...possible new addition?

So this is something I have been considering for the past 3 months...adding in another lovebird...maybe another...I've also been thinking of another Budgie or GCC conure...but you know, mostly another lovebird.

The Possibility (what I'll refer to it as) will go through a 45 day quarantine with the proper vet examination before heading home. I'm debating of allowing both in the cage but first they will be separated and will be supervised carefully when outside to see how well they interact. If they interact fine, thats' great! But I'll make sure to keep them both accustomed to me. If not, I'll interact with them separately.
I was also thinking Possibility could be beneficial to stopping Gizmo from plucking so much...a type of distraction? Or could it cause a type of anxiety that would make it worse?

The good news: I just got off a 2 hour phone call with one of my friends regarding lovebirds and about socialization and pressure training. She recently Snapchatted a picture with half a dozen or so white face/sea green (?) mutations and curiosity and excitement led me to text her about them...Turns out they're her Grandma's and they are in the process of being hand tamed (not sure on the age).
From the phone call I learned that she might be giving them away for free (price isn't an issue but it is a plus!) because there are so many. The only thing I have is the gender, I still need to get Gizmo DNA tested (amjokai--be warned for an avalanche of questions) but i'm pretty sure he's a male. Therefor, I would want to get a male too just to get that breeding issue out of the way.

What would be an appropriate way of asking if they could "find me" a male?

For those of you who don't know, I'm a sophmore right now, currently ending in two weeks (woot woot finals!) so a main concern is how close I am to college. Having to think about it so early helped me come to terms that I will be staying back home on the island because the instate residence tuition is amazing, and one university I'm thinking about will take off half of tuition for being in a Catholic School. There's also a chance that I can get a scholarship based on my GPA.
There rest of my life? I have an inkling of what I want my future and dream occupation to be, but even then, I feel like it's just the waiting game. Marriage? I'm sure it will change, but I have no interest in getting married --- like more money for me, right? Though I'm certain I'd want someone who has the same interests as me

Would there be any other thoughts are concerns I should think about? I'm nowhere in a rush right now, so I can think long and hard about a final decision. In the end, I want the best for the birds and I. (thank you for reading this hecka long post)

Hey, Reid! You know, due to the maturity of your posts I often forget that you are in high school. Hahaha!

As for concerns you should have or things you should think about, only one comes to mind. College can really flip things about, perspective-wise. It's a huge change. More responsibility, a greater variety of experiences. Everything is just... bigger. And until you actually get to experience this and see the particular effect it has on you, you might want to hold off on getting any more birds.

Now, I say this while fully cognizant of the fact that you have a very good head on your shoulders and that you are an excellent parront to all of your existing fids. So I'm not even remotely questioning your responsibility level. I know you would give Possibility a good home. But you still don't know, with any degree of certainty, how the experience of college will affect you. So my counsel, for what it's worth, would be that you wait.

That said, if you did decide to get Possibility I certainly would not be worried for the bird or anything. Like I said, I don't doubt you would give him a good home. So, in that spirit of unconditional support, on to your questions...

Might Possibility stop Gizmo from plucking? Or possibly exacerbate it? The answer is... yes. Either scenario is quite possible. (The name Possibility seems quite apropos all of a sudden. Lol) Without knowing how he might get along with Gizmo, nor the exact reason for Gizmo's plucking, it would be next to impossible to predict what effect Possibility's addition to the flock might have.

I'm a very direct person, so my thought would be to directly ask if you could have a male. That's what you feel works best for your flock, so why dance around the issue or leave it to chance?

Hope all of this helps, Reid. Keep us updated on what you finally decide, okay?

I just graduated college at 40. You may not have to wait. I think you madea great choice to enjoy in sstatetuition.

Some things to consider

Can you skip aassignments and still get a B.
Do you have to study for hours or
Is listening to the lecture good
Does writing papers come easy for you.

If school is easy for you college probably will be too.

If writing papers is something you struggle with you should know that for me nearly every class had a paper. Once I forgot a paper was due. I had thought about it and knew what I wanted to write. I sat down, wrote it in 3 or 4 hours, turned it in next class and got an A.

Try to balance easy and hard classes. For example if math and science are hard for you don't take them both in the same semester. When i took my math class I literally spent hours on one problem and sometimes still got it wrong. You could do homework all you wanted till you got it right with no point loss. How I got a C I don't know.


If you want a boy you might consider offering to pay for testing after you test Gizmo that is. Just in case you have a girl.

Also I read on another post that in pairs they may not stay tame.

[sorry, finals started getting in the way so I couldn't respond in much detail]

Anansi said:

Hey, Reid! You know, due to the maturity of your posts I often forget that you are in high school. Hahaha!

