MBS...is it dangerous? Should I resist?

[Michele WithOneL]

I'm really struggling with this and I'm not sure what to do. Is this a common ailment here? I have this perfect little TAG. I'm very very happy with her. So why do I keep researching and find myself longing to bring home another bird? What is wrong with me? It's not like I think another bird will be better than the one I have. Actually this one is so good it's likely the second one will be worse in some ways...well, maybe not worse...just different. I must be crazy. I can arrange my finances to support a second bird. I can arrange my house to make room for a second large cage. I work from home and my kids are grown so I can arrange my schedule to give a second bird attention. But should I? It's not like my bird is saying, "mom don't buy me so much stuff and I really don't want to spend so much time with you." A bird that's an only child does have some advantages.

So what do you think? Do some of you with multiple birds find yourselves wishing you could go back to just one? If I got a second bird, is there a kind that would be better to get since I already have a TAG? I think I read somewhere that if you have an African bird it's better to stick with other African birds and if you have South American birds you should stick with others from South America. But I didn't really understand the reason for that and maybe that was just someone's opinion. I guess maybe because they would be more compatable or something. I find myself longing for a CAG or a Panama Amazon or one of the Poi's or a Pionus and some of those conures are really cute and then there's the Caiques....I can't get them all...If I do this,I really should stick to one more. If I get one will this MBS thing go away or am I just feeding the problem. What if I choose the wrong one.... And letting the bird choose me is not totally the answer. Lots of birds can choose me and you just can't take every one that chooses you.

Any thoughts or suggestions on any of this will be appreciated. I'm going to go hug my TAG now....

Michele

[Doyle'sMommy]

I definitley know what you are going through! After I had Doyle about 2 months I started longing for another bird, daydreaming, researching! And then Danny and Prinny showed up, quite unexpected, but perfect for our family! They had problems and it was hard (it still is hard). But to Evan and I our family still wasn't complete, and after a CAG deal fell through at a local petstore we found a breeder and are waiting for Scarlett (TAG) to come home. I can honestly say that even though she isn't home yet our flock and family feels very complete. I can admire other birds and aww and coo over them but I no longer feel the need to bring another home. Maybe in a few years that desire will return, but I doubt it.

The only reason I would think to stick with other African birds is the dust issue which can be harmful to other birds. But I have air purifiers under my cockatiels cage and there will be a second around Scarlett's to keep the other bird healthy and help cut down any dust they might inhale.

There are days when I am just exhausted and it seems like I have so much work waiting for me at home, but I do it and they always make me smile and laugh. And they are very rewarding. I also think Doyle has benefited from having other birds around. He seems very happy to "talk" to them and I think it helps him from being lonely when we are gone, because they are his flock mates too.

I think if you are up to it then go for it. Once you spend so much time caring, cooking, cleaning, and making toys for one bird another one is no big deal. I find it easier to cook and clean now that I have multiple, not much goes to waste and I have a routine for cleaning and spending time with each one. Good luck! I hope I was helpful!

[RingneckedPrincess]

Ahem...I say get another

I have MBS...a serious case too...you know what cures it? Get an ekkie...

Sorry no help here...always looking to give a home to a fid who needs it

Dani

[Copper]

cure for MBS? Ekkie????
Naaaaaaa..... wouldn't help, I'm immune!
I have Aussie's, Africans, and South American..... and no problems. The only thing I've done is added an additional air cleaner, and made sure that the little ones get their flight time in before the rest come out. I know they could get away by flying, but why take a chance?

[stepht25]

I think MBS is 100% normal. I've never regretted any of the additions we have made and have never wished to go back to just 1. I think for me - there's just so many different species with all such great personalities - it's hard to choose just 1......or more. I say I'm done and I'm not going to add anymore. But at the same time - I still find myself researching different species and looking through the classifieds, etc. And if I came along the "right" bird - would probably bring it home in a heartbeat! (my daughter and I rearranged the living room while they were out of school because of the snow - now we both keep saying - gee...there's just enough room for 1 more cage. )
So, I think if you can afford another, have the time to spend etc. and want another - go for it!!

(P.S. - if you ever really want to be talked out of getting another bird - don't ask any of us with multiple birds for advice!! )

[Vega]

As long as your current fid wouldn't lose the one-on-one attention it's accustomed to....go for it!!

I decided to get a second bird because Gypsy isn't very...huggable?...she's like a teenager. She wants to do her own thing, on her own time, and hugs are only allowed if we're at the vets. She's very content playing by herself and actually looked at me as if I were intruding when I tried to get involved. *sigh*

So I brought home Harvey. He is the ultimate "velcro bird". LOL The balance of the two personalities gives me everything i could ask for. Although, it is more demanding. I kept thinking "what's the big deal? I already cook and clean for her, what's one more?" I soooo mislead myself! Not in the cooking/cleaning area...but in the attention area. So again, if the first one doesn't lose any one-on-one time--go for it. But if you have to compromise that, you may want to reconsider.

I would love to add a third to the flock, but with the time and attention Harvey demands...he would suffer. Maybe down the road...when I marry some rich man, who will work, and let me stay home with the fids.

[raddaughter]

It is hard to resist! Harley is already the 'perfect' bird, and she sounds like your grey. I want more birds, a CAG and female SI ekkie, but I think that will be it as far as kids. I would love to have more birds, but there is things that need to be considered before add another feathered child.
Money is an issue. It is always one of my first thoughts when I think about another parrot. Toys come into mind first usually when money is mentioned. They are expensive, and the more bird you have, the more they cost. I like to make my own, but there are some I simply can't resist!
Attention could also pose as a problem. I had an issue of doting on the ekkie more than the lovies. It is hard not to...
I can't say that when I had lovies and the ekkie that I only dreamed of going back to one. I want more birds desperatly, but I know there will be a limit. I can'timagine me with more than 3, MAYBE 4 birds. I can sit and dream of having more, but I can't think of any other bird I could want.

[svolk]

I have said that we will add a 3rd to our flock in the next few years, but recently I have come to the conclusion that we will not add any more at least until Jerry naturally passes ( that he lives a very long and happy life). Given our current flock dynamics, I just don't think that Jerry will do well with another bird (he could do well with another budgie - and I do plan to have an English budgie someday -, but I'm thinking more along the lines of a TAG for a future bird) - he's very nosey and to me it just spells a recipe for disaster. When Lulu is on me he's very jealous and has to make his presence known. And we do not intend to clip him again, so when he's out he has free reign to fly to me whenever he wants. And having separate out of cage time is not an option right now. I also feel that his quality time would be compromised, and I don't want that. So I will wait a long time before bringing in another.

[winkiebird]

i would have to say that i (for now) am immune to MBS. i have a problem w/ playing favorites too often . so i'm sticking w/ 1 bird now. plus even a p'let takes LOADS of time & i'm still in school.

[GreetingCardReligion]

I'm with Winkie and MBS has yet to hit me. I definantly forsee myself playing favorites as well and my little grey and I spend so much time together, I'd hate to divide that among any other birdie.