Advice on bonded pair who have eggs

[texsize]

So many things I want to say but I don’t like typing a long monologue.

I had a pair of Cockatiels that had babies.
First clutch I kept and second clutch I sold through a pet store.
I did not want more babies so I kept mom/dad separated after that.

At no point did I ever consider getting rid of either of them, I just kept them in separate cages.

As for getting attacked.
Heck, even a cat will occasionally scratch you.

Birds defend their territory. You have to learn how to work around their behavior sometimes.
Even the birds I have the best relationship will sometimes lash out if I don’t observe the proper protocol.

 

[kme3388]

The biting has been on going for a yr and got 10xs worse when we add hormones (Miko gets spicy when she’s hormonal so I’m well aware) I’m all for advocating for the parrots but at some point my wellbeing has to count for something too.

Surprisingly now that she’s laid eggs he is actually less aggressive towards me. I have considered after the babies (if they survive ) are weaned putting him in a cage next to Miko maybe look into a cage with a divider. Perhaps if he they can still see each other and I would work with Duckie one on one.

I’m so sorry you are getting bit. This is very much so my current situation. Pretty much exact just with a sun, and jenday. I had my conures recall trained. They used to snuggle into me. Now my male views me as an intruder, and bites me. If I’m handling my female (she’s still nice) he will fly over, and try to bite me. Parrot hormones are their downfalls in captivity. When they hit puberty for the first few years it’s challenging for sure. It really does pass but it’s not easy in those time frames.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I didn’t mean to be rude. I was being lazy because I didn’t want to type out everything so I just googled should you separate a bonded pair of conures. I knew that green cheeks bonded for life because I just had this discussion with a vet due to my own situation. I was informed the only parrot I have that’s not monogamous is my Ekkie. Again, I’m sorry I was rude. I just don’t think a bonded pair of conures should be separated unless dire. Parrots are so social.

I don't think you were rude at all! It was interesting information that apparently AI says applies to all parrots (I did an AI inquiry myself). I just can't beloved its that extreme. I believe a human can be a good substitute companion for a bird losing its avian mate if the human gives the bird a lot of attention during and after an adjustment period.

 

[Miko_the_birb]

So many things I want to say but I don’t like typing a long monologue.

I had a pair of Cockatiels that had babies.
First clutch I kept and second clutch I sold through a pet store.
I did not want more babies so I kept mom/dad separated after that.

At no point did I ever consider getting rid of either of them, I just kept them in separate cages.

As for getting attacked.
Heck, even a cat will occasionally scratch you.

Birds defend their territory. You have to learn how to work around their behavior sometimes.
Even the birds I have the best relationship will sometimes lash out if I don’t observe the proper protocol.

an occasional bite even if it draws blood is one thing, Miko who I have no plans to rehome has nailed me at least a dozen times if not more, (what’s the saying it’s not if a gcc will bite you it’s when) I can’t go near the cage to do basic care. I’m sorry I’m not getting bite multiple times a day so they can stay together. Either you don’t understand the severity of my situation and how much I have tried to make it work or you’re just on the bandwagon of keep them together regardless of how it effects everyone else. My home and life do not revolve around the birds. T

 

[kme3388]

I don't think you were rude at all! It was interesting information that apparently AI says applies to all parrots (I did an AI inquiry myself). I just can't beloved its that extreme. I believe a human can be a good substitute companion for a bird losing its avian mate if the human gives the bird a lot of attention during and after an adjustment period.

Parrots can feather pluck, and become stressed when their owners pass away too. I was warned by a vet, and zoologist when I adopted my macaw that they bond very strongly to their chosen humans, and that it’s not okay to take on that kind of responsibility then later on rehome. I was lectured a lot in that adoption process. I guess some parrots self destruct when they lose a mate. Sometimes parrots see their human friends as mates.

