Socialising Your Bird
What is socialisation?
Socialisation is the act of integrating your bird into your human family and/or bonding your bird with a companion, whether that’s in a pair or in a larger group. Socialisation with other birds may be hard in those that were hand-reared and not exposed to other birds at a young age, but they can be easier to integrate into human families. Either way, most birds are sociable and enjoy spending time with others.
Why is socialisation important?
Lots of wild birds gather in flocks for mutually beneficial reasons, protecting them from predators in a protective unit. So naturally, birds want to be with others. Smaller species often prefer to be with at least one other bird. Some larger breeds cope with just a human family but thrive better when they have companionship.
Isolated birds that have cages away from family activity or those that don’t frequently interact with either companionship or humans, lacking their perception of a flock, can become depressed and unwell as a result. Socialisation is important for mental stimulation and general well-being.
A bird that is well socialised with humans also copes better with environmental changes due to having the added support of their human to comfort them in stressful situations. This is also of vital importance should they become unwell as they cope better with handling, examination, and potential treatments, giving them higher success rates in recovering from illnesses.
What to do when you first welcome your bird home
It can be quite overwhelming for your bird when first welcomed home. Birds can be quite timid initially. It is important to give them time to acclimatise to the sights and sounds of your home for a few days, before initiating any direct contact or interactions.
- Move slowly when tidying the cage and bringing food and water initially for the first few days until your bird gets used to you. Loud noises and sudden movements can startle your bird if they are not used to you.
- Minimise interactions until your bird has had a chance to settle in. They will show signs of being comfortable by singing, whistling, and perhaps talking. You can then take this cue to initiate interactions slowly and build on this daily.
- Interact more and more each day, building your bird's confidence in your relationship. Always end interactions on a positive and introduce treats or rewards.
How to socialise your bird
Depending on who you are introducing your bird to, there is a lot to consider.
Socialising with other birds
If you are bringing a new bird into a flock or introducing a new bird in hopes of them forming a pair bond and enjoying companionship, it should be done carefully and slowly.
- Initially, new birds should ideally be kept in a different airspace when brought into the home and kept in “quarantine” for at least a month until you are sure they are in good health and won’t bring in any illness to the existing group/bird.
- Once past the quarantine phase, cages can be moved into the same room, where birds can visualise each other but initially not interact directly.
- Cages can be moved closer together or you can introduce structured and supervised playtime outside of the cage to see how the birds integrate.
Some birds tolerate proximity but do not tolerate having other birds in their immediate living space. Watch body language carefully and if in doubt of serious injury from fighting, separate them immediately. Socialised, bonded birds will choose to sit near each other, groom, and preen each other.
Socialising with the humans
Birds often enjoy human companionship but can be prone, in the absence of other birds as companions, to pair bond with one particular human, especially if there is one person who predominantly cares for them.
It is important, therefore, to share care responsibilities amongst the family to encourage bonding with the group and ensure your bird is happy with all members of the family. Ensuring that the whole family bonds with your bird will prevent unwanted behaviour such as attacking others when their “favourite person” is approached, or a hunger strike if their favourite person isn’t available for a time, for example.
Possible bonding activities include:
- Communicating with your bird as much as possible
- Interacting using toys
- Playing games and enjoying being silly together
- Watching TV or listening to music together
- Spend time training your bird for enrichment purposes.
Socialising with other pets
It is important to remember birds are prey species and should never be left vulnerable to predation or injury from other pets (cats, dogs) that are predators to them. Other pets should therefore be removed from rooms before free-flying or if birds are unsupervised in cages, to keep them safe.
Socialisation is important for the overall health and well-being of your bird. Make sure to initiate introductions slowly for a happy socialised bird within the family unit.
What is socialisation?
Socialisation is the act of integrating your bird into your human family and/or bonding your bird with a companion, whether that’s in a pair or in a larger group. Socialisation with other birds may be hard in those that were hand-reared and not exposed to other birds at a young age, but they can be easier to integrate into human families. Either way, most birds are sociable and enjoy spending time with others.
Why is socialisation important?
Lots of wild birds gather in flocks for mutually beneficial reasons, protecting them from predators in a protective unit. So naturally, birds want to be with others. Smaller species often prefer to be with at least one other bird. Some larger breeds cope with just a human family but thrive better when they have companionship.
Isolated birds that have cages away from family activity or those that don’t frequently interact with either companionship or humans, lacking their perception of a flock, can become depressed and unwell as a result. Socialisation is important for mental stimulation and general well-being.
A bird that is well socialised with humans also copes better with environmental changes due to having the added support of their human to comfort them in stressful situations. This is also of vital importance should they become unwell as they cope better with handling, examination, and potential treatments, giving them higher success rates in recovering from illnesses.
What to do when you first welcome your bird home
It can be quite overwhelming for your bird when first welcomed home. Birds can be quite timid initially. It is important to give them time to acclimatise to the sights and sounds of your home for a few days, before initiating any direct contact or interactions.
- Move slowly when tidying the cage and bringing food and water initially for the first few days until your bird gets used to you. Loud noises and sudden movements can startle your bird if they are not used to you.
- Minimise interactions until your bird has had a chance to settle in. They will show signs of being comfortable by singing, whistling, and perhaps talking. You can then take this cue to initiate interactions slowly and build on this daily.
- Interact more and more each day, building your bird's confidence in your relationship. Always end interactions on a positive and introduce treats or rewards.
How to socialise your bird
Depending on who you are introducing your bird to, there is a lot to consider.
