Conference 7.286::pet_birds

371.0. "Getting 2 grey cheeks together?" by HITPS::WERBER () Tue Jun 12 1990 09:59

    Hi - I've just bought my second grey cheek parakeet this week.  She is
    so sweet and curious - not once has she bitten me (unlike our first grey
    cheek who still occasionally bites to this day).  She was housed with
    her two other brothers and they slept huddled together.
    
    So here's the problem - she wants to be "friends" with my first grey
    cheek who wants nothing to do with her.  They are in separate cages
    right next to each other right now and call back and forth - but Keego
    (grey cheek #1) only wants to hurt Kiwi (#2).  They can't be any closer
    then a beak's length away.  Through fault of my own Keego is very
    spoiled due to my inexperience with birds at first (he was my first
    bird).  He's used to being alone and is pretty much bonded with my
    boyfriend and dislikes most other people.  He's not even midly
    interested that there's another of his kind around.
    
    Can anyone offer any suggestions on getting these two together?  I know
    I have to give it time yet but it really doesn't look like Keego will
    ever want anything to do with Kiwi - and I don't want Kiwi scared of
    him because he's always trying to hurt her right now.  Should we pay
    less attention to Keego so he will seek companionship with Kiwi????
    
    Thanks!  -Peg Werber-  

    This sounds alot like the situation I had with my peach-faced
    lovebirds.  I introduced a new lovebird to my recently widowed
    bird and initially he was very standoffish.  I tried putting them
    in the same cage and the newly introduced bird would get beat up
    quite badly.  I ended up having to buy a new cage for the poor
    abused little guy.  I'd let them have the same flight times and
    eventually they started acting more civil to one another.  As luck
    would have it - soon after the new cage was purchased, they decided
    they could get along well in one cage.  Now they seem to get along
    fine - it just took some time.  
    Maybe your birds just need some time to adjust.

    Yes, I guess it will take time.  I just can't help the feeling that
    they never will get along.  Just yesterday Keego, the aggresive one,
    was nibbling on Kiwi's head.  I thought "finally" but it ended up he was
    pulling her feathers out!
    
    Oh well, time will tell.