If you’re someone who has been looking to purchase a parrot, you may have wondered about whether or not you should also purchase a companion.

There are several factors that you need to consider before getting your parrot a companion. It depends on your parrot, how it was raised, and its species. Some parrots are more willing to have companions than others, and are more willing to adapt to a new parrot in their environment.

In this article, we will talk about some of the reasons why you may want to keep parrots in pairs, as well as some of the reasons why you shouldn’t. It is important that you look at all these different factors when making your decision.

Reasons to Keep Parrots in Pairs

Now, we will talk about some of the reasons that would allow you to keep parrots together in the same cage.

1. Parrots are sociable

Yes, like most birds, parrots do like to socialize and it is key for their mental and physical health. Some people find that they are unable to give their pet birds the attention that they need in order to stay happy and healthy.

While you should avoid getting pets to begin with if you can’t take care of them, it is normal if you have a job or other life circumstances that won’t allow you to spend all hours of the day with your pets.

Some people like to have two pets at a time for this reason; it will keep them occupied in your absence. Parrots do like to socialize, so you may want to take this into consideration.

It has been shown before that parrots that do not get enough social interaction will suffer from psychological problems. There have been many instances where parrots ended up severely harming themselves due to this.

While you certainly can spend time with your pet, it’s best for you to keep another parrot too so that it would be easier for them to interact. Parrots enjoy being a part of a flock and a community, so keeping two of them together would reinforce this.

That’s why they should never be alone! We show you 9 reasons why you should not leave a single parrot alone in this article!

2. Your parrots are mates

You never want to separate two parrots that are mates. In fact, one of the key factors for keeping two parrots together is if they are of the opposite sex. Parrots tend to get along much better this way than they would if you kept your parrot along with another one of the same sex.

Sometimes, two parrots of the same sex will get territorial and fight one another because they’ll think that the other parrot is potentially more attractive for the opposite sex.

But, it’s important that you keep parrots with other parrots, which is why you should keep parrots of the opposite sex with one another.

Keeping parrots together in a pair is a good idea if they are mating. If they are already used to each other, then this is even better.

If your parrots do not know each other well, then you should make sure that you take the time to introduce them to one another and allow them to get along before you go on to make them live together.

Mates already have an emotional bond with one another- yes, even birds- and you don’t want to do anything that would cause that bond to break. Some parrots even mate for life, as we show you in this article! (Even though it is not as romantic as you think).

3. They were raised together

Just like with any other animal, you will want to avoid separating parrots if they were raised together. And, if they were indeed raised together, it will be easier for you to simply continue keeping them in a pair. They are already used to one another and can already tolerate each other.

It may even cause them to emotionally suffer if you force them to be apart. Of course, you may find them bickering from time to time, but that’s normal behavior for a parrot.

If your pets were raised with one another at the place you got them from, you’ll want to make sure you do everything possible to continue to have them together.

4. It makes them bolder

Some people have said that studies show that parrots kept in pairs will be a lot bolder. This means that they’ll be more willing to accept new things, such as new food or a new toy that you purchase.

A parrot that has a partner in its cage might even be more willing to interact with you as its owner. This is especially true if one of the parrots is a lot less shy than the other.

The shy one will see that its bold counterpart is willing to try new toys and new food, which will cause it to be more willing to open up as well.

5. Parrots can feel calmer and safer

Just like we mentioned, being kept in a group could cause your parrot to feel more confident. This is also the same with any given situation that your parrots might be going through.

Seeing that they have a partner and a flock will make them feel as though they’re not alone and they will be more willing to interact and to deal with new and unknown situations.

Of course, this will depend on your parrots’ relationship with one another, but considering the way that humans and many other animals are able to feel confident much more when they are in a group as opposed to when they are alone, the same can be said for a pair of parrots.

6. Their breeding habits

Some species of parrots, such as the Pyrrhura conure, have unique breeding habits that will allow them to be kept together in the same cage. For example, these species tend to rely on the help of other parrots when it comes to raising their babies.

So, make sure you check with a specialist about what species your parrot is. It may indeed come from one of these species, which would then allow you to have no issues keeping two parrots at once. They would start to look at each other as family.

7. It will make them happier overall

Allowing your parrot to have a friend and a companion will make them happier overall. They will be in a better mood and they will be more sociable. This should come to no surprise due to the fact that anyone would be happy if they were able to have a friend with them.

Your parrot has someone they can play with, talk to, eat with, and more, and this companionship will help your pet to thrive in many ways.

Every bird owner can confirm, that caring for a parrot isn’t always easy since they are such social creatures. A second bird will make the job easier for you! We show you how hard it is to take care of a pet bird here!

8. Your veterinarian recommends it

If you’ve spoken with the vet or with any other type of parrot specialist and they recommend that you keep two parrots at a time, you probably will want to consider doing so.

They earn a living by studying birds and their habits, so they probably know a thing or two about how parrots need to live in order to do their best.

You will want to talk to a specialist about any potential fears you may have and what advice they have about how you should go about making sure your parrots will stay happy together.

