Cockatiels and conures deservedly count among the most beautiful parrots you can get. Despite a similarity in personality, nutrition, and even intelligence, they remain two different kinds of parrots. Therefore, is it possible for both these bird species to get along with each other? Let’s find out!
Cockatiels and conures can surely learn to live together over a few days. Cockatiels are social, and playful, while conures are territorial birds that can be aggressive. If you are planning to house both the birds together, then it must be under strict supervision.
It is important to keep in mind a few things before housing both the species of bird in a single cage. Bith these birds have a different personality and desires. Therefore, it is important to take things slowly to make sure that the birds are comfortable with each other.
You must be careful with how you introduce your birds to one another. Also, you must have a back-up plan if things do not go as you wish them to be. Now, let us learn more about cockatiels and conures getting along with one another.
Is Keeping Cockatiels and Conures Together a Good Idea?
Although, cockatiels and conures can get along, but it is always best to house birds of same species together.
Cockatiels are social, and playful, while conures are territorial birds that can be aggressive.
If you must put them together for any reason, ensure you supervise them.
What Are The Advantages of Cockatiels and Conures Living Together?
There are a number of pros of keeping a cockatiel and a conure together.
Both the bird species do not tend to nip or bite as much when they are paired. In most cases, these birds acts as a protector that the other bird feels more secure around.
It is also seen that a cockatiel and a conure housed together also play well together, especially if they both like toys. Cockatiels may be attracted to the bells on conure’s feet or cages.
Sometimes conures tend to get annoyed with cockatiels’ constant chattering, but this should be alleviated if they are kept in large enough aviaries or cages.
Furthermore, conures and cockatiels need a lot of attention and love. Therefore,, each bird will have plenty of attention from their partner.
Although conures and cockatiels can be kept in the same cage, it is important to have large cages that will allow both of these birds ample room for spreading out.
If they are kept in small cages, fighting and pecking can occur as each bird becomes more territorial over their own space and possessions.
What Are The Disadvantages of Cockatiels and Conures Living Together?
Housing cockatiels and conures together can sometimes result to certain problems in the future. If you are planning to keep both these birds together, you must be prepared for the same.
Both cockatiels and conures are loud birds. Therefore, keeping them together will result to a lot of chirping and bird noises
However, you can reduce this problem if you provide your birds with larger cages or aviaries.
Furthermore, cockatiels easily tend to get jealous of other birds. Therefore, you must provide both the bird species with equal food, attention, and toys.
You must also be careful while introducing both the birds with each other. Make sure that you do it slowly and with much care.
Give your birds some time to bond with one another as well as learn to tolerate the sight of their partner.
How Do You Introduce A Cockatiel To A Conure?
Introducing your cockatiels and conures to each other is a critical aspect you can never neglect. This time can be stressful for you as well as your birds.
If you do not do it correctly from the beginning, then you might end up messing with their relationship for a long time.
Although it is not advisable to house a cockatiel and aonure in a cage, you can have them together in the same room while you supervise.
While introducing both the birds to one another, make sure to do it slowing. Patience is the key. Never force the companionship of both the birds to each other. It will just do more bad to you and your birds than do good.
During the first few meetings, you might notice that your birds may act defensive and puff up, spread their wings, and hiss at each other. Such behavior is common. Therefore, you must not worry.
However, if this happens all the times, you should separate them immediately. Once there is calm, you can re-introduce both birds again.
If your still exhibit aggressive behavior, you should separate them again and re-introduce them later. Once the birds stop being aggressive, you can put them in a room and observe.
During the introduction period, it would be a wise move if you house your cockatiel and your conure separately when you are not around (in separate cages).
Whenever you have to go away, keep your pets away from each other.
Are Cockatiels More Friendly Than Conures?
Both, the cockatiel and conure share a generally enthusiastic demeanor. Both these birds are friendly and open to frolicking with their fellow peers and human handlers.
However, cockatiels binge more on attention than conures. The conures are a bit more introverted, when compared to cockatiels.
Conures are keener on its privacy than a cockatiel. Therefore, the conure is more territorial, preferring to have its space to itself in a while. It can resort to aggression to protect this space if needed.
On the other hand, cockatiels practically has no social boundaries. It doesn’t mind you staying with it and playing with it all day long.
Can A Conure Kill A Cockatiel?
Although a conure and a cockatiel might look of the same size, conures have a much more powerful beak and can hurt or kill a cockatiel, even without meaning to.
In addition, conures can be vicious and aggressive to other birds and have been known to hurt cockatiels.
Therefore, it is best to not house both the birds together in a single cage.
Can Cockatiels And Conures Mate?
If two species of birds falls under the same genus, then crossbreeding or hybridization will be common along them.
Parrots can sometimes breed with other types of parrots. However, breeding isn’t possible if there’s a significant genetic difference between the species, just in this case like of cockatiels and conures.
Cockatiels and conures have too much of a genetic gap to mate and produce viable offspring.
In general, cockatiels and conures usually get along, but one fight could seriously injure both the birds.
Therefore, you should never let the two birds live together, and you should play with your cockatiel and your conure separately.
Types Of Conures That Can Live With Cockatiels
There are many different conures, each with its own size, coloring, and lifespan.
They can be as small as the Pyrrhura picta, measuring between 8-10 inches, or as large as the Cyanoliseus patagonus species, measuring 17-19 inches in length.
Conures have varying personalities based on their breed, affecting their compatibility with cockatiels. Some conures are more likely to co-exist peacefully with a cockatiel than others.
Sun Conures
Sun conures are loud, active, and noisy, which will be ideal for your cockatiel’s active, playful lifestyle.
However, sun conures get attached to their owners, which might easily make a cockatiel jealous. They may also bother your cockatiel by screaming or calling out when trying to rest.
Jenday Conure
The Jenday conure is a loving and calm parrot.
It’s well-known for its compatibility with other conures. This breed also gets along nicely with other birds and avoids squabbling, even while playing.
However, if it gets bored, a jenday conure may become very active and rowdy.
Green-Cheeked Conure or Pineapple Conures
Compared to all other conures, the green-cheeked conure has the best chance of getting along with your cockatiel.
Green-cheeked conures are timid but loving. Usually, they’re more tolerant of active or talkative birds.
However, on the other hand, pineapple conures can be moody and temperamental. Therefore, they may not always react the same way to a cockatiel’s playful and social personality.
Blue-crowned Conure
In most cases, blue-crowned conures enjoy company, whether it’s another bird or a person.
Bllue-crowned conures active and vocal, engaging other birds with their wide vocabulary. However, they can be loud enough to startle your cockatiel, putting it on edge with constant, high-frequency noise.
Compared to the blue-crowned conures, cockatiels are more subtle in their activities.
What Other Birds Do Cockatiels Get Along With?
Cockatiels will mix happily with other small birds, including fellow budgerigars, turquoise parrots and red-crowned parakeets (as long as they don’t breed). Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) generally get along with cockatiels too.
However, before housing your cockatiels with any other bird species you must be extremely cautious. Cockatiels sometimes tend to be more aggressive with birds of either species. The safest choice of housing companion is another cockatiel.
