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Birds--General/cockatiels & lovebird compatability

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Expert: - 8/21/2006


Question
We have 2 cockatiels and 2 budgies housed together.  They are very happy in a large cage.  We have been offered a pair of love birds as the current owners no longer want them and are trying to find a new home.  How well do these get on together?

Answer
Hi, Helen.  Thanks for posting.

It all depends on the personalities of the individual birds involved.  Each parrot has it's own personality.  Sometimes tiels, budgies, and lovebirds can get along, sometimes not!  It just depends on the individual birds.  

After a 30-day quarantine period completely away from your other birds, I recommend you set the lovebirds in their cage next to the tiels/budgies in their cage and let them get used to each other over a period of time through the cage wire.  Then let them out together to see how it goes.  If all goes well, then put them together.  It's sometimes dangerous to put a group of birds together from the beginning as there could be aggressiveness, fighting, etc. between the established hierarchy and the new birds.  Most parrots are territorial and when new birds are introduced, they can become aggressive with the "strangers."

Chrys  

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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