Do Parrots Kill Each Other? (Must-Know Facts)


When considering keeping more than one parrot, you may have stumbled onto information and stories of parrots killing each other, which may sound horrific for pet owners. You’re probably wondering the extent of truth in this information.

So, do parrots kill each other? Parrots have been known to kill each other or die of the injuries sustained in their fights. A parrot may single out a fellow parrot, begin pulling its feathers off, and then generally harass the other parrot to the extent of tearing chunks of the fellow bird. If no intervention is made, the activity will proceed until the victim parrot dies. However, the killing is rare and common to territorial parrots or male parrots competing for females or fighting their mates in breeding aggression.

Wild parrots rarely kill each other due to the advantage of taking time away from each other during food foraging and an option to go separate ways when they notice incompatibility. However, for parrots in captivity, this may not be the case. Read on to find out when and why your parrots may bite each other and whether you can have two parrots in one cage.

Why Do Parrots Kill Each Other?

Parrots kill each other is a confusing concept for many pet owners to grasp. The only way to understand this is by acknowledging the factors that motivate the killing.

A parrot may kill another when it lacks activities and stimulation, if it’s protecting its territory, and if you’ve pared two incompatible parrots. Lack of a means to entertain themselves may lead parrots to vicious fights that may result in the death of either parrot. Mate aggression is especially common in smaller-sized aviaries. When parrots are ready to mate, always keep them in an aviary that allows room for flying to ease the aggression.

Incompatible pairs, especially mates, often end up killing each other. If possible, parrot owners are advised to allow their parrots to pick their mates. If not, pair them according to aggressiveness. When an aggressive parrot is paired with a sweet, timid parrot, the male will likely fight the timid one. The same is probable when a large male parrot is paired with a small parrot.

Territorial fights by male parrots are also a common cause of death among parrots. When you temporarily separate two parrots and take out the female, the male parrot may become territorial. A territorial parrot is likely to attack the other when re-introduced into their nest. It’s much safer to reintroduce separated birds to each other gradually, for instance, by placing the two nests next to each other before fully moving them into the same nest again.

Parrots, at times, kill each other out of stress. For male parrots, the cause may be due to noise or as simple as eye contact from another male. In other situations, aggression and fights may lead to death due to sexual aggression when a parrot is ready to mate while its female isn’t.

Putting the same species of cockatoos in a cage may lead to them killing each other. Putting them in adjacent cages may lead to the build-up of aggression that manifests once they are out of their cages and interact. In some circumstances, the same species of cockatoos can live together in harmony, but most end up in fights.

Sometimes parrots will kill each other out of boredom. Parrots need a stimulating environment. If you keep your parrots without fresh branches and toys, they may grow frustrated and eventually aggressive. The aggressiveness then builds up into fights with each other, which may lead to death.

Why Do Parrots Bite Each Other?

If you have kept two parrots, you probably have spotted them biting one another. So, why do parrots bite each other?

Parrots bite their companions when unhappy. There’s a good chance that their companion upset them in some way. The reason for biting may be as simple as one of the parrots taking a toy or treat that the other wanted. Other times, however, it may be a sign that the two parrots’ personalities are not meshing well.

Parrots will bite their companions as dominant and territorial behavior. When you are breeding two parrots, expect one of them to take dominance over the other. During the journey to establishing that dominance, the parrots may peck and bite each other. The behavior may continue periodically as interaction with each other on a daily. You must ensure your less dominant parrot is still getting adequate access to resources like water, food, and toys.

Biting is common during the mating of parrots, especially once their hormones skyrocket. When in the wild, males may bite each other while fighting to get a female’s attention. If you keep a male and a female parrot, it’s not uncommon to spot the male biting the female during their courtship and in their mating process.

Younger parrots may bite each other out of curiosity. It might mean that they’re simply exploring their world. The biting in young parrots is quite similar to teething for mammals. If the pair of parrots are young ones, they are likely testing their environment out. Their exploration endeavors may include biting, sometimes to express unhappiness, other times just for the sake of biting.

Is It Better To Have One Parrot of Two?

If you are looking forward to purchasing a parrot or already have one, you may be wondering whether or not to get a companion for your parrot. So, which is better?

