Before introducing parrots to each other, house them in separate cages in different rooms for 40 days. This quarantine period gives them time to settle down and reduces the risk of disease transmission.
Once the new parrot seems happy, put its cage nearby in the same room. Eventually, place the first parrot inside a larger cage with the second parrot. Monitor them, separating them if they don’t get along.
Keeping Two Parrots In The Same Cage
Two parrots can live in the same cage when the following apply:
- The parrots are the same species.
- The cage is large enough for two birds.
- Sufficient resources (food, drink, and toys) are made available.
- The introduction is carefully managed.
If one of these factors is missing, the parrots may enter territorial disputes.
How To Help Two Parrots Get Along
A pairing will fare better if they’re introduced to each other correctly.
Separate Rooms And Cages
When you first bring a new parrot home, don’t let it meet the other parrot yet. Instead, go to a different room and set up a cage. Avoid letting them see each other or interact.
The new parrot will be unsettled by its new environment, encountering new smells, sights, and sounds. At this stage, encountering another parrot will cause further confusion or agitation.
Keep them separate for 40 days. This quarantine period may need to be extended.
Continued Stress
A new parrot should calm down. If not, extend the period. Keep the lighting, types of food, toys, etc., consistent. Sudden changes can upset parrots, especially when already agitated.
Illness
A new parrot may have caught an illness or disease or picked up parasites from another bird at the pet store. This may not be noticeable immediately, but it’ll soon become apparent.
When the parrot is in isolation, look for signs of illness. These include:
- Odd-colored feces.
- Intestinal parasites, like worms.
- Discharge from the nose and eyes.
- Diarrhea (runny stools).
- Sudden changes to energy levels or vitality.
- Sudden feather loss.
- Itchiness due to parasites, like mites or fleas.
- Respiratory distress, like wheezing and panting.
If these problems manifest, a veterinarian should perform a comprehensive examination.
Allow Them to See Each Other
Once the quarantine and settling-in time have concluded, allow the two parrots to see each other. Bring the second parrot into the same room as the first parrot in their respective cages.
The cages should be kept several feet apart. If the room is small, each cage should be placed at the opposite end of the room. You can gradually move the cages closer to each other.
During this time, observe both parrots’ behavior and body language.
Take note if one of the parrots is ruffling its feathers or hiding on the floor of its cage. Avoid moving their cages closer until both parrots seem contented.
After sufficient time has elapsed, you can set both cages a few inches apart.
Let Them Meet
Lift the first parrot and put it in the new cage with the second parrot.
It’s normal for parrots to be initially wary of each other. One parrot may walk over to greet or check out the other. Allow them to smell, communicate, and inspect each other.
If hostility arises, they should be immediately separated.
Help Them Bond
You can leave them in the same cage and monitor their interactions. If they get along but still experience mild tension, put them in separate cages when you’re asleep.
Use these steps to develop the relationship:
Positive Reinforcement
Reward the parrots for good behavior. According to the Journal of Comparative Medicine, birds are responsive to training through positive reinforcement. You can achieve this by:
- Offering both parrots a treat whenever they’re in the same cage together.
- Rubbing their heads affectionately when spending time with them.
- Offering encouragement when they’re friendly toward one another.
Provide Equal Attention
Don’t let the first parrot feel like the second parrot is there to replace them during the introduction. Parrots can become jealous, which leads to severe altercations.
Identify Good And Bad Behavior
Check for hostile vs. friendly body language and behavior. Note the following:
Wings
Parrots often flap their wings when excited. If the parrot raises its wings and holds them aloft, it’s trying to dominate the other parrot. The raised wings make the parrot look more intimidating.
Sounds
Parrots make different sounds based on their mood. The parrots may chirp or whistle at each other, which is a positive sign. A parrot that hisses is warning or threatening the other parrot.
Chasing
If you notice one parrot chasing the other around the cage, it could signify aggression. It’s common for parrots to pursue each other playfully, but prolonged chasing is intimidation.
Resource Guarding
One parrot may stand by the food bowl to prevent the other from coming closer. Resource guarding can be an intimidation tactic or signify insufficient food and bowls.
What To Do About Parrot Fighting
It’s normal for parrots to fall out occasionally, but continued hostility is abnormal. It shouldn’t be accepted and tolerated. Here’s how to prevent fighting between parrots:
Food Treats
You can develop a positive association between two parrots by giving them snack treats. Ensure that both parrots are provided the same quantity of food.
Temporary Separation
Parrots have strong beaks with a bite force that can inflict damage. If the pairing isn’t getting along, temporarily move them to separate cages or use a cage divider.
That way, you can introduce them later when they feel more relaxed.
Bigger Cage
If you’re concerned the parrots are fighting due to insufficient space, provide a larger cage with ample territory for both birds. Then, monitor how they’re getting along in the improved conditions.
Activities
Excess energy leads to annoyance and frustration. Unspent energy makes parrots more likely to fight, so add more toys and perches. That way, they can channel this energy into more positive activities.
Alone Time
Despite being social creatures, parrots can grow overwhelmed by new company. If the cage is small, they won’t have any respite from each other. You may need a larger cage, so they have some alone time.
Signs Two Parrots Get Along Well
Bonding behavior is the easiest way to tell if two parrots are getting along. Since parrots are social creatures, they form close bonds with same-species birds.
The pairing will enjoy each other’s company and defend each other in times of danger. These close bonds often last a lifetime, especially between opposite-sex birds.
The following signs mean that two birds have accepted each other:
- Preening each other’s feathers.
- Nestling closely while sleeping.
- Playing together.
- Regurgitating food.
- Regular chirping and happy sounds.
Avoid separating bonded parrots because this causes significant stress and mental health issues.
