Cage Sharing - Should they...

[Thowraa]

I've been slowly introducing my two cockatiels together and they have been getting allong ok. They tolerate eachother and sit by eachother willingly, and occasionally follow eachother arround. My female doesn's seem to understand the concept of mutual preening which Yuki begs for which sometimes causes small arguments (which dont go any further than them hissing at eachother and backing off before they calm down.) other than this they call for eachother and Yuki even displays for her, I think he's in love with her.

Bree isn't too interested at the moment because of her previous experience with the other birds and I'm stuck on the fence about what to do.

I'm having problems getting Bree out of her cage, which I'm sure is because of the tiny guilotine door. Once I unclip the top and turn it on it's side, she cant wait to get out and usually flies straight to the top of Yuki's cage.

I'm currently disinfecting ALL of their stuff today so I want to know if now could be a good time to rearange the larger cage with everything spiffy clean and put the two in together to see how they get allong.

My only concern is that Bree seems to prefer eating off the floor and Yuki's cage has a grille. But the door is huge so I'm hoping the problem of getting her out will be eliminated.

Another reason I am thinking now is a good time is because I might be starting a full time job next week and therefore will not be arround to check up on them constantly. Also it has been two weeks since I have had them and I have been advised that if I wait too long they may never be able to share.

For the record Yuki's cage is huge so if there are problems both birds have ample space to get away from eachother, and I always have the spare cage to put Bree in if things dont work out.

Oppinions please, I want them to share the big cage eventually, but when is the right time to put them in together?

EDIT: Please, I need advice asap cause I'm rearranging the big cage soon once all the stuff is dry.

[Monica]

If you'd only have a week to watch them be in the same cage together then you might as well go for it and see how things go. This way you can determine if they should be separate or not by the time you go to work.

[Thowraa]

It's less than a week now, If I do get the job I'm SUPPOSED to start saturday, but if they dont tell me untill tomorrow I wont be able to start untill monday. So it's not really that long left at all. I only have a couple of days to watch them. When / if I'm working I'll only get one day a week off. So I wont be able to keep a close eye on them at all. I'll stay up late tonight to watch them if I have to. *Goes to see if stuff is dry*

EDIT:
Ok, I rearanged the cage, I still havn't got a layout I really like but oh well.... and Yuki doesn't mind Bree being in there with him so far, in fact he thinks it's great. He he, I'll never be able to shut him up now ;)

I'm not so sure Bree will like it, but I guess only time will tell.

[Tiki]

Cockatiels are peaceable birds and usually do get along with each other. I have 9 living happily together in a large indoor aviary. Just keep an eye on them to make sure they are getting along.

[Thowraa]

I've heard conflicting oppinions on their nature, a lot of people say they get allong allright, but the Manager of PAH where I got mine says he has seen some fight quite badly, but if they have enough space then things are usually ok.

I only worry because Bree is used to other birds picking on her and she doesn't quite understand yet that Yuki's advances are completely friendly.

*looks at birds* Awww they're eating together at the one seed bowl :) and not fighting about it. ^_^ Even though there are two food and two water bowls.

I'm sure they're going to get allong. Yuki is quite possibly the most patient bird I've ever met.

I'm also not sure if Bree remembers him. He was in the same avary as her when she was being picked on. I dont think it was him pulling her feathers out or anything, but would she remember him after a month of seperation.

Eh oh, I spoke too soon. Yuki is hogging the bowl now :(

[Rue]

...I suppose you won't know for sure until you try...but I've never had a problem...

...right now I have three together...a bonded pair and a young female...and while the pair ignore the lone female a bit, they don't activley bother her either, and all three eat together peacefully...

[Monica]

Casey got along with Clyde, my second tiel, and Clyde was hopelessly in love with Casey! Casey wanted nothing to do with Clyde, and because Noel didn't like Clyde, that complicated things so I ended up rehoming him. He's quite the satisfied man now!

With the new tiels I have, I know for sure that Kirby doesn't like Casey. Heck, he even picks on his sister! He doesn't cause any harm, though everyone in his family cept him tolerate Casey. Kirby will "hiss" at Casey and chase her and she being the "baby" that she is, she climbs away! So in that respect, it's a good thing they don't all live together or else Casey would always be runnin!

It really does though depend on the birds and how well they get along.