First and foremost, Are you prepared for the insurance, veterinary, housing and food costs of another bird? 

 

Here are some things to consider before bringing a new bird home.  

 

A good starting point is determining if your species of bird exists in a flock in the wild. Some birds, such as Eclectus parrots, are solitary; introducing another can result in severe and life-threatening injuries to one or both birds. Birds that allopreen (Definition: to preen or groom the skin or feathers of another bird) can, under the right circumstances, benefit from a cage or housemate.  

 

Finding a perfect match for your bird may not be as easy as it seems. Before making a lifetime commitment to a new bird, it is important to think through scenarios and contingencies if they do not match socially, such as; 

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• can a separate cage be accommodated in the space or another space in the house? 

• is each bird going to have enough time to socialise, individually, with the human flock? 

• is there a contingency plan for managing stress and anxiety in each and every flock member (bird, human, or otherwise), if the matching does not work out? 

• should a male and female co-exist in the same cage or household, are you prepared for egg laying (note, a second bird is not always required for eggs to be laid – a single female bird can surprise you)? 

• if a boarding service is used at times, multiple cages will be required during these stays.  

 

What about infection risk? 

There are several diseases present in captive birds that are contagious, and have the potential to cause debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening, illness.  

Any new birds should have a health check by an Avian Veterinarian in the first week with you. The veterinarian may recommend some screening tests be done to minimise the chance of disease spread to your existing feathered friend/s. There are some diseases we simply cannot test for. To keep your other birds safe we recommend quarantining ALL new birds.  

 

Quarantine recommendations for new birds 

• Birds can carry viruses and bacteria which can be transferred to other birds and make them sick such as psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), or Psittacosis 

• New birds should be quarantined for 6 weeks.  

• This should be in a separate air space, with completely separate feeding materials, including preparation utensils and bowls. They should be tended to last in the routine, or by a completely different caregiver, with human hygiene being strictly observed.  

• If a quarantined bird develops illness, seek veterinary advice.  

• Some bird diseases are zoonotic, meaning they can be transferred to humans. Good hygiene and maintaining appropriate human to bird boundaries will go a long way towards preventing infection transfer.  

 

What is good hygiene and appropriate human to bird boundaries? 

• Avoid kissing your bird or having any part of its body in direct contact with the human face.  

• Wash hands with soap after handling.   

• ALWAYS ensure cages are thoroughly cleaned between birds with soapy water to remove organic debris, and disinfected, rinsed and dried.  

• A suitable disinfectant is a 1:32 dilution of household bleach (4% chlorine) in water.  

• All new birds should have a health check within the first 7 days. Click here to make an appointment.