Introducing New Bird

[EkkieLu]

I rescued a RB2 last weekend. Newt is settling in nicely. He chats with Lucy and Sergei all the time! All Newts blood, fecal, etc vet tests came back clean. I moved his cage into the bird room today. Sergei has been climbing up and trying to cuddle thru the bars with Newt. They nibble each other's feathers and softly squeak at each other. They act like long lost BFFs! Can anyone recommend how best to introduce them face to face? I don't want either getting hurt!

 

[RachelM]

If you do training, a supervised training session might work. If not, letting them each on a separate stand to hear each other and get to know each other from across the room (supervised!) Daily could work too. Supervision, trust, and patience are key. It seems like it will be pretty easy for them to get to know each other. if you see any signs of aggression or hostility then i would put one of them back in their cage. Putting them on a long perch on separate sides with you in the middle ready to intervene if anything goes wrong could be good too. Are they both friendly with you?

 

[EkkieLu]

If you do training, a supervised training session might work. If not, letting them each on a separate stand to hear each other and get to know each other from across the room (supervised!) Daily could work too. Supervision, trust, and patience are key. It seems like it will be pretty easy for them to get to know each other. if you see any signs of aggression or hostility then i would put one of them back in their cage. Putting them on a long perch on separate sides with you in the middle ready to intervene if anything goes wrong could be good too. Are they both friendly with you?

Yes. Both are very gentle too. Neither of them have even nipped me!

 

[RachelM]

I would also not recommend introducing all three at once.. Your Ekkies could gang up on Newt.

 

[EkkieLu]

Lucy is still picking on Sergei so they are never out together. She was abused when I rescued her and I'm still working to get her friendly enough to touch. Where as Sergei has had a wonderful life and I can even file his nails! So it will be a long time until I would trust her with either of the boys!

 

[RachelM]

I think either of those methods would work for the situation you’re in. Depending on how confident you are in whether they will get aggressive or not (which sounds unlikely), You could place them on separate stands across the room and move them closer daily. Anything that could act as a ‘trigger’ shouldn’t be involved in the introduction either. i.e. Food, Favourite toy or person, basically anything that has caused aggression in the past. Have a towel and first aid on hand just in case. You want to be prepared in the unlikely event of an accident. I don’t think anything will go wrong at all.

 

[EkkieLu]

The towel will definitely be close at hand!

 

[RachelM]

Lucy is still picking on Sergei so they are never out together. She was abused when I rescued her and I'm still working to get her friendly enough to touch. Where as Sergei has had a wonderful life and I can even file his nails! So it will be a long time until I would trust her with either of the boys!

Ah, I didn’t realize that. It sounds like you know what you’re doing With Lucy’s situation and I think your boys will do just fine.

 

[EkkieLu]

How long should I wait to let them meet?

 

[RachelM]

Sorry @EkkieLu i didn't see the alert until now! Judging by how well they're getting along through the cage bars, perhaps let them do that a little longer before introduction. You can do it anytime after Newt is relatively settled in.

 

[EkkieLu]

Sounds good. I'll wait until he's more comfortable. Thanks Rachel!

Sorry @EkkieLu i didn't see the alert until now! Judging by how well they're getting along through the cage bars, perhaps let them do that a little longer before introduction. You can do it anytime after Newt is relatively settled in.

 

[sunnysmom]

Congrats! I love RB2s.

 

[expressmailtome]

Congratulations on your new addition!