how to introduce a new addition question

[Denice-NY]

Hello everyone-I am very new to this.......posting and cockatiels. :aiwebs_01
I have one cinnamon male cockatiel, that I have had sense he was 5 months old and now is 2 yrs old. He is very tame and on my shoulder alot! sorta like a monkey on your back :aiwebs_01

Next month I will be bringing home my second 'tiel, a female 5 month old regular gray.

Now my question is this, what is the best way to 'introduce' the new with the old........?? Should they be placed in the same cage? (the cage I have is very large and would fit two cockatiel)

suggestions please to introducing the established cockatiel to the new comer?

Thanks
Denice-NY

[TooLover]

Hi Denise - welcome.
I don't own cockatiels, however, my advice, from my experience, is to NOT cage them together right away. Place them in separate cages, next to each other for a while and see how that works.
I am firm believer in everyone having their own "house"; their own space to return to and feel safe in.

[Lynjupiter]

When you first bring home your new tiel I can not stress the importance of quarantine.Reccomended quarantine is 90 days. A quarantine consists of a separate room where you change your shoes and disinfect when you go in and out.

New birds can carry many diseases and cockatiels are known for Psittacosis which is also called Chlamydiosis. It is easily transmitted to other birds. A vet check and blood test are important so you don't spread the disease to your other tiel. I have brought home an infected cockatiel before and quarantine is the only thing that saved me from having to treat my whole flock.

After that a gradual introduction. Start by placing the cages in view of each other. After a day let them out together and let them get to know each other while you are there. After a week or two you can make the call if they can be caged together. Putting them together before you know if they are compatible could cause problems. Remember like all other animals a male and female make babies. With that we get into a whole new post about experince with babies and affording vet bills.
Lynda

[Dayna]

Quarentine can save your current birds life. There are too many illnesses to mention.

I only house my birds together becuase they have shown to be comfortable together. However, I have enough cages on hand to seperate each and every one of them if need be.

House them seperatly at first. Introduce slowly after a 90 quarentine and vet visit. Let them play together and see how it goes.

[Denice-NY]

:eusa_clap

Thank you for the replies. I can keep them in different cages and let them socialize with me present out of cages.
Denice-ny