Can two similiar sized species be housed together?
Question by Angie: Can two similiar sized species be housed together?
To make my situation clear; first off, I own seven birds- five of which are cockatiels. After about a year of research, I have been looking to add a Senegal parrot to my flock for a long time; thing is, I couldnt find a breeder or one for adoption close to my area. I was searching online a couple weeks ago and came across a breeder/bird store an hour away that just weened two Senegal babies.
My situation; I have three occupied cages. One for my two parakeets, one large cage that currently houses my female tiel and her three two-month-old offspring, and a smaller tiel cage that houses my male, who was plucking the babies, thus why he is seperated. I also have another good sized cage at home that is empty, and a couple more in storage, so cage space isnt a problem.
All my birds have regular vet check ups and are healthy. Two of the tiel babies are being given to my friend, and Im keeping the last one. After the two go to their new home, I am placing the father back in with the female, and putting the baby in a cage by herself (dont know if it is a male/female yet, though referring to it as female). She has been caged with other birds all her life, she hasnt developed any territorial issues, and it doesnt look like she will, though I know it may be too early to tell. Besides individually handling my birds, I let them all out of their cages for at least two hours a day, and they all socialize with each other. They have no issues with other birds when meeting them for the first time.
The breeder/bird store; I read everything on the website, read the customer reviews on Facebook, and it sounds like a pretty reliable place. The Facebook profile is full of pics, and the store is roomy, has many cages and bird supplies, plus the many different birds they have are allowed to roam free and socialize with the other birds during store hours. They have avian specialists among their staff and also have a vet visit regularly. The Senegal I may purchase from them will have been socialized with many other types of birds ranging from cockatoos and macaws to parrotlets and parakeets. It will visit a vet within 48 hours of purchase, to confirm its health before I take it home and introduce it to the rest of the flock. It’s housed with its sibling at the moment. I believe the store has more cockatiels than any other species, so it would definately be used to having tiels around.
I know that was long, so thanks for reading. But I was wondering; is there a chance these two species could live together in the same cage, since both birds have been around many other species? Of course, I can house them seperately, but Im curious. I know they are about the same size, and can pretty much feed on the same diet. And yes, I know all about isolation when getting a new bird, and how they might bond to each other and not me and about all those other situations.
Best answer:
Answer by Betta Lover
It seems like you know quite a bit about birds, and you have a steady head on your shoulder regarding the possibility that the birds may not get along and could have to be separated. The problem I see, is that the Senegal Parrot is more the size of a Conure, not the size of a Parakeet or Cockatiel.
Senegal Parrot- 23 cm, 120 to 170 g
Parakeet- 18 cm, 30-40 g
Cockatiel-12-13 inches (mostly tail), 90g
So as you can see, the Senegal Parrot was significantly more! In fact, a Senegal Parrot weighs more then your average Conure. So no, I would not suggest housing the Senegal Parrot with another species, especially with the Senegal Parrot’s weight being so significantly heavier then the other birds you have. The Senegal Parrot, also has a quite larger beak that could do quite a bit more damage then say your Cockatiel’s. Since again, the Senegal’s beak is around the size of a Conure, if not larger.
Last but not least, your Cockatiels and Parakeets are much more submissive then an average Senegal Parrot. While the bird may have seen other Cockatiels, it does not mean the bird is friendly towards them at all. It would not be worth the risk, because if the Senegal Parrot did decide it didn’t like one of your other birds it would only take a moment for him or her to severely injure if not kill one of your other birds.
With the size difference, I would only introduce them in close contact (cages next to each other, sharing a treat, interacting outside the cage). Leaving them un-supervised at any point could have major consequences.
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Horrible Petstore…..Is it against the law?
Question by PERFECT POMS: Horrible Petstore…..Is it against the law?
Ok, I went to my local Petco about an hour ago to get some bird toys and kuttle bones for my Cockatiels.
And was disgusted by the conditions of some of the animals.
Most of the animals were in good health, in clean pens, with fresh food and water ( I.g. the cats, guinea pigs, mice, rats, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, and chinchilla ). And seemed fairly happy.
I went to go check out the fish because I love looking at all their beautiful colors. But, what I saw disgusted me.
There were dead fish at the bottoms and the tops ( floating ) of the tanks being chewed on by their tank mates. Dying fish in cornors wiggling around fighting to breath. Sickly fish that were obviously dying too. Dead frogs, stuck onto the filters because they obviously cant move. Dying and Dead fresh water shrimp. The dying ones were struggling against the filters.
