Is it okay to add another bird?

[kimekom3]

I already have a pair(f&m), they've been together with me for about a year and a half. My friend has a green parrotlet male and is moving so I offered to take in the little guy. I've read that you shouldn't add in more birds to a pair - but when I got the two of mine they were housed with maybe, 10 other parrotlets...

So can this actually be done? :confused:
And if so, what are any possible negatives?

[chapala]

If you house the male separately, all will be fine. Three is often a crowd when a pair has bonded, and you might have fights and injuries by putting the third bird in the same cage.

[kimekom3]

Thank you for the reply Chapala,
I currently don't have another cage to put the little guy in...the only one cage I have is being used by my Senegal parrot Tequila...
The birds' current cage(my friends) she tells me that he escapes from it bc the bars are too wide, and I would never dare let the little one stay in a cage that is not for his size thats just an obvious safety hazard...And i can't afford to have him escape the cage and going around the house bc i also have a dog and a cat...my mini zoo as i call it :D

I was thinking of buying a cage for the little guy, have him in there for a couple weeks next to my parrotlets and then slowly letting him enter into their cage with supervision...and increase the time of the three together like that...if they seem okay, do you think its clear for me to put them all three in one cage?(I don't have $ right now to spend on a new cage, so after a few weeks I plan on returning it...I did this b4:o when trying to find my parrotlets a more decorative cage and Petsmart had no problem returning a use cage)

ALSO the new guy, my friends birdie, is hand tamed - mine are faarr from it, they fly all over even when i change their food...will the lil guy change from being hand tamed to being scared like my couple? In other words, will he be influenced that my hand is something bad?

[jodeg]

I have three Parrotlets, 2 females and 1 male. Kiwi, a female, came first in March, 08, then Kermit, a male, was added in October, 08. About a month ago, I adopted Angelina from a dear friend.

I have each P'let in his/her own HQ cage. They have their own room and are allowed out together several times a day for supervised playtime. They go in and out of each others' cages, exploring. Kiwi and Kermit are fully flighted, so do a lot of zooming aroung the room. Angelina's wings had been clipped, but when her new feathers grow in, she'll be able to fly too.

She is just now starting to let Kiwi (female) land near her, but she'll run Kermit (male) off in a heartbeat. Minor squabbles and even fights can break out in an instant, and one of them could be easily hurt.

I believe their cages are their sanctuary, their place to be safe, their place to be peaceful and have their own space. I always planned to house my P'lets separately, but as you've shown, it is possible to house TWO P'lets in the same cage. But I don't think it would ever work with THREE in the same cage. It just wouldn't be safe.

Sorry but I just wouldn't take that chance. "Two's Company, Three's A Crowd" certainly pertains here. If you cage the male separately and watch them closely during playtime, it should be okay.

Maybe you can find another home for the male?

Good luck -- keep us posted on how it's going!

[Taylor]

I agree with all of the above!!! It would most likely result in a death if you
put the new one in the same cage with the pair. Even if they get along out
of the cage, which they most likely won't. P'lets are extremely territorial.
I have 3 pairs and a single. The pairs will chase away any other bird from their cage and will try to kill another p'let that comes near their cage. From what you described yours are handshy and cage protective which would make them even more unwelcoming to a single newcomer. If you get him, you need to put him in his own cage and he might even need to be in a different room of you house. Some pairs, like mine will shout at any other p'lets in the same room.
Jenny

[kimekom3]

Jodeg & Taylor thank you very much for your insight, I see you all speak of the negativity strongly and I will have to help my friend find another home for her little guy.

Once again thank you, I'm very happy I found a site that has such parrotlet educated individuals; I'm a first time owner and I've fell in love with them...they really are big parrots in a little body. :D

[Cauren]

Also, I heard of them being together and everything seems fine. The guard is let down because everything seems so good. Then the two stronger or more dominate may attack and you'll lose one in a blink of an eye.

[LovelySydney]

If you adopt the bird PLEASE dont put them all in the same cage, especially if the two are bonded because they could see the new bird as an enemy and that is definitely not something you want. I would start with a quarantine period and then slowly move the cages closer so they all can get to know one another. It is possible for them to live in peace, I know people with 3 birds who co-habitat just fine but it DOES take time for all the birds to adjust. Good luck in your decision!!!