New to Lovebirds...looking for some help

[sdt1]

Hi All,

I just brought a Love Bird home...he's approximately 20 weeks old. I say "he", but I'm not really sure, as he was never DNA sexed. My goal was to find a friend for my Quaker, without the risk of breeding. They are in separate cages right now, but I've been slowly introducing them to each other. Today, they had about an hour of playtime together on top of the Quaker's cage, and they were pretty good together, until one or the other decided to get a little ornary. They nipped at each other a little, but no blood drawn, just a few loose feathers fell off.

Any replies with similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. I would like to know if they can be cage mates, and if any of you have ever paired up a Quaker and a Love Bird? Any helpful hints or tricks would be welcome.

Our Quaker is hand tamed, but the Love Bird needs some work. The pet store sold him three times, each time returned for biting. For some reason, he doesn't really bite me...he trusts me to stand on my shoulder, hold him on his back in the palm of my hand, etc. ...I even got a few kisses. But, I notice that once I return him to his cage, he doesn't want to come out of his own free will the next time. Each time, I have to "chase" him in his cage to get him out, he screams a little, and then once he's out, he becomes a little cuddle muffin.

Well, hope to read your replies soon! Thanks.

Regards,

-sdt1

[Monica]

Sounds as if he is cage territorial. I typed a message to you in the intro section...

Your lovebird and quaker may never be cagemates because lovebirds usually do not go well with other birds (lovebirds can become VERY aggressive, even attacking a finch to a cockatoo or macaw if they so chose to!), and your quaker could easily hurt the lovebird, even if not intentionally.

It's best not to house these two birds together, unless they decide that they want to be caged together, both birds being acceptable to the idea, though you would be running a fine line of one of them getting injured as these two birds have not been raised around eachother to be real familiar with the other type. I suggest for you to not house these birds together, and continure housing them seperately.

If you let them out at the same time, PLEASE by all means, supervise them so that they cannot hurt eachother. Even if you let one out and not the other, you need to supervise that bird to make sure that it's not going over to the other birds cage to antagonize the other bird.

[sdt1]

Originally Posted by Monica

Sounds as if he is cage territorial. I typed a message to you in the intro section...

Your lovebird and quaker may never be cagemates because lovebirds usually do not go well with other birds (lovebirds can become VERY aggressive, even attacking a finch to a cockatoo or macaw if they so chose to!), and your quaker could easily hurt the lovebird, even if not intentionally.

It's best not to house these two birds together, unless they decide that they want to be caged together, both birds being acceptable to the idea, though you would be running a fine line of one of them getting injured as these two birds have not been raised around eachother to be real familiar with the other type. I suggest for you to not house these birds together, and continure housing them seperately.

If you let them out at the same time, PLEASE by all means, supervise them so that they cannot hurt eachother. Even if you let one out and not the other, you need to supervise that bird to make sure that it's not going over to the other birds cage to antagonize the other bird.

Well, to my amazement, they are getting along well so far! I have been keeping them in separate cages, but giving them playtime together every day. We are on day two now, and Austin (Quaker) is not antagonizing Clyde (Love Bird) today. Yesterday, there was some anamosity, but I have been closely supervising. Today, they both sat on my shoulders (one on the left shoulder, and one on the right)....there was no fright or fighting. So, I put Clyde in the cage with Austin, and so far, they seem fine with it! They are about the same size (Clyde is a just a little smaller), and they seem to have similar manerisms. This is quite an experiment!

I really appreciate your feedback. Like you said, I will keep them separated, unless they decide they want to be cagemates. Thanks!

[Adi]

I would agree with Monica, no matter how good they might seem to get along, you're best to keep them seperate. Accidents can happen when you're not around and it's not worth risking the lives of either bird. Both species are known to become agressive at times and that will only worsen during the mating season. I've even heard stories of lovies killing a mate that they've been with for years.

I don't think it's necessary for them to be caged together. They can benefit from eachothers companionship while living in different cages. Playtime together is great but it really should be supervised.

