Any Suggestions?

[MarshallSpears]

I am really new to conures and this forum! I am thinking of getting a Green Cheek in a couple weeks. I have had my Sun Conure, Apollo, for about a month. I plan to house them in separate cages. I have a couple questions for someone who has a couple birds.

I guess the main question is - what differences do you notice in your bird when you add a new one to the room? And specifically.....

How do I introduce them? I would like them to both be out with me together but maybe this is a bad idea?

Is having another bird in the room and possibly sharing a shoulder going to make my Sun less friendly toward me? If so, I may just stick with one bird.

My Sun is relatively quiet and I'm wondering how much that may change? I'm expecting more noise but kind of curious about how much others may have experienced. I was going to get another Sun but thought maybe a GCC wouldn't be quite as loud with my other bird.

How long do you need to quarantine a new bird?

Should I go with a Pineapple, Yellow-Sided, or regular GCC?

 

[GreyG]

I am by no means a conure expert, so I can't recommend any particular kind of conure (although I am fond of a friend's Blue Crowned) ....BUT, I do have 3 birds currently, and have had multiple birds since the early 90's.

We have one bird (Cleo, 18 year old Meyers) who we do not allow to be around the other birds. They are all out of their cages at the same time, but Cleo has her own gym, and she gets snuggle time by herself. The other two share a gym, but each snuggles/hangs out on a different person. We RARELY allow two birds on one person, particularly on shoulders. Shoulder sitting is a treat in our house.

I would quarantine for at least 30 days, and allow birds in same room after all vet results come back clear on new bird. I recommend hand sanitizer before handling each bird during quarantine period....example: hold one bird, put it down, sanitize hands before picking up other bird. Once vet check and lab results are SAT, that isn't an issue. Some would go as far as saying that to properly quarantine, birds should be completely separated, with separate air handling systems, and you should change clothes when moving between rooms. I have never practiced this as I live in a common house where that is impractical, and have not had any problems. But I do believe in the hand sanitizer, though.

As far as introducing new birds, I have always simply hand carried the newbie into the bird room, showed him/her to each bird one at a time and said "this is your new brother/sister!" and made a big fuss over the newbie. Then I have put the newbie down and given attention to the older bird. Perhaps I've been lucky, but the older birds have always reacted well to this approach. I ALWAYS supervise the two birds when they are sharing a gym - I won't even leave the room for a minute - if I leave, one goes with me.

Having multiple birds is a HOOT!!!! You really get to see the different personalities. Non-bird people never understand that birds have unique personalities until they spend an evening at our house observing. Good luck with your choice and keep us posted....

 

[weco]

Keeping the birds in their own cages is a wise move, that way they won't tend to bond to each other, rather than you.....

Since you've had your sun a relatively short time, there probably won't be much jealousy, but once your new one is out of quarantine, introduce the new bird to your sun, as it was the first bird, much like you introduce young people to elders, rather than the other way around.....

Any of the green cheek varieties would be fine.....it's really only a personal preference.....

Good luck.....

 

[Pajarita]

Your sun conure is still in his honeymoon period so I suggest you wait a year before you get another bird because sunnies are LOUD birds and have a tendency to become quite nippy if you don't pay enough or the right attention to them so take your time, get to know your bird, set a schedule that works for both of you, learn about parrot keeping and, most importantly, bond with it BEFORE you add another one.