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LOL, thats actually pretty flattering ! I'm just hoping it doesn't make me seem like too arrogant haha.

Anansi said:

As for concerns you should have or things you should think about, only one comes to mind. College can really flip things about, perspective-wise. It's a huge change. More responsibility, a greater variety of experiences. Everything is just... bigger. And until you actually get to experience this and see the particular effect it has on you, you might want to hold off on getting any more birds.

But you still don't know, with any degree of certainty, how the experience of college will affect you. So my counsel, for what it's worth, would be that you wait.

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That's one of my main concerns -- on how college will be -- just that you got exactly what I was trying to say.
As of now, I'm basing it off of my brother's experience, since I'm most likely going into the same college. And it's been alright for him, but we're (REALLY) different so I honestly don't know.

Anansi said:

Hope all of this helps, Reid. Keep us updated on what you finally decide, okay?

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Your advice helped a ton! So far, I've been debating and going back and forth on whether or not it would be wiser to not get a *lovebird but rather maybe another parakeet?

The reason? As you said, the addition can go both ways on helping Gizmo or declining his process of healing. Because he still has some issues with plucking, I would rather stay safe and avoid the idea of bringing another lovebird and making it worse.

And because the Keets are fine with other parrots (they LOVE gizmo), and Gizmo can tolerate them, maybe another Parakeet won't impact Gizmo's behavior and the Arrow and Esther?

Reid honestly I don't think you will have a problem adding on another lovebird. It's going to be a lot of work but everything worth anything is work.

Hey Reid, email me, I seem to have lost your address. I am in a hurry right now but I would love to chat with you about it and I happen to know of a lovebird right now who needs a new home ASAP but the owner doesnt want to put it on craigslist. We could easily DNA it for you. Also, if you decide to go the parakeet rout... remember my rescue budgies from a while back? Yeah, their new home has run into some "issues" and most of them will need new homes soon and you know I would love to see them go to someone like you You have all the right concerns of course! Will your potential colleges be close enough to home that you would stay home, or would you be living in the dorm? that is the number one concern for me; at home you can keep them, in the dorm you cannot. Like, EVER. I have never found a school that allows birds in the dorms. Do you still have my number? My phone went completely kaput and I no longer have your info.

I can see both sides of the coin. Will you be living at home during college (not in a dorm)? If so, and you can be honest with yourself that you can handle it, then go for it. The reason I say this is that in this day and age, there is no guarantee at ANY age or stage in life that things will be smooth or stable. I hope for your sake that your future life IS stable your whole life through, but seeing as how we never know... and if we never know, then WHEN is it ever a good time? That's how I see it.

gracebowen said:

I just graduated college at 40. You may not have to wait. I think you madea great choice to enjoy in sstatetuition.

Some things to consider

Can you skip aassignments and still get a B.
Do you have to study for hours or
Is listening to the lecture good
Does writing papers come easy for you.

If school is easy for you college probably will be too.

If writing papers is something you struggle with you should know that for me nearly every class had a paper. Once I forgot a paper was due. I had thought about it and knew what I wanted to write. I sat down, wrote it in 3 or 4 hours, turned it in next class and got an A.

Try to balance easy and hard classes. For example if math and science are hard for you don't take them both in the same semester. When i took my math class I literally spent hours on one problem and sometimes still got it wrong. You could do homework all you wanted till you got it right with no point loss. How I got a C I don't know.


If you want a boy you might consider offering to pay for testing after you test Gizmo that is. Just in case you have a girl.

Also I read on another post that in pairs they may not stay tame.

Click to expand...

I would say that school comes quite easily for me. So far, I have been able to maintain (what I think is good) steady and pretty high grades (lowest is a B). It is quite a lot of work for me at times, but I can usually pull through well.

I offered for testing, along with sending a link that can help distinguish possible males to make sure that I won't be "wasting money" on a bunch of tests in case i go that route
I'm also planning on keeping them (whoever I might choose) in separate cages unless supervised outside. So hopefully they won't make me third wheel haha.

RavensGryf said:

I can see both sides of the coin. Will you be living at home during college (not in a dorm)? If so, and you can be honest with yourself that you can handle it, then go for it. The reason I say this is that in this day and age, there is no guarantee at ANY age or stage in life that things will be smooth or stable. I hope for your sake that your future life IS stable your whole life through, but seeing as how we never know... and if we never know, then WHEN is it ever a good time? That's how I see it.

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Yes, I plan to stay at home home instead of a dorm (frankly, I'd die living in one).

