Hey Craig! I finally got to keep reading your thread again.
I saw that you said you don’t want to try getting a second bird for now, but...
I wanted to tell you a story about my two greenies, maybe it will give you some ideas.
I bought my first one at a petco, she was friendly right away (I was shooting for this on the first place). We went through a tough stage when she was nipping me hard in the beginning, but still flying after me if I would leave the room, but eventually this stage went away, at least for now (knock on wood). She is a Velcro bird by now, it’s hard to keep her away from me
After maybe 5 months into having her, I started to getting really concerned about leaving her along while I’m at work, so I started thinking of getting a second bird. Same problem as you, not much space, but I decided to do it for her. However, I took a risk that most people here would probably say a no-no to do. I went to another petco, a closer one, and found a pineapple green cheek that adored me right away, they could not take her off of me at the store during me second visit
Then I brought my first bird to that store, after agreeing with the workers, to meet this new birdie. I wasn’t expecting much, but I took a risk and let them interact a bit right there, and right away they were not fighting, so I had hope for them. So I bought this second bird, went through this process of quaranteening it, while she was also getting more attached to me, and then i started putting them together, and it worked, again knock on wood! They have been leaving in one cage for a few months already. They do have their bullying moments, my first Bird can be a bit agressive around food, but mostly they like each other.
That all said, I agree with the other member who was suggesting you to get a second bird, and maybe you could take the same risk as I did, and try introducing your bird at the store to some other one. Petco has quite a few ones that are very people friendly right away, and they have 30 days return policy just in case too, no questions asked. And if the outcome is good, you and Mango will both benefit, you can find a bird that will like you right away, like mine did, so you will have a bird to interact with, and Mango hopefully will like that bird too and will have a companion. Also, if the new bird shows Mango that you can be loved and you are not scary, it can help with your progress with Mango too. I would just keep them separate for a few weeks in the beginning for quaranteening and bonding (with you
) purposes.
I hope this helps, and I really really wish you to become very good friends with Mango. These birds are amazing, and they are worth all the work one puts in them!
Lena