| I would strongly suggest that you NOT integrate parrots that are not
of the same species together even if they originated in the same
geographic area. Unless you have a very LARGe aviary encompasing
a great deal of land, they will probably squabble, which could cause
some serious damage - costing you either a bird or a gigantic vet
bill. Especially with the large parrots (i.e. cockatoos, eclectus,
amazons, etc.). Even though Cockatoos are basically a non-violent
bird, there are occasions where they will attack another bird -if
threatened or when breeding urges stir. Moluccan Cockatoo males
are known to kill the female on occasion, so please be cautious
when mixing birds.
Birds that I know that are safe to mix in an aviary are:
Finches, Canaries, small doves, button quails (make sure finches are
of equal size. Don't mix a large finch such as the java rice or
shafttail with cordon bleus or smaller finches. The larger finches
tend to be more agressive and could cause problems.)
Cockatiels & budgies (Providing you have a good size flight space)
Budgies can be agressive or pesty to the tiels.)
Don't Mix the following birds with other species:
Lovebirds (especially the peach faced. VERY agressive bird - esp. the
females! They even attack and kill their own babies on occasion!).
Ringnecks - Although I have heard of mixing these birds with others
like Senegals or Conures, I wouldn't recommend it. These guys can
be quite agressive as well.
NOTE: Most birds become very agressive when there are mixed sexes
of their kind in the aviary. They tend to pair off and become
posessive of their mates and will attack another bird even
their own kind viciously. So keep that in mind.
If you plan to breed any of these birds in the aviary, then
keep each pair separate for "SAFE" results.
I know that keeping these birds separate is a bit more cost and work
when planning your aviary, but believe me, it makes a heck of a lot
more sense and less costly in the end.
Best of luck!!
Denise
|
| Denise,
Thanks for your elaborate reply.
The aviary is a multi-year program. So I am plannning the design
VERY carefully and it will be LARGE.
At the moment I am thinking of a large central "communal" area with
secluded extensions surrounding this. Planting might be used to form
partitions.
As I understand it now, Cockatoos do live in flocks but get territorial
about their nesting area. The social behaviour changes during the
reproduction season during which they indeed can be rather violent.
Maybe the planting partitions must be supported by gates. Closed during
the breeding season, keeping the breeding pairs seperated and open for
the rest of the year. This indeed means that it will have to be a single
species group which will be GSC's. I like these best, I already have a
good pair and can get these at $1200 per pair (handraised, captive
bred).
Keeping these birds in a group highly promotes proper pair forming and
the development of the social behaviour in young birds.
I will go to Walsrode, in Germany, this weekend to visit their breeding
projects.
Undoubtedly they will provide me with lotsa info too.
They keep large groups of macaws and medium sized groups of cockatoos
so I am very curious about their "solutions".
Will keep you posted.
Peter
|
| At the Walsrode park the present aviaries are, liek they agree with
themselves, of a bit outdated design.
All aviaries are in adjourning rows with their backs to a communal
gallery.
No groups are kept for breeding purposes.
Only smalll groups of the same or very compatible species are kept for
display purposes. Only young and unpaired animals are placed in these
groups. As soon as a pair-bond is establisehed the birds are placed in a
breeding surrounding.
Social behaviour does benefit from the group-keeping but breeding will
not take place unless the pair is isolated.
Pair bonding is greatly stimulated by the group keeping. With cockatoos
the communal cage needs to be very roomy and of such a design that
birds can avoid eachother. Cockatoos also need attention in order to
intervene when a male or pair wants to breed, becomes agressive.
Peter
|