Whole lot of joy

[Fleur]

Hi there, I have had my Peanut, Lutino femail irn, for 6 yrs and she is just like a puppy with me. But not so with many others... I also have Macca, a 20 wk old pale pale blue, hand reared, potential boy irn (too soon I know). I acquired Macca on the 22nd Dec 07 and have been doing the cage swap thing at least 3 times a day (at first every 30 minutes, gotta say that killed my social life.... ha ha ha Nah I made my friends help) and sitting the cages side by side. I have heard Macca chatting away and Peanut responds with a sqwawk. Unsure as to whether she is replying to him or yelling out to me wondering who this fellow is????

They don't seem to be angry at each other when I have then out together and when I sit the female (Peanut) on top of Macca's cage she has swings between bluffing and regurgitating her food to him. I haven't tried putting him on the big cage when she is inside as I fear she my go for his toes???? Can anyone advise me of effective methods of getting my pair to cohabitate and become friends??? I have this huge cage for them both to share and would love to see them snuggling and preening each other.

[Melika]

So far it sounds good. But ringnecks (actually, all birds) can be extremely picky about who they share their space with. And females in particular are often nasty to cagemates.

It's something that they will decide in the end- you can't really force it.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

But welcome to the board. ^_^

[Lene]

Hi Fleur

You have already done the appropriate things to get them to know one another. I would try and put them together. Put Peanut in with Macca for a little while and see how they go.

You may have to get out of sight, as one of the birds could be too confident with you there.

They are unlikely to kill each other.

Some time ago I thought I would put 2 birds together in one cage to save cage space. I put a Green Cheek and a Sun Conure together. They had been next to each other for nearly a year. The Green Cheek bullied the Sun, and it didn't stop, so after 3 weeks I gave up on those 2.Then I tried putting the Sun and my Quaker together. That went a lot better. They have been together for nearly 2 months now, and are best of friends. In the beginning I had separate food bowls for them, but now they eat together, they play together and preen each other.

When they're out, I'm still their favourite.

[Fleur]

Thanks Lene, I am glad I haven't gotten it wrong yet... And yes I would still love to be their fav... yesterday I had them out together and she slowly approached behind him and gently pulled his tail. Gently at first but then she got bolder and pulled a bit harder. It was so funny to watch, he growled at her and she backoff... ha ha ha ha So cute! Like the girls at primary school who are too shy to talk to the boy they like!!! He wasn't even looking at her let alone bothering her...

[kyria]

Sounds sweet .. time will tell .. you are doing great .. especially keeping such an eye on how they are going together.

Welcome !

[Fleur]

Well it seems that I must've been doing it right after all, as now I have a breeding pair!!! Go Macca!!! he's been trying so hard to get her on side and it seems his courtship has been successful... Let me just say that they are not shy at all and what a funny dance he does!!! And he's strutting around all macho like... so funny to watch.

There have been eggs and although there is only one left (saw 4) and I'm not sure it's even fertile. I'm just glad they're getting on. I will give the egg another week at the most before I remove it. If I can get near the box!!! She started laying around the 27th July so I daresay that if anything was going to hatch it would've by now surely. Not too bad for a first go attempt. He is only 2yrs old so I'm not expecting too much!!!!

I'm so proud of my little girl, she is being the most attentive/defensive mummy and I haven't heard a single squawk out of her since she started to nest. Bit annoyed though at the fact that I can't play with her any more or he gets cranky at me. I go near her and he says 'what?'... yes he actually says what, in english... That'll teach me to ask him that when he squawks for attention..... silly me. Maybe I'll get her back when I remove the breeding box...