Camelot and blue throated macaws
Referred to as MBS, Multiple Bird Syndrome is suffered by most bird people, particularly those in their first years of bird ownership. It’s symptoms include warm, fuzzy feelings when viewing other people’s birds – especially those species which we do not keep in our own flock.
MBS is a powerful affliction as symptoms can manifest even without the other birds being physically present – cute photographs alone can cause flare ups. The main symptom is an uncontrollable urge to add just one more bird to the flock even when we know we have no more space in the bird room or when our budget is already stretched to the limit.
You may be reading this and thinking: “Okay. Now this is a disease I can live with!” Beware. MBS is insidious and in the blink of an eye you can find yourself inundated with birds. It may sound like paradise, but it is not – not for you, and not for your flock.
No, MBS is not a real disease, but it is referred to often in the avian community. All joking aside, it is a serious issue. I remember struggling with it myself not so long ago. Over the years, I have watched many great bird owners fall victim to MBS. One such example stands out over ther others:
One nice lady, we’ll call her Susan, had a full time job working for her city’s transit department. She was married to a great guy and all of her children were grown and moved away from home. She and her husband understandably found the house too quiet and they purchased a blue and gold macaw to fill the void. The bird became a treasured member of the household.
Rosebreasted cockatoo and congo african grey
Following this, Susan fell in love with all things parrot and joined a local bird club where she experienced some of the other popular species. Within the next two years they added another five birds to the flock. Her husband was very patient with the birds and helped care for them, but insisted that they draw the line there.
When you called them on the phone, it was hard to hear them speak. When visiting them, you could tell they were having trouble keeping up with the bird related chores. The birds were loved and cared for, but their not-so-large home wasn’t as pristine, or as peaceful, as it used to be.
Susan couldn’t help herself and came home one day with another large bird. Her thinking where her husband was concerned was that “it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission”. He hit the roof and gave her the ultimatum: “me or the birds”. It was a devastating choice for her, but one which she had brought on herself. They kept their origninal blue and gold macaw, and had to rehome the rest – an unhappy experience for all concerned, both human and avian.
Camelot and blue throated macaws and rosebreasted cockatoo
I hope the point of this story is clear. We love birds. We can’t get enough of them…that is why we are all here, after all. But you can have too much of a good thing. We can spread ourselves too thin in the areas of finanaces, space and time, and it can play out badly for our birds…and our loved ones. Think carefully before you bring a new bird into your life, and try to keep your MBS under control!
Author Patty Jourgensen specializes in avian health, behavior and nutrition and has been working with and caring for rescue birds since 1987.
12 comments
i have over 40 birds mostly parrots and i know that 50 or over is way to many but if u keep them nice and clean and healthy they make lovely friendly pets and companions and the joys of breeding is just awesome because you can see them grow and you can see the life cycle repeat.if any one wants any more info about me and my birds go to my website here is the url: https://sites.google.com/site/alltoknowaboutbirds/ just copy and paste it in to the top task bar thing and u will be on it straight away and also if u would like to email me feel free its jamester1907@hotmail.com
Well I have 3 birds 2 of them is Blue Fronted Amazons and the other is a Sun Conure. I have 2 dogs. I had 5 birds but this past weekend I gave my parakeet and cockatiel away to a couple friends at work. But my birds are out from time I get home from work til time I go to bed. I bring them in the front room with us put them on thier stands and talk and hold. Would not have it any other way. I feel you know your limit. I am think about adding 1 more to my family my dream bird is a cockatoo so I will add 1 more and be done. But the way I feel if you dont have the tim e to let them out with you when you are at home then you do need to down size all birds need thier time out of thier homes aka (cages) the way you have to look at it is how would you like to be locked in a bathroom for 15 hr or more a day. That is why mine are out from 2:45 pm til 11:00 pm then they sleep and have thier time in thier home from 11 to 2 :45 next day so that way it is half in half out kinda thing.
I started with one cockatiel I found on a bank parking lot…then a couple of years later I took in 3 more from an elderly woman who was concerned about their welfare after she was gone. I housed them in a large ferret cage turned horizontal…then evidently the birds settled nicely into their new life…and layed eggs. The first clutch gave me 2 fertilized eggs that became baby birds—which I rehomed. The following year…2 more clutches! Five more birds. I’m going to replace any eggs I see from now on with fake eggs. Hate to do it…but don’t need more birds. I’ve got 9…that live happily in 2 connected ferret cages (the 2 story kind; though I’m looking for another cage just go give them optimum flying space). Next year I’m planning on fashioning an outdoor cage as well.
I lost my beloved cockateil Casey this past Memorial Day. I started working at a bird rescue, Ravens’s Haven, after that . I now have 6 parakeets and 2 cocateils. They all get along like family, and have so much fun. I can’t imagine not having even one of them, but like the show says “eight is enough”. I pray for my health to last as long as my birds do, because I know how hard it would be to find a home for all of them to stay together and be cared for like they are used to.
Is it a good thing to have two , if you are away in the day working , and your bird is alone?
We have this time a lovebird, he is Toby, born last Nov. 13, 2010 and a Conure who was found last summer and never claimed, he is Kiwi. We are not sure of the age of the conure but the lady that found him believes that he is not an old bird. I am not sure where to find that out as I have had other birds in the past. Last Dec. 11/10 we lost all our pets in a housefire which was a sad day for us. Also, as is being said I believe I had more birds than I should have. Don’t get me wrong I did love them. My two cockatiels were disabled in the leg area only but perfect otherwise, one was abused, one was born with only a few claws. I also had 5 budgies, 2 canaries and 5 finches. The ones we have now are the limit for us. We also have some other pets and I know I have to watch mysel where thats concerned too, since I love animals so much. Also I am not getting any younger. We don’t have children and the birds and animals are so enjoyable.
3 birds, 3 cats. Who say’s cats and birds can’t get along?? LOL
I know all to well,my husband just recently died and we both loved our babies but I am thinking of selling my two macaws as they are a little bit hard for me.I would like to sell them and did put them in the paper once but all I got were kids calling to offer me $25.00 or $50.00,these birds without there cage cost me into the thousand and over bracet then there cage and toys.Certainly I am willing to take off a little however I am not going to give them away.I want to know they are going to be well taken care of with enough money to feed them and also take care of them properly.Do you have any sujestions about how or where to advertise,One is a hybrid catalina and the other is a military? thankyou for your time and your good sense on birds and why we love them so.thankyou kelly
I think an only bird is lonely bird!
Please answer this: What is the best way to find a new home for a bird that you can no longer care for? I had 3 birds, and sent one back to his original owner after 8 years. She finally got her own house, kids moved out and could keep a bird. My second bird came from another owner. I think re-homing a bird is good if the bird is going to a caring home that is right for that particular bird.
I have 5 parrots. 2 ekki male, 1 CAG female and a couple BHCs. They are living as a big flock, I think they feel themselves well.
I have 5 parrots. 2 ekki male, 1 CAG female and a couple BHCs. They are living as a big flock, I think they fell themselves weel.
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