Confused - (what kind of) companion for my male IRN

Hi everyone,

I am new here and I need some help deciding on whether I should get a companion for my 6 year old male IRN “Miss Lucy”. And if so, what would be the best choice.

This is the situation: I have had Miss Lucy from when he (I actually still say SHE) around 4 months old and I thought that she was a female. At around 18 months it became clear that Miss Lucy is in fact a male . She talks and I love her to bits…

I try and spend as much time as possible with Miss Lucy, give her out-of-cage-time ( we have two dogs so unfortunately she cannot be outside her cage all the time), which she rather spends cuddling and "feeding" my feet than flying. She also does her cute little mating dance... She seems to hate everyone except for me. She wants to be with me all the time, which is obviously not possible, and screams as soon as I am out of sight…

I am now wondering if Miss Lucy would benefit from a companion. If a companion bird is a good idea:

• should another IRN be my first choice? I am also very confused about which sex to get. Most of the literature I have read suggests that female IRNs can be real mean and aggressive to the point or injuring or even killing their male counterpart. I am not planning to house the two birds in the same cage but I would obviously like to keep them in the same room and after a suitable getting-to-know-each-other-time have (supervised) playtime. There seem to be very little problems associated with keeping two male IRNs. I would really appreciate inputs from people with more than one IRN (either male/female or male/male constellation).
  
• since I would be getting a chick (probably just weaned), I was wondering if any other type of parrot might also be an option. I was thinking along the lines of Conures, Quakers or Senegal Parrots. What are your thoughts on this?

Miss Lucy has not really had any contact with other birds. She can hear my cockatiels and whistles back to them but that’s a far as her exposure goes.

Thanks so much for any inputs and suggestions!
Sabine

It is never a good idea to get another bird as a companion for an existing pet. If you want another one great but no matter what type you get even the same species may not like each other so that's good to keep in mind. Do you have time to give to both of them? If you would like them to hang out together and this may or may not happen. Size is a factor, so with that in mind I would either get the same species or one similar in size for safety but with the thought in mind that they may never like each other.

Labell is correct. There's no guarantee that another bird will get along with Miss Lucy.

If you want to have the highest chance of him getting along with another bird and you aren't interested in breeding, then I would recommend another male IRN! You might also consider another psittacula species, such as moustache parakeets, derbyans, alexandrines, etc. If you go with another psittacula species, stick with a male! They can hybridize!


IRN's are Asian/Indian parrots. Conures and quakers are South American. Senegals are African.



Regardless of species, you need to be prepared that the two birds may never get along. If they do end up getting along, you need to be prepared for them to prefer each others company over yours and potentially ignore you and nip and bite at you. Be prepared for worst case scenarios!


My first conure was given to me as either a red masked conure or a "mit-red". After doing a lot of research into both species, I was able to determine that he was a cherry headed conure (aka red masked - also thought he was a female for 8 years).

Five years after getting my first conure, I was given another cherry headed conure, only to find out he's a mitred conure, not a cherry head. I had both conures for 3 years, and during that time they never got along! They were complete opposites in behavior, likes and dislikes, as well as health. Even though they never got along, I could still tell that they benefited from each others company.

Three years after losing my first conure, and I adopted a third conure, this time a little red throated gal. She and my second conure, Charlie, do not get along either, but they get along better than Charlie and my first conure did. Now I have two conures that will bicker and fight, both that will scream for attention from me, and neither one likes being in their cages! I've had Jayde a few months shy of a year, too!

I'd also go with another male. Preferably from a related species (Psittacula), as they might have the best chance of getting along more harmoniously (if they're going to get along in the first place). Pretty much around the same size such as another IRN would be nice, especially of a different color mutation if you'd like.

Of course keeping in mind another cage to clean, more supplies to buy, and attention to another bird if they don't get along. Also, I'd say a Senegal is NOT the best choice, as it is not only from a different continent with very different habits and personality traits, but also Poicephalus are different for parrots in that they typically don't like other birds. Besides myself, I know of a few Poi owners who would agree.

@Monica, a couple years ago I was outside a local shopping center in SoCal, and right before me only yards away in a big tree squawking and eating were 50? maybe more, large green conures, and they looked to be Mitred with the mottled red pattern around the head. Some were more green, maybe juveniles. It was amazing to see!

Hi Sabine

I agree with all the previous posters comments about things to watch out for when getting another bird but if you feel you are ready for another a male IRN might be a good choice.

Of my flock of 5 IRN's two are adult females, two adult males and one juvenile. The one female does live up to the bad reputation of IRN females while the other is a real sweetheart (not a cuddler but definitely not a biter) so the "myth" depends on the bird, not the species in general. My two males have very distinct personalities as well.

RavensGryf, I've seen the cherry head (and mitred hybrid) flock in SF! Missed the mitred flock on Maui, though.

Mitreds, cherry heads and a few different amazon species (among other parrots) are quite common in southern California!


It is amazing and pretty cool! Awesome you were able to see one of the flocks!

It was pretty cool to see . Commonly I hear and/or see some type of Amazons flying high overhead usually only a few at a time or in pairs on their way home for the evening, screeching as they go!
I think we have Lilac Crowned or Mexican Red Headed, maybe others, but the species endemic to Mexico I'd think would be the ones here in Southern CA.

Thanks everyone. I will have to carefully think about whether I want to get another bird more for me than for me than for Miss Lucy. To be honest, I have always fancied a lutino IRN....

Having read all the comments, I would most likely go for another IRN and most likely a male if I do decide to get a second bird...

Thanks all!

I think Lutino IRN are stunning! So beautiful. Good luck while you think things over and decide what you feel is best for you to do.

I had kept my Latino irn with sun conures and yellow sided conure but they never liked each other.. Conures will remain on one side of cage and irn on the other.
And I feel that introducing new bird should be done at early age, now your irn might feel like king of the kingdom and might not like any new bird in his territory.

But still it depends from bird to bird. IRN's are damn moody.. You never know..