Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering about adding a second bird to our home. We have one blue masked lovebird, most likely a female, who is five years old. She has been an "only bird" for her whole life, and we've been advised not to ever get another bird with the hope of eventually putting them in the same cage.

I thought that if we kept the new baby separated for a while in a different cage, and gave the two birds time to socialize, that at some point down the road they may be able to get along in the same cage. Is this totally wrong?

We do understand that not all birds will be compatible, and that we're risking the two never bonding, and therefore needing two cages indefinitely...but I just wanted to know if anyone has heard it's "impossible" as some local sources tell me...

Thanks

I definitely wouldn't say "impossible" but with lovebirds it can be sometimes harder to get two to bond than many other species. As long as you go into it as you said knowing they may never get along and having two separate cages there shouldn't be any problem. If you are having high hopes of them getting along and caging them together then I would say it would be better not to try.

We have had lovebirds that were single birds in a past home that seemed to do better with a companion but we have had some lovebirds come into the rescue because when introduced to a second bird they either did kill the other bird or tried to kill it. If you do decide to introduce them later in hopes of housing together do so very carefully and with lots of supervision. NEVER just stick them in a cage together and hope for the best or you will most likely either end up with an injured or dead bird/s.

Good luck whatever your decision.

Thanks for the thoughts. I guess I do fall into the "high hopes" category, even though I KNOW it might not work. My current lovie seems to want a mate...or wants TO mate, I should say. There is a cardinal that feeds at a birdfeeder outside and she likes to raise her wings, get puffy, and make a clucking sound, which I think is some kind of mating dance.

Maybe she'd like another birdie to cuddle up with...who knows. I know they might have to be in two cages. But that would be a pretty big pain sometimes. So maybe I will hold off. I was hoping to give my bird some companionship, but you never know with these finicky birds....