9. You’ve monitored them together and they’re happy

If you recently got a new parrot, you’re bound to have monitored its behavior with your old parrot for the last month or so. You have to make sure that you monitor them closely for a period of time so that you can see how they react to one another.

This will allow you to see if they can adapt and if there happen to be any aggression towards each other. In most cases, your parrots will gradually start to accept one another as family and get along together well.

If they are happily playing together and don’t mind there being another parrot, then you shouldn’t have problems keeping them in the same cage.

Exceptions

1. They are of the same sex

You should avoid keeping parrots together in the same cage if they are of the same sex. It’s important for you to get them checked out to make sure exactly what sex they are, because it’s easy to misjudge this.

When your parrots are babies, you may notice that two of the same sex are getting along well, but when they become adults, their hormonal instincts turn them into angry enemies.

This is because they could end up being very territorial and jealous, despite the fact that parrots are social birds. They could even wind up killing each other in such circumstances.

2. They come from an aggressive species

There are indeed some species that are more aggressive than others, and some that will be able to tolerate each other without issue. Some of these species can include Parrotlets, Sun Conures, Green Cheeks, and Lovebirds.

Of course, some individual birds do not have an aggressive personality, but you probably want to avoid keeping two birds of a typically aggressive species together in case any instincts kick in.

If it becomes clear that you’ve purchased parrots that tend to be more aggressive due to the nature of their species, you should avoid keeping them together.

3. You raised one of them individually

This might not necessarily be a factor that would prevent you from getting another parrot entirely. It’s just important to keep in mind that parrots do have territorial characteristics that may cause them to not adapt to a new parrot as well.

However, in many cases, people who have monitored the behaviors of their new parrot and their old parrot have had success in keeping them together. It depends on you and how you choose to pay attention to your parrots. We will discuss this in more detail below.

4. They are siblings

If you happen to have two birds that are related to each other, you may be tempted to keep them together in the same cage so they can feel comfortable.

This can potentially be a good thing, especially if they are of the opposite sexes, but there is something bad that can come out of this: they may try to mate with one another.

It’s not the end of the world, but just like with most animals, you don’t want to have two parrots that come from the same bloodline breed because it could cause a multitude of problems for their babies.

Factors Making Keeping Parrots in Pairs Easier

We have talked about some of the key things you need to consider if you want to keep parrots in pairs, but there are also some regular factors that would make the whole process a lot easier.

One of the most important things you can do if you choose to keep a pair of parrots or more is have a large cage. This is typically a requirement for if you want to keep birds in general, but it’s especially the case with two parrots.

This will give your parrots plenty of room to move around and to play.

Also, parrots are known to get into small conflicts with one another from time to time (not usually serious ones), and having a cage that is large enough will make sure that they can stay away from each other for some time until they’ve been able to calm down.

Having a cage that is large enough to be able to accommodate several birds at a time is one of the most important things you can do if you choose to keep parrots in pairs.

The next thing that would make keeping parrots together easier is if they are of the same species. There are some species of parrots that are more willing to adapt to one another and to live together in harmony than others.

Some people even argue that you can keep different species together- but this will depend on your bird’s personality and their species. Generally, it is recommended that you get two parrots of the same species if you wish to keep them together.

If you have young parrots, this is the best time for you to get another parrot if that is your plan. This is because younger birds are much more likely to be able to get along with each other.

People tend to keep their baby birds together until they become adults, but chances are, if you get two parrots while they are young, they will learn to adapt to one another. Once again, make sure that their cage is large enough to accommodate both of them and you’ll be good to go.

Introducing Your Parrots to Each Other

Now that you’ve decided to keep two parrots together, the most important process is how you introduce them to each other (if you didn’t purchase them at the same time). This will help them to potentially create a strong bond and become the best of friends.

You’ll first want to keep the new parrot away from the old one just so that any potential illnesses don’t get passed on. This is typically recommended for about a month. Then, you will want to keep them in cages near one another so that they can see and interact with each other.

This is important so they can get used to the idea of there being another bird around.

It’s also recommended that you interact with your old parrot first, whether that be when you feed your parrots, play with them, or let them out of their cages. This will ensure that your old parrot doesn’t feel as though it’s being replaced.

After some time, you can start to let your parrots play together in the same cage or out of the cage. Be sure to be present and monitor their behavior closely.

In most cases, your parrots will get along together well, especially if you show both of them a lot of attention. It’s important for you to go through this process gradually and effectively.

It’s also a great idea to get a new parrot so your old one can have a friend to play with and have a sense of community.

Conclusion

Overall, it’s a good idea to consider keeping two parrots in pairs unless specific circumstances don’t allow for it. Parrots love to be a part of a community and to have a friend to play with.

Just as you wouldn’t want to be alone, your parrots need social interaction as well in order to remain healthy and happy. Be sure to monitor the behavior of both of your parrots and to make sure that all factors for keeping them together are in their favor.

You will soon see that both of your parrots are more confident and friendlier thanks to your decision to keep them together!