To second bird, or not to second bird?

[Merkuri]

I have a 22 month old Senegal, Soki. On the whole she's a pretty well-behaved bird, but her big problem is screaming when she's left alone for even a couple seconds. The screaming itself is not that big of a deal. She usually doesn't get very much volume, though it can get annoying when I have to be in the other room (like when taking a shower) and she continues to scream once every 5 or 10 seconds until she sees me or gets tired of it, and getting tired of it can take a couple hours.

My big worry, though, is that she's lonely. I know birds are flock animals, and it's not natural for her to be alone, but I simply cannot be with her as often as she'd like me to be. I have a 9-6 job and my live-in BF is going to college full time and isn't home for much more than that. I leave the TV on for her and even got her a mirror (which I didn't want to do at first), but it doesn't seem to be helping her lonliness any.

So the thought has occured to me to get her a friend. Now, I always thought of myself as a one-pet person and I never wanted a "flock" of my own, just one is fine with me. But it doesn't seem to be fine with her.

What advice can multiple bird owners give me about possibly getting another bird? Are two birds twice as much work? What can I do to make sure they stay people-friendly (or at least Soki stays that way)? Is this really a good solution to her lonliness problem? Did your first bird change at all when you got your second? Should I get another Senegal? Should I get the same gender or the opposite gender, or doesn't it matter (I have not had Soki sexed yet, and will not unless it becomes necessary)? I've heard Senegals can be territorial (and she has nipped at me before if I try to touch anything in her travel/sleeping cage), so will getting Soki another bird really make her happier, or might it just stress her out more?

[Quito's Qage]

My comments in red.

Originally Posted by Merkuri

What advice can multiple bird owners give me about possibly getting another bird? Are two birds twice as much work? Yes, at least twice as much! What can I do to make sure they stay people-friendly (or at least Soki stays that way)? Give them individual out of cage time that includes bonding and training time. Is this really a good solution to her lonliness problem? Hard to say. My two (GCC and Red Bellied) talk back and forth to each other a lot, and contact call each other if one is out of the room, but they don't like one another enough to be out of their cages together. Did your first bird change at all when you got your second? I don't believe so, but Quito was only 5 months old when I got Tausi. Should I get another Senegal? Should I get the same gender or the opposite gender, or doesn't it matter (I have not had Soki sexed yet, and will not unless it becomes necessary)? If you're going to get another Sennie, I think it is necessary to do the DNA thing. Unless you want to try your hand at breeding, an opposite sex Sennie would not be a good idea at all. I've heard Senegals can be territorial (and she has nipped at me before if I try to touch anything in her travel/sleeping cage), so will getting Soki another bird really make her happier, or might it just stress her out more? Assuming that you're not thinking of housing the new bird in with Soki (not recommended), I don't think it will stress her too much. Whether or not it makes her any happier is anyone's guess. You won't know until you try.

To be honest, whether two birds is twice as much work is sort of subjective. Sometimes it seems not, sometimes it seems like a lot more than that. There is no question that if you want them bonded to you, its going to require more time, since they both will require separate individual time with you. Even with the extra work and time, I enjoy having two birds, and I think its better for them. Even though they aren't "out of cage" pals, their cages are only a foot apart, and they interact a lot. That makes me feel better about the time when I can't be here.

[Mothi]

I am in a similar situation as you Merkuri. I only thought myself as a one-bird person. I only work part-time, but I am the only one in my household (unless you count the other pets). I leave the TV on when I am gone (and when I am home) so he won't be as lonely, but the TV is not his flock.

My worries on a 2nd bird is the extra screaming. You will still be part of the flock (well at least in the mind of the one you have had a while) and being out of sight may cause contact calls, though possibly not as urgent, or possibly just as urgent? But with 2 birds, won't both of them be contact calling to you? If you take one of the birds to another room, the other will scream and possibly the one with you will call back to the other causing stress to both? Does it mean to take one out with you you must take them both? If they don't get along out of the cage, there is another issue of that.

My questions (if you don't mind me throwing some more out) are:
1. When you add a new bird to a flock of 2 (you and your current bird), will the contact calling problems be the same when you leave the room? (Assuming new one is bonded to you and considers you part of the flock.) Those of you with multiple birds, do your birds call out when you leave the room, or are they okay now that they at least have 1 friend with them?
2. When you leave the room with one bird and the other stays in it's room, they both will contact call to each other right? Possibly more so than at you since birds of a feather flock together? They will also have more time with their new found flockmate even if they are in seperate cages since you have to leave for various reasons while their feathered flockmate stays in the same room.
3. With 2 birds, it is possible the noise can go up? Probably depending on the type of birds and if they like each other?
4. With different species of birds, do they still contact call each other if in seperate rooms or seperated? Do they still call for you just as urgently as their feathered but not same species friend?

Dogs are pack animals and thus enjoy the company of their pack. If seperated and alone, they may bark (call out) or whine for their pack members. I would consider dogs much more domesticated then birds (who are labeled exotics). Dogs learn to amuse themselves and to cope with seperation. Some possibly not as well as others. The question is, can birds learn to cope with toys and things to entertain them while alone? Or are they just too exotic?

