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Dont know what to do

Galah or Blue fronted amazon

  • Galah cockatoo

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Blue fronted amazon

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
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  • Poll closed .

Mantis64

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You see I currently own an Indian ringneck and have fallen in love with blue fronted amazons but I know understand that you cannot keep old world and new world birds together because of the dust affecting the amazons lung. Would I be able to keep them in the same house but just have to use different rooms my Indian ringneck is currently in his own room. Or I could just get a galah cockatoo as I have also fallen in love with them and I just dont know what to do I'm stuck. I would prefer the amazon as they are not dusty.

Thanks in advance sorry if this question has been asked before or if there is something similar. I'm just new to keeping parrots and need advice from experienced bird keepers on what to do. I'm not in a rush to get an amazon or galah but I'm getting stressed about thinking what to do.
 

Zara

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First, Research.

Learn as much as you can about both species before making a decision.

Have you seen these threads?

You may also want to read this:
 

tka

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You've said elsewhere that you're still in school. I don't know if you mean high school or university, but I would thoroughly recommending finishing your studies before adding to your flock. Your life is likely to change as you start work, and even somewhere like finding somewhere to live is harder if you have multiple parrots in tow. You may find yourself working long hours or unpredictable shifts, making it difficult to care for birds in addition to the ringneck you already have. There may be other factors that will influence your choice. It's fun to read about different species of parrot and identify species that you're particularly interested in, but no need to stress yourself out about this.
 

Mantis64

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You've said elsewhere that you're still in school. I don't know if you mean high school or university, but I would thoroughly recommending finishing your studies before adding to your flock. Your life is likely to change as you start work, and even somewhere like finding somewhere to live is harder if you have multiple parrots in tow. You may find yourself working long hours or unpredictable shifts, making it difficult to care for birds in addition to the ringneck you already have. There may be other factors that will influence your choice. It's fun to read about different species of parrot and identify species that you're particularly interested in, but no need to stress yourself out about this.
Yes I do still go to school and am about to start university I understand the amount of care and time parrots require even though I gi to school when I'm back I spend 3 to 4 hours with him and my family check on
You've said elsewhere that you're still in school. I don't know if you mean high school or university, but I would thoroughly recommending finishing your studies before adding to your flock. Your life is likely to change as you start work, and even somewhere like finding somewhere to live is harder if you have multiple parrots in tow. You may find yourself working long hours or unpredictable shifts, making it difficult to care for birds in addition to the ringneck you already have. There may be other factors that will influence your choice. It's fun to read about different species of parrot and identify species that you're particularly interested in, but no need to stress yourself out about this.
I agree with you also I dont have much bird experience and I do still attend school about to start university so have decided that a cockatiel would be more sutible so that I can get experience mabye one day I'll get an amazon or galah or mabye not.
 

tka

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Yes I do still go to school and am about to start university I understand the amount of care and time parrots require even though I gi to school when I'm back I spend 3 to 4 hours with him and my family check on
In which case, I really, really recommend not adding to your flock. At the moment your life seems pretty settled, but I promise you that it will change dramatically when you enter university and the workplace.

I'm a university lecturer in London and understand how universities operate and what my students' lives look like. I'm pretty confident in saying that very few of my 18-22 year old students have the time to devote to a bird with complex needs.

At university, you will be timetabled for a certain number of contact hours which will depend on the subject you take. Contact hours are the hours you're actually timetabled for - these may include lectures, seminars and lab hours depending on your subject. However, you will be expected to do a lot of independent study: reading, taking notes, meeting your lecturers to discuss your work, preparing for assessments, perhaps forming a study group and so on. Around deadline time, some students practically live in the library. You may be offered the chance to study abroad and, depending on your course, you may do fieldwork away from the university. I know people who have spent time in Ghana, New Zealand, Tanzania, Germany, France and Japan has part of their degree.

Nearly all halls of residence do not allow pets. UK laws are a lot stricter about "emotional support animals" than the US and only recognise Guide dogs, Hearing dogs and other highly trained assistance dogs. You may choose to live off-campus but finding a pet-friendly landlord can be very difficult, especially if you're a student. You may live with housemates, and I can guarantee your average university student is not going to be 100% reliable about keeping doors and windows closed, only using safe cookware, not using common household cleaners, not using candles, air fresheners or incense, and not being very careful about fumes from perfume, deodorant, cosmetics and similar.

