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11-23-2005, 05:23 PM
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When is enough?
When is too many birds really, too many birds? How does one decide where the cut off is, or better yet, what should the single most important consideration be before committing to yet another bird?
Having just recently gotten a triple-decker cage setup freed up some room in our 2 bdrm apartment that we share with 4 birds, cages, playgrounds and more plants than you can shake a stick at. So naturally the first thing that popped into my mind was, “Hmmm, I could stick another cage there…” It’s not going to happen of course as we are at our limit as to what we can in good conscience take care of and provide for. I could give in to temptation and get one or three more, heck if I could train a few of them I just might get a couple of hummers and have them flutter in the empty spaces between the larger houseplants, so it’s not really a matter of room, as there is always room for one more, just one more, a little one, but always room … For us it is a matter of being able to ensure health and happiness to those we already have, and if we were to break down and get one or however many more, all involved would be lacking in certain things and that would not be fair to any of us. Our limit has been reached and even if we had a sudden influx of money enabling us to get into bigger digs, I don’t think that we would be getting anymore birds, greenhouses for sure but probably no more birds. Both Katrin and I are very happy with the little feathered family that we have and look forward to growing old right alongside them. Besides, not everyone is cut out to be the equivalent of the feathered version of the Brady Bunch and then there are those that would go nuts if all they had was Opie. Four’s my limit and that’s my story and I’m sticking to it, so there! What’s your excuse?
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For thirty years he talked in feathered pride For thirty years he talked before he died. You say that parrots do not really know The meaning of the words they speak? Just so, I grant you that you may be right - but then, Do men? Theodore Stephanides 
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11-23-2005, 05:30 PM
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Three seemed to be the perfect number for us while we're in an apartment. Once we get a house, we have plans to get my b&g/gw and possibly one more (seriously considering a 'too). Then we're done. I want to focus on building them an aviary in the backyard and a nice bird room in the house and being happy with a diverse five.
Five is just about the maximum number of parrots I feel comfortable having. Any more than that, and my attentin would be a little too stretched. We might even hold off awhile on getting those last two, since we'd like to have human kids at some point. It's hard for me to put a limit on birds, because I truly do want one of each. One day, we might start our own education facility and get permits for things like crows and raptors and bring in other things like kookaburras and toucans, but five is definitely the limit for parrots... 
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11-23-2005, 05:46 PM
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I think the limit for each person is going to vary. For me, my 2 are enough...though I do love to dream of getting more. With the 3 dogs it's really the vet bills that keep me limited. Along with time. Someone who works from home would have a little more time to spend than someone who is away for 8+ hours a day. Someone who has family members to help out in the care/attention would be able to take on more than someone who is single. I think before adding to any family the person/s should sit back and really think about the time and costs involved in having another fid around.
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11-23-2005, 05:58 PM
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Everyone thinks they have a limit until they fall in love again LOL I said six tops, then it was ten tops, no more room we absolutley can not keep another. Then I got the baby quakers to raise......................................
Lack of will power or to much room in my heart? LOL Triple deckers help fit in more cages. I have one just like you have Graeh and I am planning on getting another by next year. That way all my conures will be in triple deckers. Lynda
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Lynda Lewis, Rescue Coordinator Florida West Coast Avian Society's Parrot & Exotic Bird Rescue www.FWCAS.org
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11-23-2005, 06:27 PM
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8 is enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kind of like the show................ I can't possibly make time for any more. I know my limitations and hopefully this will be it - however, if a M2 becomes available I may have to reconsider.............
 Seriously, I really do have my hands, and house, full.
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Hugs from TooVille 
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11-23-2005, 06:33 PM
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I also live in a one bedromm apartment, so 5 is my limit. Cross my heart!!!
 P.S. Don't let me near the pet store where I purchased my budgie (who is doing fine, came out of quarrentine this week), Oh... thank goodness I don't know any breeders nearby either! 
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11-23-2005, 09:02 PM
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Well, i have 9 now, but have had 23 at one time.
I know I have reached my limit when I can no longer breath.  some of you know I have Chronic severe asthma, but I dont think anyone really knows, I am also allergic to the birds!!!!  See, A life without birds is not a life for me. I could not survive without them. I do no have biological kids, nor will I ever. So my birds are my kids. I work PT, so I can devote alot of time to them. I pretty much work, so I can get things FOR them!(Emma is getting a new Avian Adventures cage for her birthday,ruby red, medina playtop style).**that spoiled chick!!**  My birds have thier own room, and I am fortuate enough to have my own home. i will not say I have reached my limit,because if some little disabled grey comes along, that needs a special home, there is always room at my house. Luckily my husband agrees.
__________________
"I'll try being nicer, If you try being smarter...."
 www.thegreyroost.com My Angels waiting at the Rainbow Bridge  ~~ ~~ Sampson Bell (CAG) Otis (TAG) Polly (OWA)
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11-23-2005, 09:15 PM
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I'd have to say, "it depends".
We have 5 parrots, two people. I think that is the maximum we can handle for pet parrots while still giving them adequate attention and stimulation - AND it only works because two macaws and two greys are housed together and provide each other companionship, too. Otherwise I don't think we could have more than three if we were their sole companions. Parrots require so much stimulation that it is not fair to have pet birds if you can't provide that consistently. We also have other pets who require attention, but no human children. So this might not be the right number for anyone other than us. There are lots of factors involving time, space, and resources. A parrot is generally more expensive to feed than a dog or a cat. On the other hand, if we had sufficient time and resources to care for cages, aviaries, and prep food, we could certainly add aviary birds, finches, or softbills who required less in the way of interaction. I'm choosing not do this at this time because I want a life that involves other things as well as chopping veggies and boiling eggs. If you are breeding hookbills (I no longer am), the answer is perhaps different, and involves the number of pairs you can fairly and reasonable house and feed, to produce only the number offspring that can be raised with sufficient attention to provide a well-adjusted pet, and for whom you have appropriate, pre-approved and prescreened homes. Again, finches and softbills are a little different, in that 1) you are probably not going to be handfeeding the babies as pets, and 2) if you are breeding for NFS showing you probably have specific breeding goals in mind for your program that will dictate the size and makeup of your flock. Even when I was breeding finches, though, it was *really* hard to resist the "just one mores species, I've never seen that one offered for sale before* syndrome... Regards, Rita
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