GBishop
New member
- Apr 2, 2022
- 5
- 5
- Parrots
- Rico the Sun Conure and Zorro the Derbyan Parakeet
Hi everyone.
Just hoping there might be someone who has experienced something similar and can share their thoughts/how they handled it (or if anyone has any ideas in general, feel free to throw them in).
I adopted two parrots, a sun conure (Rico) and a Derbyan/moustache cross (Zorro) about 1 - 1.5 years ago. The vet has estimated them to be around 2.5-3 years old. Rico has always been a typical sun conure - a handful, incredibly loud and very needy whereas Zorro has always been very quiet and docile. When I adopted them, I was advised that they were very bonded to each other, and up until this point, Rico has insisted on them sleeping together, eating together etc. I've always managed his behaviour, and tolerated his mood swings/screaming etc. However, I have noticed that Rico has slowly become more aggressive towards both me and Zorro overtime as he has matured, and is constantly screaming, and cannot be left alone at all (I am home 24/7 as I work from home, and he has constant access to Zorro, and he is still upset). I suspect it is hormonal, and have tried to follow all the guidelines for decreasing hormonal behaviour, but he has remained constantly upset and unsettled (a difficult combination to explain, but it appears he is craving attention I, and Zorro, can't give him). Being a moustache parakeet, Zorro doesn't reciprocate his preening behaviors and finds him thoroughly annoying, and Rico has fear of hands due to trauma in his past home so I can't mimic it either. I've been having to separate them during the day a bit because Zorro has started getting visibly annoyed with Rico and biting him when he tries to cuddle up, preen etc.
I was thinking about what to do and I have had three ideas - 1) transitioning him into an aviary home with other sun conures as I am wondering if he might be happier that way, but I am not sure if that would be the right move. Even though I am home 24/7 and he has Zorro, I feel like he still wants another conure. 2) I am also considering adopting another conure who might be open to reciprocating behaviors, but I know that is a risky move and could worsen aggression, noise etc. 3) I separate them fully and see if Rico settles down (I suspect both birds will be upset by this). I live rurally so can handle the noise and have suitable funds, but I am not sure quite how to approach the situation to keep Rico happier which is my main concern.
Any advice/experience/other ideas etc. would be much appreciated!
Just hoping there might be someone who has experienced something similar and can share their thoughts/how they handled it (or if anyone has any ideas in general, feel free to throw them in).
I adopted two parrots, a sun conure (Rico) and a Derbyan/moustache cross (Zorro) about 1 - 1.5 years ago. The vet has estimated them to be around 2.5-3 years old. Rico has always been a typical sun conure - a handful, incredibly loud and very needy whereas Zorro has always been very quiet and docile. When I adopted them, I was advised that they were very bonded to each other, and up until this point, Rico has insisted on them sleeping together, eating together etc. I've always managed his behaviour, and tolerated his mood swings/screaming etc. However, I have noticed that Rico has slowly become more aggressive towards both me and Zorro overtime as he has matured, and is constantly screaming, and cannot be left alone at all (I am home 24/7 as I work from home, and he has constant access to Zorro, and he is still upset). I suspect it is hormonal, and have tried to follow all the guidelines for decreasing hormonal behaviour, but he has remained constantly upset and unsettled (a difficult combination to explain, but it appears he is craving attention I, and Zorro, can't give him). Being a moustache parakeet, Zorro doesn't reciprocate his preening behaviors and finds him thoroughly annoying, and Rico has fear of hands due to trauma in his past home so I can't mimic it either. I've been having to separate them during the day a bit because Zorro has started getting visibly annoyed with Rico and biting him when he tries to cuddle up, preen etc.
I was thinking about what to do and I have had three ideas - 1) transitioning him into an aviary home with other sun conures as I am wondering if he might be happier that way, but I am not sure if that would be the right move. Even though I am home 24/7 and he has Zorro, I feel like he still wants another conure. 2) I am also considering adopting another conure who might be open to reciprocating behaviors, but I know that is a risky move and could worsen aggression, noise etc. 3) I separate them fully and see if Rico settles down (I suspect both birds will be upset by this). I live rurally so can handle the noise and have suitable funds, but I am not sure quite how to approach the situation to keep Rico happier which is my main concern.
Any advice/experience/other ideas etc. would be much appreciated!
