Two conures, two owners, same home

Hello Members

My girlfriend and I have decided to get two new baby conures arriving in 3 wks. We're reading many blogs about how to prevent the birds from bonding with each other and more with their owners. We've decided to keep them in separate cages but in the same room but my question to you is; how do I prevent both birds from bonding with my partner? She works from home so will be around them more than I am. I would really like my bird to bond with me. We had a love bird that was nice to me, but only gave me a lot attention when she wasn't around. I would be crushed if this happened again. I want what's best for the birds and suggested we have a scheduled playtime when we're both around u till the bonding process is complete. We both love birds and I know it will be hard for her to limit play times/bonding times to when we're both present and I don't want my bird to feel neglected by watching my girlfriend play with her bird while I'm away.

Please help!

Regards,

Kevin

I hope you're not discouraged by the lack of responses! If you think about bonding as when you and your wife fell in love, was it because she had no choice? Or Was it something that can't be explained? Also, put yourself in a locked room, with someone that desperately wants to be your close friend, only because that's what they want! How would that make you feel?
Bring yourself up to a birds equal, and they may learn to accept you!

Hello David,

Thank you for responding, I'm not at all discouraged by the limited responses. I completely understand and agree with your comments. As a matter of fact, we don't believe in having birds caged, our previous bird was out of the cage all day to do as he wanted. I'm just worried that the birds will bond completely with my partner and not with me as I'm not there as much as she is. As I mentioned, our previous bird loved me, but was clearly IN LOVE with my partner. She spent more time with him.

I was told also, that when birds both with another bird, they prefer each other's company and not the company of their owners. Is this True?

Kevin

To be absolutely fair, besides saving the best treats for when you have the birds out, your wife will just simply be in the best position. My boyfriend hoped for a better relationship with our bird but I put in the most time and effort, our Pazu likes him but definitely prefers me, and likes him more when he spends more time with her.
Save the best treats for your time with them and save some favoured games or training, but besides that you just have to wait and see. They might like you both equally but there's no guarantee. Goodluck

Not to be overlooked is birds will often choose their favored person. This can be independent of quantity of time and the stream of treats.

When the birds arrive, strive to spend as much quality time as possible, as this is when bonding can occur. Some say a pair bonded together has less interest in humans. IMO this can vary with species, and I am not familiar with conures!

We got my first conure (gcc) in Sept a couple of years ago. I then, Feb, rescued a sun. They're in the same aviary, get along fine. The sun loves toys! Gcc, not so much. He'd rather be on my shoulder all day. They all have their own personality. My husband didn't really have anything to do with the birds. Not because he didn't like them but because he wasn't raised with animals being anything other than guard dogs & a few small animals. He'd just rather not have to mess with them. However, he loves watching them & gcc will often go over to my husband. I think you should just do what you can when you can and not worry if the birds prefer her over you. I don't want to sound tacky but it almost sounds like you're jealous. It shouldn't be a competition about who gets the birds bonding more with you or her. You also shouldn't tell your girlfriend that she can't play with the birds until you're home. That's not wanting what's best for the birds. This is just my opinion. I wish you well.

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Hello Everyone,

Thank you so much for all your valuable feedback, I want our birds to be happy and healthy. I've decided to let this concern go because the more the birds interact with us no matter who, the more docile/happy they will be. I admired and somewhat envied the way my partner interacted with our pervious lovebird and also the manner in which the lovebird gravitated towards her. She told me that it was because she spent a lot of time with him so I figured it would happen again with our conures.

We got a peak at our conure babies and we're even more excited. Take a look everyone )

Kevin

One thing that wasn't brought up yet... is SEX! When I was a kid my aunt bred birds and I got my first one as an Xmas present. The first one, a female cockatiel was my bird and was on me all the time, but when I had to go to bed apparently she liked sitting on dad. She died of an illness and the next one was a male, HE liked to perch on mom when I had to go to bed etc. Pheromones work in the animal kingdom.

That's not to say it's the most important thing!!!!!!!! It just can be a factor, get two females and they might both prefer you and she will be 'jelly' lol.

clark_conure said:

When I was a kid my aunt bred birds and I got my first one as an Xmas present.

Click to expand...

Curious, question,what got X'd out?

lol
xmas is Christmas

She was a Christmas present. I walked in I think I was seven at the time and literally lost my mind seeing a big cage and a beautiful little cockatiel just as happy to see us.