Parrot Limit

[Azure Hanyo]

I have self-imposed a limit of 2 right now... That way I can ensure I spend plenty of time with each of my birds, especially while I am still working on bonding with Galileo. I have been offered a 1-year-old senegal AND a 3-year-old African Grey (CAG) for a ridiculously cheap price from people who "don't have the time" anymore, but I had to decline. I just can't have so many birds, it would be selfish and counterproductive to the bonding and taming Gal and I have been working so hard on.

[lainmai]

I said 2, but I don't count my 'Lets in the number as they are "breeder" birds and require alot less time than "pet" birds. I'm looking at just having Tobi for a while, probably a few years before I consider having another bird join the family....unless my 'Lets decide to have babies and I ed up keeping a little one to train as well.

[TheNzJessie]

i have put my limit on 3, i currently have 2 no one is emposing a limit on me but if i came across one that desperatly needed a good home i would be able to take him/her in.
3 is my limit but in an extreme case i could go to 4 but only just

[a.susz]

three is my limit for now, if and when i have a larger place id like to have another. my senegal has become attached to my boyfriend and really only lets me transport him where he needs to go now. my bronze wing likes me and will play with me, but prefers my boyfriend, once again. my red belly is like my child(lol) but isnt always wanting to play and interact, she likes her alone time. another for myself would be very nice, but im not pushing it for now, i only got my bronze wing(technically a gift for my boyfriend) summer of 09. we do have a white cap at work who really needs a home though... haha!

[thejoie]

hmmm... interesting question.

I have a lot of birds. But not a lot that require daily interaction- that I think factors into the mix a bit too. Having as many birds as I do would be hard if every one of them wanted 1:1 time daily.

Mia (Hahns macaw), Capri (Cape parrot), and Remy (Linnie) take the most of my time. Remy is downstairs so he's around us all the time. Capri and Mia come down on their stands for anywhere between 2-8 hours a day!! Capri also gets an hour of "flying" time in the bird room before she goes to bed in her cage every night. She doesn't fly much downstairs but the bird room is set up so she can fly to a lot of different stations and she knows it!! She does LAPS around there! Mia is pretty much cage free. She has a cage but it's never closed.

Elle (Red Belly) is a touch and go kinda bird. She's more into adventures than me. She's happy with 1 cuddle session with me daily and then flying and enjoying out of cage time. She's 16- I don't argue or try to force myself on her!! She also lives in the bird room but she needs to be caged because Capri likes to pick on her and she is a bird on the move. Elle gets me time when we feed/water everyone. She'll ride along with me. Then she gets out of cage time when Capri and Mia are downstairs. Elle also loves to fly and explore the climbing nets.

I also have 2 Linnies that aren't hand tame but like being fussed over. They don't really ever get off their cage. They're big whimps. But I'm in the process of getting them a net for above their cage so hopefully they can get more exercise.

In addition I have 3 rescued cockatiels and 2 budgies that are pretty scared of me. They don't like handling. They don't like hands. Probably parent raised. All of them rehomed at an older age. Those are what I call my "throw away" birds. 3 of them were literally abandoned and 2 were given to me because no one else wanted them. So they live here with big cages and fun toys and without the fear of being kicked out on the street!

So in conclusion, I have 2 birds that require daily extensive interaction (Mia and Capri). 1 bird that requires moderate interaction (Remy). 1 bird that requires a little daily interaction (Elle). 2 birds that think I'm ok and like to be given new toys and told they're good birdies (The Linnies Gus and Bernard). And 5 that like living with me but would prefer not seeing me at all (the tiels and budgies)

I am at my limit for now though! I don't feel in over my head. I feel that everyone has enough food variety and toy variety (I'm a toy nut). Everyone had a huge cage with enough space for several feeding dishes, toys, perches, boings/swings. My bird room is 17x15 feet big so my birds have tons of space in there. I have nets, hanging toys, lots to explore. I work alternating schedules with my boyfriend (he works days I work nights) so between the two of us we feel we're managing well with our zoo.

[Natacha]

My limit, for now at least, is 6.

Which is exactly what I have.

I don't feel in over my head with them. Quite frankly, as Pixel is settling in more, it's as if I didn't add another bird.

But it's definitively all I want for now, temptation or no temptation.

Having had two of my parents' birds over for a week just proves how nice it is at 6 and how much more work it would be at 8.

I often have upwards to three birds on/close (to) me, sometimes four. My birds seem able to "share" me, but when I had my mom's two, it wasn't as easy.

[k9shrink]

Before choosing a number, check out: http://www.parrotsr4ever.org/Pre_Aquire.aspx. I recommend any prospective parrot owner study the site in depth and play all the recordings before committing to a parrot!

Sharon

[skeetersunconure]

well i have one but two woild be my absolute limit for now but later i would like to get more

[Michael]

I'm setting my limit at 2 because I do so much training with my parrots that I really wouldn't have time to teach another. I suppose if I were to have a significant other who likes parrots, I could handle one more in my apartment. But without additional help, I really don't feel like cleaning one more cage or spending many hours to train another. I really can't buy a parrot just to look at and not interact with so I'm pretty set with just these 2 for now. I can see this change though with more space, time, or a spouse that can assist.

[k9shrink]

I've been a competitive dog trainer since 1977, and have had between 1 and 4 dogs during that time. My absolute favorite is TWO. I usually have one fully trained (and competing), and a puppy 7 years younger than it. Or I have one competing, and one 7 years OLDER and retired. Three was quite a bit more work, and four was impossible for one person to manage the training, leash walking, carrying four crates into a show or hotel room every weekend, etc. So I agree with Michael that two trained animals are the perfect number.