Two Conures Won't Stop Fighting

We have had our little Green Cheek Moki for 3 months. He's a bit of a brat and not too cuddly, but he is very bonded with our family and we love him. He's very spoiled with play perches all over the house. Against better judgment, we got him a friend, Pele. Both are 5-months-old GCCs and probably males, from their behavior. When they first met Moki regurgitated repeatedly for Pele, that went on for a few minutes and then they got into a big fight. I think Moki has terrible birdy social skills. Pele likes Moki, but does not back down and is occasionally territorial. Moki is very territorial, even with us. He squaks and flaps his wings and "bites," but these bites don't hurt and we think of him as just showing off. So now Moki and Pele can be together if separated, but if too close they get in a all out brawl, and even fell off a perch in a flurry of feathers. I have quickly broken it up every time, so no injuries, but I think Moki's toes were sore a few times. With our family of six humans, both birds are sweet and loving. I wish now I hadn't got a second bird, but we're all in love with our cuddly little Pele, so I am at a loss of what to do. Their cages are next to each other, but I only ever cage them when I'm gone, so they are out all the time. I have been doing more cage time next to each other, and Moki doesn't scream like when I caged him before Pele was here, so that must be a good sign? They both duck quack when they see me, but soon as they are out Moki flies over to Pele if he is on a stand, and starts a fight. Now, this is Moki's domain and he goes after my dogs. Pele shows no signs of aggression or dominance, except occasionally to us but no real biting. Pele cannot fly, he came with his wings badly clipped, Moki is partially clipped but can glide all over the house, so he can go after Pele anywhere. They will sit together peacefully for an hour on our bathroom window if separated (by a kids toy) and talk to each other. They occasionally contact call one another, but both want to be with our family all the time. I have been told to let them duke it out a bit, while supervised, to work out who's dominant. Is this good advice? Or to put them in a strange place together (such as their cages side by side in the garage) and leave them alone for a few days to encourage bonding. I don't really want them bonded, as we love our alone time with each, just wish they could share space. Moki is definitely the instigator. This is causing me much stress and heartache as we really love Pele and want to keep him. Separate time out is not really an option as they are both out all day, or in the cages together next to each other. Any ideas? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2502751349840168&set=gm.10156552018096886&type=3&theater

My post was a waste of time, so I deleted it.

IOW :headwall:

Hello. Well as I mentioned Moki's wings are clipped, he can only glide and I'm not going to take that away from him. He already has 5 flight feathers cut on each side, same as Pele but his muscles are stronger. I also said time out separately is not an option as they are both out all day and I am unwilling to keep them caged more than necessary. I'm not sure why I would separate the cages if Moki is finding comfort from Pele being there, which is the beginning signs of friendship. Lastly, I am fully aware about rats and birds. As I stated the rats are afraid to leave the cage and that was a freak accident when one of them was a baby, not to mention they are in my daughter's room where the birds do not go. I thank you for your response but I was looking more for creative ideas to get these guys friendly with each other. Thanks anyway!

Have you tried offering a stick of millet on a neutral territory for both of them? Maybe the food would bring them closer.
I would actually DNA test both of them so that you know for sure what gender they are. This is important just in case you have a male and a female (hormones, eggs etc).
Sorry I can't be of more help, but I know all about conures being territorial, lol. Remi can be so fierce sometimes. He is not afraid of anyone, regardless of their size.

Sounds like both birds need training independently and separately. They should be worked with separately-- yes, with one IN the cage and one out -- and should each be given separate time with you and also be able to bond with you without the other one there, its important for all birds kept together to have some time alone with their owners, one on one, especially if another one is aggressive and won't allow the other to do as he pleases. The advice you got above was sold -- separate out of cage time, cages further away, clipping wings of the bird that is more territorial and aggressive and attacking members of the family-- but it didn't seem to be what you wanted to hear so you dismissed this advice. Parrots are just like people. they have their preferences and some never learn to act nice. So you need to set some boundaries and correct the unwanted behavior -- aggression, territorial, biting with family and other bird is the main issue.

The most important thing, above wanting your parrots to become friends, should be your family and everyone's safety. They are not safe with how things are now nor is it fair for everyone to be walking around the house with an attack bird around the corner.

I think you should really think about what you want for your birds -- it isn't fair for anyone in the family (bird or human) to be attacked, bitten or lunged at by any bird member of the family. Nor is it fair for your other bird to be subjected to this aggressive behavior from the other bird. Sounds like you need to implement more time-outs for this behaviors (just as you would a tantrum throwing toddler) and when aggressive, territorial or biting anybody, into the cage they go (or a travel carrier in the dark bathroom) to calm down. Time-outs do work and if you really want to change your bird's behavior to become more friendly towards each other, you need to put the work in to train them to know better.

Letting them 'duke it out' is terrible advice. That's how you end up with DEAD or INJURED birds and a trip to the vet.

You are the human and you are in control of when things happen, when they need to go to the vet, so its up to YOU to stop this uncontrollable behavior. Positive reinforcement with treats works well to get them where you want them to go, and teaching them to be polite when passing by IS possible too, you just have to be diligent in your training and you need to be willing to fix wrong behavior by learning how to prevent it in the future.

I am in a similar situation with my birds. My two GCC can't stand the sight of each other and are drawn together like magnets to start a fight.

They can't be out of the cage together yet will call out to make sure they know where each other is. This is normal flock behaviour. It's not because they are becoming friends it's to make sure they know where the flock members are.

Birds aren't like dogs and have an "Alpha" flock leader. They are more like children fighting over the best perch or choicest food or the best mate. Personality is also a factor like with people. Some birds are just a***holes.

If they are fighting it's usually because they don't want the other bird anywhere near them. Usually because they are invading their territory or getting too close to their mate. This can escalate to one killing the other or both being so badly injured they both die as others have mentioned.

As you are unwilling to reduce them to the same amount of flight capability the only choice you have left is separate time out of the cage or risk dead birds. It only takes one bite in the wrong place to kill or do irreparable damage.

From your own description Moki sounds to be the aggressor all the time. He also sounds to be territorial. Most likely he is trying to get the interloper out of his territory and away from his flock. Does he have one of those Happy Hut things by any chance?

I have been trying since December to get my two GCC to get along and still no luck. Sometimes, just like with people, two birds will never get along. This is a reality you have to face.