Buddy for Jenday Conure

[mango]

Hi,

I was wondering if companion parrots fare better alone, or with another parrot for a friend?

Is it better to get the same type of parrot or can you mix them?

What issues could this introduce?

Many thanks in advance for your advice!

Cheers

Mango

[Robyn]

Hi Mango,

i don't see any problem with getting a second bird. If your Jenday is a young bird they will usually accept another bird into the household no problems. However if you are considering another conure i would get the same sex as the one you already have. Especially if your not into breeding.

[mango]

Hi Robyn,

Mango is about 7 months old now and is male. He lives in the house in a rather large cage.

I was thinking of getting a female jenday as a friend of mine had 2 ringneck females that ended up fighthing over him...would they try to breed in the house if I added a female jenday? Are there any other issues with having a female jenday?

What other type of parrot can you guys suggest? Quaker? Galah? Alex?

Regards

Mango

[avinet]

Oct 31, 2011 22:12:50 GMT 10 mango said:

I was thinking of getting a female jenday as a friend of mine had 2 ringneck females that ended up fighthing over him...would they try to breed in the house if I added a female jenday? Are there any other issues with having a female jenday?

What other type of parrot can you guys suggest? Quaker? Galah? Alex?

Yes if you have a pair then they very likely would eventually try to breed in the house - see my thread elsewhere about Sasha and Jello - aussiebirds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=asiatics&action=display&thread=10737

A friend from another species might work out but there are no certainties, birds are individuals and have their own ideas about who they want to be friends with. Of the ones you mention - Quaker is 50/50, a Galah is probably not going to happen, and an Alex is probably the best chance but not a certainty. You would need to get an Alex just weaned - the older it is the less likely for it to form a friendship with a Conure.

cheers,

Mike


Baby Alex and two Sun Conures, all at weaning age

[mango]

Thanks for the info guys

What other type of parrot would you suggest would make a good friend? Or at least the best chance of them becoming friends? Another conure I suppose?

Alex's seem like awesome birds though! Im assuming Cockatoo's are out?


Wifes not going to like this idea though!

[avinet]

another conure - a Jenday - is the best chance and most suitable, with any other species it is a bit hit or miss, very much depends on the individual bird.

I wouldn't suggest a Sun Conure with a Jenday because if they do decide to breed you end up with a hybrid since they are two different species. While such hybrids are not that uncommon, they are called Sundays, most aviculturists consider it unethical to breed hybrids, and it is illegal to breed hybrids of native birds. My personal preference would be in order a Jenday, Alexandrine, Green-cheek, and finally a Quaker. I can't recommend the Cockatoos - to big a size difference, and while it might work, if it didn't you have acquired a big noisy demanding bird,

cheers,

Mike

[mango]

Thanks for the info Mike. Im not a fan of hybrids myself so it looks like another Jenday then.

Now just to convince the prime minister that we NEED another parrot! ;D

Really like the look of the Alex though! Time to move to an acreage and build some averies!

[mango]

The next question is of course can anybody recommend a breeder where I can get a DNA sexed Jenday Conure female?