A buddie for my birdie?

Question

I have a Green Cheek Conure for almost a year now. a few days ago my mother was watching some random program (which was about pet parrots) and apparently the expert on the show said that the best thing to do for your bird was to get it another bird if you were going to be away for hours at a time. (work/school/etc)

So does she really need a buddy to keep her company?

and if so what kind should i get? i was thinking something cheap like a parakeet, but i really don't know what would be best. i don't have the money to get another green cheek.

Answer 1

This is NOT true.  For one thing your bird will just be upset about a new bird since you have had it for a year already.  You cannot buy another bird and just put it in the cage with your conure.  There will be fighting.  Secondly, if you get another bird and he and you conure bond, they most likely will not want anything to do with you.  He may start to bite and scream.  A bird is just fine while you are not home.  As long as you have toys for it to play with and keep it busy, he does not need a "friend".  Many times you will have more problems.  A conure and a budgie do not mix.  The conure will fight and possibly kill the budgie.  It would have to be another conure of some sort, but like I said, there will most likely be fighting, you will not be able to just put another bird in the cage with out slowly introducing them over the period of a few months and having them both in separate cages.  Even then, there is no guarantee they will get along.  The only way to have a friend for your bird, is to have one in a cage beside her.  This would be safe,(make sure the cages are not touching, it is not uncommon for birds to bite toes off of each other if they can get to them) and the birds could see each other without getting into trouble.  Just be prepared for possible bad behavior like screaming and biting, even if they are in different cages.  Please read my profile.

Answer 2

some birds dont get along with two different birds. i had a cocktail and a parakeet bird in the same same cage to see if they will make friends. and they both were hissing and fighting over food and water and toys. i had to separate them both because it got out of hand with them both fighting alot.