Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 3/27/2007

Question
My mom (80 yrs old) had 2 parakeets, Verde and Azul, for 5 years.  Azul died  a week ago and my mom bought another young parakeet (Sunshine) and just put it in the same cage.  Verde picks on Sunshine; they fight sometimes and ignore each other most of the day.  Neither sings, and Verde was always a lively singer.  They seem unhappy; mom thinks she should buy a recording of parakeets singing to get them singing and OK with each other.  Will they "settle in" with each other?  What can be done.  Thanks, my mom is really upset about this.

Answer
Hi, Susan.  Thanks for posting!

You really should not introduce a new bird to an existing bird without quarantining the new bird for a period of at least 30 days.  This is to ensure any illness, if present, is not transmitted from one bird to the other.  This is important especially since Azul died and if Azul was ill, Verde might have the same illness (which might be transmitted to the new bird).  It might have been better to house them in separate cages, but next to each other until they became accustomed to one another.

Verde hasn't had a chance to grieve the loss of Azul.  After being together for 5 years, Verde certainly misses Azul and might not be ready for a new "friend."  Since Sunshine is new, Verde's behavior is normal.  Even birds who have been housed together for years sometimes have little squabbles with each other other trite things.  

They probably are both unhappy right now.  Verde due to Azul's death; Sunshine because of the stress of being moved to a new home with new people.  I don't really think a parakeet recording is necessary.  They both just need time.  Verde needs time to grieve and get better from Azul being gone; Sunshine from the stress of moving to a new environment with new people.  Verde might not particularly care for a youngster being around!  Young birds are often more lively, excited, curious about the world around them, etc., whereas Verde might be set in his ways.  However, the new bird might have a positive affect on Verde and bring him back to life so to speak.  It just depends on the personalities of the individual birds involved.  Give them some more time.

Chrys