Breaking the bond?

[LovelySydney]

Neko & Oliver will be roomates soon enough. I am so excited that both of them will get to meet one another and be able to enjoy another birds company. But I am weary of breaking the wonderful bond Neko and I have. It has only been a month but I know our bond is very strong and I want it to continue to be that way.



Will introducing Neko & Oliver put our bond in jeopardy?? I know its kind of an odd question and I feel like I should know the answer but I do not!! I am curious to hear from people who have added another bird and how it changed (or improved even) the dynamics of the relationship they had with their first bird?

[Ashling]

Not sure, as all birds react uniquely to different situations. I can tell you my experiences though as my three are roommates too.

My 3 yo lorikeet has kissing/ preening/ regurgatating sessions with my budgie and nothing has changed between us but it can be annoying when she totters off for a snog. My 8yo cockatiel had a mate for 7 years (until recently) and he still craves my attention and loves being with me more than anything (except defending the keyboard from my fingers or sitting in front of the mirror lol)

As for improving the dynamics our relationships... Peanut is now miraculously tamer, more cuddly and loving than he even was when he was a baby!
With Peanut living inside now, Ashling will actually jump to my defence and push Peanut away from me when he is grumpy at me (hissing, tapping/ nipping me with his beak)

You just have to make sure you get one on one time with him every day and keep up the alo-preening sessions, training sessions (trick training is a great bonding exercise) and doing favourite activities together.

[hollyhawkz]

The bond with the frat boys, remains intact. They hate each other and love each of us and they are jealous of each other. Sorry, I can't help you there.

[Chicklette]

It could ruin the bond. They will bond with each other for sure and start grooming each other and forming a new bond with one another. When you have them together make sure you have “individual” play times with them. This will help keep the strong bond, they need one on one attention with you.

[Scritch]

Petrie fell in love with Lolo and is a bit more aggressive towards me recently, but Petrie is always doing that... he gets crushes, then he gets over it. Last time it was my fiance and I couldn't touch Petrie if he was in the room, and before that it was my sister. Little birdy hormones fly everywhere, but they taper off after a month or two. Oh, but you should see the nice little nest he's building for her!

Meanwhile Lolo is no less attached to me because she gets along with Petrie. Petrie's ok, but he's not as cool as me.

In my experience, birds are MUCH better at the whole "flock" thing than many people give them credit for. By that I mean maintaining close relationships with multiple individuals, bird and human alike. The key is to do your part of it -- maintain your part of the relationship with both birds. Most problems come up with people use a second bird as an excuse to spend less time with them both... well, of course the birds are going to become less attached to the person, they aren't spending the time with them.

Several of my birds in the past have formed close relationships to other birds, often of very different species, and still stayed close to me, too. My first grey, Ryen, was best of friends with a Goffin's 'too, Buddy. They preened each other and hung out together, but both were still as close to me as I've ever gotten with a bird.

Of course, just like in human relationships, the real trouble starts when things get sexual. Just look at Petrie! For him, his relationship with Lolo is sexual (or he hopes it will be, anyway) so he's jealous and territorial with her. For Lolo, just a baby, Petrie's "just a friend," so no problems there. That said, even breeding pairs can remain tame and close to their keepers, although they're usually less so when they're actually nesting.

Being pretty different species and different sizes, and both male? My guess is your two will keep it platonic, and even if they do become close, they'll stay close with you, too.

And I do think birds do much better when they live with other birds, especially if they can form positive relationships with other birds, and other people, too. Parrots are easily as social as people (if not moreso!) and just like people, the more good, solid friendships they form, the happier they'll be.

[LovelySydney]

Thanks for all the advice and words everyone - it really helps. I am getting Neko into a different routine. He will be spending mornings with Oliver (when I say that I mean in the same room, not in the same cage) and they will both get breakfast and spend the morning together. This will allow them to have some nice quiet time together. In the afternoon Neko will come to work with me and have mommy and social time and then well go home and have one big happy family time!!


Im nervous about this transition but I know things will work out. I do have two males and I am hopeful that their behavior towards one another will be NICE!! = )

[Chicklette]

Im nervous about this transition but I know things will work out. I do have two males and I am hopeful that their behavior towards one another will be NICE!! = )

Don’t e nervous. I was too but really you will find a routine that suits you. I know it can be overwhelming at first but just make sure you spend one on one attention to both and things will go well. Right now Chiquita is out, in an hour or so Boomer will be out. They get equal amount of attention and I made sure Chiquita still got the same amount of attention and play times when I go Boomer. All went well and I know you will be okay.