I have two BHCs. My oldest, Tengu was the only bird I ever got from a breeder. I chose the breeder carefully and brought her home as soon s she was weaned. I carefully socialized her to be touched (especially while eating) and she is my special girl. I had a flock of rescues when I brought her home (mostly Conures, Mini Macaws, and Budgies) and the first year, they preened her and welcomed her in. After that first year, even though she did nothing to warrant it, everyone started avoiding her and I could tell she was lonely and sad.
The rest of the flock just knew she was potentially dangerous, even though she had never actually been.
So I kept my eyes peeled for a rescue Caique. They are HARD to find! 9 months later, I adopted Tallulah, who is a year younger than Tengu. She had been forced to be a breeder too early and the male Caique abused her (she had no head feathers when I got her, was jumpy and bitey, and was very wary).
After the quarantine period, I introduced her to the flock and Tengu. Of course, everyone knew there was another bird in the bedroom, and Tallulah knew there were other birds in the house- they had been screeching to one another for 6 weeks!
I was super nervous- would they hate each other? Would they not get along and all this was for naught? Nope- I put Tallulah down on an eating perch at dinner and Tengu made a beeline for her. She immediately went right next to her and nudged her with her beak. The next thing I knew, they were next to each other on the perch "holding hands"- one foot slipped over the other, just sitting that way for a good 20 minutes. It was delightful.
I brought Talullah's cage into the main area where all the others were that night, because I was not going to force them to share a cage. But within a week of open cage doors, Talullah and Tengu were casemates and have been ever since. They chose it. They love one another and keep each other company- I have had them for 11 and 10 years, respectively.
The good: They make me laugh every day. They have taught me about parrot behavior, especially troublesome behavior more than other birds I have lived with.
The bad: They get an idea in their head ("The wood on the top of the door is good for biting, I must bite it.") and will not let it go. They are hard to repattern and correct, dammit.
The ugly: They have the worst tempers. Well, Tallulah does anyway.
