I want to get my sun conure a partner?

[alana]

I was wondering if I get my conure a cage partner,do I have to wait a while before they go in the same cage or what?Im confused about that.Please help somebody.

 

[Spiritbird]

Any time you bring in another bird that has been exposed to additional birds like in a pet store you must quarantine the new bird to protect your resident bird for at least 30 days.

 

[alana]

Any time you bring in another bird that has been exposed to additional birds like in a pet store you must quarantine the new bird to protect your resident bird for at least 30 days.

thanks for the help!

 

[JamesC]

Alana, having just gone through the process of introducing a new bird to an older bird who has not really known the company of a feathered friend for many years I can let you know a few things that I have learned.

First of all, as Spiritbird mentioned above, obey that quarantine. It is for the best of both birds. You might want to take your bird to an experienced avian vet for a wellness exam just to make sure that it is healthy. If you can, get the new bird checked out before you bring it into your home.

Do not expect the birds to become best buddies at first sight. There could very well be jealousy and territory issues right from the start. If you are well bonded with your bird it could think of the other as a threat to your relationship. Put them across the room from each other and let them get used to the other's presence for at least a couple of weeks.

When you do decide that the time is right, introduce them in a neutral place that neither one of them might think of their territory. Another room that they don't usually go into would be good. Don't place one on the other's cage. That could very well trigger a territorial response. Put them on perches a foot or two from each other and see what happens. If there is no lunging or puffy headedness, move them a few inches apart and see what kind of response you get. When you are confident enough that there is not any aggression, let their own curiosity bring them together. Just be ready to intervene if they do get unhappy with each other.

As I'm learning with my two, a pair of blue crowns, expect a bit of sorting out of who is the dominant bird. They are sometimes quite noisy as they go about it at times. They go from preening to a bit of pecking back and forth growling at each other then go right back to preening each other. I am having to keep a close eye right now because the new bird of my flock has started nipping towards the older's feet. Not exactly sure yet what is going on with that.

A couple of things you should be aware of. Your birds might never get along and you end up with a divided flock. Also, there is a good chance that your bird's behavior towards you could change if it decides that it wants the new bird as companion more than it wants you. I'm happy that my old bird has decided that there is enough of her to go around though there are times when she wants to be with Rosa and I get nipped and hissed at if I try to touch her. Which she has never done before. That being said, I'm very glad I gave the new one a home. The first time that I saw them snuggled up to each other in their first mutual preening session it brought a tear to my eye and I sincerely regret waiting this long before I got her a feathered companion. She has almost always had budgies for company across the room but having one of her own kind is fantastic.

I still do not leave the two together unsupervised even after a month of them interacting with each other because I'm being cautious. There are times that Tootsie wants to be alone and Rosa gets frustrated by that. Locked in a cage together I'm afraid that they might get into a more serious squabble if they get frustrated with each other.

In my opinion it is definitely worth having a friend for your bird. I certainly think it is healthy and Tootsie seems happier having Rosa here. I just wish that having two birds only increased the noise level by 2X. But it is more like 5 to 6 times more noise!

 

[alana]

Alana, having just gone through the process of introducing a new bird to an older bird who has not really known the company of a feathered friend for many years I can let you know a few things that I have learned.

First of all, as Spiritbird mentioned above, obey that quarantine. It is for the best of both birds. You might want to take your bird to an experienced avian vet for a wellness exam just to make sure that it is healthy. If you can, get the new bird checked out before you bring it into your home.

Do not expect the birds to become best buddies at first sight. There could very well be jealousy and territory issues right from the start. If you are well bonded with your bird it could think of the other as a threat to your relationship. Put them across the room from each other and let them get used to the other's presence for at least a couple of weeks.

When you do decide that the time is right, introduce them in a neutral place that neither one of them might think of their territory. Another room that they don't usually go into would be good. Don't place one on the other's cage. That could very well trigger a territorial response. Put them on perches a foot or two from each other and see what happens. If there is no lunging or puffy headedness, move them a few inches apart and see what kind of response you get. When you are confident enough that there is not any aggression, let their own curiosity bring them together. Just be ready to intervene if they do get unhappy with each other.

As I'm learning with my two, a pair of blue crowns, expect a bit of sorting out of who is the dominant bird. They are sometimes quite noisy as they go about it at times. They go from preening to a bit of pecking back and forth growling at each other then go right back to preening each other. I am having to keep a close eye right now because the new bird of my flock has started nipping towards the older's feet. Not exactly sure yet what is going on with that.

A couple of things you should be aware of. Your birds might never get along and you end up with a divided flock. Also, there is a good chance that your bird's behavior towards you could change if it decides that it wants the new bird as companion more than it wants you. I'm happy that my old bird has decided that there is enough of her to go around though there are times when she wants to be with Rosa and I get nipped and hissed at if I try to touch her. Which she has never done before. That being said, I'm very glad I gave the new one a home. The first time that I saw them snuggled up to each other in their first mutual preening session it brought a tear to my eye and I sincerely regret waiting this long before I got her a feathered companion. She has almost always had budgies for company across the room but having one of her own kind is fantastic.

I still do not leave the two together unsupervised even after a month of them interacting with each other because I'm being cautious. There are times that Tootsie wants to be alone and Rosa gets frustrated by that. Locked in a cage together I'm afraid that they might get into a more serious squabble if they get frustrated with each other.

In my opinion it is definitely worth having a friend for your bird. I certainly think it is healthy and Tootsie seems happier having Rosa here. I just wish that having two birds only increased the noise level by 2X. But it is more like 5 to 6 times more noise!

Now lol Im not sure if I want to go thru all of that,because my bird doesn't really trust me yet.I have only had him for almost two weeks and he still bites me and puffes up at me.Sometimes he wants to bother with me but most of the time he doesn't.lol.I should wait till we get a bond together before I do something like that.Thank you for the advice you helped me alot

 

[JamesC]

Having a second bird is definitely rewarding and it is something that you should consider in the long term. But short term, it might be best if you keep your bird solo while you build a good and trusting bond. If you did bring in another now they could bond close to each other and you might not be able to handle either one of them. Especially if one takes the role of defending it's mate.

I'm going through issues of that type right now. Rosa, the new one, takes possession of Tootsie when they are together. She wanted to attack and bite me with intent to injure. When they are apart, Rosa is much calmer. I've been working on it and have begun to have a positive effect on her behavior. It will be a process that might take several months before I can convince her that I'm not a threat to her relationship with Tootsie. But I'm confident that it will work out.

It is all worth it when I see something like this...

 

[alana]

Having a second bird is definitely rewarding and it is something that you should consider in the long term. But short term, it might be best if you keep your bird solo while you build a good and trusting bond. If you did bring in another now they could bond close to each other and you might not be able to handle either one of them. Especially if one takes the role of defending it's mate.

I'm going through issues of that type right now. Rosa, the new one, takes possession of Tootsie when they are together. She wanted to attack and bite me with intent to injure. When they are apart, Rosa is much calmer. I've been working on it and have begun to have a positive effect on her behavior. It will be a process that might take several months before I can convince her that I'm not a threat to her relationship with Tootsie. But I'm confident that it will work out.

It is all worth it when I see something like this...

awww tootsie and rosa are so cute.But your right I should wait till our bond gets better.Pineapple let me hold him tonight for a good period of time and was out the cage for long time.Maybe hes trying to give me a chance.Im sure also that one day we will be close.