Mixing my african Grey with a ducorp

[Miss_terry]

I have had an african Grey (Billy) who is 2 and a half yrs old, and i have just brought home a ducorp cockatoo (jo-Jo) who is the same age. Jo-jo is very tame and placid, though we are getting there slowly with Billy. I have bought a large parrot stand and idealy would like it if the both of them would share this. I know Billy is very territorial about his cage.I have put both cages close to each other and let one out at a time. through when out they automatically stand on the top of the others cage. All seems well and its obvious that Jo-Jo has just accepted that billy rules the roost.Do u think it is wise to let them out together?

[greyburd]

If you let them out together, please don't do it unsupervised. There's no guarantee that the will get a long. Make sure you read body language, and if things don't seem right, seperate them right away!!!

Best of luck.

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

I tried to let my fids see each other & They both seemed so interested in each other till they got close enough. Then they tried to fight. Luckly one was on the play stand & the other on my shoulder so all I had to do was back up. I don't think I'll try that again. I agree, If you do try it watch them very close. You don't want something to happen. Good luck. If it works, let me know what you did so maybe I can try it. Crystal

[Lisa B]

none of my greys get along with eachother or with any other bird in the house. Tho they are flock animals, most in captivity dont end up getting along with others.
I would supervise closely, and still not trust them. My Sweet Emma will snap at her brothers any chance she gets. She also tries to go after my Double Yellow Headed Amazon. Emma weighs 354, and is special abled, and 3 and a half years old. Harley is Ususally up around 650 grams,One of the larges speices of amazons, and is 17 years old!.

[littlecharlietoo]

As everyone else has already said please do NOT leave them out together unsupervised. In fact, do NOT leave them in any situation where they could be in contact with one another unsupervised. It really only takes a second for something horrible to happen. Our citron crested cockatoo took a bite from a CAG recently. We were only out of the room for a minute and the grey (who had never left his cage top before) got on our 'toos cage, reached through the bars and latched on. His beak went in behind is crest and came out near one eye. Lucky for us it was only through the skin... the bite could have VERY EASILY pierced his skull and killed him. The birds don't have to be of dissimilar size to do serious damage.


A week at the vet's office, surgery, several rounds of antibiotics and several hundreds of dollar later and we're just lucky to bring our big guy home in a carrier instead of a box! It could have been so much worse and it was all our fault. Please take no chances with your feathered family members.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by littlecharlietoo

As everyone else has already said please do NOT leave them out together unsupervised. In fact, do NOT leave them in any situation where they could be in contact with one another unsupervised. It really only takes a second for something horrible to happen. Our citron crested cockatoo took a bite from a CAG recently. We were only out of the room for a minute and the grey (who had never left his cage top before) got on our 'toos cage, reached through the bars and latched on. His beak went in behind is crest and came out near one eye. Lucky for us it was only through the skin... the bite could have VERY EASILY pierced his skull and killed him. The birds don't have to be of dissimilar size to do serious damage.


A week at the vet's office, surgery, several rounds of antibiotics and several hundreds of dollar later and we're just lucky to bring our big guy home in a carrier instead of a box! It could have been so much worse and it was all our fault. Please take no chances with your feathered family members.

I am very happy that your guy is ok. Would you mind writing up a story for the bird talk section so others can learn through your experience? Many members would probably learn a valuable lesson....
again, I am very happy your too is doing better!!

[Miss_terry]

Well before i had any replies i did try them together, Billy my Grey took the perch and J0-Jo just knew instantly that that space was out of bounce.I knew that both birds were ok with being in opposite sides of the room. But my instincts told me this wasn't the best idea i have come up with. Even though i have had Billy the longest, he is the one with the temperament i trust least, So as they say , "better safe than sorry" I have decided that both birds need time out on the gym separate where i can give them a one to one time with me. But thanks for all your replies as it has convinced me i have made the right decision.