Universities also offer a lot of extracurricular activities. Mine offers everything from sports to tending the on-site vegetable garden. Typically, a university will offer sports teams, clubs for different hobbies and interests, and groups learning new skills or with common interests. You are (hopefully!) going to make friends and will want to socialise with them in the evenings. You may want to take inpromptu trips and weekends away. Sometimes these may be for fun and to relax, which is very important. Sometimes a skill you learn at university will lead to a career - for example, I know someone whose involvement in student radio led to a career as a radio presenter.

Money is often pretty tight. I don't know anything about your family's financial situation so cannot comment on how much of a maintenance loan you'll be able to get; however, many students find that it doesn't completely cover the cost of accommodation, bills, transport and food, let alone any extras. This is going to be more challenging for you because you may have to cover the cost of your IRN's food, toys and vet care. A lot of my students work part-time and often find it very challenging to balance their studies with work. A lot of them work in the evenings (generally in restaurants or bars) or at weekends (generally in retail). So, most students are already balancing their studies, social lives and part-time work. It is tricky to find the right balance between these things at the best of times. Sometimes my students get the balance wrong and find that paid work cuts into their studying time which means that they do less well than they could have done in assessments. Adding a parrot with complex needs is already going to be tricky; having two will be very, very difficult.

I have no idea what you want to do afterwards but your chosen career may involve long hours, unpredictable shifts, further training and/or travel. Again, these may be difficult to do with a couple of parrots in tow, especially if they do not like change.

You already have one bird that requires a good two to three hours out of their cage a day. If you add another bird, you have to prepare for them not to get on and to have separate out-of-cage time. The difference in beak sizes and general size may mean that it's never going to be safe to have both out at the same time. This takes you up to four to six hours spent with your birds a day, which you are simply not going to be able to manage as a student. Rather than add to your flock now, I would suggest waiting unti you are much more settled, in stable employment and with a reliable income. I think you also need to think about the care of your current IRN while you're at university. Are your family going to be able to care for them?
 

Hawk12237

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Powder down birds are the exceptionally dusty ones - the Cockatoos, Cockatiels and African Greys. I see no problems keeping a Ringneck and an Amazon together? :)
I agree with that also, had the two together before and wasn't a problem. Amazon's are not that dusty of birds.
 

jh81

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I agree with @tka, don’t add to your flock!

You should (and probably will) be busy with studie and friends. And you should enjoy that time, and not worry about ho to juggle your time. When you are finished with school you still have time to expand your flock.

and we all understand, most of us would get more birds if only we could. The more the merrier the flock!
But there’s a time and place for everything, and you should rrreeeaaalllyyy understand what how many extra time an amazon or cockatoo need. I’ve been in the place where i had to rehome my amazon for just that reason! I could not give her the time an atention she required. It’s heartbreaking really. Even though she is now in a sanctuary in a large aviary with companion Amazons, it still hurts :(
 

Mantis64

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I agree with @tka, don’t add to your flock!

You should (and probably will) be busy with studie and friends. And you should enjoy that time, and not worry about ho to juggle your time. When you are finished with school you still have time to expand your flock.

and we all understand, most of us would get more birds if only we could. The more the merrier the flock!
But there’s a time and place for everything, and you should rrreeeaaalllyyy understand what how many extra time an amazon or cockatoo need. I’ve been in the place where i had to rehome my amazon for just that reason! I could not give her the time an atention she required. It’s heartbreaking really. Even though she is now in a sanctuary in a large aviary with companion Amazons, it still hurts :(
Do you think I co
I agree with @tka, don’t add to your flock!

