Introducing a new bird

[mm125183]

Hi

I have a 5 year old boy cockatiel, I adopted him at 18 mths. He is very affectionate and chatty, he lives on my shoulder when I am home.

I was thinking, not immediately, of adopting a second bird, perhaps a conure. My bird has a large freestanding cage, I would be thinking to buy a second similar cage for another bird.

However, if you have had a bird for a long time who is close to you, would it be cruel to get a second one?
Would a cockatiel be alright with a bird of another species?
Could you let them out together if supervised?
Would you slowly introduce them? -my bird got scared when I bought a new office chair for a couple of days.

Any advice please, I'd rather not upset my boy if anything...

 

[kq_fan]

Hello! So first Congrats on the tiel!

Question 1: I think he will learn to be okay sharing you. Now just know, he may never like another bird. I had a tie and he was much happier when I got Lilo, my conure. He had a crush on her.. :3 So he may like a girl bird. But he also may not! It is more what you want. Tiels are pretty go with the flow birds. :3

Question 2: Like I had said, my tiel had a big crush on my conure. So I would think your tiel would be just fine with a different species.

Question 3: You can have them out at the same time but really just watch them like a hawk. I was only gone for a few seconds, I come back and my two current birds were fighting! But please don't put them in the same cage. I really don't recommend that...

Question 4: Its a good idea to slowly introduce but please, quarantine for about a month before introducing them! Your bird could give the other one sickness. The other bird could gut your bird sick.. Quarantine! Its a good idea!

Ok good luck and I hope this helps! have fun!

 

[weco]

I have a 5 year old boy cockatiel, I adopted him at 18 mths. He is very affectionate and chatty, he lives on my shoulder when I am home.

I was thinking, not immediately, of adopting a second bird, perhaps a conure. My bird has a large freestanding cage, I would be thinking to buy a second similar cage for another bird.

However, if you have had a bird for a long time who is close to you, would it be cruel to get a second one?
Would a cockatiel be alright with a bird of another species?
Could you let them out together if supervised?
Would you slowly introduce them? -my bird got scared when I bought a new office chair for a couple of days.

Any advice please, I'd rather not upset my boy if anything...

Many companion birds will shy away from and/or become scared/frightened by large new items in the home and especially in or near their cages...even new toys.....

I had a maroon bellied conure, that was purchased as a just weaned fledgling and lived to be 28yo. Buddy was a birthday gift for a 12yo girl who later got 3 'tiels and a GCC, however, prior to Buddy coming back to me, two of the 'tiels had two each of their toes bitten off one time, when all of the birds were allowed to interact, unsupervised, out of their cages, before Buddy came home to me...although neither of the conures were known to be aggressive, I have read of toes being lost by other 'tiels in similar instances, though I always supervise any time my birds are enjoying out-of-cage time.....

As long as the new bird is to be caged separately, I usually introduce new birds to existing flock members, like you introduce children to older adults, but I'm careful everybody gets the same attention and treats as before, giving my current first bird, first to get attention, then moving down the list in age with the flock order and while I've had different species at different times, that order seems to have worked for my flock(s).....

Good luck with your decision to get a new feathered friend.....

 

[Lullx]

I have a tiel and two conures, and they all get along great. I got my tiel first and she still prefers to spend time with me over the conures (she's currently sitting on my knee, preening while I type this), but they eat and often play together. Lucy also gets along with my budgies.

I'm always home with them, so they're allowed out of their cages from the time I wake up until it's bedtime for them. They're always supervised and I haven't had any issues yet.
I actually do house my tiel with my conures, since they're only in the cage for sleeping. The big difference here is that my tiel grew up with the conures, and she is just starting to reach maturity. They all have their favorite perches in the cage and never mingle much inside.

I'm not naive enough to believe that they'll always be amicable towards each other, and I have spare cages always ready to house anyone should difficulties arise, but the three of them get upset if they are separated from one another. My second conure is a mature rescued male, and he gets along with her just fine. Prefers my other conure of course, but he's actually very friendly with the tiel.

That being said, I don't really recommend housing different species together in most cases. Whether or not your tiel accepts and enjoys any new bird you bring in will be up to the individual birds. Just be sure to remind your boy that he's still loved and important to you.

When they're ready to meet, I suggest moving their cages into the same room, but have plenty of space between them. Maybe have your tiel on one side of the room and the conure on the other. Slowly you can start moving them closer together and allow them to see and hear each other. I was very inexperienced when I got my first conure, so I had her cage right next to Lucy's and let them out together within the first few days, but they were both so shy and the introductions went fine. I started housing them together just out of curiosity and they really seemed to like being together, so I let them keep that arrangement.

Just remember to take it slow and go at the pace of your birds. If they're not rushed, they're more likely to adapt positively to a big change like this.