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From: vlf8v@cyclops.micr.Virginia.EDU (Virginia L. Fristoe)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Indoor: companion for parrot?
Message-ID: <1991Jun8.174722.1045@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Date: 8 Jun 91 17:47:22 GMT
References: <11508@xenna.Xylogics.COM>
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In article <11508@xenna.Xylogics.COM> rollo@Xylogics.COM (Dena Rollo) writes:
>I have a four-year-old yellow-naped Amazon (named Puck); I've had
>one-person bird. Here's my dilemma, and my question:
>
>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).


>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
>
          It sounds to me like this bird is too imprinted on a human                              to be breedable, anyway. I would be curious to know how the
          dogs reacted to her--how much interaction was there?

>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 have her sexed, be aware that there is a simple
           molecular test available through your vet using just a
           small blood sample (it's like DNA fingerprinting)    

>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).
           
           
           I don't mean to rain on your parade, but the following just
           happened less than two weeks ago, and I think it applies.
           Recently I made a decision to place my black lab as a pet
           with one of my best friends, whose 2nd dog had died and wanted
           a companion for HER black lab, anyway. This friend works at a
           zoo in the bird dept., and knows her stuff. She also owns 2
           cockatoos and a blue-headed parrot. The week that my dog came
           to her house, she was bird sitting a yellow-naped Amazon for
           a zoo volunteer.  To make a long story short, the wing-clipped
           yellow-naped was last seen in the dog's mouth. (This dog has
           been trained to retrieve birds for almost two years). Now, my 
           friend was at fault or leaving the bird out of its cage in a
           new environment. Necropsy will tell us if it really was the 
           dog that killed it; if it was, it is NOT THE DOG's FAULT, but
           so what? The bird's still dead, the owners had to be told,
           and those birds are NOT cheap to replace! (~$1000) 

           Moral of the story: If you do get a dog as a companion for a
           bird ( and IMHO, I can't see these two species being that
           compatible-emus HATE dogs, and cassowaries will eviscerate
           them if they can, and those are huge birds, relatively), get
           one that is not bred for any kind of hunting work! This includes
           poodles, terriers, retrievers, etc.
                          
           Naturally there are exceptions to this "rule", and I've had
           labs that I KNOW would have not touched a parrot; but I'm
           talking in general.BTW, if Puck is like a lot of parrots
           who aren't afraid to use that big beak of theirs, this
           could temper a dog's aggression, too!

           Whatever you decide to do, best of luck! Something tells me
           you are going to have your hands full come January!


           




  
>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?
>
>Any suggestions, replies, etc. would be much appreciated.
>
>Thanks very much.
>
>Dena