Teaching parrots to get along

Llenis

New member
Jul 29, 2016
1
0
I have a red lored amazon female, female eclectus and a pineapple green cheek conure male. So I could really use some advice on how to help with getting my conure to get along with the other parrots. I got the amazon first then the green cheek then the eclectus. They also have their own cages and playtops. I only leave one out at a time if I'm not home but when. I am home I like to leave them all out. However my green cheek is, how do you say, has napoleon syndrome and thinks he runs everything. He likes to chase the other parrots away. I'm afraid one day this may lead to an attack.

I have done the whole quarantine process, they have their own room. They have their own tv I play youtube rainforest or songs, I acknowledge them each indicually and show them equal time. My amazon super independent talks a bunch and training her to do tricks is easy, my eclectus the baby is still young but loves to observe and pay attention to me. Then my conure the biggest cuddle monster absolutely love people but not other birds...

At first he would try so hard to preening my amazon but my amazon wouldn't have it. So he eventually gave up. Then I had it to where they could stand next to each other on my shoulder and my conure wouldn't go for the kill shot, my amazon still uncomfortable tho. I've had them on the same training perch and give them both treats so they would concentrate more on me then each other.

Is there something else I can try doing? I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

I've had the amazon 2 yrs conure 1.5 yrs and eclectus 6 months.
 
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SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,646
10,008
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
The Old Saying: Birds of a Feather, Flock Together still holds true, even in our homes. Now, there are lots of cases of different Parrots getting along as well if not better than birds of the same Species.

The point is, that if they choose to get along, well that's great, if not - that's just the way it is going to be. You really can't make them get along. They may tolerate each other or fight each other, or be best of friends. The interaction your flock has is their level. It may change over time, but there is no assurance, which way that change may take them.

It is dangerous enough to have a single Parrot on your shoulder. To have two, and especially two that do not play nice is begging for a major injury.

There is nothing wrong with trying, but do it with very limited expectations. Take Care!
 

Flboy

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2014
12,598
4,101
Greater Orlando area, Florida
Parrots
JoJo, 'Special' GCC, Bongo, Cinnamon GCC(wife's)
Well said! Also, the last thing you want is to have your little pineapple have his beak ripped off! That little guy will hold his ground to the death! It is his nature!
Rumor has it the original Napoleon was really a GCC in disguise!
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Good answers. Just like any intelligent, sentient being... birds they have their opinions and preferences. It would be like trying to "teach" two co-workers for example who don't care for each other to get along lol.

Please do be real careful with that. Especially if your birds are flighted and can get to one another when you're not looking. I admit, 2 of my own birds have experienced injury from one another as a result of that. Also, seems risky to have 2 near your face unless you trust those birds 110% that they won't bite you up there on your shoulder or won't displacement bite you.

I have to have Robin out separately, then Raven & Griffin out in shifts, with Robin's dometop cage covered on the top, and with me in the room at all times while they're out. At first they hated being locked up when it wasn't their turn while I was in the room with the other one(s). But finally, they have gotten used to it. Then the budgies are in a different place entirely, for their safety. It's a pain when they don't all get along as a flock, and unfortunately is way more work, but an accident can happen in an instant whenever pets don't get along, and need to be kept separate. This becomes even more exaggerated when all are mature. Babies might be more tolerant, but during and past puberty they mean business.
 

Falconbiscuit

New member
May 1, 2016
32
0
Australia
Parrots
Ruby - Sun Conure - 8 years
The best advice I can give you is how we 'teach' the birds at the shelter to at the very least, tolerate each other. Birds will always have opinions in who they like best, but you can 'teach' them to get along. (I am putting teach in inverted commas here, as you can't really teach them, you can associate treats with being around that particular bird. (; )

Try to limit inter-bird interaction to around 15-20 minutes. During this time, feed many treats to both birds, and repeat this for around about two weeks, or however long it takes for the birds to associate treats with each other. (this doesn't have to be every day).

After you're confident that the birds won't hurt or attack each other, try putting the treat in a food bowl where the birds have to ''share' the treats. If one bird lunges or shows annoyance, move them to another play stand/perch. Hopefully at least two of your birds will do this, therefore showing the troublesome bird that getting along = treats. Try gain the next day.

This process is all about repetition and slow introduction. I would say that here at the shelter, this method works around about 75 - 85% of the time. If it doesn't work for you (as it all depends on your birds) there are certainly other ways, but this is probably the easiest and best for the birds. Hope that all your birds get along nicely and become a big, happy flock!
 

snowflake311

New member
Jun 7, 2016
500
8
Tahoe
Parrots
Sprinkels, Black capped Conure/
Olaf, male, Budgie/
Sweetpea, female, Budgie/
RIP Kiwi, female, Senegal
My aunt has a simular problem. She just keeps them all separate at all times. Her golden capped conure is the most aggressive one he can not be trusted with the green cheek. Her amazon and green Cheek can be out together but separate and never left along they don't attach each other.

Birds are not like dogs and cats it is much harder to get them to all get along. Good luck wish I had advice I only know how to get dogs to get along.
 

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