Bird compatibility

[gregt]

Is there any issues with certain birds getting along with each other? Can you keep different types of birds in the same cage? Does it depend on the personalities of the birds involved?

No, I'm not planning on another bird yet, I'm just curious.

[Joe]

It really varies from bird to bird. Some species are more of flcok birds than others. For example a galah/RB2 thrives on a flock mentality. Others, like a Ekkie may want to be left alone and not be around other birds. This is a good question that is simply, yet difficult to answer. It has a lot to do with how the individual bird was socialized and the species genetic disposition.

[Sue]

No, I'm not planning on another bird yet, I'm just curious.[/QUOTE]
Watch this space!!!!:rotflmao: :rotflmao:

[Joe]

If you do get another bird, carefully plan this process! I would strongly suggest giving your new friend 6-9 months to adjust and pass any "honeymoon" period. I would also have a good conversation with your avian vet before doing so. They typically have list of birds that they do/do not recommend. Has your bird been to the vet? Not to be pushy, but since he is a bird that was wild, this is a wise step for the birds own welfare.

[Joe]

BTW, from the appearance of your friend in the pix, he looks healthy. I am stating this from the color of his plamage and the condition of his beak. A bird's beak is a good indicator of his health. So is the brilliancy of the plumes.

[Shirley]

It's rarely a good thing to expect two parrots to share a cage... two parrotlets who are bonded male / female can share, but they aren't, imo, the same category of parrot as the conures. Two birds can be caged side-by-side and get along outside their cages like Majj's two birds do, but even hers have separate cages.

As for species who get along, that's a tough call. I've known Umbrella Cockatoos who have bonded with little cockatiels, which is very unusual. But, as a rule, you wouldn't try to arrange that kind of bond. Ours "parralel" play or communicate much like 2-yr-old kids... not with each other, but they do play or talk "in parallel" with each other, seeming to enjoy each others' company and voices. They also share flock behaviors... sleeping and napping at the same time, eating at the same time, preening at the same time, raising cane at the same time... and African Greys and Rose-breasted cockatoos don't even live in the same countries.

Ekkies = Eclectus parrots btw.

:)

[Shirley]

Another thought here... in the wild... like at the bird feeder... you'll see squabbles and the birds suddenly fly away. In a cage, they can't do that. Birds don't bite by nature. They bite b/c they can't fly away. In a caged situation, you might have two birds who get along fine for a long time, then suddenly something happens and one is severely injured or killed or maimed. That's the tragedy of the confines of a cage when a squabble breaks out and they can't get away from each other. The harm isn't even intentional, but it happens.

:(

[Joe]

Shirley is correct.

Species like the Greys and Zons are also known to be unpredictable after puberty passes. I am not trying to stereotype any bird with their genetic dispositions.

[gregt]

Good info, thanks! How old is puberty for most birds?

[Shirley]

Good info, thanks! How old is puberty for most birds?

Depends on the species... the larger size species tend to grow up slower. Umbrella Cockatoos for instance it's more like what, 3-5 yrs? Conures probably 2-3 yrs? maybe less. Parrotlets 9 mos to 18 mos.

Puberty... they choose their mate. It might be YOU. It might be Vickie. If it's Vickie, he/she might decide to bite Vickie to keep her away from you. or might bite you to keep you away from her. It's something you can definitely deal with, though, and show in a correct manner who the ruler of the roost is, but not the way you would with a dog. It doesn't work that way with birds.

Mainly, just putting the bird back in its cage w/no discipline is the best way to handle it. Discipline does not work with birds, other than a stern voice followed by ignoring the bird and the behavior you don't want.

[Shirley]

It's also a seasonal thing from then on, or may never come up again. Seasonal meaning once a year usually with the larger birds. Usually spring. Stimulated by longer days. Lasts a few weeks. They get hormonal. Distraction is the best thing.. don't encourage them to act out sexually, even if one thinks it's "cute". Just distract them with something else to do, or put them on their tree stand or back in the cage if nothing else works. Holly got real hormonal with me in Jan-Feb-March, but didn't bite at all. I just distracted her a lot. She'd get hormonal through the cage bars during dinner (she sits right behind me in her cage at the dinner table) and I'd just ignore her while she made her little puppy noises and carried on with her feathers all fluffed and her wings slightly spread out and cupped around... she doesn't do it anymore.. she's out of the mood now. haha.. but she never got nippy at all (thank heavens, boy can she deliver a bite if she wants to!)

