People with bigger and smaller birds

[Psittaciformes]

There are a lot of red-lored amazons that need rehoming where I live, so I'm considering perhaps helping one out in a few months or so when I have everything set up the way I want it and read up enough about them to figure out if I could even handle one.

Now, I have a GCC, so my question is; does size matter when it comes to tolerating each other?
That is one of my main concerns, I wouldn't know what to do if they absolutely couldn't stand each another. I'd feel terrible rehoming the new birdie if after a few months if they still hate each other, has any of you ever had to do this?

 

[Birdman666]

Well my red lored rules the roost in my flock. She's the flock leader...

My red lored got along with my conures, as long as they behaved. My little dusky was a horrible spoiled bird syndrome screamer when I got him. MY RED LORED trained him not to scream. Can't take credit for it, other than she knew it was upsetting everyone, so she "got in his face" and made it stop...

Red loreds are on the shy side for amazons. They're sweet sensitive souls...

I've had mine for over 14 years now...

 

[JerseyWendy]

Unfortunately there are never guarantees that your GCC and (future) RLA will ever get along. But then again, even if you were to get another conure, there would be no guarantee 2 conures would get along either.

Being owned by 2 big macs and 2 Amazons, I take turns letting mine out. I'm quite fortunate that my big macs get along with each other, as do my Amazons, so they get to spend time with each other while 'out'. However, I wouldn't dream of having my zons interact with my big guys - it would have quite the unhappy ending.

 

[Birdman666]

Supervised interaction is a given. Big bird little bird issues always end badly for the little bird.

But I had 11 out on the same big playstand at a time, everything from macaws, to amazons, to toos, to conures with a CAG thrown in to boot. Difference being mine were socialized together as a flock.

 

[Minimaker]

Being owned by 2 big macs and 2 Amazons, I take turns letting mine out.

Can I just say how much I loved that statement? "being owned by" the birds instead of the other way around Too cute.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Supervised interaction is a given. Big bird little bird issues always end badly for the little bird.
.....

Not 'always'. I had a Caique once....who gave Hunter (YNA) the run for her money. Calling the Caique 'feisty' would be an understatement. "Fearless" and "obnoxious" would describe her better. :54: Hunter NEVER retaliated, never as much as tried to 'get even'. Yes, my Hunter is an exceptional Amazon.

Now if I look at Ripley (GW) and Sam (DYH), Ripley is probably looking for the opportunity to 'get even' with my Sam for continuously dive-bombing over his head.....

 

[Birdman666]

Maggie is really patient, but Sweepea is a jealous bird, and a serial tail feather puller...

One day, when Sweepea least expected it, Maggie grabbed her by the tail feathers near her butt, and simply refused to let go... not hard enough to hurt her, mind you, but long enough to get the point across. Sweepea was stuck... couldn't turn around to fight back. Wasn't going anywhere...

And Maggie just forced her to sit there for a minute and think about the "tail feather" game.

My conures were pretty fearless, but they never went after the big birds. And all my big birds knew they were in BIG trouble if they went after the little birds...

And oddly enough, the birds themselves enforced the rules. New birds coming in immediately learned that the flock didn't tolerate bullying...

 

[Psittaciformes]

Yeah there's no way they'd be out at the same time without being supervised, but what if that doesn't even work out, my current living situation makes it hard to let them out on separate occasions.
I'd prefer not to rehome a bird, but has anyone here had to do that because it simply didn't work out despite a bunch of training and socialisation?

 

[Scott]

My Moluccan hangs out with 4 Goffins, a Citron, and a Timneh Grey. While the Citron is closer in size, the Goffins are far smaller. They groom each other, and there is no competition for food or attention - Big Bird the Moluccan is not overly fond of people. That's what the Goffins are for!!

 

[4dugnlee]

I can let my U2 and my sun conure out at the same time. They don't interact...they just don't pay any attention to the other. They are on separate play stands (usually) in the same room. Sassy, however, I don't let out with either one of them. I don't trust her with them...she's a bit "moody"...lol. I think by her actions, she may someday be able to be out with Peanut...but probably never with Cisco. But that's ok...I knew that was a possibility when I got them all.