With so many of you having multiple bird households, I was curious as to what you perceive as being overwhelmed with to many birds to give individual love and care to? I know in the end it all boils down to each individual's capabilties, but do you know when to say "No more", mean it and stick to it?
Please don't think I'm criticizing anyone here, it's just that I've come across people applying to adopt a parrot who have 10+ birds already and find that when I do my home visit most of them are either "collectors" or in my opinion don't have the time to give those already in their care the time and attention they deserve. I'm sure I'm going to be "blasted" really good by some of you, so I'm all prepared for a good lashing! Thanks!

I am comfortable at two large birds. I figure I have two arms to pick up birds, two legs for them to perch on while I sit. If I had more, everything would have to go in shifts. I figure that I might still be comfortable at 3 or 4, thus adding the second "shift"... but beyond that I don't think I would have enough time for everyone.... unless the setup and schedule here changed dramatically.

I really think we are done with our 4. Sometimes I lose my mind temporarily and think of another, especially when I see a bird that needs a home, but I know our house and time are already taken up. Honestly I really felt a big change in how much time the birds took up when Scarlett came home. Danny doesn't like to be handled very much, but Doyle, Prinny, & Scarlett would like to be with someone 24/7. And with only 2 people in our house that can get a little hard to divide up time properly. Yep, 4 is definitley my limit.

I'm at my limit with 3. I don't feel that I could adequately divide my time any more. Now our time is more divided between cat & dog time vs. bird time. When the birds are out I feel that they all get a lot of attention from us - but any more would be pushing it for us and our work schedules and furry critters. My weekdays are pretty hectic making sure that the dog and birds get proper attention and exercise (and no, the cats don't really exercise, they're lazy buggers ) AND make sure that the birds get to bed on time.

I think it totally depends....we are completely done with our two macaws and one cockatiel. We also have 2 small kids. Once they grow up and we have more time on our hands, if we come across some rescues, we may begin fostering or doing something like that. I think that people that do that are fantastic.....when they take in birds that are rehomes or rescues and don't buy them and they take the time to work with them, they are doing it for the birds sake too, not just their own. I know alot of people on here probably have adopted birds and ended up with more then they expected....if someone came to me with one and asked me to take it in I would REALLY have to work hard to say no, and my husband would do everything in his power to convince me to say yes. So I can see how people end up with more then they intend. But I am not buying anymore. (sorry Kathie!!)

I am not sure it is a number exactly but I have wondered about this question myself. It also depends on how bird time gets shared out. As I am typing this I have 3 suns on my person. I have had 6 suns with me at the same time before. Obviously I could not have 3 large macaws on me at the same time. I also cant have budgies and suns on me together. My birds are never in cage during the day. A better question is how many and which birds can co-exist in the thick of the action, rather than particular one on one time. I see it as better to have the birds out under supervision and limited owner time rather than 30min concentrated time and cage bound for 23 1/2 hours. I may just kiss or throw foot toys and pick up at other times. Also how many other people play with the birds while they out.

I was thinking this very same thing. My goal is to have all birds out together and able to play in the same room (because honestly, we don't have enough hours in the day to do it differently) - not necessarily play with each other, but be able to safely be out and about together. That is why I know that adding a different species than what I already have would spell disaster. The little blue budgie wants to be involved in everyone and everything, and a different species bird might not be as tolerant as Lulu is with him. Clipping Jerry again is out of the question - I would much rather keep my numbers where they are and have them fly about happily than sacrifice that flying time in order to try and have multiple species be able to co-exist without problems.

(Just for the record, I'm only commenting on my personal situation, not trying to make a generalization.)

*LONG*
okay...let me try to answer your query as it realates to my household. Let me start by saying that all but 2 of my birds are rehomed or rescued birds. Some have more "issues" than others. Most (but not all) had been neglected at the very least, never getting out of their inadequate cages and fed a substandard diet. One (IRN) is handicapped and terrified of people. She likes to have her cage close to me where she will choose the location within the cage that allows her to be in the closest proximity to me--BUT if I attempt to get her out of the cage or touch her she literally throws herself against the cage bars in panic. Not much time required there. She is an old bird that had been badly abused and if she does not want to be handled,that is her right (IMO). Two others are a bonded pair of quakers, left in a tiny cage, fed sunflower seeds and allowed to produce unfertile eggs every few weeks for YEARS. They now share a HUGE flight cage, eat Harrison's pellets and fresh fruit and veggies daily. They do not require one on one time-they would eat me alive . All of the others; 2B&G's, 1 CAG, 3Ekkies, 1 IRN, spend 3+ days a week in outdoor cages, (back in their own indoor cages at night) and get 2-4 hours out of cage time in the evenings to play on toys, boings, trees, etc. in my greatroom. Sometimes theyall go out in the same room together, I have three different play "areas" and I split them up by size/species, sometimes I only have one species out at a time. During this out of cage time they interact with each other, many know each other (and call each other) by name, and any bird that will have me gets at ~30 min of one on one time. Most nights that requires about 2 hours of my time. If they all decide they want one on one on the same night, I am in trouble , so far that has not happened. Other than the Macaws, who want to held spoiled like a baby, most just want to be close, on my knee or on my arm. I can handle 2-3 birds at a time this way and they are quite happy to have contact without me trying to do anything more but give an occasional scritch on the head. I watch TV or work on the computer....

This is so much more than most of these birds have ever had...maybe it could be better. But, they have large, clean, safe, cages, good diet, lots of company (people and animal), out of cage time, outside time, vet care, and someone who loves them. Yes, I have a lot of birds...and I am so grateful that have been allowed the privilege of giving them a good home.

PS-- on occasion, I have taken in a bird in need that did not respond well to my houses chaotic environment, in those cases I have very carefully found good homes for them and placed them with loving families. Most people selling on CL or other sites are not as careful...so I guess on rare occasion, I am just a middleman.

Replace the blue with green and you understand my home. Peewee sports a minor clip that allows flying but not going straight up to visit the suns on their gym. Outside when everybirdy goes to the aviary they can co-exist without any problems, (except for eaten budgie boxes) it is only the inside sun gym that gets defended against budgie intruders. The suns never visit the budgie gym they choose to go up the curtains, or looking for people when leaving the gym.

We just got our second cockatiel. I planned on getting one or two more 'tiels in July or August, Devon just came along a little earlier than expected. I would not want more than 6 birds total. I am planning a small community of Australian grass parakeets with a core group of 'tiels. The largest bird I want is an Australian King Parakeet or maybe a Galah. When one or both of those two come along, that's it. I don't think Kent and I could pay adequate individual attention to more than that. I am planning on an indoor/outdoor flight when we move later this year, but even with lots of exercise and play time, I still think the birds need one on one at least 30 minutes a day. So that would add up to a minimum of three hours a day for six birds. That's a lot when you add in the work day and time for meal prep, etc.