Where my GW and Senegal live. And a question?

[Lynn57]

Hopefully I have included the picture! I just used a Xpen from my dogs and attached plexiglass to it. This way the birds can't climb over or get out on their own. This sunroom is next to the dining room and kitchen. The GW hated her cage and seems happier without it there.
Even though I am retired and at home I do spend a lot of time outside and am considering adding another macaw for company for her. I feel bad that she doesn't have one of her own to be with and that she has to rely on me. I sure don't want to add another one if it will make her jealous or worse if they should end up hating each other. I believe there should be a "flock" type setting but maybe I'm totally wrong here. My Senegal and her don't interact at all together and that's to be expected, seeing they are such different type of parrots. What do you think the chances would be that they would end up friends in the long run? Would it be better to get a male or a female ? I don't believe in supporting the breeding of these birds so it would have to be a re homing type of thing as well. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Birdman666]

First of all LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the bird room... absolutely love the tree idea.

Socializing parrots is an inexact science, and that is most especially true of pair bond birds that have already become bonded with a person...

There are multiple possible outcomes, and no one can tell you in advance what they will be, but here are your possible scenarios:

(1) It will work out great, they'll get along and be buddy birds, and you'll have twice the love and goofiness;

(2) It will work out so great in fact, that they will lose any interest they ever had in interacting with humans. In which case the bird will be happy, but you will lose your buddy. (Attempt to separate them now, at your own risk!)

(3) Jealousy will kick in big time around you. "That's my person, get away from her." With an increase in pinchy behaviors around you to warn you not to pay attention to "that vile" other bird, maybe it will take the hint and go away. And an increase in arguments with each other when you are around. This might be an initial reaction, and might get better with time, or not...

(4) Territorial behaviors - Another bird has invaded my space... This means war! Defend the nest!

I can pretty much assure you that one of these four will happen. I just can't tell you which one. That depends on the birds...

The size difference will probably be enough to keep your Sennie from ever hanging out with your GW. (And twice the macs will make it twice as intimidating for him, though this can be easily dealt with by simply giving him his own space. I've kept large and small for years, and at one time had 11, of various shapes, sizes and species in the same bird room from itty bitty conures to Greenwing large and in charge.) His instinct for self preservation will probably kick in, i.e. why risk it?

My two get along, but they are not buddy birds. They are both bonded to me. They take their turns, and don't attack each other, but they really have their own separate spots in the bird room... and I didn't set that up, THEY DID.

When I bird sat two more macaws? The jealousy kicked in BIG TIME. I COULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE...

So, there are times when one more is absolutely one too many.

It very much depends on the bird.

 

[thekarens]

IMO it's unlikely the sennie and mac will ever like each other, but they may learn to tolerate each other's existence. If you google you'll read many stories of sennies attacking other birds, even birds a zillion times bigger than them. My sennies will actively go after my mac if she gets in what they consider "their space" and I keep a close eye on them because I would not put it past them to actively go after Zoe if they got the chance.

In fact, there's been a few times when I've been holding them and Zoe decides it's more important for her to get attention and she flies to me and I end up getting nailed because of it. They start dashing for her and I put my hand to block them and they chomp me.

 

[Lynn57]

My Senegal hangs out in that tree, bong and cage that is just out of reach from the macaw. I also have a large outdoor cage where I basically have two trees a few feet apart, one where the branches are too small to support the macaw. That's where the senne stays when they are out in the same cage together. Although they don't interact I really think they still like having each other close by when I'm not around.
I think I will foster a macaw or other large parrot and decide from there if it's a good idea or not. Thanks!

 

[Lynn57]

Well that's what I kinda thought might be the case Birdman. The first two options would be fine with me....I'd rather her be happy and me lose a buddy then not, but the last two options would be very hard to deal with. Thanks for the eye opener! Thinking maybe fostering might be the place to start.

 

[Birdman666]

Well that's what I kinda thought might be the case Birdman. The first two options would be fine with me....I'd rather her be happy and me lose a buddy then not, but the last two options would be very hard to deal with. Thanks for the eye opener! Thinking maybe fostering might be the place to start.

I did a lot of fostering over the years. And I always wanted to see how they interact together in my space, and with each other after working with them, before committing to keeping them on permanently...

Mine all hang out together on my big playstand (and on me) and at one time I had 11 birds, everything ranging from amazons, to conures, to toos, my CAG, and of course, a number of big macs (both Fosters and keepers.)

In all those years I really only had a couple of instances of bird on bird violence... and even those weren't all that serious.

They generally work it out for themselves. They all get their little spots, and that's that...