Housing Greys together, why not???

[Karol]

Hi Everyone,

Hoping to pick a brain or two here. I am just curious about something.

When you go into a bird store you always see a bunch of Grey babies together in a cage.

I once asked about housing 2 Grey's together in the same cage and someone said it was not a good idea.

Why??? If they can be kept together as babies why not a baby with a adult?

As always, thanks for all replys.

[klamb85]

Something I've been wondering as well! Good point about being kept together as babies. Maybe because they are more territorial when adults? I really don't know the right answer. But I do have this HUGE cage so I was wondering why couldn't I keep two greys in it.

[Doyle'sMommy]

I don't know either. Maybe it's so they socialize better with humans?

[GreetingCardReligion]

Putting two adult birds who don't know eachother into the same cage can be dangerous if they don't like eachother - accidents happen.

Maybe babies are just less likely to fight or cause damage to one another?

Would two baby parrots be ok in the same cage or maybe they'd need different cages when they grew up?

You also wouldn't want a male and female together in case they laid eggs. :S

I know is considered "OK" to have more than one grey in an aviary setting, so maybe its just the closer confines of a cage? Although that does puzzle me too!

[Cindy215]

Babies are clueless and dependent and don't fight. As they get older they need more space. If one gets nippy or irritated or whatever ,,,the other one cant escape the pushy one. Tremendous accidents can happen.

Any two birds housed together should be in a giant sized cage (compared with their size and normal one person cage requirements) and get ALOT of time out of that cage. They also need duplicate water and food bowls and duplicate toys. They also need to be supervised most of the time, ime and imo. Especially as they reach each "stage" of life or each "season of the year".

When they reach sexual maturity it's a whole 'nother ballgame and hormones take over. Most people do not follow a natural daylight schedule including dawn and dusk so they throw their birds in hormonal overload most of the year and the birds are even MORE hyper than "normal".

The three biological imperatives for birds are food, shelter and procreation and combining multiple birds in one cage threatens all these needs.
(I DO, however, believe every bird should have a mate of the opposite gender since that's they kind of life nature intended, there's no reason to hatch the eggs, just let them be a "couple")

[Karol]

As always, thanks for the replys.

I do have a really big cage and would love to somehow split it down the middle and get another Grey, Keeping them seperate yet in the same cage.

I would want a baby that has just been weaned.

What do you think??? Is this do able???

[Copper]

It's entirely doable. Get a piece of plexi glass (1/4 inch, not window pane thin)
Cut it to the size of the interior of the cage and use SS clips that you bolt on place. Home Depot will cut it to your measurements. I suggest a diamond dust drill to put the holes at the appropriate spots in the cage. Keep it about 1/4 inch above the grate, and 1/4 inch from the top and sides. Birds can't get around it if it is fastened correctly.
You can also contact places like Cages By Design and see about special ordering. They can drill holes in the plexi a bit easier, so there won't be the stress of an unsupported surface. It's also a bit more pricey, but you are assured of quality.
Mine shared a macaw cage seperated like this until I adopted the gw.

[grandma]

Just remember...you may no longer have a pet once you put two together.

[Lisa B]

hiya Karol....sorry I've been a bit busy ...house shoppin

None of my greys get along....cant be housed together, and 2 will pluck if their cages are close together. A divided cage is doable, but they might spend alot of time attacking eachother at the plexiglass.

More later.........am exhausted.
We'll catch up real soon!

[Cindy215]

I would never divide the cage. First of all the existing bird has to go through drama having this interloper in "his" space. Even with plexi the new bird is still in HIS space. right there up against him. Like Lisa said some can't even be next to each other.

I have one bird that has to be in a different ROOM.

It's no small matter, you may wake up to a completely plucked bird. Especially with a Grey.

Adding a second bird is potentially a case where you'll have to have them totally seperate and you will have some behavioral reaction with the existing one no matter what you do. It just depends on the individual.

I used to own a pet store and the reason the older ones all "coexist" is partially from stress or partially from the fact that in a larger flock in a store there is alot more going on to keep their attention off the other birds if they don't want to be part of it. They have the stimulation of all the different employees, customers and activities that go on during the day.

I had one Grey who only plucked at home and when the caretaker boarded him in my store he stopped. She finally felt so guilty she asked me to take him as a permanent "boarder" and rehome him. Which I did ...and it took a year till the right home came along and he loved the new person who was another customer he got to know. She has a farm and to this day (15 years later) he's still with her and having a good life.

Please remember how long they live and how finicky they can be and they are depending on you for the best life possible. They can't convey their feelings and need us to do everything we can to provide for all their needs, whether they meet what WE prefer or not, imo.

Even if you divide the cage you're still short changing the existing bird by taking away half his space. And the attention he gets from you now. How big is this cage?