Considering a Quaker as a Buddy Bird

I am considering getting a second bird as a friend to Lucille, who seems a little lonely with no flock. I am thinking about a Quaker since I loved Sammy (my former Quaker before I took off to Honduras for a year) so much. Should I consider it or should I go for a small bird who is known to be a little on the chiller personality side, say a cockatiel or a GCC? I know Quakers don't always have the best of the best reps in general when it comes to their extremely outgoing attitudes, but I've only had good experiences. Do you think a Quaker would bond okay with my Galah, and vice versa?

If you want another bird and what kind is completely up to you, but just keep in mind that if you do bring another bird home, do it because you want one and not just want a friend for your galah, because they could hate eachother. Both quakers and GCCs are smaller than Galahs as well so supervision would be necessary to ensure everyones safety, and Ive seen Quakers get along with totally different species but also get very jealous. I think if the bird is a baby and raised with Lucille it should be okay (though things can change at puberty also), or if you get an adult quaker and theres a way they can be introduced, then you can have an idea of how they will be. Even so, be prepared that you may have to have them completely seperated in the case that they do not get along. So if you want another bird yourself, and feel you are ready and have the time to take care of two seperate birds, then go for it. Things may work out super smooth, but its possible they wont which is the main question of whether or not it should be done.

Mitch, all birds are unique but I'll share my observations. Poppy for the most part seems oblivious to her smaller flock mates, she tries to mimic the Quakers when they get loud and she insists on spending her days in the room with them but other than that she shows little interest.

Quakers aren't the easiest birds to get along with, they are flock birds, there's no question my quakers enjoy each other's company, they aren't as amicable toward other species. Sammy has been here fifteen months and he still avoids Poppy at all cost. Sweet Pea also avoids Poppy, she will call to her occasionally but she will not get too close. Harry interacts well with all the others including Poppy, she will visit Poppy of her own accord and Poppy allows her to. Wilson is still a kid, he loves everything, food, toys, people, noise, flying, he adores the adult quakers and follows them like a love sick puppy, as friendly as he is, he also avoids Poppy, he never enters her space unless I'm holding him.

I don't know if that's even helpful. As the others have mentioned, I wouldn't adopt a second bird as company for the first if that were the only consideration.

Mitch...there were always two birds in my house. When Smokey passed away,I could tell Amy was depressed (as well as myself) and Amy literally grew up with Smokes,being here since she was four months old.

So I adopted Jonesy,the Goffin...I knew Amy would enjoy and want to be friends,and Jonesy turned out to love Amy..they'd spend time on each others roof tops,share nummys,and Amy would also preen Jonesy's hat.
At one point,when Arleen and I were playing cards in the kitchen,Jonesy on my shoulder and Amy on Arleen's..Jones walked down my arm,onto the table,hopped over the cribbage board and climbed Arleens arm to where Amy was..Amy preened jonesy's hat..they went beak to beak making kissy sounds,for about 10 or 15 seconds..Jonesy turned around,walked back down Arleens arm,jumped over the crib board and walked back up my arm..like NOTHING happened! I think he just wanted to introduce himself lol.

Unfortunately I had to rehome him..Amy got depressed again,just sitting on her resting perch...wouldn't come out of her house...didn't talk..
That's when I picked up BB the 'tiel.
Amy now walks across the floor to climb BB's house and sit with him on his roof and help herself to his nummys. BB could care less..he tolerates her lol.

But that's AMY! She is socialable..likes just about everyone and everything..just depends on the bird..She is now happy she has a 'friend"..and now so am I lol.

Jim

As a fact finding exercise is there any friends with birds you can mix with (trusted birds of history you know) to test things, see how she reacts? I couldnt have another friend for Plum as he would be very miserable having to share and it definitely looks like he feels he should be a one and only.

I don't think the fact of Lucille having a friend is as important as what you do with her? If you can enrich her life sufficiently then there should not be a problem. The money another bird would cost etc could be put towards a pak o bird to take her on walks, visiting rellies etc. Plum loves looking about in his. Let us know what you decide?

Allee said:

Mitch, all birds are unique but I'll share my observations. Poppy for the most part seems oblivious to her smaller flock mates, she tries to mimic the Quakers when they get loud and she insists on spending her days in the room with them but other than that she shows little interest.

Quakers aren't the easiest birds to get along with, they are flock birds, there's no question my quakers enjoy each other's company, they aren't as amicable toward other species. Sammy has been here fifteen months and he still avoids Poppy at all cost. Sweet Pea also avoids Poppy, she will call to her occasionally but she will not get too close. Harry interacts well with all the others including Poppy, she will visit Poppy of her own accord and Poppy allows her to. Wilson is still a kid, he loves everything, food, toys, people, noise, flying, he adores the adult quakers and follows them like a love sick puppy, as friendly as he is, he also avoids Poppy, he never enters her space unless I'm holding him.

I don't know if that's even helpful. As the others have mentioned, I wouldn't adopt a second bird as company for the first if that were the only consideration.

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Allee, that could only be your Harry, she is a one off IMO.

So true! Harry's always the exception, never the rule!

Yeah, you guys are right. I've just been sort of depressed lately, and I have been worried that Lucille might be lonely in this house all alone when it comes to feathered friends. Honestly, though, it may be more like I've been feeling lonely and I'm putting the feeling on her because even though she's a VERY independent bird and not the most "run to daddy" sort of fid, she seems very happy. She's just MUCH less needy than the last two fids I recently had, much more like my budgies were years ago, who kind of did their own thing. Though as time goes on she is slowly bonding more and more with me, so I think eventually we'll reach the stage where she spends more time actually close to me. As of now she spends almost all day "with" me (aka, in the same room), it's just that she stays in her play area/play stand while I am usually on a couch in the same room, or on the bed if we're in the bedroom. So you guys are probably right--I will hold off on looking into a second bird until I really want a new addition to the flock. Overall, Luci seems like a very happy bird, just very independent and yet SO polite. I swear she is the politest parrot I have ever met!

Puck said:

Yeah, you guys are right. I've just been sort of depressed lately, and I have been worried that Lucille might be lonely in this house all alone when it comes to feathered friends. Honestly, though, it may be more like I've been feeling lonely and I'm putting the feeling on her because even though she's a VERY independent bird and not the most "run to daddy" sort of fid, she seems very happy. She's just MUCH less needy than the last two fids I recently had, much more like my budgies were years ago, who kind of did their own thing. Though as time goes on she is slowly bonding more and more with me, so I think eventually we'll reach the stage where she spends more time actually close to me. As of now she spends almost all day "with" me (aka, in the same room), it's just that she stays in her play area/play stand while I am usually on a couch in the same room, or on the bed if we're in the bedroom. So you guys are probably right--I will hold off on looking into a second bird until I really want a new addition to the flock. Overall, Luci seems like a very happy bird, just very independent and yet SO polite. I swear she is the politest parrot I have ever met!

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That is very good to hear, something you should want to keep IMO. If she is independent and happy she will accept new things easily, people, places, many of the things that you can share with her. Perhaps if you are feeling a bit low, why not send for that pak o bird and go share some outdoors with Lucille? ***

Plum isn't very confident but getting a little better and it really makes me so happy to hear him in his back pack going 'ooh' to seeing new things and loving being out and about.

*** Not too cold in Texas right?