Question from Joel Parrotlet Pair location....

[blueroseaviary]

JOEL:
Hi Jill, quick question. I don't have the time right now to search back into parrotlet Q&As to find the answer to this myself but I do want to move a pair of parrotlets like right now if ya can answer me asap, please. Thanks.

My question is: Can I move one pair of Pacifics about 15 yards away from another pair that I have sitting on eggs. In the past, I had problems when two or more pairs were right next to each other and that resulted in the death of two separate mates of two of the three pairs, killed by their own spouses.............There is some light shrubbery in between the two cages I am now asking about that will somewhat block the view of each pair from each other but not totally. They will definitely be able to hear each other which you have said in the past IS GOOD, if I remember correctly. Of course I won't blame you if your advice results in a problem or death but what do you think about what I am asking? Have you ever located a pair that close to each other and everything was fine (meaning no deaths). Again, they will be able to see each other a little bit from that distance......Thanks.

JILL:
Hi Joel,

My pairs are extremely close. I have them in a wall unit stacked one pair on top of another. In the past I have had cages directly next to each other with a barrier so that they cannot see each other.

How is the pair that is nesting right now? If you haven't had them for very long or if they are not comfortable with changes in their environment then maybe now would not be a good time for a change.

The distance is not a problem, but make sure they cannot see each other. Is it possible to drape a towel, a piece of cardboard, or something over the side of the cage of the two who are nesting? This would provide them a little bit more privacy regardless and would prevent them from seeing the other pair. You don't want the male so pre-occupied trying to run off the other male/pair that he fails to feed the female. Probably a piece of cardboard would be better, a towel if they are not used to it may scare them.

JOEL:
The cages are diagonally across from each other and mounted in such a way that it is pretty permanent and too much trouble to relocate/move those two specific cages. The sitting pair has been outside for some time and is used to many distractions going on in the yard such as wild birds, cats, etc. etc... and the pair I want to put outside has been inside since I got them at the same time as the others. Both pairs I have had for a long time, about a year now. Remember though that the sitting pair female had one baby last year that she raised and then I moved that pair and not long after I found her hubby dead in the new cage. I then got her a new mate and she is in the box now from a probable coupling with him. I still haven't looked in the box since she started sitting this round as I was afraid to disturb things. She does have feathers plucked from her brood patch so I'm almost positive there has to be eggs or babies in there by now.

What I don't understand is that if it is ok that they hear each other, why is it not ok that they see each other? From the chattering it is obvious to one pair that the other is nearby, if I put them that close, so why does seeing make such a difference???? Just don't get that?

I could rig up something on one of the cages so that they cannot see each other but maybe since one female is sitting I better wait........Have you EVER known or heard of any parrotlet pairs that COULD see each other that did NOT then kill their mate because they could see the other pair?????

JILL:
As you already know the little green bugers can be very territorial about their cages, and that extends to their mates. From what Sandee tells me, in the wild parrotlets pick nesting spots quite a distance from other pairs but close enough that they still can hear each other. My guess is that when the pairs can see each other they get preoccupied with trying to drive off the intruder(s). Since the intruder(s) are also caged and cannot be driven off the built up frustration can and does get taken out on ones mate. It doesn't make much sense to me either, but hey I am not a parrotlet... lololol

Parrotlets had a very bad reputation about killing mates and destroying clutches before anyone knew anything about them and their needs. Sandee has worked with them for over 20 years, and it is largely through her trial and error and research that we know as much about them as we do now. I know from my own experience that they can be placed close together with a visual barrier and be alright with life. They will even communicate between pairs. My Quasi is most definately the leader of the flock. Even though he cannot see the rest of the flock, he is the one ringing his bell and sounding the alarm calls when there is a stranger or a dog in the vicinity. He even has a seperate call to announce my presence that I recognize. My husband always knows when I have come home, because the birds announce my presence with calls even he can recoginze.