Good Flock Mates For Timnehs?

I know this is on a bird by bird basis...But I'm curious to hear from other Timneh owners (or anyone that knows) Which species would be a would be the best to add to a flock...Consisting of....1 Timneh, 3 dogs and 2 humans lol

Thinking about adding a new bird but want to do it right so we're doing some home work.

Thanks for your feedback!

Yes...definitely goes by individual. Smokey was about 1.5 years old,and an "only bird" When Amy came home with me..And it was jealousy, hatred, for the next 25 years or so..
Smokey would walk up behind Amy, Yoink on her tail, then beat feet back to her house!
One time, years ago, she and amy went beak to beak ( I thought Smokes finally excepted Amy) and Smokey bit Amy's tongue, requiring five stitches!

Until the day Smokey flew off to Rainbow Bridge, I NEVER let the two of them get close again.

But then again, that is one parrot. I have read posts of Timnehs and Congos getting along just fine with others.

Jim

Thanks so much for sharing

I've got my heart set on something like an Alexandrine or Senegal. While my wife loves Caiques.

This is tough because I really want to do it right and not make it too tough on my bird right now. But I heard if you wait too long, and the bird is older, it's harder to introduce new flock mates for them....

I think what's important to remember is that if you get another bird, it's for you. Sometimes people think birds need another bird for companionship. It often turns sour if that's the reasoning. At one time, I had two birds, but I had two because I wanted two, not because my bird needed a friend. At the same time, my birds never became friends (a CAG and GCC) but they chattered to one another, so that was a plus.

Then on the other foot,you have Amazon's... Amy likes ALL birds..like I mentioned,she wanted to be pals with Smokey..then I adopted Jonesy,the 'too..and Amy and Jones got along fabulously..hanging out on each others house..Amy would preen Jonesy's hat..they even went beaky to beaky making kissys noises .

After I HAD to rehome Jonesy, I got BB, the little 'tiel. I find Amy on his roof top,helping herself to his breakfast or dinner,they hang out together on each others roof.

Depends on the bird.

Jim

Firstly, Mookie, ask yourselves ' Why do I want another bird? What is it about my parrot that is not fullfilling my bird needs?'. Is it because it does not talk? or because it bites? Only likes my partner? Does not train well? Screams all the time? Is alone and seems to need company? All these reasons are bad ones for adding a second bird.

Really the only right answer is 'Because I want another bird in our lives'. and can handle 2x : the cost, cage and floor space, the attention time, the vet bills, the toy bills and the food bills.

A thought, Caiques are known to be very jealous of other birds!

It really depends on what type of commitment you want in another bird I have 2 GCCs and I love them to death but they are very independent so I wanted another bird to occupy more of my time so I found my Amazon bonkers. I would definitely recommend another larger bird like an Amazon or a macaw because having a small and big bird around each other can sometimes be dangerous I personally will never have my zon and GCCs out together because I don't want to take the risk. I highly recommend a smaller zon like a Panama zon a lilac crowned or a yellow shouldered Amazon. If amazons aren't for you than I would look at the mini macaws they seem like tons of fun in a smaller package than a Big Mac. It's really all about what you want.

Mookie...Al (Wrench13) makes a very good point. My home has ALWAYS been a two birdie home,for almost 30 years. And when Smokes flew off to Rainbow Bridge,my home was not the same

Amy and I are bonded very closely,she goes just about every where with me,but when Smokey passed,and Amy and Smokey didn't get along,still,there were always two birdies in the living room and they would chat/yell to each other.
I KNOW my Amy..and I could TELL she was depressed with Smokeys passing. She would sit,literally,for DAYS on her nite-nite perch,high in the corner of her home,and say NOTHING.
And I was having a lot of depression,watching her being NOT Amy,and I was also having that "empty nest"syndrome.

Then came The Cockatoo Man..who certainly livened up the place
Amy came out of her shell, and just because of her birdonality, became best buds with Jones.
When it came to the point where Jonesy HAD to go ( long story) and I rehomed him,Amy crawled back into her shell.

Being on this great forum,and doing a lot of reading and asking bazillions of questions, I decided a Cockatiel would be a great fit..a baby for ME to train,and a new friend for my little green girl. I was actually considering another Timneh,a baby,but they are a lot of work,as most babies are.

