Expert: Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott - 6/24/2009

Question
hi, I have had a female eclectus for over a year, she is very friendly and sociable, however i have just aquired a male rosella and was wondering if it would be safe for them to be together. obviously i know it would take time for them to get to know each other, but i am a little worried as i dont want either of them to get hurt in the process!! any advice you could give me would be gratefully recieved! thank you!

Answer
I don’t think hook bills (parrots) should share cages.


The top reasons for this being that rarely is any cage big enough for two.  Each bird should be able to fully extend their wings, at the same time, without touching each other and while sharing the same level perch.   


The two birds need to eat the same food --  One bird might eat so much that the other bird is prevented from getting their share.   This and other stresses can lead one or both birds to self-mutilation (feather plucking) which is a disorder that starts far easier than it ends.  Some feather pluckers never stop once they start.



For any birds, even the same species,  sharing a cage makes mutual injury  a major issue.   Far too many times there are birds that have lived together for quite a while and all it takes is one accident.  Just one mistake or misplaced bite and the injury could be fatal to a bird, devastating to the owner.   


I’ve had birds come into my care after ten years or more together with another bird, without any problem, until one day a single act of aggression takes the top of the other bird’s beak off, or punctures a hole clean through.  Sometimes the aggression is even worse and one of them loses their life.



Finally, birds that are allowed to share a cage will often not be  as human bonded as they might be otherwise.   Are you ready to give up the loving companionship of your birds?


We keep our birds together, but not in the same cages.  We discourage any touching between the birds as well.  Our two in-house macaws (a Severe macaw and a Blue & Gold macaw) have been together for nearly 5 year without ever touching; however, they interact regularly with talking, noises and counting on each other to be there in their own individual cages, whether during the day or in their sleep cages at night.



Here is even more about cage set ups complete with pics:




www.4AnimalCare.org/birds