Two DYH males in same room?

[postie]

Hi All,
After a long absence I have rejoined the forum and am enjoying reading all the new posts and viewing photos!

In the next week or so I will be taking in a new DYH male. He has been spending the past few weeks in quarantine at a foster home because I have no way to quarantine other than "same house", which is not the best way. He is, however, in New York, I am in Tennessee. A good friend who knows the bird well will be making the trip to get him and bring him to me. He has had some issues in the past, plucking and mutilating, but that stopped when he was housed in a smaller cage a few years ago (is my understanding). He is in his 20's and his name is Mitzvah.

I already have a 2 yr. old DYH, Joe, that I've had since he was a baby. I will be keeping both Amazons in the living room. I also have 5 other birds around the house (2 greys, 1 macaw, 2 Suns).

My question is what kinds of problems are likely to crop up with two rowdy boys in the room? My young Joe is definitely in his "formative" years and the older Amazon is a very vocal bird (as usual). Just looking for advice and suggestions.

Thanks ahead of time :)

[Eriisu-chan]

The only answer I can give you would be.... "depends on the birds", in my opinion :agree:

[CocosMomma]

Hi, Postie! Welcome to the forum. :) Congratulations on Mitzvah! (which is a wonderful name, loosely translated as "good thing", "good happening", "good deed", "good gesture" or "gift." :)

I would certainly want to give them a chance to get to know one another over time! Starting in the same room, but opposite sides, each having their own 'area' and able to progress their relationship in comfort and safety.

I would expect the noise volume to go up, and for them to begin teaching one another any words they know (or screams, or other sounds, but all sounds a zon makes are music, so no problem there!) ;) :rofl:

The 20 year old may be an import, and if so, may attempt to teach the new boy the wild zon language which Joe may or may not respond to. If Joe responds, it might take some time for him to learn the wild language, or he may not at all, but I would expect Joe to become even more vocal than he already may be. However at first one or both may be quiet, or may spend some time doing the male prance-dance and other posturing.

As long as a female zon is not present for them to argue over, I would guess you'll simply have two spunky 'hot 3's'... (the other two being yellow napes and blue fronts) with all of their beauty, joys and antics. :) (Of course, most zons are spunky anyway, regardless of sex or species, which is one of their more endearing qualities). :D

If it were me, I would approach it with no pre-conceived notions whatsoever and let the birdie relationship develop as naturally as possible. Then, with paper and pen in hand, eyes open and enjoying the show ;) take scrupulous observational notes with as much detail as possible as they develop over the weeks and months, paying especially close attention to the way they communicate with one another through unique body language or existing or new sounds/language. It ought to be interesting, and I look forward to hearing all of your observations! :D

[postie]

Thanks so much for the replies! I really have no preconceived notions and am really looking forward to the arrival of Mitzvah. Actually, my young one, Joe, I purchased under some mysterious circumstances. He was "with" a cage vendor at a bird show pretty far from where I live. This "cage" vendor had baby Joe under a table in a small cage (looked like a very dirty chicken cage you'd see at a flea market) and there was no food, no water, no perches, nothing. The folks at the fair were very upset with this man. Luckily, I happened upon him first. I bought Joe (supposedly weaned) and we came home. He was NOT weaned...lol My how fast we can learn such things as hand-feeding! (btw, the man was tossed out on his ear)

My point being...Joe may very well understand the wild zon language, Lord only knows. These birds are tossed about so throughout the world that unless we see them hatch out and put up surveillance cameras, we may well never know any history.

I have some slight concerns about the previous plucking/mutilating behavior of Mitzvah and am praying it does not return with the move. I am expecting an odd quietness around the house for a while...then, with any luck, the jungle will just split wide open in the living room...:D

I am familiar with the male prance-dance. My friend has a Nape that is very aggressive towards anyone who comes near me. He is a 12+ year old male and is my best friend. And, Mitzvah is estimated at 25+ years in age. I don't want my Joe to grow up too fast though! Not having reached maturity, he is still a cuddle bug...

