Helping Harmony: Bringing Your New Bird Home

Bringing a new bird home is an exciting time. As generally friendly and social animals, birds make excellent companions for one another, but a few simple steps can help a first introduction go smoothly.

Before Physically Introducing the Birds

Most bird experts recommend observing a quarantine period before adding a new bird into a shared space with another bird, typically up to 30 days for the sake of health and safety. A shorter period may be appropriate if the new bird's health can be verified by a veterinarian beforehand, however. This caution extends to food, water, and handling as well, as bacteria or viruses can transfer between the birds: wash hands and contact surfaces between handling birds until the quarantine period has ended.

Making Avian Introductions

Your new bird and existing bird will need time to adjust to one another, and the safest way to do that is by leaving them in their cages. Wheel or carry your new bird's cage into the room near your existing bird, letting them see one another and vocalize. This is an excellent time to add positivity to the experience with treats; a little bribery goes a long way when encouraging your feathered family to get along. Once you've ensured that the cage latches are secure, try leaving the room for a few minutes. This will give the birds time to observe one another without interference.

Try Cage-to-Cage First, Then Expand

The goal for any bird-to-bird meeting should always be a safe, comfortable experience for everyone involved, and that means controlling variables. Try pushing the cage sides together to let your birds physically interact with a 'safety buffer' between them, and carefully observe. If either bird seems agitated or uncomfortable, separate the cages again and work up to another meeting. If, on the other hand, they seem to be getting along well, a supervised out-of-cage visit is appropriate. If your birds are spending time together out in the open, more treats can make it a fun, positive experience that encourages bonding. Finally, even if your birds seem like they're getting along, be sure to stay in the room for the first couple of meetings to be sure that feathered friendship doesn't sour.