Adding another bird

In the wild, many species of birds form large social groups, known as flocks. But what about the birds we keep as pets? Would single birds be happier with an avian companion – or is more than one double the trouble and half the fun?

Does your companion bird need a bird buddy?

It all depends on the species:

• Some birds do not bond with their caretakers and cannot be hand-tamed, but they are very social with each other. All breeds of finches, for example, must be kept in pairs at a minimum.
• Canaries do not enjoy human handling, but a single bird kept alone will be quite content with love and attention from you. Some females may get along if housed together, but two males will definitely fight.
• Budgies, also known as parakeets, will be happy to share cages with one or more pals. You can keep a single budgie, too, as long as you shower him with attention.
• Two male or two female cockatiels will be happy together, but you can keep a single cockatiel, too—he or she will thrive on large doses of attention from the whole family.

Things become more complicated when dealing with the larger members of the parrot family. In the wild, parrots live in large flocks, but they also form a close bond with a mate. Their domestic counterparts form close bonds, too, with their human caretakers. That's why it's of utmost importance that your parrot gets lots of attention from you. If he doesn't get what he needs, he can become extremely stressed, and may exhibit negative behaviors such as screeching, biting and feather picking.

When this unfortunate scenario plays itself out, many owners think the solution is to get a second bird to keep the first one company. But more often than not, this creates additional problems. Two birds mean twice your time, money and attention – so if the existing bird's needs can't be met, there's a good chance the second bird won't get what he needs either. Additionally, the problem plucker/biter/screecher can potentially teach his bad habits to the newcomer!

Boredom alternatives for your companion bird

If you think that your bird is bored or lonely because no one is home during the day, or because you are not able to give him the undivided attention he needs from you (yes, parrots can be very demanding!), we recommend getting a little creative rather than getting another bird. You can leave a television or radio on during the day, or place his cage near a window that offers a view of your backyard bird feeder. Make sure he has lots of safe, fun toys to play with. And some owners even record audio tapes of themselves for their birds to listen to during the day!

If you are your bird's primary caretaker and another family member wants the second bird (and will become this bird's primary caretaker) we offer the following words of caution. Each bird must have his or her own cage, and please stay alert to any signs of jealousy between them—you do not want the feathers to fly here! It's ideal if both birds are socialized with all members of your family.

After the second bird has settled in and you are ready to introduce the two, please do so with care and close supervision; a veterinarian or bird behaviorist can help you with this. And while we always hope that all critters in the household will get along, the birds may need to be kept in separate rooms if either of them becomes severely stressed.