Cockatiels and Quaker Parrot?? Can they get along?

[kk9zz]

We lost our little buddie Paulie [cockatiel] when my daughter was careless
opening the front door a month ago. After posting ad's everywhere offering
rewards, calling all pet/vet places, placing ad's in newspapers, and walking
a couple hundred miles whistling and calling for him we never found him. We bought a very sweet Cockatiel shortly after. Then something interesting happened. People who saw our lost bird ad called and asked if we would be interested in taking their bird. We adopted another nice Cockatiel and also recently a Quaker Parrot from a very nice lady that could not give him the time he needed anymore due to change in her life circumstances. She gave us the bird, cage, boatloads of toys, and about 100 pounds of food. I know it broke her heart but she felt that it was the right thing to do or off to shelter he would go. If her circumstances changed we would be happy to give him back as she obviously loved and took good care of him.

Anyhow I now have all these birds. The Cockatiels seem to get along great
except for occasional food squabbles and hang out together in the "big" cage when not with the human flock members but for now sleep in separate cages. The Quaker Parrot is adorable and loves to have his head scratched and be petted. His "screech" [sounds like the Velociraptor in Jurassic Park, but mini version ] takes a bit getting used to but for the most part he is pretty quiet. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with having both Cockatiels and Quaker Parrot. The Cockatiel we lost had one in the same house he came from and I guess they got along OK but I am worried because even though they are about the same length the Quaker Parrot has a pretty major beak and is obviously bulkier and stronger. The plan so far is to never let the Cockatiels in or on his cage [kept in a separate room] and after a couple of weeks try to bring them gradually together to see if they can at least socialize. They are aware of each other already. My better judgment says never to leave them out alone together. Can Cockatiels and a Quaker Parrot be friends or will they always have to be kept separate. Can jealously become a problem leading to aggression between birds if the Quaker Parrot sees us snuggling with our gentle Cockatiel who loves to sit under my chin and look up at me for kisses? Thanks for any info. --- Steve

[Lynjupiter]

It is a chance not worth taking. Many cockatiels have been injured by conure and quaker size birds. Even ones that become friends can someday hurt each other. Out of fright or anger the quaker could lash out and seriously injure your tiel.

I had a conure and a cockatoo who had been coming out of the cage together for four years. One day my conure scared my cockatoo, the too lashed out and fractured my conures skull. I learned that letting two different sized birds socalize can lead to heartbreak. Even when you are supervising.

Lynda

[The Outlaw]

I have one Quaker who thinks she's a pitbull. She'll take on any and all comers. I too think that tiels aren't equipped to outmanuever a determined quaker.

However, both make charming pets and can always be caged side by side. They will likely form a friendship. NEVER HOUSE quakers with other species. They are extremely territorial. You may be able to allow them out time together on a gym with good supervision, but never have them locked down together where they can't get away from an attack.

THE OUTLAW

[Joel]

Nancy, that Quaker that I re-caught awhile back is a pitbull too and he (almost positive it is a "he") needs to be with someone like you I think, if anyone can tame him, I'm sure you can. Wanna try, wish I was closer & I would bring him to you. Maybe Joanie or someone else may drive from my area thru your area one of these days if ya want him free, let me know.

[LtlWngdAngl]

My quaker can PLAY (not be housed) under supervision with 'teils, and does often. I would NEVER recommend housing them together though.
My quaker, we call him "King" Cayo b/c he is the dominant bird of the house, and he knows it. He'll even boss around the 'zon, and my 'zon takes it! He is beyond territorial, but the only real squabbles he gets into is with my Conure, who's my instigator of the bunch...even my ringneck lets Cayo boss him around!
But Cayo plays nice with everyone, I just wouldn't dream of letting another bird in his cage.

[Beaks]

hey J why are you trying to get rid of your quaker is it kicking your butt? LOL

Yeah they can be a little mean at times(most of the time if they are not really tame)

Hope it works out.

I would not let the tiels and quaker play together because quakers qre toe biters and can kill a tiel very quickly with little effort.

John

PS: yall don't forget to get out there and vote today.

[Tiki]

HUH? What's this, John? Joel whupped by a little Quaker? Do tell!

[LtlWngdAngl]

my quaker grew up in the same enclosure with the 'tiels in the shop that I got him from...I'm not even sure he knows there's a difference. Though bossy, He's never been aggressive to anyone or anything, except my conure...but again, the conure's the instigator. I do monitor it VERY closely and don't leave them unattended, EVER....but thank you for the concern.

[Monica]

It is possible for the quaker to learn to get along with the tiels as long as he or she is not very territorial, though they should not share a cage as quakers can get pretty nippy. It really depends though on your situation and how the quaker reacts to the tiels being next to him in their own cages.

I have no problem keeping my conure and cockatiel together, and if I removed my cockatiel, then both would get severally stressed, especially the conure, so for me, it's best for me to keep them together, even though they are uncaged. You could say that they live on an oversized playgym in my room, and occasionally wonder about together!

You may try introducing the quaker to the tiels through cage bars, but not let them out together untill you are sure the quaker will not harm the tiels, then put them back in their own cages when it is time to go back in. Otherwise, they'll have to have separate out of cage times.

Here is a recent photo of my two... Casey the tiel, and Noel, the cherry head conure!

[kk9zz]

Thanks to all for the extremely helpful advice. I think I am going to eventually keep the birds caged in the same room and give them private out of the cage time or leave Moses, my Quaker parrot, on his table top play ground while I have the others out but will give each plenty of personal time. All four of us are bird lovers in the house. The problem with having the cages in separate rooms is that Moses gets upset sometimes when he can not see me and can get kind of noisy . I hope that having them in the same room, but separate cages, will also give them all some extra comfort in numbers. Thanks again. --- Steve