You should (and probably will) be busy with studie and friends. And you should enjoy that time, and not worry about ho to juggle your time. When you are finished with school you still have time to expand your flock.

and we all understand, most of us would get more birds if only we could. The more the merrier the flock!
But there’s a time and place for everything, and you should rrreeeaaalllyyy understand what how many extra time an amazon or cockatoo need. I’ve been in the place where i had to rehome my amazon for just that reason! I could not give her the time an atention she required. It’s heartbreaking really. Even though she is now in a sanctuary in a large aviary with companion Amazons, it still hurts :(
Do you think I could get a cockatiel I have done lots of research on them and have fallen in love with these white ones I saw at the petshop it's not just any petshop it does know a lot and all thier birds are healthy. A cockatiel is less matainece and my whole family can help care for and provide attention for the bird if I'm not there.
 

jh81

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Well, with the risk of beeing hung on a rope by some.. yes, if you MUST get a bird, get a cockatiel. Or better yet, get two. Get a cage as large as possible. That way, when you are terribly busy they still have eachother. Im not sure how they would go with the ringneck dustwise, but i think you can make it work :)
 

tka

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Do you think I could get a cockatiel I have done lots of research on them and have fallen in love with these white ones I saw at the petshop it's not just any petshop it does know a lot and all thier birds are healthy. A cockatiel is less matainece and my whole family can help care for and provide attention for the bird if I'm not there.
Unless your family want this bird for themselves, I would say no.

Your family may already have to look after your ringneck for a year if you live in university accommodation. It might even be longer if you can't afford to live by yourself, can't find a pet-friendly landlord, or want to live with friends. At the moment you're thinking about what you want, not what you can offer a parrot. If you're going away to study in September, you'll be with this bird for six months before leaving it with your family. That's not fair on it or on your family (who may not even want a second bird).

I would also recommend talking to your family about university and your ringneck now. Do they know that they're likely to be responsible for its care? Do they know what is involved? Are they going to be able to provide the same amount of company that you've been offering it?
 

jh81

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Yes, again i must agree with @tka, i did not mention these points because they are rather obvious to me.. i need to learn that this is not for everyone the case :hehe:
 

Mantis64

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Unless your family want this bird for themselves, I would say no.

Your family may already have to look after your ringneck for a year if you live in university accommodation. It might even be longer if you can't afford to live by yourself, can't find a pet-friendly landlord, or want to live with friends. At the moment you're thinking about what you want, not what you can offer a parrot. If you're going away to study in September, you'll be with this bird for six months before leaving it with your family. That's not fair on it or on your family (who may not even want a second bird).

I would also recommend talking to your family about university and your ringneck now. Do they know that they're likely to be responsible for its care? Do they know what is involved? Are they going to be able to provide the same amount of company that you've been offering it?
I'm going to the university that's local to me 20 mins away as I wouldn't want to go very far away or go to a far university.
 

tka

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Even then, you will have a lot of work! As I said, we expect you to do a lot of independent study. There will be some journals, databases and other resources that you can't access off campus. You will probably have to do some kind of group work. I know that my students set up study groups for the modules I teach so they can work together and ask each other questions. Depending on the subject, you might have labs which again take up a big chunk of your day. There may be student groups and activities that you want to join. You are simply not going to have time to give two birds, especially if they don't get on and have to be let out separately.

Your life is going to change a lot in the next ten years and I don't think you realise how much. Getting a new pet when you know that there's such a big change within the next six months is irresponsible. University is also time constrained and you will soon graduate and enter the world of work. That involves even more uncertainty and, as I said, potential disruption when it comes to working patterns and where you live.

There are years ahead of you to add to your flock; you're young and you're obviously interested. You don't have to - and shouldn't - rush into anything now.
 

Mantis64

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Even then, you will have a lot of work! As I said, we expect you to do a lot of independent study. There will be some journals, databases and other resources that you can't access off campus. You will probably have to do some kind of group work. I know that my students set up study groups for the modules I teach so they can work together and ask each other questions. Depending on the subject, you might have labs which again take up a big chunk of your day. There may be student groups and activities that you want to join. You are simply not going to have time to give two birds, especially if they don't get on and have to be let out separately.

Your life is going to change a lot in the next ten years and I don't think you realise how much. Getting a new pet when you know that there's such a big change within the next six months is irresponsible. University is also time constrained and you will soon graduate and enter the world of work. That involves even more uncertainty and, as I said, potential disruption when it comes to working patterns and where you live.

There are years ahead of you to add to your flock; you're young and you're obviously interested. You don't have to - and shouldn't - rush into anything now.
Okay thanks for all the advice and knowledge that you have given me it has been so helpful.
 
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