Dead hermit crabs laying out of their shells ( I actually only saw once of these ).
I was absolutly disgusted.
So, I went over to the birds ( cockatiels, parakeets, finches, canaries, and some sort of conure ) since I have a soft spot in my heart for birds.
Well, all but one of the cockatiels were in a cage together. And one was totally separated and totally freaked out. Its tail feathers had been cut very short. And obviously it was not happy.
Then I went to look at the finches. And most seemed happy and healthy. But, there was one with not a single tail feather. And the bald area was red and looked extremely sore. And the other finches in that cage were all picking at it.
And it was just sitting there. Shivering.
Not even trying to defend itself.
Before, I have seen a dead lizard with half a tail.
I asked one of the employees what was wrong with the Finch. And they just said ‘oh, that little guy. He is ok.’ and walked off.
This must be illegal.
Isn’t it?
What can be done?
Dont worry. After we saw the states of those animals. We left the store. We didn’t buy any supplies.
We have another pet store that is a bit farther away.
But, thats the one that we will use from now on. Even though it supports puppy mills. At the very least, their animals are in healthy enviroments. And they dont have dying animals!
I will never buy a puppy from this other pet store. But, I feel fine with buying supplies from them.
My neighbors have complained about the services of the employees there.
I am going to the other petstore today.
But, I think I am going to go check on the conditions again.
I think its just horrible.
I will report back after.
Best answer:
Answer by Mutia A
In my country that is illegal and every petshop must have a license. To find out that whether Petco is illegal look up at your country’s laws.
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What kind of Lovebird food should i use?
Question by kiaratrent: What kind of Lovebird food should i use?
i am possibly getting a Lovebird in the next few weeks. and i’ve been scouting out food types and bird cages. and i came across some interested food from petsmart. i’ll post the name brand whats in it and a few other things about it
Lafeber Nutri-Berries Tropical Fruit for Parakeets, Cockatiels, and Lovebirds
Product Description: Item: 2754226
Nutri-Berries Tropical Fruit for Parakeets, Cockatiels and Lovebirds 10 oz.
Proper nutrition is important to the food health and long life of your bird. Tropical Fruit Nutri-Berries were formulated for that very reason. They contain nutritious and natural ingredients rolled into berry shaped pieces and coated with vitamins, minerals, and protein. Because of their berry shape, they minimize leftovers and mess. Tropical Fruit Nutri-Berries are veterinarian recommended and provides lots of beak exercise. Perfect for parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds, and conures.
Ingredients: Cracked corn, hulled white proso millet, safflower, malto-dextrin, papaya, red millet, pineapple, banana, peanuts, corn syrup, corn oil, glycerine, propylene glycol, wheat, whole egg, hulled oats, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, dicalcium phosphate, ground limestone, dl-methionine (an essential amino acid), l-lysine (an essential amino acid), potassium sorbate (a preservative), vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, ethoxyquin (a preservative), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, natural and artificial colors, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, biotin, ascorbic acid.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude protein (min.)……10%
Crude fat (min.)…………..6%
Crude fiber (max.)………..5%
Moisture (max.)………….14%
Made in the USA.
10 oz resealable bag for freshness
So would that be good for a Lovebird?
Also heres a similar food
Lafeber Sunny Orchard Nutri-Berries for Parakeets, Cockatiels and Lovebirds
Nutri-Berries Sunny Orchard for Parakeets, Cockatiels and Lovebirds, 10 oz.
Sunny Orchard Nutri-Berries contain sweet apricots, tempting raisins and tangy cranberries together with other wholesome ingredients like safflower, peanuts and red millet. They are loaded with the good things your bird needs and loves, all in a playful berry shape that birds find inviting. Not a treat or a snack, these are 100% nutritionally complete.
Ingredients: Corn, hulled white proso millet, red millet, cranberries, oat groats, malto-dextrin, safflower, soybean meal, corn oil, peanuts, corn syrup, apricots, glycerine, golden raisins, wheat, propylene glycol, rape seed, corn gluten meal, whole egg, dicalcium phosphate, ground limestone, dl-methionine (an essential amino acid), l-lysine (an essential amino acid), iodized salt, calcium propionate (a preservative), vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, ethoxyquin (a preservative), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, natural and artificial colors, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, biotin, ascorbic acid.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude protein (min.)……10%
Crude fat (min.)…………..6%
Crude fiber (max.)………..5%
Moisture (max.)………….14%
Size: 10 oz
So which one is better overall for the Lovebird?
