Poor Keiko!

[Kumiko]

Well, things havent been going smooth with the little p'lets. They always seem to be on oppisite sides of the cage now. Food is always protected by Kiwi. I am afraid that Kieko isnt eating because of Kiwi's moods. Kiwi is a little butt! :mad: Everytime Keiko wants to cuddle and preen, Kiwi just up and up attacks him out of no where. Whenever Kieko is playing with a toy or just walking around perches, Kiwi lunges and chases. When Kieko goes to a fone of the five food dishes, Kiwiw follows and starts a fight. Kieko quickly jumps the food dish, grabs some and makes a hastey retreat! :( :(Preening doesnt last even 5 seconds. :( This is all I need right now. When I am at school is when it is the worst as my sister and mother describes because they come home at certain parts of the day.

I don't know if Kieko is eating, but during the weekend while I was home, they were eating together, preening at all hours of the day. Food dishes were empty at the end of the day, now.... they have been eaten a little.... like only one p'let is eating from it. I think I have to bring the cage from outside, inside again for Kieko to house in while I am not home. I am thinking about putting Kiwi in the small cage and Kieko in the large one. :mad: Kiwi's a little territorial butt!

I am about to seperate them. Opinions??

[Mustang99]

I would separate and wait until you have a chance to observe them together for long periods of time. Just to ease your piece of mind to ensure that Keiko is eating and not being bullied. Maybe they need just a bit more time. Good luck..

[chapala]

If you have any doubts about Keiko eating, I would definitely keep them in separate cages. They can be out for playtime together, but their own food in their own cage, and sleeping separately too. Was the cage they're in now Kiwi's cage first? Often they say it's better to put two birds together in a new, neutral cage so they are less apt to be territorial.

There is no guarantee that birds will be friends. They may gradually become friends though. You have two males, right? A male and female pair is probably the easiest to put together, but even then, sometimes they just don't like each other. Maybe take it more gradually and see what happens.
Reta

[Kumiko]

If you have any doubts about Keiko eating, I would definitely keep them in separate cages. They can be out for playtime together, but their own food in their own cage, and sleeping separately too. Was the cage they're in now Kiwi's cage first? Often they say it's better to put two birds together in a new, neutral cage so they are less apt to be territorial.

There is no guarantee that birds will be friends. They may gradually become friends though. You have two males, right? A male and female pair is probably the easiest to put together, but even then, sometimes they just don't like each other. Maybe take it more gradually and see what happens.
Reta

The cage that is Kiwi's was not his first cage. Last weekend, I cleaned it and changed it around. All the perches and toys went out and put back in in different locations. They were perfectly fine until a day ago, eversince Kiwi has just been a little fluffed lunger. There are no injuries on Kieko, and not at all on Kiwi.

I have two males. I just want them to be friends until I get my own house or apartment... then. Only then... will I get both my boys girlfriends. :) Thats a promise. :D

They do play together while I am home and eat fine. Its only when I am away that my mother and sister tell me that Kiwi is a little butt to Kieko.

I will seperate them. :( Hopefully they do become a pair.

[musicjan]

I'm sorry you're having this trouble, Rebecca. I think you are wise to seperate them.

[Pado]

Sorry to hear this Rebecca - yes, I agree if you think one is being forced away from the food and isn't eating right separate them - they may need more time to adjust to each other.

My male sometimes insists on eating first when something new is put into the cage and he will chase the female away but he always allows her to return once he's sampled the food ( actually he eats first and then feeds her and then allows her to eat ).

I kept mine separated for months in side by side cages - I felt this allowed them to form a bond before being put in the same cage. They had daily out of cage time together but I never allowed one in the others cage ( I didn't want them to get use to this and I figured what they didn't know they won't miss.)

Its a sad fact but some don't get along and will always need to be separated but this isn't always the case - I'd try the separation and wait for them to form a closer bond before being caged together.

When you do finally cage them together - Kiwi's cage should be completely changed out - from the perches to the food bowls and all the toys.

I got all new rope perches - moved around and even changed out most of the regular perches - got all new food dishes and all new toys and completely changed Rupert's cage for the introduction .. I slowly introduced all the existing items back over time)

But when put in the same cage both need to feel like they are in a new place to avoid any territorialism - its sounds to me like Kiwi is being territorial over 'his' cage to a new bird he isn't completely bonded to yet.

As for the fighting - small frequent fights are normal but there should be more .... - a lot more loving times than fighting times.

[Agent99]

I have two parrotlets and they have there own cages. They have tons of play time together, both males. They seem to hit it off very well. But like us all we need our own space!! I think your on the right track. Good luck!