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From: dlp@zule.EBay.Sun.COM (Dan Pritchett)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Indoor: companion for parrot?
Message-ID: <7029@male.EBay.Sun.COM>
Date: 6 Jun 91 17:24:20 GMT
References: <11508@xenna.Xylogics.COM>
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In article <11508@xenna.Xylogics.COM>, rollo@xerxes.Xylogics.COM (Dena Rollo) writes:
|> Lately, she's been a lot less cuddly, doesn't like to be scratched very
|> often (she's always liked to be held and scratched as often as I've been
|> willing to do it (though I'm the only one she allows to do this). She's not ill-
|> was recently at the vet for a routine checkup, eats, plays and SCREAMS as much as
|> ever, etc.  I know she's reaching sexual maturity, and while she used to 
|> "copulate" on me quite often she hasn't been doing this much either (can't
|> say I miss it!). I'm worried that she's lonely- I've had less time for her 
|> lately. Also, there's going to be a new (human) baby in the house in January.
|> And I'm worried about Puck's reaction to that (she's always been an only child).
|> 
Suprisingly our double-yellow head Amazon has been somewhat more cranky
than usual, but he is approaching 30, so I just wrote it off to a change
of life, similar to humans at that age. The last few months have also
been parrot breeding season and our vet told us that all parrots, particularly
Amazons have been very cranky.

|> 
|> So here's the question: I'd like to get her a companion, but I'm not sure which
|> way to go. Has anyone here with a large bird made this decision, and how did it
|> go? I'm not sure whether she'd get along better with another bird, or with
|> another kind of pet (i.e. a dog). She hasn't had any contact with other
|> birds since she was a baby; she *has* lived with dogs on a temporary basis, and
|> seemed to like that just fine.  If I do decide on a bird (which seems more
|> "natural" to me, but I'm not sure it will to her), I'm not sure if she'd do
|> better with another nape, or with something else (African grey, conure?).
|> 
Well, we have an African Grey, and two German Shepards. Punky (the Amazon)
doesn't seem terribly interested in either the other bird or the dogs. Zeb
(the Grey) on the other hand really enjoys Punky's companionship, despite
many of his head feathers missing from minor scraps. If Punky is out of
the room for more than 5 minutes, Zeb will begin a housewide search for
his friend. Zeb is also entertained by the dogs. He likes calling them
and will follow them around as long as they ignore him.

I'm not sure which would be better. Punky spent the first 25 years of his
life as the only pet in a family (we are the second owner). This explains
his real lack of desire to play with Zeb or the dogs. I'm not sure if he
would behave differently without Zeb to entertain him, but I kind of feel
he wouldn't. I think he really only wants human companionship, and the other
pets are kind of an annoyance to him.

If you do consider another bird, I highly recommend a Grey. I think Grey's
are a nice combination with Amazon's because they are not highly affectionate.
Zeb could care less if we ever pick him up. He would much rather, watch us
from a perch and pick up words, phrases, and whatever other sounds he can.
So while Punky wants to be held all of the time, Zeb just likes to hang out
and watch, although he does want to be in whatever room Punky is in. I'm
not sure owning both would be as easy if Zeb was as demanding for our
contact. Zeb is a real clown with a vocabulary of about 200 words/phrases.
He greets us each morning, scolds the dogs, Punky, and himself. He growls
like the dogs at his toys and any particularly stubborn nuts. By far the
most entertaining and lowest maintanance pet I have ever owned.

|> 
|> I'd consider having her sexed and getting another nape for possible breeding, but
|> frankly, that's not my main concern, and I'm not at all sure she's good 
|> breeding material (as I'm not at all sure she even knows she's a bird). But I'm
|> absolutely not ruling it out.
|> 
If you do that then Puck might bond with the other parrot and you would
probably loose most of the close touch you have with her. I had another
Grey in the house for a few days for a friend, and Zeb completely ignored
everything else trying to court the other Grey.

|> And while companionship for Puck is a prime motivation, don't worry - any
|> animal in my house will be taken very good care of (and I personally would
|> love to get a dog).
|> 
|> So, anyone out there introduce their parrot to a new bird/other animal? How did
|> it go? Was it eventually positive for the first bird?
|> 
Well Zeb was the first bird and he is taking it all fine. Punky and Zeb
have never been really close buddies in a mutual sort of way although Zeb
is terribly attached to Punky. The dogs came last and they seem to kind
of ignore the birds, except in the mornings when the hang out around the
cage for any food that gets tossed out through the bars. The dogs have
always considered the birds to be minor annoyances that are too loud.
The dogs also get guard duty when the birds are outside in their cages
which they don't like because they can't come inside until the birds
do. But I've never had any problems between the birds and dogs, and Punky
has even gone for a ride on one of the dogs before. Neither seemed
enthusiastic, but both tolerated it.:-)

Well, I've rambled and probably haven't said much. Hope some of this
helps.

Dan Pritchett               | ARPA/Internet: dlp@zule.EBay.Sun.COM
Sun Federal System Engineer | Air Waves: KC6TXZ
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I still think the kid would make a great bear.
            --Baloo, The Jungle Book