Getting a second green cheek conure, need advice!

[Artchic528]

I have an established yellow sided boy named Pico de Gallo. I’m getting a second green cheek, a turquoise, this weekend and need advice.

I’m getting her from a nice woman who is moving and can’t take her bird with her. The owner hasn’t sexed her but refers to her as a “she” and has the name Leia. From her pictures she’s an absolute character and loves people!

First off, yes. I’ll be taking the new bird to the vet ASAP! Since Leia hasn’t been sexed yet that’s definitely one of the first things I’m going to do.

Secondly, I’m considering where to quarantine her. I’ve heard that it’s ideal to quarantine new birds in a separate building, but I don’t have that luxury. Furthermore, I’ve heard it’s pointless to quarantine a bird in the same building. Should I still quarantine?

I live in a two bedroom, two bath apartment. There is a big wide open living area with a kitchen dividing the on suite bedroom/bathroom from the guest bedroom and bathroom. My boyfriend works from home so has set up the guest bedroom as his office, and since he makes a lot of work calls, I can’t house birds in there.

Pico’s cage is in the main living space but I can always wheel it into our bedroom, and keep Leia in a smaller, temporary quarantine cage in the guest bath. The guest bathroom is only used to house the cat’s litter box, but we have a second litter box in the on suite bathroom. I can just move the litter box out and set up the quarantine cage in there. Would that work?

And lastly, how can I make her adjustment as smooth as possible without upsetting Pico too much?

Thanks I’m advance!!!

 

[Artchic528]

I’m getting Leia tomorrow so if you have any advice, I’d love to hear it!

 

[zERo]

I would, for at least a few weeks, keep Leia in a different room than Pico.
It’s true, quarantining is not going to matter much unless you’re literally taking a shower and changing your clothes between birds, but you can minimize contact.
I mean, if the bird is vet checked before they meet, though blood work usually takes 24 to get the results, and she’s healthy, I don’t see a problem.
I would wash your hands at least so between them.

When introducing two birds, sometimes it can go perfectly and sometimes you have two birds that can’t be out of their cages at the same time.
Though, green cheeks seem to be fairly accepting of other green cheeks from what I’ve observed.
I would try training Pico in front of Leia while she’s in her cage, and vice versa, letting them see each other from afar to start.

Good luck with your new conure!