A Parrot Alone

[spiritbird]

I put this in the controversial forum because this subject has widely differing opinions. Some of us and many other people have birds that are living alone without another member of their species. Please read this authors opinions and let us know what your feelings are on the subject. Do you think behavior problems can occur more in the alone bird?

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[Casper's 2nd best friend]

I think it depends on how much people interact with their birds, leave them alone in the house all day and they are going to get bored. But... it all depends on the character of the individual bird - some are quite placid and forgiving and others more neurotic. Much like humans, no matter how much love you give some people they still self harm.

[PlaxMacaws]

I agree with Jean-Pierre!

[spiritbird]

Any more members wish to respond?

[zeus]

I agree with Jean-Pierre!

So do I.

[Birdbabe]

I can't imagine having a lone bird.. What a boring life...Mine keep each other company while I work all day. We do play and act silly for a while when I get home, then its scritches, kisses , dinner and off to bed.

[Mare]

I agree that parrots scream for a reason, no question! In my personal opinion, you should not have a "lone" bird..no matter how many human or other types of critters you have, birds can relate best to other birds. My first bird was Amigo, Umbrella Cockatoo. I brought Sassy goffins into the mix, thinking he would love her and found out he would rather eat her but..she has become a cherished part of our birdome! They keep each other great company, from across the room. I'm all for more than just one bird :)

[spiritbird]

I think there are no absolutes in answering this question. If you have but a one bird home you will be spending much of your time with that bird but cannot replace the flock mentality that would be present if the bird was not a single bird. You also risk overbonding. I have a friend with a GCC. This bird has been a single bird for almost 15 years now. As I observe the bird's behavior there is definitely overbonding which may cause behavior issues when the person is not available to give attention. When the bird is taken to the vet it says "mommy" over and over again and will never settle down. I really believe if this bird had the opportunity to interact with another bird it would be happier. Then again not everyone can afford to have more than one bird.

[Mr Peepers]

I agree with everyone's comments about having more then one bird as there is nothing like that natural bond these birds share with each other.

I haven't made a thread or posted about Mr Peeper's but sadly the little bird has passed away. This now leaves me with SPX alone.

My lifestyle is changing and I have decided a while back that I do not want any more birds for a long time, SPX came to me as a young bird and was raised to live with me alone. He has been caged with other budgies in the last couple of years but he was always indifferent to them and never bonded, there was no attempts to preen his other budgie cage mates, no mating rituals and no playing so I understood that he was okay with living on his own.

When his elderly rescued cage mate passed on last year SPX didn't care and continued to play preen me bite me and hang out with me as usual so I decided he will live on his own with me until his passing.

You may think this cruel but I really worry about housing him with anyone else who might have birds as I've witnessed up close a few times that he is totally indifferent about other birds. I would also worry about him being without me as we are very close as I suppose I am his flock.

I'm fortunate that I work from home so I get to hang out with him daily, I also have an elderly relative who lives with me that has grown to love being with SPX daily. She loves to hang out in the den with SPX daily listening to music and enjoying watching SPX fly about and get into mischief daily.


I wish it could be different but currently I can't see housing SPX anywhere else.

[spiritbird]

I am so sorry you lost little Peeps. We will have to refer to you as Mr. S instead of Mr. Peeps. Its not an easy decision to have no more birds. Not sure if I could do that one. I do know that I will not get any more cats though. Christine has been with me for 13 years now and she is aging gracefully. Life is just easier when you do not have litter boxes to deal with. I think the same could be said about bird cage cleaning.

[Mr Peepers]

I am so sorry you lost little Peeps. We will have to refer to you as Mr. S instead of Mr. Peeps. Its not an easy decision to have no more birds. Not sure if I could do that one. I do know that I will not get any more cats though. Christine has been with me for 13 years now and she is aging gracefully. Life is just easier when you do not have litter boxes to deal with. I think the same could be said about bird cage cleaning.


That's something people have to consider when they have birds, age. When you get older can you physically maintain your parrot or a cage of smaller parrot birds like budgies finches etc. You need to clean cages, buy the right fruits and veg and drag it home to prepare daily. You need to have extra money aside for vet bills. You need to be physically able to handle your birds confidently to trim nails beak and examine them when needed.

I understand where you are coming from with your cat being the last cat you have Dianne, my aunt said no more cats for her as she became ill with cancer and said it was impossible to get down on the floor to clean the litter box anymore. My aunt lived alone, didn't drive a car so her shopping trips for grocery's as well as canned and bags of cat food and bags of litter were just too heavy to carry and the cab drivers who drove her from shopping to home were never able to carry her things up to her apartment on the second floor of the home she rented her apartment in.

The other thing was vet costs and just costs in general as my aunt was on a retirement pension and old age pension so putting money away from the vet was a must for her cat but she found cat food toys litter and any meds needed daily just became a huge chunk out of her monthly cost of living as the prices increase a few times a year for cat needs but her income didn't increase enough yearly to make it work out financially anymore.

It was physically and monetarily too much so she had to say enough is enough so when her cat passed away she didn't want any more.

Which was sad because a pet companion is important especially to someone who is ill, a cat can be a great comfort and companion and help keep your mind off of yourself when things are so bad in your life.

She now has SPX to amuse her and keep her company she said he doesn't snuggle or let her pet him but his crazy freaking out flying and attacking me and throwing kisses and singing is so much fun and he is sweet to watch.

She's never had a bird or lived with one so she had a great time seeing what life is like with a crazy demanding singing canary and spunky feisty SPX.

[Birdbabe]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, fly free little one.

[spiritbird]

Well said Nick.