How many parrots is too many?

[Deja Q]

I just bought a third conure - saw him at the store 3 months ago and, despite his utterly delightful behavior, I resisted the urge.

I caved in yesterday.

Pics to follow, as I want "Mickey" to be posing on my hand, lying on his back, contented. (the first parrot ever to lie on my back and not grasp on my thumb for dear life... and he plays with his toys and loves to explore. My other two will eventually start to play, but they prefer perching on my shoulder or doing tricks for treats.)

I love each of them for who they are, but from now on I will be ordering bird food via the internet. I can't keep buying parrots... Even if I do know a person who owns 7, that is way too much for my time and schedule... :)

[ginnyinWI]

1. only captive-bred or rescue parrots who can't live in the wild.

Please don't support the wild parrot trade.

http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/globalmarkets/wildlifetrade/faqs-parrot.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I don't think you qualify as the Crazy Parrot guy yet. You need a lot more

before that happens. A guy I work with has (I think) four of them, and he also spends most of his spare time volunteering at MAARS. He's getting a little closer...

If you enjoy them and love them, why not?

[elleng]

3. LUCKY YOU!

I'm unable to have pets due to preference of SO, but so want one!

Had a Cockatiel some years ago, but had to leave the house. He/she had begun exploring the room with me.

[northernlights]

4. careful...they are soooo addictive

I had to banish myself to catalog and feedstore food and toys years ago. I toughened up when my local avian vet started sending potential rescues my way -- there has to be a limit! The mixed group of rescues and hand-feds has fortunately downsized itself to 6, and I expect the elderly senegal, aging sun conure and ancient african weaver to bring the numbers mercifully lower in coming years...

[mopinko]

5. the question is

how many vet bills is too many? i'm sticking with 2. i hope. and a few budgies. that's all. really. that's all. really.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

6. 9

Actually, I suppose that's the point where even I had to admit I was out of control. At least mine came from my own pair (how can Amazons be endangered when they breed like rabbits?) You're probably still in a safe place with "just" three, but any more would probably be pushing it.

Thankfully, I'm down to one at last. I can attest to the fact that the more birds you have, the less you can interact with them. Actually, more than one and they really don't need you. I had started out with one Orange Wing and got stupid and thought he needed a friend for company because I wasn't around all the time. As soon as I introduced her, my sweet baby didn't need me and the PITA really started. Instead of buying a 5# bag of food once a month, I was buying at least 25, and going through as much veg as the rest of the family eats. The seed hulls and feathers were impossible to keep up with. Tried to corral them into one room so I could at least close off the mess periodically and all that meant was my FL room became a chicken coop (and this is FL--meaning we developed a roach problem. . .) and all the birds got neglected since they weren't in the hub of family activity.

My little guy (the first surviving offspring) prefers to have the limelight and would probably prefer the cats and dog were not here, as well. It is so easy to succumb to "just one more," but that will not be a mistake I make again. It doesn't take too much to lose control and really, once you get too many you're just warehousing animals and not integrating them as members of the family.



I had the same problem with babies, FWIW--always had that overwhelming urge to have "just one more" to fill my arms once the last one got independent on me. Thankfully, I stopped at two and have finally reached the point where the hormones are abating and I can appreciate how insane it would have been to indulge my urges. Unfortunately, there is nothing like menopause to render me less susceptible to furred or feathered babies. That's just got to be willpower. My pristine, remodeled FL room is a good reminder not to let myself go apeshit again. :P

[Orsino]

7. Are they provided for, when you are unable to care for them?

That may be the only important question. As long as someone else is designated and willing to step in as caretaker, I can only bless your household.