By Erik J. Martin for WebVet
If you're the happy owner of a pet parrot, you've probably pondered the possibility of getting it a cage companion. But are two birds twice as nice or double the trouble? That depends on many factors, say the experts.
Ask Mina Tweti, the Los Angeles-based author of the newly published "Of Parrots and People'' (Viking, 2008), and she'll tell you that getting another feathered friend for your bird is a usually good idea, provided you choose the second parrot carefully and have the time and temperament to care for two birds properly.
"Research shows that the single best enrichment for a pet parrot is another parrot,'' Tweti said. "From the moment a parrot hatches in the wild until the day they die, they are typically never out of eyesight or earshot of another parrot, which is why their voices are so loud. They're always surrounded by their flocks, mates and family unit.''
Kristen L. Nelson, DVM, Veterinary Creative, in Scottsdale, Ariz., agrees that acquiring a companion bird for your pet parrot is a good idea.
"I believe birds like having other birds around for company,'' Nelson said. "I advise clients to get two birds, although most live in separate cages. If they are of the same species, they may be introduced.''
When two's a crowd
Not all bird experts agree that pairing a parrot with another is the best decision, however. Dr. Greg J. Harrison, DVM, said that it's "not critical to get a second bird for y...
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