Last Updated on February 16, 2023 by Mitch Rezman

Tanya L. finds herself living in a love triangle.

I have 2 half-moon conures. they will be 7 and 6 on the 26th and 28th of this Oct.

They are both boys and have always shared a cage. 

They have always squabbled on occasion. 

They have never drawn blood though.

 Their names are Quincy (7 yr old) and Truman.

Lately, when I go to say hi to them, Quincy flies onto my shoulder first but when Truman tries to, Quincy chases him off. 

 

They have always shared my shoulder so I’m not sure what the problem is. 

 

Back in December I had to move, had to get a little bit smaller cage, then moved again in May to a hotel, then in June to my condo.

 

They have had free reign in the condo since I moved in, rarely closing their cage even at night. 

 

They eat Zupreem pellets, some seed as a treat.

 

They do not like veggies.

 

On occasion, they will eat apples or grapes and cherries but not many other fruits. 

 

They seem to be squabbling quite ferociously but still not drawing blood. 

 

Did I mention they are both boys?

 

I am worried they will hurt each other. 

 

Should I separate them, only letting them together during the day? 

 

I got them both as soon as they were old enough to leave the breeder.

 

They talk to one another all day long and cuddle up together to sleep so I don’t really want to separate them.

 

I’m just worried about Quincy being so territorial of me. 

 

It is very hard to get any time with Truman because as soon as he lands on me Quincy chases him off. 

 

Any suggestions?

 

Even though I went down a cage size it is still quite large for the little ones. They have toys. Maybe I should change them out more often as I only do that every few months.

 

Tanya

 

 

So Tanya,

Whether it was a fantasy of yours or not you are now in the middle of a Polyamorous Relationship. Two kids growing up are best buddies but with two adult males each vying for your attention you are in a mix of “soap opera” and “kindergarten cop”.

 

We have 9 budgies AND three adult male parrots, an African ringneck – Keto, a blue Quaker – Chili, and a grey Tiel – Barney, all rescues.

 

During the day they work the office in 3 small cages and entertain customers.

 

After 4:00 they come upstairs to their sizable home cages.

 

Our issue is that Chili’s a bully.  He loves to squat in Keto’s cage and play with all his toys. This is when Keto is incredibly vocal which is when we need to play kindergarten cop, lock Chili up and leave Keto’s door open.

 

Thiry minutes later, Keto woefully returns to his cage where the doors get locked with “Chili proof” scissor clips and Chili gets his freedom for the next thirty minutes.

 

Barney enjoys hanging out on our beds’ headboard where he has a view of Route 2, a large tree and bush that always has sparrows (and an occasional Perigrine falcon).

 

List of Types of Conure Parrot Species.

 

At the end of the day, it would be great if “we could all get along” but these creatures, our micro velociraptors, have 100,000,000 plus years of instinctual expectations embedded in their DNA.

 

Little we can do will alter the narrative in their little brains whose neurons bounce around their little craniums at three times the speed of mammal brain neurons. 

 

Re: They have never drawn blood though or yet.

If a bird gets its toe bit off, it can bleed out in an hour or so.

Is it worth the risk?

 

Moving 3 times has thrown them off their game and made them more “clingy”.

 

Getting them their own cages may be the ideal solution.

 

Give it a few weeks/months then introduce them again with out-of-the-cage times on play stands if needed.

 

It’s important they see each other treated identically. Talk to them equally, offer the same treat at the same time. Be thankful that they both lust after you and not each other, cutting another human out of the deal.

 

Best

MitchR.