Cage mates?

So I know I've mentioned a few times I've considered getting another conure as a cage mate for Pi but I've been hesitant because I absolutely do not want to run any risk of breeding.

I recently found a local breeder who has chattering lories on eggs. A baby wouldn't be ready to come home for several months but before I even contact her, I wondered ... Is it possible to house a conure and lory together in the same cage?

They have very different dietary needs but they'd be about the same size. There wouldn't be a risk of breeding but I've read that lories can be aggressive towards other birds. Would it be that way for a pair of birds that grew up together? Would they try to eat each other's food if they were in the same cage? What other problems might occur?

I haven't contacted the breeder or anything. I'm just pondering at this point. Any thoughts of advice?

I would be concerned that that they would try to eat eachother's food. Lories are very different from most parrots, but I dont have experience. I wouldn't do it.

Yeah, lories eat a nectar based diet and Pi is on pellets with dried fruit and seeds. The more I think about it, the more I feel I'd rather get a seperate cage for a second bird regardless of what type it is.

It's a smart idea. Playtime together, separate cages?

I've heard horror stories about lories... people at pet paradise told me one time they had a cockatoo out on his stand and 2 of the lories beat the snot out of him... for no reason. They flew from their perches and knocked him onto his back and did some pretty bad damage. :/

Wow. That's crazy. Okay scratch that plan then.

I got Pi that big cage because I was like BIGGER IS BETTER but I don't want her to be lonely either. I don't like living alone so why would she?

I don't think Pi will get lonely as long as you find her plenty of things to do. A lot of people have single parrot homes. Besides, don't you want her to be your cuddle bud? You might get jealous if she likes the other bird better than you.

A lot of this started because Mom gave me a guilt trip over how I've taken an animal that belongs in the wild, flying free with a flock of her own kind and put it in a cage all by itself. That was in response to me saying it was cruel to declaw a cat. Mom says what I'm doing to Pi is no different.

Obviously I can't set her free. She would die.

She is my buddy though. You're right. I would be jealous if she loved the other bird more than me. Then I'd be coming here complaining that I lost my feathery friend and I've been reduced to mere zoo keeper status in my own home.

Would you believe that little terror has adopted the new kitten though? I rescued this 5 week old kitten from the heat and brought him inside. He's a little over 6 weeks old now and he's started exploring more of the house. This afternoon I found him curled up on top of Pi's cage and Pi nestled in against him, preening his tail!

I wanted to get a photo but when I came back with the camera they'd separated. Typical. Brats.Soooo, I've got to be doubly aware now. Courage ignores Pi altogether. Hannibal cured Courage's curiosity about birds. But I don't want the little guy to get any ideas and accidentally bite her or something.

Psh... she doesn't know anything but you. You didn't take her from the wild, as far as she knows, this is how it's supposed to be!! Just spend time with her ^^ you're her flock. I think as long as you keep an eye on the two that it may be okay... maybe put a kitty bed on top of Pi's cage for the cat so that there's still *something* separating them

Edit// talk about weird pairings, Lucy's best bud is my bearded dragon Osiris... and he's just too lazy to care. He'll hiss and puff up his beard at her when she nibbles him, but that's it... and it doesn't help, she thinks it's funny lol

I need to get a video camera and record Pi and Jetty. I've never seen anything like it.

haha I need to record Lu and Osiris too lol it's so funny, it's scary because everything could go down hill fast... Osiris can be really fast when he gets into predator mode, but he and lucy are the same size, to him, she's bigger because she's taller. I just keep an eye on them and a hand on osiris at all times. They took a bath yesterday, it was hilarious. Lucy started splashing (and in the sink! she hates the sink! unless Osiris is in it too lol) and Osiris just kept shaking his head because she kept splashing him with water, he turned away from her and she splashed more lol then he started scrambling to get out of the water up the side of the sink, it was almost like a cartoon lol

andrea.faerie said:

Psh... she doesn't know anything but you. You didn't take her from the wild, as far as she knows, this is how it's supposed to be!! Just spend time with her ^^ you're her flock. I think as long as you keep an eye on the two that it may be okay... maybe put a kitty bed on top of Pi's cage for the cat so that there's still *something* separating them

Edit// talk about weird pairings, Lucy's best bud is my bearded dragon Osiris... and he's just too lazy to care. He'll hiss and puff up his beard at her when she nibbles him, but that's it... and it doesn't help, she thinks it's funny lol

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I would love to see that, I am sure a video would be priceless.

Xenthius said:

andrea.faerie said:

Psh... she doesn't know anything but you. You didn't take her from the wild, as far as she knows, this is how it's supposed to be!! Just spend time with her ^^ you're her flock. I think as long as you keep an eye on the two that it may be okay... maybe put a kitty bed on top of Pi's cage for the cat so that there's still *something* separating them

Edit// talk about weird pairings, Lucy's best bud is my bearded dragon Osiris... and he's just too lazy to care. He'll hiss and puff up his beard at her when she nibbles him, but that's it... and it doesn't help, she thinks it's funny lol

Click to expand...

I would love to see that, I am sure a video would be priceless.

Click to expand...

I keep trying. It's the "oh god a camera, don't move" syndrome whenever i try to get it... then they stop lol

andrea.faerie said:

Psh... she doesn't know anything but you. You didn't take her from the wild, as far as she knows, this is how it's supposed to be!!

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Exactly! Plus I'm pretty sure as long as she's given the proper care she's much happier with you where it's safe and warm and theirs no shortage of food and no predators! Wild birds go through many hardships over their lives. We have wild galah and sulphur too flocks over at my parents. The number that starve, are picked off my predators or go through other unfortunate events is astounding. Sure it's sad captive birds don't get the same social interactions if they are a single bird, or natural environment, but good owners can mimic it pretty well.

Bad owners on the other hand, I'm sure their birds would rather take their chances and be flying free in the wild (sadly not possible) then trapped in a cage 24/7/365 and fed nothing but junk. Not that most people mean to do that, but it still happens and it's not fair to the bird.

But good owners who give their birds lots of so******ation and good food and vet care and toys? It's rare to see their birds develop problems that would indicate they are not happy (ie, plucking) and so we can only assume that they are at least content, if not happy!

I know Alex is happy. We are flock. To him people ARE parrots. He was raised by people, he lives in a house of them, he shares meals and plays and even takes afternoon naps with them. He grooms our hair and we scratch him back. All his natural behaviours are ok here, he just has to use us as substitutes. And when he has to be left alone he has so many toys and things to amuse himself with that he really doesn't seem to mind. I've even left my laptop with him on the webcam so I can see what he does when we are not their, and he seems more then happy.

Provided you care for her well, she's going to be content.