Good question. Since your bird is young and new, you should first get better acquainted with each other. If you get another bird without establishing a friendship with your 1st bird, you may end up having both birds becoming distant towards you...especially if you won't be around often.

 

I work 5 days a week 9-5:30 and live alone. I just leave the TV or music on for my tiel while I'm gone and as soon as I get home he's out with me (usually 2-3 hours) until hes ready for bed. He has a large cage by the window filled with plenty of toys and he seems happy. I've also contemplated getting a friend for him but I don't want to lose our bond and/or deal with two birds breeding.

 

I am glad to read this! I was feeling guilty for leaving him. I really am fine with one bird. I just didn't want him to be all alone. I only work 2 or at the most 3 days a week. I do always leave lights on and the TV on. So, I guess I will just play it by ear for a while.

 

I would wait a month or two before you get another .

 

i wouldn't think it would really matter when you get another, if you want another.

the biggest thing to bear in mind when it comes to adding to your flock is that there is possibility, although slim, that the birds may not get on. would you be willing to keep them separate if they weren't friends?

check out the FAQ page for pros and cons of having one or two birds, and also ways to harmoniously introduce them to each other.

 

Don't wait years. That's all I can offer you. Bird was alone his whole life until a few months ago, as well as Mango was in her own home before I got her. Bird was a screecher, any reflective surface no matter how small or how faint/distorted his reflection was, he would scream and scream and scream until he or the object was moved away. I finally got Mango as a way that I believed would help him, as well as having the interest in getting another cockatiel in the house. I introduced them slowly, in different cages slowly moved closer and they were fine for awhile. Kept their distances a bit but they were getting along. But Bird is decidedly other-bird aggressive and recently has gotten very unfriendly with Mango being around, I've had to separate them. They were fine for a month or so until this past week when I had to interrupt him chasing her angrily around the bigger cage I have and actually am worried its been going on longer when I was at work. They're always out when I'm home so maybe its something that I just didn't witness. And I'm wondering if the blame is partially on me, jealously wise between the two of them, since they seemed to be okay for awhile.

Surprisingly, even though they can't be near each other anymore, Bird has stopped screaming and reflections aren't the huge ordeal they used to be, so I guess in a way, Mango being around has helped even if it wasn't in the way I thought. It messes up the cage plans I've had for my birds and while I have no regrets taking Mango in, it's turned out to be a bigger commitment than I thought in having to now maintain three separate cages.

Like Ollie mentioned, theres always a possibility they won't get along and it's something you have to prepare for when taking an additional bird in. It's something I didn't consider. But doing it at a younger age helps to greatly reduce the problems of your first bird seeing the newcomer as a threat to their domain rather than as a friend. Waiting until you personally are ready to take another bird in is always the very best option for both you, your bird and the bird you'd be bringing in. But it's something I tried with a negative outcome, so just be aware of what can possibly happen. On the flip side, I still firmly believe that any bird benefits from a feathered friend in a way that we as people just can't provide, even as their 'flock mate'. Good luck with your decision and I really hope it works out for you! just something to keep in mind.

 

You don't necessarily have to get another bird to be in the same cage either having out of cage time with another bird, or even seeing another bird can make them feel like they've got a flock member hanging around

 

True. My two don't really get along that great, but they don't flock call madly when I leave because they have each other for company. I guess it makes them feel safe to see each other. They also tend to eat, preen, and sleep together at the same time. But they don't like each other, they would rather be with me. Go figure, LOL Candy NEVER lets Tony give her scritches. In return, he is always the boss of things in the cage.

 

Hmm now I'm really tempted to get another..... lol

 

i agree with socaltiels

i didn't get Ollie a friend for 2 years, and now she's just not a bird bird anymore. she'd prefer to be with humans. which is absolutely fine but if you are wanting to upgrade to more than one, it's better to do it earlier vs. later