Introducing 2 birds - Need advice

[Roo1130]

I've had my sun conure Tiki for a little over a year, he will be 2 in June. We got Guava, an 8 week old green cheek conure in the last 2 weeks. They both have their own large cages in the same room and have been acclimating to eachother co-existing in the same room since we brought Guava home. I've tried to give Tiki the "alpha" bird treatment and they both have been out in the same room together. However, I have tried twice to utilize a play stand for introduction to each other. I put tiki on the top perch (ive been told that you always put your first bird/alpha bird on the top and then introduce the new bird on a lower or side perch.

Both times after a few minutes when Guava worked his way up towards Tiki they would lock beaks and squawk at which time I would separate them.

Can you guys please give me some advise? I know some birds may never like each other, but I'd like to make sure that I'm doing everything I can to create an environment that would hopefully encourage them to not feel threatened by each other and hopefully want to be nearer to each other. Ideally, I'd like them to want to be out on a play stand together interacting sometime down the road.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Get their cages next to each other.Let one out ,he most likely will visit the other one through the cage bars . Keep doing this for awhile. They should learn to get used to each other . After you see them "liking" each other try them on the stand.Your new one is just a baby yet . I would give him some time to get some age on him.

 

[Roo1130]

I can roll cages next to each other or "through the bar" investigating. I wasn't sure if the baby would take better to my older bird if I introduce him earlier, but clearly I'm sure it's not going to help the cause if Tiki scares Guava.

What age is it more appropriate to introduce them? He was interacting well with other younger birds at the pet store.

 

[Dinosrawr]

I think you were taking the right approach by using a play stand, but what is really important is using neutral ground entirely. Is Tiki familiar with the play stand, and has he claimed it as his? If so, he'll likely see Guava encroaching on his territory. When I built a new play stand for my birds and placed them both on it, it was like a whole new door opened. Neither of them were familiar with it, it was brand new territory, and they actually ended up immediately bonding. Nearly six months later and the two are close to inseparable.

Of course they don't always get along, but it's at the point where they go into each other's cages and play with the other's toys or eat each other's food. There are also problems with jealousy over me every now and then. But it's very, very manageable. It's great to start by introducing them on neutral territory and keep their beaks busy with toys or treats while they're near each other to help them become accustomed. Over time they'll figure out their own flock dynamics and learn to tolerate the other if they don't come to bond as friends.

 

[kodimerlyn]

I would be wary of leaving one crawl around on the top of the others cage if they're not used to each other. I knew a bird once that lost a few toes that way. JMO. Good luck on getting them acclimated!