Socialising with other birds
If you are bringing a new bird into a flock or introducing a new bird in hopes of them forming a pair bond and enjoying companionship, it should be done carefully and slowly.
- Initially, new birds should ideally be kept in a different airspace when brought into the home and kept in “quarantine” for at least a month until you are sure they are in good health and won’t bring in any illness to the existing group/bird.
- Once past the quarantine phase, cages can be moved into the same room, where birds can visualise each other but initially not interact directly.
- Cages can be moved closer together or you can introduce structured and supervised playtime outside of the cage to see how the birds integrate.
Some birds tolerate proximity but do not tolerate having other birds in their immediate living space. Watch body language carefully and if in doubt of serious injury from fighting, separate them immediately. Socialised, bonded birds will choose to sit near each other, groom, and preen each other.
Socialising with the humans
Birds often enjoy human companionship but can be prone, in the absence of other birds as companions, to pair bond with one particular human, especially if there is one person who predominantly cares for them.
It is important, therefore, to share care responsibilities amongst the family to encourage bonding with the group and ensure your bird is happy with all members of the family. Ensuring that the whole family bonds with your bird will prevent unwanted behaviour such as attacking others when their “favourite person” is approached, or a hunger strike if their favourite person isn’t available for a time, for example.
Possible bonding activities include:
- Communicating with your bird as much as possible
- Interacting using toys
- Playing games and enjoying being silly together
- Watching TV or listening to music together
- Spend time training your bird for enrichment purposes.
Socialising with other pets
It is important to remember birds are prey species and should never be left vulnerable to predation or injury from other pets (cats, dogs) that are predators to them. Other pets should therefore be removed from rooms before free-flying or if birds are unsupervised in cages, to keep them safe.
Socialisation is important for the overall health and well-being of your bird. Make sure to initiate introductions slowly for a happy socialised bird within the family unit.
What is socialisation?
Socialisation is the act of integrating your bird into your human family and/or bonding your bird with a companion, whether that’s in a pair or in a larger group. Socialisation with other birds may be hard in those that were hand-reared and not exposed to other birds at a young age, but they can be easier to integrate into human families. Either way, most birds are sociable and enjoy spending time with others.
Why is socialisation important?
Lots of wild birds gather in flocks for mutually beneficial reasons, protecting them from predators in a protective unit. So naturally, birds want to be with others. Smaller species often prefer to be with at least one other bird. Some larger breeds cope with just a human family but thrive better when they have companionship.
Isolated birds that have cages away from family activity or those that don’t frequently interact with either companionship or humans, lacking their perception of a flock, can become depressed and unwell as a result. Socialisation is important for mental stimulation and general well-being.
A bird that is well socialised with humans also copes better with environmental changes due to having the added support of their human to comfort them in stressful situations. This is also of vital importance should they become unwell as they cope better with handling, examination, and potential treatments, giving them higher success rates in recovering from illnesses.
What to do when you first welcome your bird home
It can be quite overwhelming for your bird when first welcomed home. Birds can be quite timid initially. It is important to give them time to acclimatise to the sights and sounds of your home for a few days, before initiating any direct contact or interactions.
- Move slowly when tidying the cage and bringing food and water initially for the first few days until your bird gets used to you. Loud noises and sudden movements can startle your bird if they are not used to you.
- Minimise interactions until your bird has had a chance to settle in. They will show signs of being comfortable by singing, whistling, and perhaps talking. You can then take this cue to initiate interactions slowly and build on this daily.
- Interact more and more each day, building your bird's confidence in your relationship. Always end interactions on a positive and introduce treats or rewards.
How to socialise your bird
Depending on who you are introducing your bird to, there is a lot to consider.
Socialising with other birds
If you are bringing a new bird into a flock or introducing a new bird in hopes of them forming a pair bond and enjoying companionship, it should be done carefully and slowly.
- Initially, new birds should ideally be kept in a different airspace when brought into the home and kept in “quarantine” for at least a month until you are sure they are in good health and won’t bring in any illness to the existing group/bird.
- Once past the quarantine phase, cages can be moved into the same room, where birds can visualise each other but initially not interact directly.
- Cages can be moved closer together or you can introduce structured and supervised playtime outside of the cage to see how the birds integrate.
Some birds tolerate proximity but do not tolerate having other birds in their immediate living space. Watch body language carefully and if in doubt of serious injury from fighting, separate them immediately. Socialised, bonded birds will choose to sit near each other, groom, and preen each other.
Socialising with the humans
Birds often enjoy human companionship but can be prone, in the absence of other birds as companions, to pair bond with one particular human, especially if there is one person who predominantly cares for them.
It is important, therefore, to share care responsibilities amongst the family to encourage bonding with the group and ensure your bird is happy with all members of the family. Ensuring that the whole family bonds with your bird will prevent unwanted behaviour such as attacking others when their “favourite person” is approached, or a hunger strike if their favourite person isn’t available for a time, for example.
Possible bonding activities include:
- Communicating with your bird as much as possible
- Interacting using toys
- Playing games and enjoying being silly together
- Watching TV or listening to music together
- Spend time training your bird for enrichment purposes.
Socialising with other pets
It is important to remember birds are prey species and should never be left vulnerable to predation or injury from other pets (cats, dogs) that are predators to them. Other pets should therefore be removed from rooms before free-flying or if birds are unsupervised in cages, to keep them safe.
Socialisation is important for the overall health and well-being of your bird. Make sure to initiate introductions slowly for a happy socialised bird within the family unit.