Two birds or not two birds?

[Matridom]

We recently got a young rose-crowned conure last fall and things are going well with her (first molt on the go to boot). We are looking at filling out our little family with a second bird and we have pretty much decided on an African Grey.

We have several questions that we would like to have answered before we make any final decisions.

What is the main difference between a TAG and a CAG, I know size and coloring are some differences, but what about personality and behavioral differences?

Additionally i'm looking at a possible time crunch, Both myself and Girlfriend are working full-time and time dedicated to birds may be a little short (10 hours out of the apartment). I know we can find an hour or two daily for direct interaction, and possible more with self-entertainment outside the cage. Is this enough time for these intelligent birds?

[Cindy215]

I personally don't think it's enough time but other people will say it is. Some people just make the bird stay up late. Which I think is unhealthy and sad for a bird to be sitting there all day long alone. By the time you're home from work it's their bedtime. They like to sleep with the sun going down and rise with dawn. For part of the winter we only have 10 hour days. I'd get another conure to keep the existing one company if it were me.

[papaya]

I would go for another conure too. My two TAGs are wonderful together and they get so much interaction from each other that I cannot give them. It is great to watch them.
Insa

[Copper]

My grays require a lot of interaction outside the cage. A couple hours would just be teasing for these highly interactive critters.
I agree, get another conure.

[sml]

I agree too that another conure is the best choice that you can do.

But you should remember that if you get different sex to your bird, they can make a couple and it can change the birds a lot. The same sex is just as good as the opposite sex, may be even better, expecially if you dont want to breed them. I personally would take same sex as a friend to my bird if I where you.

sanne

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by sml

I agree too that another conure is the best choice that you can do.

But you should remember that if you get different sex to your bird, they can make a couple and it can change the birds a lot. The same sex is just as good as the opposite sex, may be even better, expecially if you dont want to breed them. I personally would take same sex as a friend to my bird if I where you.

sanne

My preference is always the opposite sex. They can go through all the motions if they want and if you give them the right lighting etc all year long you can get away with only laying hopefully once in the spring. If they even bother at all.

Then you swap out eggs by freezing or order fakes from fakebirdeggs.com. They can sit on them all they want, they wont hatch. Then they lose interest and no harm done. As long as they have the right foods and calcium that is.

I think they live such unnatural lives, it's the least we can do to give them the third biological imperative...procreation....sorta lol.

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by papaya

I would go for another conure too. My two TAGs are wonderful together and they get so much interaction from each other that I cannot give them. It is great to watch them.
Insa

Cute photos. Was that feeding one just this week? I noticed alot of feeding starting up this week. I was hoping to get by for another year on my second year birds.

What suburbs are you in, papaya? I"m in Bucks county.

[papaya]

Hi Cindy215!

Thanks,

yes they feed each other, but since they are only eight months old, I don't have to worry about it. LOL.
I live in Montgomery County, Collegeville.
We should get together someday!

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by papaya

Hi Cindy215!

Thanks,

yes they feed each other, but since they are only eight months old, I don't have to worry about it. LOL.
I live in Montgomery County, Collegeville.
We should get together someday!

Oh yeah I see that now. I think it's great you have two together. I figure we have families they all deserve one too...of their own kind.

That'd be great, maybe in the summer...Collegeville isn't very far at all.

Have you been to Bird Paradise in Burlington nj? You wont believe the stuff there, thousands of toys alone. I'm not too far from there. You could go up the Turnpike to the Burlington Bridge it's only 5 minutes off the bridge. But take a bunch of money!

[bekfreak]

I'm not too far either in the Northeast section of Philly and I agree bring cash. You'll max your credit cards out at BP! :D As for TAGs and CAGs both require alot of attention.


My wet chicken after a bath. This is one grey who loves showers...the trick is cold water and a nice UV light aftwards to soak into the skin. :)