Getting a pair of parrots is better since parrots are sociable. Their socialization is key to their physical and mental health. It’s especially important since there are times when you may not be able to satisfy the level of socialization that your parrot needs for it to live happily and in good health. Parrots that lack adequate socialization may suffer psychological problems that birth behavioral problems such as self-harm.

One of the best ways of keeping parrots in pairs is by keeping parrots of opposite sexes. The parrots will get along well and live harmoniously. Opposite sex parrots live together way more peacefully than those of the same sex. However, separating two parrots that are mates is detrimental to their mental health. Same-sex parrots often end up in territorial fights.

It’s easier to care for two parrots when they were raised together. Suppose the aviary raised the bird you want together with another; it’s a lot easier to keep and continue raising them when they are in a pair. Such parrots can already tolerate each other, and separation may even lead to emotional suffering. Much as you may find a pair bickering from time to time, it’s only a natural behavior with parrots.

Parrots kept in pairs are much bolder. Two parrots living together are more likely to try out and accept new things such as toys or new food. A parrot with a partner in its cage is more likely to have the will to interact with its owner, especially when one of the two is shy. Everything that the counterpart embraces is a motivation for the other to try out.

Keeping your parrots in pairs also allows them to feel a lot more confident and remain calmer in any situation they are going through. A partner represents the parrot’s flock; having their flock with them makes a parrot feel less alone and even motivated to deal and interact with the known and unknown situations causing them alarm or discomfort.

The breeding habit of your parrot may be quite specific. For instance, the Pyrrhura conure’s rely on other conures to assist them with raising their babies. Therefore, check with a specialist to determine whether or not your parrot species require special treatment or will have no problem living with another parrot in one cage.

Keeping parrots in pairs makes them generally happy. Having a companion and friend is good for parrots. Parrots living in pairs are in better moods and more friendly. Your parrot gets a playmate, a partner to feed with, and much more than the companionship allows them to thrive in.

Can You Put Two Parrots Together in One Cage?

Your parrot’s cage is its nest. When thinking of buying a new parrot or introducing a parrot into the cage of another, you may wonder whether it is okay to do so. Therefore, can you put two parrots in one cage?

You can only put two parrots together in the same cage, if the risk of them fighting each other is minimal, as one parrot could end up killing the other parrot. When two parrots are kept together where they continually fight, the level of stress each parrot has to endure can be detrimental to their health, as they fight over territory.

Whether you may or may not put parrots in one cage; the answer is dependent on multiple factors. Some parrots do well in pairs in a cage, while others may fight or, even worse, kill each other. The following is a discussion of the factors that determine whether or not you can keep them together.

1. Their Species

As a general rule, two parrots of the same species will do better together. While other factors such as personalities dissect this factor, the species is the first determinant.

2. Sex of the Parrots

The sex of the parrots will determine their compatibility in sharing a cage. Same-sex parrots are very unlikely to do well in the same cage. When raising baby parrots of the same sex, they may get along well.

But, once they grow into adults, their hormonal instincts naturally turn them into enemies. They often end up jealous and territorial, despite parrots being social birds. On the other hand, same-sex parrots may blend well together and live pleasantly while sharing a cage.

3. Aggressiveness

The aggressiveness of the involved parrots is a key determinant of whether they can live with another parrot in the same cage. Some species have aggressive personalities, such as sun conures, green cheeks, lovebirds, and parrotlets. They may not show the aggressiveness individually, but once you put the two in a cage, the instincts might kick in.

4. Genetic History

Consider the ancestry of birds when keeping them in a cage. Siblings may live harmoniously, especially when the siblings are of the opposite sexes. However, there is a potential risk of the two mating with each other. This is not too bad, but like most other animal species, their mating may cause their offspring problems.

Parrots Can Kill Each Other

Like any other pet, keeping parrots requires you to run a background check. Finding that one of your parrots killed the other may be a horrific experience. It’s also easy for pet owners to question the quality of care they are giving their parrots.

On the contrary, the killing is almost always not related to the care you are giving. Ask about the compatibility of two parrots before keeping them together, especially when you intend to keep them in the same cage.

Bal Kang

Bal Kang is an owner of several pets including reptiles, cats and dogs. An avid writer, who loves to share her insights into caring for pets.

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