introducing a new bird?

[#1ThaiBoxer]

I think it is time to get a new friend for Bailey. What should I do about this? Should the new bird be older or younger? Bailey is a peachface and is it ok for the new friend to be a masked? If I take the new bird to the vet and they find it in perfect health with no sickness/disease can I put them together without a quarantine period? SHould the new bird be tame? If the new one is wild will it effect Bailey and make her hostile towards me also?

[Mummieeva]

Alot depends on your birds gender. If your bird is a male then getting another male masked might be ok. But if your bird is a female getting a male could equal babies and cross breeding is something that is not good. Also remember no sure thing with getting another bird. They could hate each other.I would not avoid a quarantine even with a good vet check up. At least 60 days because not all things vet tests for can be seen right away in the bird. Some thing have longer incubation times. Can I ask why you feel your bird needs another bird friend? If I remember correctly you have not had Bailey for very long yet.


Steph

[LauraO]

I would not introduce another species of lovebird to your peachie as a friend. While there are exceptions, most peachies are too rough for masked lovies as well as physically bigger. I have had three masked lovies and they do NOT like the peachie.

It's also important to understand that if you do introduce another bird anything can happen and you must be prepared to deal with whatever happens. Not all lovebirds get along and many can never live in the same cage. There is also the real possibility of babies, or you losing what trust you've gained with your lovies.

Good Luck

[Janie]

Good advice from Steph and Laura.

I bought my second two from a very reputable breeder but still took them straight to my avian vet and had every test possible run on both to make sure they would not carry something deadly into my home where my existing bird, Oliver, could catch it. I kept the two new birds in an upstairs bedroom, door always closed, for 30 days (it takes a full 90 days for everything to show up) and then introduced them to Oliver very slowly. I only did a 30 day quarantine because the vet did run so many test on the new birds and the one thing they could have carried that would have harmed Oliver would not show up for 90 days and I just did not have the patience to wait that long. In my case all three do get along (the three are not caged together) but it was at least 6 months before I felt comfortable that they were OK when they were out together in their bird room. All three of my birds are males and I did pay to have the new ones DNA'd before I bought them to be sure I was getting males.

All three of mine are peachies and as much as I'd love to have gotten a masked or fisches, I decided that I'd have a better shot of them getting along if I stayed with the same species. I strongly recommend that you find out, through DNA, the sex of your bird before adding a second bird.

[#1ThaiBoxer]

I will probably just get another peachface if I do. Will there be a difference whether the new bird is tame or wild? I plan on the new bird to be tame when I get one

[Elle]

I introduced a peachie to a fisher after a quarantine. Both get along but they each have their own cage. They do not share living quarters. Mine are both females. The level of aggressiveness is different and if they were to fight while in the same cage and I wasn't home. I don't even want to think of the outcome.

If you get a masked, you may want to consider seperate housing. Mine are out together for play time and they are bonded. They do everything together, including getting into trouble and terrorising the budgies. :lol

I won't cover quarantine as the advise given are the ones I have followed in the past and would follow in the future. The only exception was my african grey as he was a lone bird for 15 years. So he's been in quarantine for 15 years.

As far as tame or wild, my fisher was tame but my peachie was not. She is not hand shy anymore but would preffer the company of other birds over mine. It had no impact on my fisher. Blu is still the same sweet little bird she was (even with hormones kicking in, she is still sweet and bitey) I do spend a lot of time with all my birds on a daily basis to maintain my bond with all of them. :)