Is it weird..

[MandaJP2005]

For two male Cockatiels to be so close? Let me explain. :)

Skittles is 7 and Sunny is 6, as I have told all of you before. When I first got Skittles, it took me months for him to stop biting me and get on my hands. So when my next birthday rolled around and I got Sunny, I made sure to put them in different cages at first. When Sunny grew a little I was forced to put him in Skittles' larger cage. Skittles hissed at him, rocked back and forth at him, and had nothing to do with Sunny.

Over 5 years later, I can't seperate them! They consider each other to be brothers and you can't take one out of the room without taking the other. They cuddle each other at night, clean each other's feathers, sing to each other, stuff like that. I couldn't seperate them even if I wanted to.

Is this normal? Can two males bond like this without it being weird? They are both males, I'm 100% sure of that. I'm just wondering if it's normal for two birds of the same sex like these two to get so incredibly close.

[MusicalFeathers]

While I do not have the sure answer for your question, I have heard of many proven pairs of the same sex...
I have two male cockatiels that are housed together and they eat and sit next to each other but definitely do not cuddle and preen each other. Even though they are two males, I wish they would!
Regardless if it's considered "weird" or not, at least they have good companionship!

[MandaJP2005]

I wonder why my 2 boys do it then? They cuddle together, clean each other, everything. Freckles has her eyes set on Sunny, but Sunny just wants to be with his brother and know where he is at all times/visa versa.

[LovelySydney]

I had two male lovebirds at one point and they literally were in love with one another. They did everything together - slept, played, preened, you name it. They were freakishly adorable. & the best part - I never had eggs!! = ) My two gay lovies, hehe. I just loved them together, my little angels.

[Jag]

I have two bonded males. They act the same as any other bonded pair. There have been many more studies about same sex relationships in animals than there have been in humans. I wouldn't consider them 'strange' or 'weird', just a bonded pair that happen to be males. Can happen with all animals, humans included. Yes, the plus is no eggs to worry about! I don't know if the original owner knew that they were both males at the time she housed them together, or if she knew they would become bonded...but they are now unable to be seperated and both aggressive. Just make sure that you interact with them enough to keep them hand tame, and let nature take care of the rest.

[MandaJP2005]

LOL! I don't quite think they're gay, to be honest. I don't have anything against gay people, but Freckles has been making eyes at Sunny and he's slowly starting to make eyes back at her. But him and Skittles still refused to be seperated. :)

[MandaJP2005]

They're not aggressive or anything, don't worry. They're both Mama's boys and though they spend most of their time on their cage together, I still give them kisses and talk to them and get time with them. But they're just the cutest things.

[Jan in MD]

Originally Posted by MusicalFeathers

While I do not have the sure answer for your question, I have heard of many proven pairs of the same sex...

Not to offend you, but your answer is confusing. A "proven pair" is a mated pair of birds that are proven to have produced young. How could you have heard of "many proven pairs of the same sex"? Basicly, this is impossible. Sorry if this upsets you- not my intent.

As for the original question- why would it be "weird" for two birds that are living together to become bonded to each other? They desire company and affection and they get along. I find that lovely, not strange. Calling them "gay" is putting a human connotation on a pair of birds. Be happy they're not fighting.

Sorry if I seem negative, not meaning to, just wondering why this would concern anyone. My two male zebra finches are very good buddies... and the fact that their breeder is gay had nothing to do with it...

[Monica]

Originally Posted by Jan in MD

Not to offend you, but your answer is confusing. A "proven pair" is a mated pair of birds that are proven to have produced young. How could you have heard of "many proven pairs of the same sex"? Basicly, this is impossible. Sorry if this upsets you- not my intent.

Not MusicalFeathers, however often times same sex pairs will go through the motions of breeding and reproducing - although males will never lay any eggs, and a female pair will never produce fertile offspring. Breeders will often sell same sexed pairs under the guise as "proven" - although it's unsure if any of the breeders actually know the sex of the birds. It's probably easier to sell a "proven" pair of the same sex than it is to sell an "unproven" (i.e. birds hate eachother, wont have anything to do with one another) pair of opposite sex.

[Eternal Damnation]

hahaha this has happened to my two birds. except one is a conure and one is a cockatiel!