Housing two lovebirds together a problem?

[Kalel]

Hi everyone,

I know someone who owns a single Fischer's lovebird. She has tried taming it but it's pretty wild. She spends time beside his cage talking to him and puts his cage near her when she works and he has calmed down considerably in the past couple of months since she has adopted him. Still not hand tame, but making strides. She was considering getting him a friend to keep him company and asked me if that would be okay to introduce another bird to his cage. I don't have any personal experience with lovebirds but I told her that with birds in general, you have to expect that they WON'T get along and may have to be caged separately. Is that a correct response? We get so used to seeing lovebirds in pairs all the time in pet shops that it almost seems like they would have a natural tendency to accept another bird more than another parrot would. Also, if she did get another one, would the sex matter? She has no idea what the sex of her bird is and would not have a new bird sexed if she were to get one. Any advice I can give her regarding this topic is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[RavensGryf]

Please tell your friend that all parrots, even small ones are territorial, and most species and individuals will NOT tolerate a newcomer into their space. This can have deadly consequences. Lovebirds are known for being territorial.

 

[Kalel]

RavensGryf,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, that's kind of what I figured but since I wasn't sure I thought I'd turn to this forum as I have learned LOTS and LOTS of info on here from all of the awesome members and their bird experience. I'd say this forum is better than pretty much any other info website around! I will definitely pass on the information to her! Thanks again!

 

[EdwardH]

If your friend wants to get her bird a companion then buy another lovebird with its own cage. Place the cages in the same room and over a few weeks slowly move the cages closer together. Then you can try housing them together however be ready to separate them if they dislike each other. Ideally they should be getting time out of their cages in another room (neutral territory) to get to know each other before trying placing them in the same cage.