One other question: Would some warm, fuzzy foods be a bad idea the first few days Mitzvah is here? I know this sometimes brings on sexual behavior, but in a brand new environment, would the nice warm foods make Mitzvah more comfortable...or just stick with birdie foods, fresh veggies, etc.?

Thanks again...this will be an exciting adventure to be sure! :woot:

[CocosMomma]

Oh, I guess it would be disingenuous of me to not admit that I am just a little jealous of what you are about to embark on... I seriously want to hear every single detail!:drool: The opportunity you have is just exquisite.:wub: I hope you may consider starting an on-line journal so that we might be able to share in your observations and their relationship?:nuts:

And, I'm just going to come out and say that I am totally excited to see pictures!!! (You will give us lots of pictures, yes???):scratchch:thumbup:

I am shocked to hear about the conditions you found Joe in.:mad: Thank you for rescuing him!:goodjob: Congratulations on not assaulting the man.:highfive: You must have a great deal of self-control.

It is always possible that through the trip to your house or new environment that the plucking could start again - but equally possible it wouldn't. The first thing I like to do with a new bird is to keep them on the same diet and routine (as is reasonably possible) from their previous home. Naturally, you are right regarding your concern of the potential reaction of the warm foods. You have good instincts; I think they will serve you well.:tighthug:

So, I think that brings us back to - - - pictures?? Yes! I am certainly looking forward to seeing lots of Joe and Mitzvah pictures! Congratulations again on such an incredible opportunity, and I can't say thank you enough for rescuing both of these wonderful birds.:beerchug:

[Nolan's Mom]

So....I'll be waiting til I can hear those two boys out here in Vegas....I figure with two male zons...it won't be long, no need to record them or anything I am sure I will be able to hear them just fine!!! :rotflmao: I'm with Robin, I think you keeping him doing whatever he is used to will help with his plucking and mutilating. Just due to the nature of the move and new home, new people, new birds he is going to go through a big upheaval of what he knows, I think keeping as much of all the other stuff the same will probably help him feel more comfortable. With our CAG Nolan, the routine is really what has gotten him to slow down his FDB, if we mess up the routine he lets me know by pulling a few downies out!

I will also say I agree with Robin in that it sounds like you have really great instincts and loads of bird experience, so I am sure Mitzvah will do really well with you, you'll just have to let him do everything in his own time - there's another Nolan lesson :D

Um...yes....PICTURES....in case you hadn't figured out....we kinda sorta like them.....:nuts:

[Shirley]

What a sad story about Joe - I'm so glad you found him!

As for the warm fuzzy foods, I'd stick with partly what he's used to, and add good nutritious things a bit at a time - fresh veggies, a good pellet foundation, etc. :wub:

[postie]

We should be in good shape food-wise then....I was told that Mitzvah's very favorite is fresh veggies and eggs...so we can do that ANYTIME! I'm just waiting to hear something now about when the move will happen <sitting on pins and needles>!

Yes...very sad about Joe. The only good thing about it was that he was a baby. Dr. Scott McDonald was available that day at the show and looked at Joe. He estimated him at around 4 months, maybe slightly less. Joe's nose was full of "gunk", he was dirty, but amazingly, he seemed healthy! I paid dearly for that bird as the man that had him was hard-nosed and nasty too. One of those people that keeps touching you and calling you "honey"!!!:shoot:

Even sadder, he also had a blue-front, but I could not come up with enough money to rescue both. I tried....I hopped from bank to bank and went back and the man still wanted an outrageous price that I could not come up with. I have always wondered about that blue-front and I try not to think about it, but it kind of haunts me.

Sounds like Mitzvah has had kind of a bad deal over the last few years too. Hopefully, he will never have to move again :thumbup:!!!

Pictures...oh yes...I'll be taking pictures!!! And recordings...LOL

Thanks all...I hope the move is soon!