 

[Miko_the_birb]

I am considering trying a separate cage and putting him next to Miko so at least he can see her, trying to work on bonding with him. Basically trying a restart bc he has started to come around allowing me to scratch his head actually coming to the front of the cage for “petpets” but then they start calling to each other . Perhaps if they can see each other they won’t call out? I’m sure they’ll “talk” but it wouldn’t be so loud

 

[kme3388]

an occasional bite even if it draws blood is one thing, Miko who I have no plans to rehome has nailed me at least a dozen times if not more, (what’s the saying it’s not if a gcc will bite you it’s when) I can’t go near the cage to do basic care. I’m sorry I’m not getting bite multiple times a day so they can stay together. Either you don’t understand the severity of my situation and how much I have tried to make it work or you’re just on the bandwagon of keep them together regardless of how it effects everyone else. My home and life do not revolve around the birds. T

I know your pain. I can’t even change out a food bowl right now. I’m getting bit even doing that. It’s awful. I have to stand on one end of the cage get my male to go over there, and then run to the other side to quickly change out food dishes. I’ve had to manipulate everything I do involving my conures right now to avoid getting bit. I myself won’t separate the two. My sun just turned 3 this past year too. He hit puberty, and was already getting sassy. This was just the icing on the cake. I really do feel for your situation.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Parrots can feather pluck, and become stressed when their owners pass away too. I was warned by a vet, and zoologist when I adopted my macaw that they bond very strongly to their chosen humans, and that it’s not okay to take on that kind of responsibility then later on rehome. I was lectured a lot in that adoption process. I guess some parrots self destruct when they lose a mate. Sometimes parrots see their human friends as mates.

I sadly have to agree because it happened to my goffin's cockatoo that I rehomed with a ideal bird person. I had Casper since she was weaned and "had to" rehome her with a friend 1000 miles away after 4 years. Within a couple months she was plucking and 30 years later she is till with my friend but still plucks out of habit. I deeply regret getting a bird I wasn't equipped to care for for her whole life.

 

[kme3388]

These are my 2 conures right now. My male is feeding my female. He does everything for her. I’ve removed anything that could be considered nesting material. They just get hard wood toys. Anything that’s dark, or something they can nest in like a box will never be in their cage. I myself opted for the fake egg method encase my female lays eggs as I don’t want babies. I plan on swapping out the eggs as soon as they are laid, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they don’t lay eggs.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Our birds breeding against out wishes seems to be a problem for a lot of people right now. We must be taking good care of them because they "only" breed when happy, healthy and nutritious food is plentiful!

 

[texsize]

an occasional bite even if it draws blood is one thing, Miko who I have no plans to rehome has nailed me at least a dozen times if not more, (what’s the saying it’s not if a gcc will bite you it’s when) I can’t go near the cage to do basic care. I’m sorry I’m not getting bite multiple times a day so they can stay together. Either you don’t understand the severity of my situation and how much I have tried to make it work or you’re just on the bandwagon of keep them together regardless of how it effects everyone else. My home and life do not revolve around the birds. T

I didn’t say keep them together.
Separate them for sure.
But that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of one, a separate cage works fine.

The way you are describing this makes it sound (to me) like you are returning an unwanted shirt.
Not a living creature that you have taken on the responsibility to care for.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I don't think trying to make Miko the burb feel guilty is going to help the situation. I have to trust that enough effort has been made on their part. Having to rehome a bird is hard enough.

 

[Miko_the_birb]

These are my 2 conures right now. My male is feeding my female. He does everything for her. I’ve removed anything that could be considered nesting material. They just get hard wood toys. Anything that’s dark, or something they can nest in like a box will never be in their cage. I myself opted for the fake egg method encase my female lays eggs as I don’t want babies. I plan on swapping out the eggs as soon as they are laid, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they don’t lay eggs.
View attachment 62892

I had no box, hard toys/perches and they still got down to pound town

 

[Miko_the_birb]

I didn’t say keep them together.
Separate them for sure.
But that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of one, a separate cage works fine.

The way you are describing this makes it sound (to me) like you are returning an unwanted shirt.
Not a living creature that you have taken on the responsibility

I didn’t say keep them together.
Separate them for sure.
But that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of one, a separate cage works fine.

The way you are describing this makes it sound (to me) like you are returning an unwanted shirt.
Not a living creature that you have taken on the responsibility to care for.

Get real. I’ve tried for a 1.5 yrs. We’ve tried separate cages. They scream all day.

 

[Miko_the_birb]

I don't think trying to make Miko the burb feel guilty is going to help the situation. I have to trust that enough effort has been made on their part. Having to rehome a bird is hard enough.

Thank you, I appreciate that. This is not something I thought about lightly. It’s an absolute last resort. I don’t want to give him up. I’m sorry if some people think it’s ok to have a bird (or any animal) constantly attacking you, after you have tried everything. I’m stressed out over giving him up but also stressed every day bc he won’t let me near the cage (although he’s been calmer since the eggs were laid, )

These are my 2 conures right now. My male is feeding my female. He does everything for her. I’ve removed anything that could be considered nesting material. They just get hard wood toys. Anything that’s dark, or something they can nest in like a box will never be in their cage. I myself opted for the fake egg method encase my female lays eggs as I don’t want babies. I plan on swapping out the eggs as soon as they are laid, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they don’t lay eggs.
View attachment 62892

I did have mine in a darker room for a while.. I’m thinking now that may have been a mistake. Thoughts?