[Monica]

How in the world do you have an 8 month old quaker not much larger than a lovebird?????????????? If it as you say, then this 'quaker' is the size of a cockatiel, or the 'lovebird' is the size of a medium sized conure?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!

'Just a little smaller' would be like comparing bourkes and large budgies (not english budgies, as they are usually quite larger than a bourke, though still a large budgie).

I'm sorry though you seem to have confused me greatly??? Do you have any photos?

[peeker]

Hi std1! wow! You have chosen two of the more aggressive types of parrot to be friends. I'm obviously not there so you will have to be the judge on this one, but I think you are playing with fire. :( Make sure that you have your vets phone number handy and it is during vet hours that you are letting these guy hang together JIC. Lovebirds are often aggressive with other birds even other lovebirds. When I say aggressive I mean they can kill. Quakers can be extremely cage territorial so it would be better to let them socialize away from the cage. I hope things work out the way you want. Be sure to take it slow and careful.

[sdt1]

Originally Posted by peeker

Hi std1! wow! You have chosen two of the more aggressive types of parrot to be friends. I'm obviously not there so you will have to be the judge on this one, but I think you are playing with fire. :( Make sure that you have your vets phone number handy and it is during vet hours that you are letting these guy hang together JIC. Lovebirds are often aggressive with other birds even other lovebirds. When I say aggressive I mean they can kill. Quakers can be extremely cage territorial so it would be better to let them socialize away from the cage. I hope things work out the way you want. Be sure to take it slow and careful.

Well, today is day three, and playtime is going well . They are so calm together. Austin did try to nip Clydes' tail feathers at first, but then they were content perched together, both eating from Austin's food cups, preening, etc. They seem to talk to each other, which is quite amusing, because Austin speaks words, and Clyde can only squeek! :) They are both confortable with sitting on opposite shoulders (my shoulders) at the same time. I've attached a photo of them in Austin's cage. Also, this will give you a size reference....a Birdboard member expressed confusion over my size comment, but really, Austin is not that much larger than Clyde!

I may have taken on a poor match, but so far, they seem to want to be friends. I would not normally have paired these two up, but I considered Clyde a "rescue". The pet store wasn't really taking good care of him, and he has been returned three times because he was biting. But, it is obvious to me that the previous owners didn't know what they were doing, because he wasn't even trained to step up. Now, he's stepping up (we are still working on it), and he is completely calm. He is also happy to be handled now, and cuddles in my hand and neck.

I also volunteer at my local SPCA shelter. I am a counsellor for birds, and cats. Our home is like a small petting zoo, with our miniature Dachshund, three cats, and now three birds. Let's not forget the three Beta fish! :) They all get along too! The cats are so curious, but I've been on the couch with the birds on my shoulders or lap, and the dog in my lap, and the cats perched on top of the sofa! The cats are afraid of Austin, because he nips them if they get too close, and now Clyde too...it's too funny to watch. OF COURSE, I ALWAYS SUPERVISE!

Thanks for all of your comments and feedback! I look forward to learning more, and to sharing more. Enjoy the photos!


Regards,

-sdt1

[Monica]

Well, I'm glad to hear that things have been going well for you atleast, and hope that there are no problems between any of the critters!

[sdt1]

Originally Posted by Monica

Well, I'm glad to hear that things have been going well for you atleast, and hope that there are no problems between any of the critters!

Thanks Monica! :) After seeing the photos, do you see their sizes are similar? Maybe my Quaker is on the small side?

-Steven

[Monica]

I still don't quite say their sizes are that similar, and from my understanding, both birds are still under a year old, which would mean that they may still have a bit more of growing to do, though probably not much. It is possible though that your quaker might be a bit small...

Cherry head conures are said to be about 14-15 inches long, and my Noel may be just about 13 inches. I don't know her age, though it is possible that she is around the same age as myself, if not older (hard to say without much info from her first home, only her second)...