Out of Cage Companion?

sssaucey

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May 12, 2011
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Ontario, Canada
Parrots
Jewels-peachface lovebird
Ivy- budgie
So I am thinking about getting a new bird(still looking at some species)

I want something that can interact with my lovebird when they have their out of cage time, so I am basically asking what are the largest and smallest species that can "hangout" with supervision for play time? and any species that you would recommend? I would prefer a non lovebird friend but that's more for me haha

I was think about a bird thats a it larger than her because she is quite pushy with me
 

fltsfshr

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Nov 20, 2011
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Naples Fl
Parrots
Superb Parrot
Polytelis swainsonii
Peach Faced Lovebird
Agapornis roseicollis
Definitely get one a little bigger. My lovebird killed a parakeet she didn't like. Parakeet didn't like her either.
6494540021_7440a18255_m.jpg


She tried my bigger bird out until he whacked her enough times they came to a pecking order agreement. Now they get along fine.

fltsfshr
 

beckybird

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Nov 16, 2011
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Southern California
Parrots
Lola (green cheek conure)
Connor (yellow sided green cheek conure)
Dorian "Buzzy" (senegal)
My dearly departed lovebird Karma was "married" to my green cheek conure Lola for 6 years.

My friend Mia's lovebird Oliver is caged with her sun conure and they are best friends and inseparable.

*But* only your lovebird and the new bird will be the ones that determine if they will get along. Supervise, supervise, supervise. :)
 
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sssaucey

sssaucey

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May 12, 2011
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Ontario, Canada
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Jewels-peachface lovebird
Ivy- budgie
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Thanks for the input!!!

What species of bird do you think would make as a best fit possible with a pushy lovebird?

And I forgot to mention she is under a year old
 

beckybird

New member
Nov 16, 2011
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Southern California
Parrots
Lola (green cheek conure)
Connor (yellow sided green cheek conure)
Dorian "Buzzy" (senegal)
Here's Karma the lovebird's story. Karma was successfully paired with the following birds: a cockatiel, 2 parakeets (at different times), another lovebird, and his last pairing was with my green cheek conure Lola. *Karma was unusually friendly and non-violent with other birds, so please do not automatically assume that your lovebird will get along with those types of birds.* Karma's pairing with Lola lasted 6 years until his death of old age. This pairing was the most successful, so I'll only go into detail about how Karma and Lola came to be "married."

I adopted Lola from Petco when she was 3 months old and Karma was 6 years old. I brought her home one night and the next morning I let them both out of their cages to interact (I know,shame on me for not putting Lola in quarantine first). Karma tried to make friends with her right away. She didn't want friendship- she wanted dominance! She puffed herself up and lunged at Karma, fiercely trying to bite him in the face. Karma was surprised, but defended himself and tried to bite her back. Their cages were side-by-side but I didn't ever let them out to visit each other unsupervised. Over the course of 3 weeks they got used to each other's presence. I continued to let them out to visit each other and the fierce lunging quickly turned into non-violent "bluffing." One day under close supervision, I let them "duke it out." I could see that they were just lunging at each other and not really biting viciously- they did tug each other's feathers though. During the course of this brief "scrap," Karma backed down and Lola established dominance. They began sitting side-by-side nicely. Lola would still lunge at him or tug at his feathers if he did something she didn't like. During their 6 years together, even during their battle for domanince, they never truly bit or hurt each other. Karma accepted Lola's dominance and decided to live by her rules. At this point and from then on, they were caged together.

Lola's rules:
1. I will choose my side of the perch first and you will sit on the other side of me.
2. I will eat out of the food dish first. When I'm done picking out the pieces I want, you can come and eat beside me. If I'm grumpy and I tug your feathers, you must wait until I am completely done eating before coming to the food dish.
3. When mama gives us a fresh bowl of water, I will bathe in it first and you can bathe when I'm done.
4. After we are done bathing, we will both be wet so I insist on preening and cuddling you until you are dry. You needn't return the favor unless I am in the mood to be preened.
5. When it's time to go in the cage, I will walk in first and you can follow me. Ladies first.

Karma abided by her rules and they had a happy marriage- they even mated several times. They were inseparable for 6 years.
 
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sssaucey

sssaucey

New member
May 12, 2011
383
0
Ontario, Canada
Parrots
Jewels-peachface lovebird
Ivy- budgie
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Thanks a lot!!!

I worried that because she is so young and very confident that it could get messy. I mean it's all about supervision but I wouldn't want either of them to get hurt. I'm going to the bird store sometime this week so I will have a look around there and see what the birds are like, and also ask what species they are able to order from the breeders.

She was starting to befriend a sun conure that was in the cage next to her, but all the others she was pretty nasty to.
 

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