Just got 2 Lovebirds - should I only keep one?

[rtyworld]

UPDATE: Thank you to all the responders as well as those I spoke to yesterday via the Chat room! Based on all the great advice I have received I haved decided that the larger bird (Jazz) will be finding a new home. He will be staying here with us in a separate cage next to little Kirby until a new home is found. Thanx again!

Hello! A friend just gave me two 8-9 week old baby Masked Lovebirds. I really enjoy them but I have noticed something that makes we think that only keeping one of them might be best. One of the babies (named Kirby) is about 25% smaller then the other (named Jazz). Jazz is dominate in pretty much every respect and sometimes picks on Kirby, such as picking at Kirby's neck which makes Kirby screech, pushing Kirby off toys etc. At night or during rest periods they huddle close and even preen and seem to feed each other, so it seems they like each other. I decided to order a larger cage as the book on Lovebirds I bought suggests in hopes that more room will help reduce some of the picking. I have also read that they can be a bit fiesty like this, and maybe this is just normal Lovebird interaction? I have a female Cockatiel as well and she is quiet and pretty calm, this is my first time with Lovebirds and I would have never guessed how different they are! I am just wondering if maybe just keeping one would be better for both of them in the long run. Kirby seems much more calmer and less fearful then Jazz and I would keep him if I had to decide, but I am just not sure what the best situation would be for them. Also, if the two happen to be one male and one female will I not have to worry about inter-breeding down the road since they would be brother and sister? Please give me any advice you think might help! Thank you in advance for any help!

[VeraT]

I'm sure some one who knows more will answer but maybe if you just separate them and only let them be together when they behave. It would be a shame for you to have to get rid of one of them.
Good luck
Vera

[Adi]

In any case, I believe that you should be keeping these birds seperately. That would then allow the option to keep both birds.

Your larger cage might not solve agression issues, if they don't get along, they might not get along anywhere... If you don't seperate them at this point I believe that it could get worse and your smaller bird might get seriously injured. Just a thought but could your smaller bird be that way because the larger one is bullying him around the food dish? Make sure your little guy is getting the food he needs.

Inbreeding is most definitely an issue if your birds are of opposite sexes. Even if they are of same sexe, hormones in mating season might cause them to be even more agressive towards one another.

Last of all, if you intend keeping these birds as companions, you will have more success if you keep them seperately caged. Two birds housed together will usually choose to bond to each other and ignore you... Taming will become an issue and it will take much more attention and care to keep both birds nice and tame.

Basically, I think it's in your birds and your interest to house them seperately. You could always put the cages close together and they'll benefit from the companionship without the physical contact. Playtime could always be spent together if supervised, and if they get along.

[LadyElation]

I have the smae problem, only with two parakeet's i bought. I keep them seperate except for when I have them both out together. They do ok as log as they aren't caged together.
I'm sure the problem you have will work out, probably as mine did.

I now have two cages. One for each bird. And they are doing a whole lot better.