We want to get a second conure to house with our 2 yr old Black-capped male conure. Is the pairing most likely to work out if we pair a male or a female with our male ? Is it best to try to find one about the same age? Thank you!
Hi Angela,
What is your reason for wanting to put another bird in the cage? If this is for companionship, keep in mind that if he is currently a pet bird you handle and you give him a cage mate, he is very likely to bond with the bird and not want to be handled anymore. Birds will generally choose another bird over a human when they share a cage, even if the bird is the same sex. If you do handle him and are worried he is lonely when you are away or at work, extra toys, a large cage and a TV or radio is a better idea than a cage mate.
If you still want a cage mate, there is no way to know if they will get along. It is generally a gradual process of introducing a new bird. Each bird needs its own cage to begin with and usually you introduce them into a third, neutral cage. If you put a new bird in another bird’s cage, you can have territorial issues. If you can’t do three cages for the process, then after the birds have been side by side for a few weeks, try switching cages so the new bird can get used to the cage they will finally share. All of this should be after at least a 30 day quarantine period with the birds in separate rooms to be sure the new bird is healthy.
As far as sex, if you get a female, they are more likely to bond as mates and want to breed. You can avoid chicks by not giving them a nest box, but you will still be dealing with hormonal behavior and it is almost a sure thing they will not ever want to be handled. Another male is more likely to bond as a flock mate where they get along but maybe not form a close bond. But they might also squabble more. And again, regardless of the sex, you have to hope they get along because some birds simply do not get along regardless of gender.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
