome to the forum! I don't think the question is whether you will be sorry but will you be able to keep everybody happy. It's VERY hard to give one-on-one to a number of birds because, unless you are a stay-at-home who, like me, do very little in terms of house chores , there just aren't enough hours in the day, and sennies are jealous little things that will think nothing of attacking any bird they perceive as competition for their chosen human (they will also attack the 'better half'). So, assuming that your GCC and your crimson belly are already bonded (the little pyrrhuras are super easy to get to bond) and need no more than 2 hours of one-on-one with you and they share this time, it would seem to me that it would be easier on you and much, much, better for your little ones if you got them mates. So, personally, if I were you, I would get another plet and another tiel first and, then, once they are paired up and in large flight cages, I would consider getting a different species.

[ninaroo1216]

Thanks for the replies

Tater Tot (the parrotlet) never became an issue until we brought Dali home a year ago (she is the yellow sided GCC) He has decided she is his and that's the end of it. I have considered getting another parrotlet, but we don't want babies So what to do?

My husband worries only because he wants to do the right thing, he loves the birds as much as I do. So he will always get on the same page with me.

[Wolf]

I am currently in the process of finding a suitable mate for my parrotlet and, like you, I am not looking for them to raise a family. They will do what they do as far as this is concerned and I will just have to keep any eggs from hatching. Just because they mate, does not mean that the eggs will be fertile or will hatch. This is also even more true if I can get substitute eggs and switch them with the real eggs or if I steal an egg and freeze it before giving it back to them. There are ways around this issue.

[Pajarita]

Just because you have a bonded pair, it doesn't mean you'll have babies, my dear. I have several bonded pairs and actively encourage all my birds to take on a mate and go through the natural process of breeding without producing any babies. All you have to do is switch the real eggs with fake ones as they are laid and everybody is happy!

[ninaroo1216]

I know there are ways around it, but I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. I really believe that Tater Tot needs a mate, he would be much happier.
My conures are happy to come out and play with us, they show zero interest in Tater Tot, Pete is welcomed to the play area as long as he waits for their invite to preen. They are an interesting group. Tater usually has to be ushered back to his cage because he cannot contain himself (I don't expect him to fight what he is) and his attacks are extremely aggressive.
I will continue with my research, make some changes and look into a gf for Tater Tot, I think its truly in his best interest.

[Wolf]

Make sure that they are opposite sexes or there will be trouble and make sure that the cage is large enough as the male is apt to be aggressive towards the female if the cage is too small.
Parrotlets are very aggressive with other species of birds and are absolutely fearless . They don't care how big the other bird or animal is they will attack first and take roll call of the survivors later. Although I am sure that you have discovered this already.

[ninaroo1216]

Tiny Zons for sure LOL I know what they can be like! Tater Tot has a HUGE cage, so it would be plenty roomy enough. I just feel bad, the little fellow talks constantly, yes even when he bites you
Would it help to just never put up a nest box, give them no place to set up house comfortably?

[Wolf]

Perhaps. I know that an available nesting site is one of the three main triggers for going into breeding condition and have heard that this might help, but just as often the hen will lay her eggs on the bottom of the cage. So in my opinion it just creates an un wanted and un needed stress to the birds life. It is far simpler to just change the eggs which don't actually have a baby bird in them to begin with just the potential for one.
If the hen has room to fly about, she will and then as long as she gets enough calcium with a good diet she should not have any problems with laying her eggs.