Best second bird to keep with (caged separately) a GCC?

[Kyoto]

This is in the conure section because I currently have a GCC. I just got a promotion at work, and so I'm hoping that I'll be able to afford to care for a second bird within the next year or two. I'm interested in something a little less demanding than my conure, as she takes up most of my attention as is, but that could be let out supervised to be friends (hopefully) with my GCC.

I've had lovebirds and cockatiels before, and I really loved my tiel the most but he was so timid with other birds I worry that a tiel would find Kyo too mean. My worry with a lovebird would be the lovebird probably being mean to Kyo. The main thing is I found my lovebirds and tiel to be relatively independent.

I'd worry about budgies, I loved my budgies but they used to get themselves into trouble with the lovebirds and taunted them through their cage. I could never let them out together.

Any suggestions? Parrottlets?

 

[TacoNTiki]

I have a 2 year old female tiel and 7 week old conure. They are fine together in their separate cages. I always let Taco (the tiel) out first then Tiki and taco can sit on my shoulder while tiki perches on my finger. I have let them on opposite sides of our kitchen counter with pellets and they snack together. I heard this was good for bonding. I heard of lots of people keeping tiels and conures and although you'll always need to be vigilant in watching them, I think that can live in harmony.

 

[birdstheword]

maybe a senegal or another poi since they're more on the independent side of the spectrum?

 

[birdstheword]

i always liked the other parakeet speices too like brotogeris, rosellas, princess of wales...maybe worth exploring? and congratulations on the promotion!

 

[LaurenB]

I never ever considered a parrotlet before. They're just so tiny! I went to a bird expo recently, and a bird club had a parrotlet. He was hand tame so I offered him a step up and my heart melted. Always wanted a IRN next, but now my heart is set on a parrotlet.

They're just soo so tiny and precious! Even smaller than Budgies! I couldn't even tell he was perched on my finger he was so lightweight! Possibly the cutest bird I've ever seen.

Not sure something that tiny would be a good 'friend' for a GCC though. If your conure can break your skin when it bites, imagine what it could do to something that little! I guess it depends on your GCC's temperament.

And congrats on the promotion! Can't think of a better way to spend some extra $$ than on another fid!

 

[Rockford]

maybe a senegal or another poi since they're more on the independent side of the spectrum?

One of here criteria is that the new bird be able to get along with her GCC. A senegal or poi of any kind is extremely unlikely to do that.

 

[Birdman666]

maybe a senegal or another poi since they're more on the independent side of the spectrum?

SENNIES TEND TO BE ATTACKY WITH OTHER BIRDS!!!

I'd get another conure of some sort. Any kind. Doesn't matter.

 

[Birdman666]

I never ever considered a parrotlet before. They're just so tiny! I went to a bird expo recently, and a bird club had a parrotlet. He was hand tame so I offered him a step up and my heart melted. Always wanted a IRN next, but now my heart is set on a parrotlet.

They're just soo so tiny and precious! Even smaller than Budgies! I couldn't even tell he was perched on my finger he was so lightweight! Possibly the cutest bird I've ever seen.

Not sure something that tiny would be a good 'friend' for a GCC though. If your conure can break your skin when it bites, imagine what it could do to something that little! I guess it depends on your GCC's temperament.

PARROTLETS can also become defensive and fear bitey when housed in and around birds that might be a threat to them.

 

[Birdman666]

I have a 2 year old female tiel and 7 week old conure. They are fine together in their separate cages. I always let Taco (the tiel) out first then Tiki and taco can sit on my shoulder while tiki perches on my finger. I have let them on opposite sides of our kitchen counter with pellets and they snack together. I heard this was good for bonding. I heard of lots of people keeping tiels and conures and although you'll always need to be vigilant in watching them, I think that can live in harmony.

Tiel's and conures usually get along just fine. That one would probably work.

 

[mh434]

We have two Conures. The GCC seems happy to have pretty much any bird beside him - right now, his neighbor is our CAG, but he's been beside Amazons, Lovebirds, etc. without issue. Our other Conure is currently in isolation in another room - not because he's a problem, but because our 'Zon and CAG are so insanely jealous of him that if they see him getting attention from us, they go nuts...i.e., several days of standoffishness and, in the case of the 'Zon, downright nastiness! Regardless, though, the Conure was fine with THEM!

 

[Doublete]

I think another conure is best.
I've been really surprised but my amazon and conure get along well although I don't really allow them too close. Loki doesn't like when chiqui climbs on his cage but she tolerates him trying to bite her feet and she just goes about her business.

I would love a parrotlet cuz they're stinking cute but seem so small next to a gcc?

 

[LeaKP]

I've seen conures and tiels together, they have done well from what I saw.

I have a CAG (new addition) and the quarantine isn't over yet but they can hear one another. Both seem curious. Wonder how this will unfold. The grey seems nonplussed about anything while the gcc is the boss of everyone. Should be interesting...

 

[Kyoto]

I would never leave them unsupervised. I just wanted to clear that up.

thanks for the suggestions!

 

[FreddyCheeks]

I think it will all depend on the birds. Each one has there own personality. Fred for instance loved Star, but hates Bell. Don't know why. Both parakeets. Star was just blue while Bell is green. He use to run at Bell to try and attack, but know I have it where if Bell isn't directly next to Fred they are fine. If anything I would do a slow introduction like others have mentioned and also try to stick with a similar sized bird.

 

[Terry57]

I also wanted to get a bird who would get along with Phoe, my CBC. I birdsat a friend's GCC last year, and Phoe hated him with a passion! The only birds he seems to like are my finches. They are in their cage, and he is out of his, and he will go onto their cage (they completely ignore him) and he screams Hello! Hello! at them. He will run from one side of their cage top to the other screaming Phoe! Phoe! They are in a large double flight cage.
They act like he doesn't exist, but he sure loves them
I'm almost afraid to try any other kind with him, he is pretty grouchy.
I am looking forward to hearing what you decide and how it works, I may change my mind

 

[RavensGryf]

I was also going to say another GCC in another color, but then I know conures are a little higher maintenance personality wise than many other small or smallish medium birds. You said you'd ideally like something more independent than Kyo. Then a Cockatiel comes to mind . I think if you meet some and get one that doesn't seem timid like you've experienced before, then it should be fine. Similar size, easy going, can be cuddly yet independent... I have heard of many people who keep both tiels and GCC.

I agree with the above posts that Pois don't like other birds. Independent yes, but they like to try and kill other birds too . My Griffin and Raven being friends is the exception to the rule, and highly unusual.