Introducing a new bird to another bird

[DoubleT]

About 6 months ago we brought a baby parrotlet, Lucky, home who took to the family and home instantly. He worked out so well that we decided to get another baby parrotlet. Kirby. Since we were getting him from the same breeder, he was ok with letting them be together for half an hour before we decided. Even though Kirby was younger, they were the same size as Lucky is a bit of a runt. At the time they seemed to be OK. They checked each other out and walked around but no aggression.

We brought them home and they have identical cages and very similar toys. They are near each other but kept seperate. When we tried introducing them together, the walk around and ignore each other until one walks up to the other. They start nibbling at each others beaks which I was told was a signs of playing but then it quickly seems that they start to try and bit at the side of their face and close to the eyes or sometimes at the feet. I quickly seperate them. This happens whenever I try to get them together. Am I doing the right thing? Is there something I should be doing differently to get them to play nice? Or are they playing nice and I'm being to cautious?

 

[MikeyTN]

Are you sure they're biting or are they preening each other?? Parrolets and Lovebirds tend to get along with their own kind to a certain extent as long as they can get away from one another if needed to.

 

[DoubleT]

Thanks for the response. I thought there at first they were preening but it seemed that they were screeching pretty load. Is that common? How hard do the usually go at each other when preening?

 

[MikeyTN]

They might be preening each other too hard for each other's likings. Or they are just bickering since they just met. It takes time but if they really do go after each other its best to keep them separated!