2 lovebirds - separate cages?

[delilahiris]

I just adopted a new lovebird which I brought home yesterday. He is doing quite well. A little skiddish but I have a feeling he will come around.

I was just contacted by a second person who needs to re-home their lovebird and asked me to take it. By the description it sounds like a very nice bird.

I've never even owned a pair of lovebirds. Only had a single. Does anyone have any experience with placing two birds together? What are the chances they will fight? Should they meet outside of the cage first?

Also, I know that if you have a pair they no longer care to pay much attention to you. Has anyone ever kept two lovies in separate cages? I feel like that might be mean though if they could hear each other.

I'm really stuck on whether I should adopt the second or not. Part of me really wants to to make sure he gets a good home. But part of me also selfishly wants a single bird. I really wanted to bond with my new pet. :(

Those of you who have multiple lovebirds - just how much do they ignore you as a pair. Are they completely anti-social? I imagine there must still be some fun to it.

[MaryG1959]

If you decide to adopt this second bird please practice proper quarantine. Keep the birds separated for 30 days (at a minimum).....you will want to consider vetting the new bird as well to make sure that he doesn't have diseases that your existing bird could catch.

I have never owned a lovebird, I own cockatiels and macaws mainly. I would recommend separate cages AT LEAST until they've had time to form a bond.

I have two of my five cockatiels caged together, the other three are separated. There are many cage manufacturers that offer double cages with a center divider. This kind of set up could prove ideal for two birds---if they bonded---remove the divider---if not, keep the divider in place.

Hopefully someone w/love birds will respond.

[mayaexquisite]

I agree with the above poster about the quarantine and vet check, but I wouldn't suggest the cage with the divider. Lovebirds are aggressive and if they end up not liking each other, they can still attack each other through the divider. One can end up biting off toes through a divider.

My boys are bonded, but I've recently separated them ever since I moved. They were fine together, but no matter how many food bowsl I provided Kano HAD to eat from the same bowl as Mika. Mika would move to another bowl and Kano would follow. And then Kano would squabble with Mika over the bowl. I didn't want Mika to have to continually deal with this anymore so now they're in separate identical cages that are right next to each other, about an inch apart. They are fine and happy and get lots of together time out of the cages.

When it comes to placing two lovebirds together, it's always a 50/50 situation. They may get along, they may not. So you have to be prepared in case they don't get along. Introduction should be done slowly. During the quarantine period, they'll be able to call to each other. Then you can place the cages side by side, with at least an inch between to avoid toe biting, and let them interact that way for a while. Then you can give them short spurts of SUPERVISED outside play time. As time goes by, if they get along well, you can increase that supervised time.

Something to think about when getting a second bird is your first bird. Are you home enough to give lots of attention to your first bird? If so, I would just stick with one bird for the time being. Because you just got your bird, you haven't formed a solid bond with him/her and chances are will end up bonding with the other bird over you. If you aren't home enough to give the lovebird the attention it needs, since they're very social flock birds, then I would suggest getting a second bird for your first birds social well being and happiness.

My boys are completely bonded, but my Mika would still choose me over Kano. Of course I had Mika from hatching and I had to handfeed him and his siblings after a week of their hatchings because their mom started attacking them. And Mika will be eight in September. He and I had a big bond for about three years before I rescued Kano - so even after they bonded, Mika was still bonded to me because I interact with him so much.

In your case, I have a feeling they'd completely ignore you because that bond isn't there and they would truly rather bond with their own kind than a person if they were given the choice.

[dancelady]

It does depend on how old the birds are, and how much time you spend with the one you have now. If these lovies are over 7 months, then it also matters about birds going through hormonal changes with mating on their minds. Maya is right about birds and their friendship -- some can become close friends, and some can never get together because they don't like the other one. If they are opposite sexes, they could decide that mating is primary, despite your presence, and become bonded to each other. But I know someone who has a bunch of lovebirds that are all tame, and they play with the owners and also have mated and had babies. The females are aggressive and can be really a bit much while having babies, so that can happen to you, too. Lovebirds are sex machines, so getting the second one can be a wonderful thing or a bother, if you don't want them to make babies. In that case, you would be better off with just one bird. Do you know what sex they are, and if not, are you ready to find out the hard way? When I adopted 2 lovies, they soon had 3 babies and I enjoyed everything about them, but I had to learn all about lovebirds and how to take care of them. And then how to make them stop...you will see that they had 11 babies while I was trying to make them quit. Now they live in separate cages, which is the only way I could have them not mating. So think about all of this, if you do get the second lovie, be sure that you keep them in separate cages, and consider what to do about babies, if this occurs. It only takes a second for them to mate. Good Luck!

[shosh]

I must take exception with the above poster. Just because your two lovebirds may mate DOES NOT mean you will have babies. Two girls can bond and they can exhibit male/female mating behaviour including egg laying....the eggs, obviously, will be infertile. Even if you do have a male/female and they do mate and lay eggs, this DOES NOT mean you must let the eggs hatch and bring up the babies. They are a lot of responsibility and require a lot of knowledge in case you need to take over from the parents.

I agree that the new bird should be quarantined but I take a different angle. You could certainly use that time to bond with the 2nd bird....and continue your bonding with the first bird. I have several lovebirds...my bonded peachfaced are mad about one another and although they spend a great deal of time following each other around the room and playing together, they do still love me and I enjoy the fact that they have each other when I'm not around. It takes more time to bond with two and more dedication but it can be done...in addition, if you do decide to keep them in separate cages, then it is easier to form a relationship with each individual bird.

As for them getting along, that's a process. You start, as mentioned,in separate cages and gradually try getting them together...outside the cage is usually a better idea than putting one in with the other...especially because lovies tend to be territorial and may defend the cage.

Mine took about a month to go from dislike to love.....it doesn't always happen that way but then again, if it doesn't, and you have the space, side by side works well too and they have more space to themselves and often enjoy that as well.

Lots to think about....I also think you should meet this 2nd lovebird. You may decide right off the bat that you can't be without him/her...or you may decide the bird isn't for you.

[delilahiris]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

The person who wanted me to adopt their lovebird flaked out. I'm not sure what happened. Maybe they changed their minds. But thats OK because my lovie will be fine with just me as a companion. :)