Best answer:
Answer by animal_crazie
u should find out what brand the bird used to eat. that’s the best way because its used to it and can feel more at home. i suggest u buy 2 lovebirds because it might get lonely. if u like that berry brand, u can buy that too and mix it with what it used to eat. Hope my suggestion worked. Good luck!!!
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Help!!!! please help!!! It is very important!!!!!!!!!!?
Question by bb: Help!!!! please help!!! It is very important!!!!!!!!!!?
I am wanting to get a cockatiel but have type 1 diabetes. The bird will be kept in my room inside a cage. ( i will take him out and everything ive done plenty of research.) Will it be safe for a diabetic to be around a bird? Will the bird cause me to get sick. My doctor said i would have to wear a mask and gloves because birds are so dirty. I really want a bird and i’m very upset because of what my doctor told me. Will the bird cause me to get sick. Please help me!!!! I know it wont effect my blood sugar numbers but will it effect my health?
Best answer:
Answer by toyz5
I only know a little about diabetes but a lot about cockatiels and to be honest I don’t think a cockatiel would be an issue. Obviously if you have a compromised immune system you should be careful about letting a pet into your home. That being said birds are very clean animals, albeit messy. If you have any allergies to pet dander you might want to avoid birds since they can be quite dusty, but otherwise I don’t see a problem with it.
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Is my bird sick she’s a cockatiel?
Question by : Is my bird sick she’s a cockatiel?
She’s in a corner all fluffed up, hissing and bitting is she sick or just scared
She’s not an it she’s a her or she
Yesturday and today she squint and made clicking noices
Best answer:
Answer by babygurl23hot
u need 2 take her 2 the vet… and check if she dnt have lice….
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Dealing with a sick cockatiel?
Question by Malie: Dealing with a sick cockatiel?
She has been laying on the bottom of her cadge for the past few days. We thought she was trying to lay an egg but today she isn’t cheer ping Earlier we thought she was dead because she didn’t respond to me thumping her cadge.
We have her in a blanket on a warm rag. She seems “ok” now. She’s just sleeping.
I wasn’t able to find any and there are no local vets do birds. So what do I do? Please help.
then when i picked her up she moved a little… but not much…
I know i misspelled *Chirping
Best answer:
Answer by *My two sweet boys.*
poor thing must be in pain.take him to the vet asap.
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What can I do when my cockatiel is sick?
Question by jennifer p: What can I do when my cockatiel is sick?
I have had my cockatiel for about eight years now and he’s always been a pretty healthy self sufficient bird.
Last summer (around August 2008) he got attacked by a hawk.
I took him to the vet and got his wing fixed and whatnot.
After he got fixed I gave him Baytril on vet orders for about a week in a half to two and after that time I’ve stopped and fed it normall food and water.
Its been a few months and he has seemed fine but tonight he is sitting at the bottom corner of his cage breathing heavily.
what should i do?
Best answer:
Answer by Kimmie
Keep him warm and get him to the avian vet again. Sounds like a respiratory infection.
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Do any of your birds actually prefer staying in their cage?
Question by PrincessJinx: Do any of your birds actually prefer staying in their cage?
My one parent raised cockatiel is starting to grow in her wings again and she is slowly learning to fly. Normally in the morning I take her out and put her up on my banana plant so the little girl i sit for can’t bother her, but now that she can fly she always goes back to her cage. She seems to prefer being in her cage to being out and about. She is tamed and she loves to sit on shoulders including the 1 year olds, but she prefers to be alone most of the time.
I know she isn’t sick because 1. she has had that stand-offish personality since the day I got her and 2. she has been to the vet and got a clean bill of health.
I am sure she isn’t depressed even though she hates playing or moving in general because she doesn’t ever pluck out her feathers or anything like that.
Is she the only bird in the world that actually likes being in her cage? She does sometimes want to come out and she will come to the door and squeak (She only makes noise when she is demanding something) and wait to be picked up, but that doesnt happen often.
i was mostly wondering because my other bird is the exact opposite and when he sees that I am going out or going to bed he wont let me near him because he doesnt want to go back in the cage. He spends roughly 12 hours a day outside of the cage, so whenever Im not sleeping. And the cage is the only place there is food and water.
