Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!rex!ames!dftsrv!mimsy!nrl-cmf!ghost From: ghost@nrl-cmf.UUCP (Glenn Host) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: Indoor: companion for parrot? Message-ID: <339@ra.nrl-cmf.UUCP> Date: 10 Jun 91 13:56:18 GMT References: <11508@xenna.Xylogics.COM> <1991Jun8.174722.1045@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> Reply-To: ghost@ra.nrl.navy.mil (Glenn Host) Distribution: na Organization: Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC Lines: 63 In article <1991Jun8.174722.1045@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> vlf8v@cyclops.micr.Virginia.EDU (Virginia L. Fristoe) writes: >>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 don't believe imprinting on a human is the same as breeding. Our Cockitiel On-On is very attached to my wife; he will scream when she leaves (just her not me) or he hears her voice. He will also scream when she comes home even though he can not see her but he only does it when she is at the door. But he is a good mate - He would sit on the eggs even though the female would not. When the female died (due to egg blockage) he was very depressed but still would react with my wife. >>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? >>Any suggestions, replies, etc. would be much appreciated. >>Thanks very much. >>Dena And On-On gets along with our dog Ivan (a German Setter/Black Labador mix) but perhaps that is because Ivan found him - and refused to go home until my wife looked at this poor, sick bird which wasn't moving. It all depends on the temperment of the dog - Ivan wouldn't hurt anything. He likes to chase but he never catches (and he could if we tried). All animals have personalities some are shy (Our bird Ping for example; scared of everything ) some are aggressive (Our bird Lucy for example) some are very brave (On-On will peck at Ivan's food even when Ivan is standing there looking at him) You will have to observe the animals personalities for a period of time and determine if you have a possible match. Good Luck. -- Glenn Host - Senior Systems Analyst (ghost@ra.nrl.navy.mil) NRL Code 5800, 4555 Overlook Ave.; Washington, DC 20375 (202) 767-2046 12307 Tigers Eye Court ; Reston, VA 22091 (703) 620-1141 Don't pay attention to header - my news/mail handler is looking for attention