BB has been with Amy and I now for almost 6 months. He was just 14.5 weeks old when he came home with me.

As I was setting up his house when I got him home, Amy was in her house,hanging upside down from her door,looking intently at what I was doing (after all...after Jonesy left, I moved his house into the spare bedroom, now it was back in the living room).
As I opened the little cardboard pet carrier box and scooped the little guy out, Amy in a very clear voice,said 'What is that??"

I knew from that moment that Amy was very excited to have a new buddy..and it has worked out excellently!

As long as Amy is on this earth, and I am physically capable of caring for two fids, there will ALWAYS be a friend for her, and ME! :07:


Jim

I'm going to take a slightly different approach to answering this. My first question, is how important the *potential* interaction between the 2 birds being positive? African Grays naturally are a single species flock, in the wild, they will usually chase any non-African grays off.

This is definitely not to say that an african gray cannot develop a relationship with a bird of another species, however I do think one can confidently say it is going to be on the less likely end of the scale. Of course, that doesn't mean they will like each other even if you brought home another gray either.

That really points to what Al' was saying, it really has to be about *you* wanting another parrot companion. And the safest way to go in to that expectation wise in my opinion, is to expect whatever new bird you bring home and whatever birds you have already to hate each other.

It dooesn't sound like you are thinking of another parrot for any wrong reasons to me, mostly I just want to put emphasis on the what if's. If you go in to it expecting, or hoping for the birds to like, or even just tolerate each other, and they end up hating each other, is that going to be an issue for you? However, if you go in to it expecting them to hate each other, and they turn out to be best friends, everything only goes uphill for you.

Out of the 6 birds in our flock, the only one who wants anything to do with the others is peaches. Unfortunately, all 5 other birds hate every other bird in the house, including peaches.

This isn't a problem, but I would be lying if I didn't admit it has made things much more challenging. It becomes a whole other level of planning when you have to figure out who can be out where with whom else in the area without causing issues. And that directly relates to the time investment because you have to start breaking everything down much more individually.

Definitely one of those cases of making sure you are prepared for the worse and hope for the best.

That said, even with 6 birds who more or less can't stand each other, i still wouldn't trade them for the world, because at the end of the day it's about the personal relationship i have with them, not the relationship they have with each other.

Yeah it's most definitely not because I am expecting something from my TAG or that she's not a great bird. She's been awesome. Absolutely amazing and I know that can change the older she gets, but so far she's been great.

I work from home, so time commitment won't be an issue. Money won't either. I'm prepared to make sure a new bird gets all the love and attention / supplies she will need.

To be honest, I got bit. I got bit by the bird-obsession. Something happened when I brought this little girl into our home. She added so much to our family.

And the more I look into it, the more excited I get. This will not be a rushed decision at all, so I appreciate everyone's feedback and input. It is so welcomed and so much appreciated!

Mookie said:

Yeah it's most definitely not because I am expecting something from my TAG or that she's not a great bird. She's been awesome. Absolutely amazing and I know that can change the older she gets, but so far she's been great.

I work from home, so time commitment won't be an issue. Money won't either. I'm prepared to make sure a new bird gets all the love and attention / supplies she will need.

To be honest, I got bit. I got bit by the bird-obsession. Something happened when I brought this little girl into our home. She added so much to our family.

And the more I look into it, the more excited I get. This will not be a rushed decision at all, so I appreciate everyone's feedback and input. It is so welcomed and so much appreciated!

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Mookie..."regular" people don't "understand" us! when it comes to birds lol.
The more the merrier! I'd have another one..or two..or...lmao But being an old fart it wouldn't be fair to a new birdie lol

Jim

My TAG lives with cockatoos but has no relationship. That may or may not be what you are seeking; ET has unfettered access to multiple Goffins, and has lived similarly with a Moluccan and Citron. By extension, adding a cockatoo may be harmless, though you may wish for an addition that bonds with your TAG.

AmyMyBlueFront said:

Mookie..."regular" people don't "understand" us! when it comes to birds lol.
The more the merrier! I'd have another one..or two..or...lmao But being an old fart it wouldn't be fair to a new birdie lol

Jim

Click to expand...

Ha ha ha I'm starting to understand and see that. And I'm ok with it lolol Completely ok with it lol