Do both lovebirds need to be mature to share a cage?

[Lilibugz]

I have had my male peach faced lovebird for over a year now and I got another peach-faced lovebird (unknown sex) around 2-3 months ago. I knew there was no guarantee they’d get along but I honestly lucked out. I took it slow with introductions, but they honestly clicked instantly. They now spend most of their day out together minus some mini one on one training sessions.
They still go to separate cages at night or when I’m out but I’d love for them to eventually live in the same cage. I’ve been looking around for a larger cage for them to share. (I will still keep their old cages just in case!)

The main question is, do I need to wait for the younger bird to reach sexual maturity before trying this? He/She is probably about 5 months or so.

 

[Sayed]

I have had my male peach faced lovebird for over a year now and I got another peach-faced lovebird (unknown sex) around 2-3 months ago. I knew there was no guarantee they’d get along but I honestly lucked out. I took it slow with introductions, but they honestly clicked instantly. They now spend most of their day out together minus some mini one on one training sessions.
They still go to separate cages at night or when I’m out but I’d love for them to eventually live in the same cage. I’ve been looking around for a larger cage for them to share. (I will still keep their old cages just in case!)

The main question is, do I need to wait for the younger bird to reach sexual maturity before trying this? He/She is probably about 5 months or so.

It really depends on personality. since they seem like good friends I would at least try to place them in a big cage together for a short time and see how they do.

 

[expressmailtome]

The short answer to that question is yes, you need to wait to leave them enclosed in the same cage. The long answer is as follows. Lovebirds, in spite of their name, have one of the highest rates of attacking their mates/cage-mates of any species (in this case, genus). Until the younger one has hit, and settled into, sexual maturity, the dynamic between the birds will still be changing. Also, as lovebirds are generally highly territorial, it is never advisable to add a lovebird to a cage that another lovebird has been in. If you will be putting two together, always get a new cage (not the same model either) and set it up differently. This allows both the same opportunity to settle in, and neither to feel that there is an invader. The only exception to this is a large, and I do mean large, walk-in style aviary as there is so much room that even if territory spats occur, both birds have ample opportunity to flee to safety.

 

[Finchbreed]

Even introducing them in avairies can be problematic - my dad used to move the whole flock to a different avairy after he had several early failures.
So happy for you that they are nice personalities for the breed.

 

[expressmailtome]

Even introducing them in avairies can be problematic - my dad used to move the whole flock to a different avairy after he had several early failures.
So happy for you that they are nice personalities for the breed.

I understand. My only point was that that would be the safest option of all.