Two Different Types of Birds Out Together

I have had Judy my yellow nape almost 4 months now and he's been great. I think it's time to bring out my macaw and the yellow nape at the same time in the kitchen. Each bird has their own play stand. I would like some tips before attempting this. Should there be two people in the room just in case and should the playstands be a good distance apart? If so how far? I am quite nervous about this.

Have they ever been close enough to where you could see if they are aggressive towards each other? If so then I do not see the problem with have them on separate stands in the same room. When I have done this I usually just stand between them to show I am still paying attention to both so it does not seem like a contest. Although this way of doing has worked for me, each bird will respond differently and you may not get the same results. GL

On seperate stands that should be fine, if they can fly just be careful of theme trying to fly to the other's stand.

I agree, if they have not show aggression toward each other and you have them on separate stands, it should be fine. Just make sure they are far enough away that they can't climb on each other's stand. If they can fly, keep that in mind as well. Good luck!

I also agree, often different birds won't really care much about each other if they have their own space. We let our 2 out without any issues. Just make sure you are there to intervene just in case. If something was to happen go for the one you cam handle best and seperate.

Up to this point, they have been housed in the same room and I have taken each bird to the other's cage on my arm to introduce one to another. I have not seen any aggression, but then I have not allowed either one to get close to the other.

If neither are the "fly and attack" sort then you should be fine (as long as you are somewhere within sight and sound)

I work at a bird store where we bring almost every bird out to play on the stands-- these range from health tested consignment birds or boarders, babies and personal pets. Only rarely have we had a problem and we are always there to step in if a bird decides to be trouble. Most birds just sit there and play with their toys, happy as clams. Occasionally a young bird will try and fly to other stands and we might move him farther away or just put him away for the day.

I can't imagine you'll have much trouble, just keep decent distances and supervise.

This is one of those things where YouTube is your friend – search both species simultaneously, and see how many videos you get with the two interacting.
That's how I first found out green wing and calico macaws are compatible with Congo African greys. There's actually a couple that travels with a green wing, a severe, and a CAG in an RV and are touring the country sightseeing and the grey and green wing are especially close – think their names are Bradley and Cody and the account is called something like parrot trek.

My concern for you would be if one bird is protective over you. I have a bare eyed cockatoo and my daughter has green cheek conures. We do not let them out close to each other, but the conures can fly (one exceptionally well) and if she decides she wants to check out another part of the house or curious what is going on, there have been times when she gets too close for my comfort to Ivory. Ivory is not aggressive about the other birds, but has puffed up and hissed when a little one has buzzed to close by. Our fear if she is startled or is on me or my husband, she might be unhappy about another bird stopping to visit. With a beak that large and a conures head that small, the damage could be devastating.

Your situation is something I've considered for ever getting another larger bird... how do you properly socialize each bird without the fear of someone getting a beak bitten off... and our Ivory is extremely spoiled and has gotten used to being out and about all day, going into her cage to nap as she likes.

I wish you the best of luck and hope they show no interest in each other when you have them out and about!

Jen

Nah. It will probably be fine. The only real precaution I would take would be to have a large towel with you just in case.

jenphilly said:

We do not let them out close to each other, but the conures can fly (one exceptionally well) and if she decides she wants to check out another part of the house or curious what is going on, there have been times when she gets too close for my comfort to Ivory. Ivory is not aggressive about the other birds, but has puffed up and hissed when a little one has buzzed to close by. Our fear if she is startled or is on me or my husband, she might be unhappy about another bird stopping to visit. With a beak that large and a conures head that small, the damage could be devastating.

Your situation is something I've considered for ever getting another larger bird... how do you properly socialize each bird without the fear of someone getting a beak bitten off... and our Ivory is extremely spoiled and has gotten used to being out and about all day, going into her cage to nap as she likes.

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You under estimate your conure's survival instincts. They know full well when they are in harms way, and generally have the sense to get out of harms way if necessary.

I wish I knew where my old photos are. I have one of two macaws, three amazons, three conures, and a CAG on the same outside portable play stand...

Socializing them together, the birds themselves tend to work things out... As long as the bigger birds do not display aggression towards the smaller ones, it should be okay. If they do, then separate play stands and no wandering is absolutely enforced...

Our little pineapple green cheek girl, Arianna nicknamed Monkey, cannot be convinced she isn't an eagle... she thinks she is the biggest baddest thing around, she actually chases our cats off the back of the sofa, so her instinct to survive may be over ridden by her napoleon syndrome And she already bullies the cockatiels off of 'her' playstand!