[Shirley]

Holly btw is too young to breed; I called a friend who breeds Greys, and she said she's just practicing, being she's coming into her preteen years. ;)

[Jean]

No, I'm not planning on another bird yet, I'm just curious.
Watch this space!!!!:rotflmao: :rotflmao:[/QUOTE]

You've already got all the good replies so I will watch you closely for when your next bird arrives. LOL :smile: :rotflmao: :Blueflowe

[SadennaAndFlock]

It's never a good thing to mix different species of birds and house them in the same cage..you cannot gurantee they will get along..and even if they appear to get along all it takes is for one of them to be having a bad day and it's all over for the other bird who could be injured or worse. Plus you risk the chance of losing your bond with your bird if you house it with another bird..birds can get protective of their cage mates if they bond to them and may become aggressive towards you. When housing birds together better to stick with same species and size...but if you don't have any interest in breeding better makes sure they are the same sex or if you don't want to risk losing the bond with your bird best to keep birds in seperate cages and play with them individually...Besides any new bird coming into your home must be quarantined away from the rest of your flock for at least 35-45 with a avian vet check during that time..then introduce the bird to the rest of your flock slowly..they maybe able to tolerate each other out of cage time but close supervision is a must..there are never any gurantees two birds can be housed together and get along..

[Majj]

Here is a good link it gives you a guide on which fids get along ..


http://www.birdhealth.com.au/bird/parrot/aspets.html

I say a guide as I believe it is sometimes individual..Sunny a conure and Buddy a Quaker live sleep snuggle and preen together yet it says its un wise to mix any spieses with a Quaker ..they are stubourn and bossy fids BUT because Sunny was 3years old and Buddy came here as a baby I think it has all worked out..I would never have tried to add a conure if I had of had a Quaker here first except if I got them both as babies at the same time...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/Maj/TwoBoysontheropeswing.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/Maj/Buddyandsunnysmooching.jpg

[harleybaby]

If I had to do it again, which wouldn't be in this lifetime with the birds I have now. LOL I would get all the same species. I have a different bird in 3 corners in my living/dining room and then they all have to have seperate playgyms because I can't trust any of them to be near each other.

[jeepjon]

Our birds get along, but definitely need separate cages. They can have squabbles, and one can be injured in an instant. Winston, our yellow collar, lost his toenail (last part of one of his toes) to our lesser sulphur crested. They get along very well 99.99% of the time, but one little squabble and Winston could have bled to death (luckily we were prepared with the emergency vet hospital and our local bird vet). I wouldn't keep 2 parrrots in the same cage. Same room with 2 cages is ideal...but be careful!

[Jean]

Good info, thanks! How old is puberty for most birds?

Shirley answered for the smaller species.

The larger too's and macaws reach it at an older age. They usually come into it between 4 - 5 but, may not reach a peak until 8 or 10. I have experienced this with Elvie. He started at about 3 1/2, at about 4 went into his terrible too's until about 5 then he begin to mellow out until he reached about 8 when his full sexual needs were crying to be met. My vet suggested a stuffed animal as a companion that he may exercise his desires with. This can allow a release of excess frustration that if allowed to build can lead to severe behavioral problems.

I found this very interesting. I went to the store, purchased a cute white fluffy bear about 8" long, a cute cuddle fluffy ecru 8" lamb, a cute 7"fluffy bayge bunny with long ears. Elvie did not like the bear or the lamb, he did like the bunny. We let him cuddle with bunny, he will even kiss bunny, so far we have never seen him loving on bunny, but he will giggle and make cute noises to bunny. He and bunny seem to still be in the courting stages. LOL :heart:

U2 's and yellow headed zons are noted to be some of the worse when it comes to exploiting severe mate aggression. They have also done this to their bonded human mate, or someone that may be to close to their mate. I have only had one such incident happen to me since Elvie became a mature male. One day when I was pulling up some full size pics of Elvie on the screen he was about 2 foot away and was watching me, I never gave it a second thought. It was a picture taken of him some time ago. I reached to the computer screen and begin to pet his picture and tell him that was my pretty Elvie. He had instant rage and lunged at my face and bit a terrible bite just below and beside my eye. Blood went gushing down my face. I thought he'd really ripped open. I did what many avian people do. Ran to the bathroom, tried to wash the bite and stop the blood from gushing. I finally took a peroxide soaked paper towel and applied it with as much pressure as I coul stand, the pain was terrible. I switched peroxide soaked paper towels several times because of the blood. After about 15 minutes I finally could remove the towel and apply preparation H to help draw my skin back together then apply two butterfly bandages. As many of you know a too bite can be a very dangerous bite because of their u shaped lower mandible. I went to my doctor for a regular appointment 3 days later. She was stunned to see my bite and could not believe it was healing so well. She even asked me if she could have a couple other doctors and a training resident doctor come in and look at how preparation H and my home bandaging was allowing such a severe bite to heal so well. This taugh me one thing, that was never underestimate the jealousy of a mature male cockatoo. No matter how tame, how sweet, how bonded they are, always use caution about being in a position that can make them lunge into a jealous rage. This was a valuable lesson I learned the hard way. This happened in February and you can barely see my scar today. :) I have also know of a dbl yellow headed amazon that lunged and severely bit someone out of jealousy when they were giving his human mate a hug.