RavensGryf said:

If so, and you can be honest with yourself that you can handle it, then go for it. The reason I say this is that in this day and age, there is no guarantee at ANY age or stage in life that things will be smooth or stable. I hope for your sake that your future life IS stable your whole life through, but seeing as how we never know... and if we never know, then WHEN is it ever a good time? That's how I see it.

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I think thats a great way of putting things. I know that it might cause a bit of turbulences and a bunch of little speed bump along the way, but I feel like it's something i can adapt to. Of course, I'm crossing my fingers that things can and will turn out great for me.

SilverSage said:

Hey Reid, email me, I seem to have lost your address. I am in a hurry right now but I would love to chat with you about it and I happen to know of a lovebird right now who needs a new home ASAP but the owner doesnt want to put it on craigslist. We could easily DNA it for you. Also, if you decide to go the parakeet rout... remember my rescue budgies from a while back? Yeah, their new home has run into some "issues" and most of them will need new homes soon and you know I would love to see them go to someone like you You have all the right concerns of course! Will your potential colleges be close enough to home that you would stay home, or would you be living in the dorm? that is the number one concern for me; at home you can keep them, in the dorm you cannot. Like, EVER. I have never found a school that allows birds in the dorms. Do you still have my number? My phone went completely kaput and I no longer have your info.

Click to expand...

I just recently talked to Mrs. Ariel about it earlier today. I'm still thinking about it, more so because I'm kind of wary about bringing home a bird with issues while I'm already having to Address to Gizmo's special needs...still thinking about it though.
I also might have a little deal with Mrs. Ariel on her cockatiels too, so now this indecisive child has a lot of choices LOL ---- not that I'm complaining!

But on the other hand, I would love love love to help take care of your rescued budgies and make sure their past troubles will be drowned out in a spoiled lifestyle

For college, I'm planning on going to the ones in town so UHM or Chaminade, both 20 minutes away from home.

[I also PMD you my contact info, but I'm the least of priorities right now, so take your time]

Quick little update:
I have my mind set on getting budgies (at the least) because, frankly, they have the pudgiest faces that I can't resist and I think that adding in a few new members can give Arrow and Esther that flock vibe that they haven't had in the past 3 years and I find it crucial (since they don't have human interaction) to be part of an actual little flock.

With another lovebird? It's kind of up in the air. I have been offered an adorable lovie that has a bit of a biting issue (brought up by amjokai) that I am going back and forth on. My main issue (sorry, repeating myself) is bringing him home and having to spend extra time working with him while still having to address Gizmos' situation since he seems to be taking steps backwards.

I think Arrow and Esther will absolutely love being part of a flock! I too love budgies. There's something so adorable and irresistible about them . I'm sorry you're still having issues with Gizmo. Is the vet exhausted with everything he thinks can be done?

RavensGryf said:

I think Arrow and Esther will absolutely love being part of a flock! I too love budgies. There's something so adorable and irresistible about them

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Hehe, they might have more than expected! I just had a convo last night about 6 needing new homes, and I'm beyond tempted to bring them home, but I think 8 might be too much of a challenge right now....but I don't want to separate them either. Gaaaah, the decision is so hard :/

RavensGryf said:

I'm sorry you're still having issues with Gizmo. Is the vet exhausted with everything he thinks can be done?

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I actually need to take him back in during this week if I can. Previously, he said if it continues he would need to do more tests to see if its something internal/bacterial growth. I'm not really sure what he said if it's more along the lines of behavioral or emotional stress..looking to find out

Well 8 budgies is definitely a flock. That is a lot. Are they all wild I'm assuming? How about the noise!! Lots of cleaning too, you know how often they poop! If you aren't splitting up bonded pairs, then I don't see why you'd feel obligated to take all 6, unless they're only being sold as a group.
I personally wouldn't want all 6 unless I had an aviary. Don't worry, if you pass on these guys, its not like budgies are hard to come by lol.

I wish you the best with Gizmo. I do hope they get to the root of it.

I haven't met them in person, but the woman who has them says they can fly on and around her, possibly semi-tame? Being in a smaller room, the noise and mess i kind of a big concern. There's also the cost factor...I'm having an interview with a coffee comp. in a few days, so I'm hoping to get employed and pay their vet bills and everything...and 40 dollars per bird (with 8) isn't too ideal for me haha.

Maybe 2-3 more would be suitable? Not sure which gender combinations would be best since I have 1 male and 1 female atm.

When I was in college I had several pets... one remains. I could not afford to care for them any more after I lost my job. In part due to college stresses. I am now in a stable job with a stable home for the forseeable future and now have a bird, but I never would have made a 20+ year commitment back then for even one bird. So just be careful.