[Monica]

Birds can learn to be the only feathered member in the flock... however, it's never wise to reward a bird for screaming, even if it's just to see a short glimpes of you and nothing more...

Now lets put out a story here... There's a mitred conure who's live with his person for about 10 years maybe? But the conure is constantly screaming as he doesn't want to be alone. Owner decides he needs to move on with life, but because of his noisy bird, he cannot... So he finds a place to where the bird can be borded for some insignificant amount of time, and periodically sends checks to the pet supply store to help care for him. He's still loud, and he HATES dogs, so had to be moved to the back of the place to 'supervise' the bunnies and guinea pigs. Finally, after some time, he was taken in as a foster, where he lived with the 'big guys', and over time formed a bond with a lilac crowned amazon... However, he was still known for his constant screaming. When he and his buddy were separated, they contact called for eachother. But even when they were together, and around the other birds, he still screamed...

After some months passed, he was moved to a home where the loudest birds were cockatiels, and there was another bird very much like him (a cherry head). However, he was also forced to live in a smaller cage (but still a decent size for himself), and in an area less frequented by people. That doesn't mean he gets any less attention, but that he's not in a major part of the house anymore. With him here, and his squawks, the other birds are now quieter than normal. However, he alone can be louder than all combined (minus the tiels high pitched noises). He has so far no bond with the bird like him (the cherry head), and the amount of time he screams varies each day... sometimes it's throughout the entire day, sometimes he's quiet most of the day, and others it's right inbetween! His screaming though is not an issue here, as it was in his previous home. Has he settled in? I would definitely assume so. Besides humans, has he created any new buddies? No, but hopefully we're workin on that! Has his screaming decreased any? Sometimes. Sometimes it's the opposite...



Okay, so I know that's a bad example, but it goes to show that screaming can't always be cured by another bird, and sometimes things can get worse. However, even at that, getting a second bird can sometimes be beneficial, if the two birds accept eachother and become buddies. If not, you could have two screaming birds, or just a screaming bird and another who doesn't know what do to. Think well on this decision before making one. You can't know if it'll work out better or not until it happens.

[Quito's Qage]

Juli and Monica both raised some good points that I neglected. It's entirely possible that you could end up with much more noise. When I leave the room, both Quito and Tausi contact call. Fortunately its usually only once or twice, and neither of them are real screamers. Quito is louder than she was because of her learning Tausi's calls, which are somewhat louder than hers. Yes, they are different species and they do contact call each other if one is out of sight. In fact, I stopped having Quito with me here in the computer room because of that (it did seem to agitate her). Now all out of cage time is on the playstands in the living room, where their cages are. That way the flock is together and all is right with the world. I make sure one is out with me for an hour, then we switch. They each get their one hour out, followed by supper.

Two birds are always noisier than one to some degree. You could certainly end up with them competing with each other! Also, there is no guarantee that having another bird around will cause Soki to call less.

[CALVINS MOM]

I think it is hit or miss. I'm a bad one to ask since I have a lot of birds. My kids talk back and forth, but that could mean more noise for you. And another cage.

Have you seen the DVD "The Bird Sitter"? It's really cute and my guys seem to really like it. Maybe that might work for you?

[Irish]

The Goon Platoon likes to communicate--LOUDLY--if they can't see one another, even though Ceilidh is bonded to me, and (unfortunately) Bob and Arthur don't like him. They still like to have the entire flock where they can see each other.

Here, the flock dynamics have changed with each addition. When it was just Bob, it was all sweetness and light. When Arthur came to stay, he bonded to me--and Bob bonded to him. They compete for my attention, but they also get cranky if I try to take them away from each other. When Ceilidh came, it became obvious that while 2 is company, 3's a crowd. Poor baby is the odd man out.

My 4 (Petey the Conure included) demand and receive my attention all day, every day. They like each other, but they want and need individual "mom" time, too. Then there's Eddy. He's a whole 'nother story unto himself. He'd frankly prefer that the others just fell off the edge of the earth, and that I would spontaneously combust, leaving he and Z to build a nest in his cage and start "housekeeping" :-). BTW--all the birds are male.

So it definitely makes a difference whether there is just one, or a whole flock, as far as I can tell. Whether it's a good or bad difference is probably going to depend on the whole dynamics of the household and the individuals who live there and make up the human/avian flock.

[Merkuri]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I think I'll go with my first instrinct and stick with just Soki for now. I barely have time for her, and it sounds like another bird will just increase the amount of time they need and won't necessarily help the, "Mommy, where are you?!?" calling.

[MiniMama]

Hi, I want to resond as well because getting a second bird was a godsend for me.
Here is my recommendation: You have an African bird. Get another African bird, preferrable of similar size. Research your bird's native habitat and find out who she would hang out with naturally. There is a good chance that your two birds will bond, and you can house them in the same cage. This, I can assure you, adds NO extra work to bird ownership. My two entertain themselves quite a bit, which takes a big load off me.

They contact call when I leave the room, sometimes (not if they are preoccupied or eating). I can usually contact call back and they will either come find me or hush. Even though they are bonded, they are both very affectionate with me. They love to 'wrestle' with me, sit on my shoulder and preen, eat with me, give me kisses, etc. No change in how they respond to me.

I am a big fan of more than one bird. Email me if you'd like to know more. Thanks!!!