Companion for My companion?>

[TheHolisticNanny]

HI folks!

I'm considering getting Mo a companion. I've recently enrolled in college and will only be away 3 days a week this semester, and it will probably increase MUCH more next semester, but thats still more than Mo's used to me being away.... I mean for petes sake the poor boy calls when i leave the ROOM!

WOuld another grey be best?> female? or would another male be OK?>
I don't want to breed, too much work for me, but if my understanding is right, I won't have birds that breed if they don't have a nest box?

What about another species of parrot?.... which one would be best?

I realize that Mo might bond more to another parrot than myself, but if he's happy, thats all that matters to me.

Please advise!
Thanks, Danielle

[Emmilyy]

you're right, it is possible that he may bond to another parrot and lose some to alot of his bond with you - BUT he may not bond with another parrot at all. you may end up with two parrots who hate each other and want to constantly fight, and there's no way to tell if this will happen beforehand... and is that really something you are prepared to deal with? That means they wouldn't be able to be out unsupervised, and it would make things alot harder..

i think if you get another bird, it should be because you want another bird yourself, not because you want another bird as a companion for the bird you already have, and you should be prepared to have to birds who could hate each other, and still want to keep the bird for yourself. it wouldn't be fair to a bird to get it thinking it would get a long with the bird you have already, and then want to get rid of it when it doesn't..

[hollyhawkz]

Hi Danielle,

I have no advice about the birds, however I would like to say Yeah!!!! about school. How exciting.

[TheHolisticNanny]

hmmmm, alright............ then how do I go about finding the RIGHT companion for Mo, AND where would my odds be better? another CAG? A different parrot species, a male a female?

How do people that have multiple parrots do it? introduce them first? pick the opposite sex? read them the tao of pooh? WHAT?

Of course I would LOVE another bird, thats not even the question. My concern now is to help the current one I have. MO is a wild caught believed to be male (he'll be tested soon tho) He doesn't play with toys, he REALLY likes newspaper and cardboard box's, as well as dried corn on the cob. not to eat, just destroy :-) he is a bit of a nervous nelly. Maybe a calmer bird or another nervous one?

Hmmmm, suggestions?

[TheHolisticNanny]

THANK HOLLYHAWKS!!!!!!

IT's been a very quick thing, but i'm givin' it hell! I start class in 2 weeks and need all the you go girls I can get!!!!! still scared, but it's a determined scared!

Originally Posted by hollyhawkz

Hi Danielle,

I have no advice about the birds, however I would like to say Yeah!!!! about school. How exciting.

[Emmilyy]

i dont really have any other advice.. other than what i already said.. just remember that getting another bird isn't the solution to any problem, it might make it better, but it could also make it worse.

[TheHolisticNanny]

Alright, thanks........

Originally Posted by Emmilyy

i dont really have any other advice.. other than what i already said.. just remember that getting another bird isn't the solution to any problem, it might make it better, but it could also make it worse.

[hollyhawkz]

I think it's freaking awesome, and I'm jealous!!!! (in a supportive kinda way LOL)

[TheHolisticNanny]

LOL, THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!!......... I'll admit i've been thinking about it for years, but didn't REALLY know what to go for, and was very intimidated by the whole process.....BUT then I lost my job mid august, and I said EFF it! I'm GOING to do it!... So I went one day, took my son and his lunch pail and his portable dvd player (cause adult stuff bores the hell out of him) and started the whole process right then and there!

I've been having a hard time finding good work for the last yr and this last job was just the final straw! I knew I couldn't continue to live this way and
keep my sanity!

Dont be jealous, SIGN UP!..... I'm starting at my local community college the whole process was actually pretty easy, don't know why I didn't do it years ago!... NO, yes I do, cause I was homeschooling my own child....... but thats changed and here we goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Originally Posted by hollyhawkz

I think it's freaking awesome, and I'm jealous!!!! (in a supportive kinda way LOL)

[sodakat]

I'm of a mind that no living thing wants to be alone very much. Mo and a new bird may not become buddies, but he would at least have someone to watch, as would the new bird and this would make his life more interesting.

Yes, they may breed even if there is no nestbox, although having a nestbox does seem to stimulate them to breed. They also may lay without a nest box. If Mo is a female, she may also lay without a mate. Mo must be what, at least 15 years old if wild caught? Has he seen another bird in that time?