Can I get a second animal companion

[silverwolf99]

I'm playing a 3.5 game in 3-4 weeks with a group of friends.
the character I made is a level 1 elf hunter(homebrew class), I'm looking to get a second animal companion as the adventure progresses, I already have a wolf, and am after a bird of some kind to use as a scout.

As this is only our second game as a group, some people will need help setting up their character, I already know how to do it, but I don't want to pester the DM as she will be helping the others.

Is it possible to get a second animal companion, if so how do I go about it?
the class is on d&d wiki 3.5e homebrew hunter

Thanks :)

[Necroticplague]

Assuming it's the same as the druid or ranger AC, yes. There's a beastmaster PRC for exactly this purpose.

[flappeercraft]

As necroticplague already said there is the Beastmaster PrC but there is also the Wild Cohort feat from WotC archive which basically is a slightly weaker animal companion.

[silverwolf99]

Thanks guys that's a real help

[Waker]

Necroticplague and flappeercraft covered the ways to get a second companion. Another option which is a bit different than what you are asking for is the Beast Heart Adept. It doesn't progress your animal companion, but it does give you a monstrous companion(s) instead. http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20070209a&page=4

[Fouredged Sword]

Also, if you end up with an arcane caster level, you can take obtain familiar for one of a number of birds. The advantage of a familiar is they use all your skill ranks and can communicate with you directly.

[mabriss lethe]

If birds are what you're after, you can also take a few pact magic feats from Tome of Magic in order to bind Malphas. (Iirc, I think you need all three binder feats, but I don't recall) That will grant you the ability to summon a crow/dove that allows you to see through its eyes. If someone kills it, no big deal, just summon another and carry on with your day.

[ellindsey]

If you have the money, and the GM permits it, you can always buy a few Figurines of Wondrous Power. Not quite as good as an actual companion animal, but there's no limit (other than what you can afford) to how many you can have.

[Braininthejar2]

Also cohorts.

[Hiro Quester]

You could also just make a good wild empathy check, and use the Handle Animal skill to train a hawk that you make your friend.

It would be able to serve you and be your friend, scout for you and son on, but would not get the benefits of animal companion.

[Quertus]

1 gp for an Awakened bat slave?

EDIT : Oh, wait, there are actually birds statted out in the MM. CR squared x 100 gp is the going price for a slave, just buy an awakened bird.

[Uckleverry]

Yeah, the awakened animal slave market is getting hot this time of the year.

[Hiro Quester]

Or you could use wild empathy to make friends with a bird, use handle animals to train it, and hire a druid to awaken your friend. (You cannot awaken an animal companion, but you can awaken a trained animal.)

Doesn't have to be a slave.

Edit:

Or you can awaken first, and then use diplomacy to change its attitude.

Mooncrow's Handle Animal Guide (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=1300.0) gives many details about options for this kind of situation.