Skittys_Daddy
Well-known member
- Jan 6, 2014
- 2,172
- 63
- Parrots
-
Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
So, I've stated many times before how I'm really not a 'one bird' person and as hard as I've tried to adjust to that, it's just not happening. I absolutely LOVE Skittles and this isn't about him at all, it's about who I am. I'm just not adjusting to being a 'one-bird' person. I'd like to explain where I"m at now and the advice I am seeking.
I got my first bird for my 11th birthday, a budgie. Aside from the first year of having just him, I've always owned at LEAST two birds until Peaches passed last December. I'm almost 40 now, and changing to one bird after 29 years of having at least 2 is not easy.
At one point, I had nine and I don't want that many again, lol. Ideally, I'd like three, as that is where I'm most comfortable at this point- but for now, I'm going with possibly adding just one.
The birds I am considering adding are either a pineapple green cheek or a white bellied caique. I've been thinking about this for weeks now (the former anyways) and its not something I intend on acting on anytime real soon.
I'm not concerned about the added responsibility on my part. It's more about Skittles. While my need for another bird is not because of him- my getting another one may very well affect him more than me and I have no idea how. Skittles is 6yrs 5mo old. He did NOT get along with Peaches. Not because of Peaches, as she was unphased and super passive- but rather he did NOT like it if I got near her or even talked to her. His head feathers would rise up and he'd screech. I know he has an extremely difficult time sharing me with anyone or anything. He's VERY attached to me and for my part, I have not done anything to discourage the over-attachment. Mostly because I needed it, especially after losing Peaches. I had her for nearly 20yrs and I honestly don't know how I'd have gotten through it without him.
While I have not always made the best decisions with past birds, I have never rehomed a bird because of anything I did or it did that I didn't like- it was always in the birds best interest. That being said, if getting a new bird doesn't work out, rehoming Skittles is NOT going to happen. Period. But I also don't think I could rehome a new bird if it didn't work out and part of me thinks I might get resentful of Skitty for that reason.
I want to do the right thing the right way. But I've no idea where to go from here. Should I force myself to adjust to one bird and find other constructive ways to concentrate that energy? Or should I pursue another bird? If I get a green cheek, and it doesn't work out- I think my best friend/neighbor would take him/her which would be a lot easier- but not so sure with a caique. That same friend is also encouraging me to get another bird for the same reasons I am but also she knows how I care for my birds and is encouraging me more to consider a rescue bird for that reason. Most of my prior birds were that, and it was very overwhelming. If I didn't have Skittles, it'd be a no brainer- rescue all the way. But given my current living situation, I'm not sure that's a good idea- or worth the gamble. I don't think I could deal with re-homing a rehomed bird.
I partly think Skittles wouldn't be so aggressive to a slightly bigger bird (caique) vs a slightly smaller bird (green cheek).
For my part, I have to make room for new birds which will include getting rid of some furniture, which I did when I got Skittles, I got rid of my couch.
So my question is this- how should I approach this? Is there any ways that I can 'test' the waters without taking the plunge first? I am pretty much lost as to where to go from here and could really use some thoughts and advice from others, particularly ones who've been in my kind of situation.
Thanks!
I got my first bird for my 11th birthday, a budgie. Aside from the first year of having just him, I've always owned at LEAST two birds until Peaches passed last December. I'm almost 40 now, and changing to one bird after 29 years of having at least 2 is not easy.
At one point, I had nine and I don't want that many again, lol. Ideally, I'd like three, as that is where I'm most comfortable at this point- but for now, I'm going with possibly adding just one.
The birds I am considering adding are either a pineapple green cheek or a white bellied caique. I've been thinking about this for weeks now (the former anyways) and its not something I intend on acting on anytime real soon.
I'm not concerned about the added responsibility on my part. It's more about Skittles. While my need for another bird is not because of him- my getting another one may very well affect him more than me and I have no idea how. Skittles is 6yrs 5mo old. He did NOT get along with Peaches. Not because of Peaches, as she was unphased and super passive- but rather he did NOT like it if I got near her or even talked to her. His head feathers would rise up and he'd screech. I know he has an extremely difficult time sharing me with anyone or anything. He's VERY attached to me and for my part, I have not done anything to discourage the over-attachment. Mostly because I needed it, especially after losing Peaches. I had her for nearly 20yrs and I honestly don't know how I'd have gotten through it without him.
While I have not always made the best decisions with past birds, I have never rehomed a bird because of anything I did or it did that I didn't like- it was always in the birds best interest. That being said, if getting a new bird doesn't work out, rehoming Skittles is NOT going to happen. Period. But I also don't think I could rehome a new bird if it didn't work out and part of me thinks I might get resentful of Skitty for that reason.
I want to do the right thing the right way. But I've no idea where to go from here. Should I force myself to adjust to one bird and find other constructive ways to concentrate that energy? Or should I pursue another bird? If I get a green cheek, and it doesn't work out- I think my best friend/neighbor would take him/her which would be a lot easier- but not so sure with a caique. That same friend is also encouraging me to get another bird for the same reasons I am but also she knows how I care for my birds and is encouraging me more to consider a rescue bird for that reason. Most of my prior birds were that, and it was very overwhelming. If I didn't have Skittles, it'd be a no brainer- rescue all the way. But given my current living situation, I'm not sure that's a good idea- or worth the gamble. I don't think I could deal with re-homing a rehomed bird.
I partly think Skittles wouldn't be so aggressive to a slightly bigger bird (caique) vs a slightly smaller bird (green cheek).
For my part, I have to make room for new birds which will include getting rid of some furniture, which I did when I got Skittles, I got rid of my couch.
So my question is this- how should I approach this? Is there any ways that I can 'test' the waters without taking the plunge first? I am pretty much lost as to where to go from here and could really use some thoughts and advice from others, particularly ones who've been in my kind of situation.
Thanks!