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Post by stevie on Feb 23, 2016 4:52:07 GMT -5
Hi guys! My beautiful girl Pickles is about a year and a half old now & I've just adopted another Quaker (as a friend for her) he's about 2 months old & DNA sexed male.
I was told originally that pairing a young male with my female would be a good way to go & that if I didn't provide them with a nest box that they wouldn't breed.. However last night I spoke to someone that definitely knows their stuff & she said that pairing a male with a female can cause issues such as aggression around breeding season (Pickles is generally aggressive during breeding season anyway which I pretty much just ignore) & that it could also lead to other issues like plucking & egg binding? SO naturally I'm freaking out a little bit.. I'm not sure what to do? Any advice would be very much appreciated!! (Sorry if this post is a bit of a muddle, I'm SO nervous right now & am in the midst of scowering the internet for information)
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Post by easttex on Feb 23, 2016 5:51:47 GMT -5
Hi Stevie, and welcome! I've studied birds a lot, but I've never been in your situation. I'll give you my opinion and you can take it for what it's worth.  I think you got bad advice the first time. It doesn't matter if you paired Pickles with a male or female, hormones will kick in. An individual will sometimes even bond with an inanimate object. And I don't think the absence of a nest box will stop that. I can't say for sure in your case, but it may not even stop egg-laying. My African grey will lay hers on the bottom of the cage. Anytime a bird lays eggs there is the risk of egg binding. It may be worth it if you are breeding them, but not so much if they are companions. I can't say about plucking. It does seem to be sometimes motivated by frustration of one kind or another, but it's complicated. Did anyone tell you about the changes you will likely see in your relationship with Pickles by providing her with a companion? If they take to one another, they will focus on each other and have less interest in interacting with you. If you don't want that, I'd recommend that you keep them in separate cages, and let them interact only outside the cage, assuming they get along. Pickles still might lay eggs, but they won't be fertile, and with some modifications of your own, you can hopefully minimize the effects of the raging hormones. |
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Post by stevie on Feb 23, 2016 6:21:28 GMT -5
Thanks for your reply! I was aware that our relationship may not be quite the same/she'd be focused on her new friend but decided to go ahead with finding her a friend anyway because she'd seem terribly upset every time I left(which isn't all that often) & I'd spend so much time worrying that she was lonely!
Perhaps just having another Quaker in the room + around for play time could be enough?
My main concern is the health and well-being of both my little feathered buddies. Are there ways to keep them together without risking issues?
So far they've only met through cage bars & even with those to restrict them they tried to fight. It's still early days though.
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Post by easttex on Feb 23, 2016 7:24:40 GMT -5
I'm surprised the youngster was up for fighting! But Quakers are known for being territorial about their cages, so if you can take them both away from their cages, they might be okay with each other. I don't think there is any risk-free way to put them together. For now, I would just let them continue to get used to the idea of each other. Perhaps separate the cages by some distance, and gradually move them closer, rewarding them at each progression, assuming they are behaving. Let each of them see you interacting with the other. You could work on something like target training each of them, so that when you start closer introductions, there will be something you can use to distract both of them a little. When you do start closer introductions, I would not put them side-by-side right off the bat, but if you have something like a playgym or a tree stand, you might put them on different levels and watch for signs of aggression. I would keep the initial meetings short and supervise very closely whatever you try. Are you keeping them flighted? I think most of the members here have single Quakers, and everyone worries about giving them sufficient attention and diversions when they are not home. I have one Quaker and one African grey, and they don't interact directly at all, but I think they provide each other some comfort on those rare occasions when no people are home. I can't prove it, but I think they probably nap a lot when my husband and I are both out. It is a little late to point this out, but placing a second bird in quarantine in a separate room for 30 days or so is usually recommended. It does two things. It helps to ensure a new bird doesn't bring any disease to the first one, and also is a way to start the introduction. They become aware of the presence of the other, and have a chance to accept that before confronting a bird in the flesh. |
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Post by beccilouise on Feb 23, 2016 11:25:01 GMT -5
Hi Stevie, I also have never been in your situation, and am going on what I've read. I have only a single Quaker and worry about him incessantly when I am not in the house, however, he gets between 2 and 5 hours of attention (miminum) every day and, sometimes is too busy with a mouthful of boiled peas to even worry that I'm going away!
There is no guarantee that your two birds will bond, even if they do like each other and, just as easttex says, it may not stop egg binding. The best thing to do with egg binding is know the symptoms inside out and, the first you see of them, take your little one to a vet. Egg binding is uncomfortable and unpleasant but plenty of birds get past it. Obviously make sure she has plenty of calcium in her diet and maybe think about getting her a uv lamp to help her absorb it and make vitamin d. All this will go a long way to ensuring your girl is healthy. Easttex' idea of introducing them in neutral territory is a good one, and it's possible that the aggressive behaviour from the young male may have been motivated by fear rather than actual aggression.
I think having another bird in the house, even if in a separate cage, is going to provide them with some comfort and comradeship, even if they just bicker all day!
They will both be alright. Lots of people have more than one bird and the birds do fine. I would just recommend annual check ups with the vet and, particularly for your female, clue yourself up on diet as it will help with both medical issues like egg binding AND with aggression. Don't worry and don't let others scare you, there are ways around everything.
EDIT: it may also be worth pointing out that YOUR nervousness may well contribute to anxiety in the birds which might cause plucking. Plucking is one of those behaviours that owners don't really understand very well, are terrified of and cannot always explain. A lot of the time, plucking is caused by a medical issue and becomes habitual. Don't worry about plucking until/unless it happens, and then the first port of call should be the vet.
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Post by stevie on Feb 24, 2016 1:49:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice guys. At this point I'm considering just housing them separately/possibly having them out for play time together if they ever learn to tolerate each other OR rehoming the little guy.. Which really isn't something I want to do but I can't help but be overly worried about Pickles.. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to her.
I should probably add that I have a rather intense anxiety disorder so it's difficult for me to tell whether I'm appropriately worried/stressed or if I'm being completely irrational & blowing things way out of proportion. Pickles came into my life when I was at one of my lowest points & we bonded instantly. I can't help but be overly protective/worried about her. D:
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Post by beccilouise on Feb 24, 2016 8:55:02 GMT -5
Stevie, I completely understand. I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder in 2011 but have suffered from it all my life. To me, it looks like much of your worry IS to do with the disorder. Many people keep several birds and there is no certainty that the presence of another bird will make Pickles ill. In fact, when she gets used to it, it may even make her more comfortable. I completely understand why you feel so stressed and anxious. Try to just spend time with your birds, take each issue IF/WHEN it comes if you can. Vets are always on standby to help and are the first port of Call. I would add 'don't worry' but know from experience that it will not help! You are doing fine all the best. |
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