I am sure with the right birds they would all socialize well, but I am only voicing our experience and concern of what might happen if they don't socialize well. For our home, its not a risk we are willing to put the little guys under, rather have the burden of different play areas then the regret of Ivory crunching someones skull or leg.

But, I am sure others have much different interaction experiences, only sharing what we've seen with our mix of cockatiels, conures and the cockatoo.

Jen

"Short bird syndrome." :32: Yeah, the little ones tend to have more attitude than the big ones...

And I wasn't trying to argue, I'm just saying that in MOST cases, the birds themselves will work it out... and even tough little birds will usually retreat when push comes to shove.

And in terms of comfort level, that is to each his or her own... what ever you are comfortable with. But the only real way to socialize them together is to put them together and see what happens, and be prepared to intervene if it goes wrong...

With as many as I have, and having them out all the time, the only way I can do that is if they are socialized together.

Birdman, I did not take it that you were arguing at all! I completely understand you have a much different experience then we do, and I hope everyone else has your experience! I wish ours were easier to deal with in a group!

I think its great for you to share your experience as well and encourage others to try and don't take it as an argument at all!! Reason I joined here, its great to hear all different views and experiences, can always learn something new!!

Jen

My dusky used to run and charge and throw a fit. But when the macaws, or one of the amazons finally got sick of it, and took a few steps forward with "the stance." His brave little butt suddenly went into full on retreat mode...

He was a little stinker when I got him. He had been rehomed FIVE times, and we were the "home of last resort."

I wish I could take most of the credit for turning him around, but I can't. I trick trained him, but my Red Lored Amazon was the one who influenced the most changes in his behavior...

She would drop foot toys on his head (actually throw things at him), get right in his face and "out scream him" and on occasion, would come down there to the conure perch, and knock his little butt to the floor when he misbehaved...

And the other birds took her cue. He didn't dare go in their direction either if he was disrupting flock ettiquite...

Once it is established, the birds themselves maintain it...

I guess I should update this since people have been posting. I have brought the birds out together but on separate play stands with a few feet apart. So far they have been very good about staying put. Neither one has shown any interest in the other. I have noticed that my macaw has started talking more often since the nape has arrived.

Merlee - Awesome on the update Extra bonus points for more talking!!

Birdman - I laughed out loud about dropping toys on the head... our conures like to drop stuff on the cats if they are below or around the playstand, I swear they sit there and laugh.

Jen

jenphilly said:

Merlee - Awesome on the update Extra bonus points for more talking!!

Birdman - I laughed out loud about dropping toys on the head... our conures like to drop stuff on the cats if they are below or around the playstand, I swear they sit there and laugh.

Jen

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That Dusky conure was a HOLY TERROR when we got him, and he was a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE screamer...

I was not successful in teaching that bird not to scream...

HOWEVER, MY "FLOCK LEADER" RED LORED AMAZON, straightened his little butt right up.

Her boing was hung from the top of the window, above the conure playstand. Her favorite toy was a puzzle toy, where you had to untie knots to get the foot toys.

SOOOO... when this Dusky conure starts his little screaming fit, upsetting everyone in the human flock, she took it upon herself to "correct" his behavior.

She untied a foot toy, and bonked him in the head with it... hard enough to get his attention. She then climbed down her boing, and hung by one foot, until she was beak to beak with the little dusky, and let out the full blown shatter glass AMAZON war cry. Then she literally knocked the startled Dusky right off his playstand.

As he climbs back up, she goes to the top of her boing and unties a bead, and sits there dangling it over his head...

He is looking up, moves one way, she moves the bead, moves another way, she moves the bead...

The first time that little bird made a sound above a whisper, She dropped it on his head! Then untied another one, and dangled it...

AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS HOW MY DUSKY CONURE WAS TAUGHT TO STOP SCREAMING!!!

NOTHING I DID WORKED! NOTHING!!!

My amazon stopped that nonsense in one night.

jenphilly said:

Birdman - I laughed out loud about dropping toys on the head... our conures like to drop stuff on the cats if they are below or around the playstand, I swear they sit there and laugh.

Jen

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THAT WOULD BE MY CAG... He once latched my sister's cat inside the cage... tormented the cat mercilessly.

I have 4 parrots that are all out at the same time 2 on one stand the other 2 each on their own stands...so 4 parrots, three different stands.

My quaker who hangs out with the sun does not like my Hahns Macaw but as long as they are on their stands on opposite sides of the room there are no problems.

They don't make the effort to get to each other, and the quaker is fully flighted. She just flies back to her own stand.