 

[kme3388]

Get real. I’ve tried for a 1.5 yrs. We’ve tried separate cages. They scream all day.

Conures are loud. Green cheeks are better than sun conures by a long shot, but they are still vocal parrot. A lot of us have multiple parrots on here. Some that put your green cheek to shame when it comes to screaming. We forget how loud birds can be because we learned to live with it, or didn’t care in the first place. That is another huge downfall of parrots in captivity. I’m reminded every time my phone rings how loud my birds are because the person on the other side of the phone tells me. Separating them, covering their cage, putting them together, getting rid of one won’t help with the screaming. They contact call (scream) in the wild to communicate within their flocks. Toys, exercise, and distractions can help some. It mentally drains them.

Dark areas encourage nesting. A lot of things encourage nesting. For an example one of my parrots will instantly get hormonal if he is served mushy food. My other 3 don’t have that behavior. I just did intensive research on what causes nesting behaviors, wrote them down, and then changed what we needed to be changed.

I don’t know if you have a vet, but there are some ones online that can answer questions for a fee of course. I don’t know how much it costs anymore because my parrots have a vet in person. I did learn a lot by using those services.

 

[texsize]

Get real. I’ve tried for a 1.5 yrs. We’ve tried separate cages. They scream all day.

I am very real!.

I have 2 Amazons that scream quite a lot
In the morning.
In the evening.
Anytime I try to play with/handle my yellow nape the Twins scream.

I have to live around it. Making phone calls and watching tv in off (not noise) times.

Parrots = noise.

My Cockatiels.
I never wanted them but the first was an accident (found at my work).
Then I got another and another.
Anyway the point is I wish I didn’t have them.
Main reason is the night frights they get.
On average twice a week we need to patch up broken blood feathers.
Because of this we can’t all go out at once and leave no one home to patch them up.

But I can’t see how I could ever give them up.

You do what’s right for you.

 

[Miko_the_birb]

I have nothing left to say to you. Basically your opinion is that no matter how bad it may be no one should ever rehome a bird. If they do they’re the scum of the earth I got it.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I am very real!.

I have 2 Amazons that scream quite a lot
In the morning.
In the evening.
Anytime I try to play with/handle my yellow nape the Twins scream.

I have to live around it. Making phone calls and watching tv in off (not noise) times.

Parrots = noise.

My Cockatiels.
I never wanted them but the first was an accident (found at my work).
Then I got another and another.
Anyway the point is I wish I didn’t have them.
Main reason is the night frights they get.
On average twice a week we need to patch up broken blood feathers.
Because of this we can’t all go out at once and leave no one home to patch them up.

But I can’t see how I could ever give them up.
21
You do what’s right for you.

I have too many budgies (19) and I wish I didn't but I don't have the heart to rehome any of them. I know they would end up in cages that are too small (less than 32x28x32h) and never get to fly. Or get killed by a cat or dog. Or fly out a window. Or stepped on. My budgies started breeding against my wishes 8 months ago and it was hard to get them to stop. So now I'm a slave to my budgies but I love them.
Anyone want some budgies?

 

[texsize]

I have nothing left to say to you. Basically your opinion is that no matter how bad it may be no one should ever rehome a bird. If they do they’re the scum of the earth I got it.

Not at all.
I can think up lots of good reasons for rehoming.
Medical for instance.
Death of a caretaker (although you might lump that in with medical too).
Psyical relocation.

I rehomed (sold) my 4 baby cockatiels from my second (and final) clutch of babies.
I hated doing it but ….. I just couldn’t keep that many birds.
Butt I never broke up a bonded pair.
I have had 3 previous bonded pairs and (maybe) 1 current pair.

My first Amazon pair the male died before the female and the female was left very…… sad/depressed.

My male/male bonded pair of Cockatiels.
Lucky was the bird I found and he bonded closely with Baby the second Tiel.
Lucky died in my hands and Baby took a long time to get over it.
He has never bonded or even wanted to be friends with any of my other Tiels.

I have seen how bonded pairs react to separation.
It’s not easy for them to get over it.

But as I said you gota do what’s best for you.