Introducing a New Bird to Your Parrot
You are not alone if you already own a parrot and are thinking about adding another bird to your family. Many bird owners eventually decide to adopt multiple feathered friends once they find how enjoyable one is to have around.
Parrots are notorious for being finicky creatures of habit and adding a new bird to your home can easily create stress in your existing pet. To ease any resistance and make the transition as smooth as possible there are a few steps you can take to introduce the two birds. By doing it properly you can show your bird that your new pet is a friend rather than foe.
Quarantine the New Bird
A rule of thumb among most pet bird owners is that a new bird should be quarantined for a period of time before introducing it to parrots that you already have. This accomplishes two important things It keeps your bird safe and gives it time to adjust to the new birds presence.
Quarantine significantly reduces the risk that your new bird could pass on any contagious diseases to your existing pet. Keeping the new arrival in a separate area not only protects your parrot from any airborne illnesses but it also allows you time to safely observe the bird for any outward signs of sickness.
At the same time your parrot will have a chance to hear the new birds call. It will become accustomed to the birds voice and presence over time. Direct interaction too soon can be seen as intimidating or a breach of your birds established territory.
Slowly Move the Birds Closer
Once the quarantine period is over it remains important to slowly introduce your birds to each other. Even parrots of the same species may not necessarily become the best of friends right away. Often one of the birds will
attempt to assert dominance over the other and this can result in nasty fights if you arent very careful.
To help your birds get to know each other slowly move your new birds cage into the room where your older birds cage resides. Allow them to observe each other from a distance for several days. As they become used to each other youll be able to identify signs that they are becoming more comfortable with being closer together. During this time remain patient and dont push either birds limits.
Make a Peace Offering
Sometimes it is helpful to bribe your birds into getting