Best answer:
Answer by skydanzer400
What they prefer most is to be given the choice. It’s good that you do that for her. My flock has open door cage time most of every day. They like the opportunity to be able to come and go as they choose. They will spend long periods of time in their cage because they know they can come out when they want to. Also, it’s a good idea to only keep food and water available in the cage and not all over the place. That way, no matter how much time they spend out, they always know their cage is the place to return to for drink and food. I think she is behaving very normally for a bird that is given a choice. Good for you.
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Love bird & mating/egg question please help!?
Question by o LoveBirdies o: Love bird & mating/egg question please help!?
I have 2 lovebirds and they have been mating, i dont know the sex of them 4 sure but when i purchased them i was told that they where male and female. the “female” started sitting at the bottom of the cage ( ive heard this could meen that is ill ) but then the “male” kept coming over and feeding her. At this point i was a bit worried because i thought she may be going 2 lay an egg. so because the bottom of the cage didnt look a suitable place 4 chicks to be born i thought until i get a nest box i’d have 2 find something else, the only thing i found was a shoebox so i put that in the bottom of the cage and put some paper,tissue,and cardboard around the cage and in the box. soon after the “female” jumped in and started to twist the pieces of paper… into little twig looking thing. The “male” then came over to her and started feeding her. on the nights she would go to sleep on the top perch as usual with the other bird.
We went to the petshop to ask about the nest ( it really didnt look like one though and just like a mess =S )and to ask about nest boxes. the woman at the petshop suggested that if they are happy where they are then to just leave them and she was not at all pushy about trying to sell a nestbox to me straight away. I then told the woman that they keep accidentely pooing in it and i knew this could affect their health if they were to nest in it. She showed me the nestboxes and i got the cockatiel size because there was no inbetween that and a budgie size and some kind of cotton nesting fibres. i attached the box onto the cage when i got home and the “female” was straight in whilst the “male” sat on the perch attached and fed her. and they are both really happy about their new home and the “female” spends most of her time in there.
There hasn’t been any sign of an egg yet and I was wondering what was going on?
thanks =)
also the “female” seems to like cardboard tubes to shred and uses them to nest. The woman at the petshop recommended the cotton fibre nesting material because she said its not like hamster stuff and breaks easily and wont strangle them. =S
could i also have some info on what to do when chicks are born, i know most things, but i’d prefer if someone who has had personel experience with them to explain alot more. thanks =)
the budgie nesting box was tiny at the shop and my birds would have got stuck going into that box and they are not BIG lovebirds =S
Best answer:
Answer by Charles D. M.
They would like the nest box to be empty and you give them some tiny sticks or straw about two or three inches long as nest building materials. As they use those give them some grasses and they will build the nest as they like it. Then she will lay eggs.
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Does it sound like my baby cockatiel is sick?
Question by jenna: Does it sound like my baby cockatiel is sick?
This is my ‘tiels first clutch as well as mine. I have done a lot of research but am still learning. 7 eggs were laid and 4 hatched. One died over a week ago. There are 3 left. The oldest was born on Easter and he already has most of his adult feathers. The younger two still have a bit of fuzz and baby feathers. The youngest is the one I’m worried about. It’s tummy looks big but it’s croup isn’t big anymore. It just seems a bit weak. What concerns me is that he keeps closing his eyes and just doesn’t look like he feels well. The closest avian vet is two hours away and I can’t get in till Saturday. What can I do? My birds have a healthy diet. They have their regular cockatiel food, lots of millet, egg biscuits, a powdery supplement for nesting birds, some greens, and Cheerios. Should I just let nature take it’s course and if it lives, it lives and if not, it just wasn’t meant to be! I hate to see anything suffer. Could he just have an eye problem? He does squint a lot.
Best answer:
Answer by ladycockatiel_on_myspace
It is always a toss up weather or not the babies will make it to 8 weeks or not. I usally take babies like this and do my best to hand feed them to restore their strength, but with no experience you may hurt it more than help it. All you can do is hope the good Lord takes care of it. I would still go to the pet store and buy some KAYTEE hand feeding formula and try to feed it a little bit according to the direction on the can or bag. You can try to give it a drop of water from your finger tip. But all in all don’t get your heart set on it living.
Sometimes things happen beyond our control with these babies and only the strongest will survive in the wild or in our hands, it’s totally up to the good LORD who he allows to live to bless our lives with.
We all go through losing a baby or 2 in every clutch sometimes. Once you get more experience things will go alot better, we all live and learn.
GOOD LUCK!
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