Keeping Parrots with other Birds

In general, parrots do not mix well with non-parrot species. The problem lies in their hooked beaks, which can pack all the power and vicious intent of a bird of prey. Even a minor squabble can result in Canaries and Finches with snapped legs or nasty cuts.

Cockatiels in a mixed aviary

Anything larger than a cockatiel should never be mixed with other types of bird. Even amongst the smaller species, there are parrots that will cause havoc amongst a flock of finches. Lovebirds and Lories are the main culprits. Even with placid characters like budgerigars and smaller parakeets, you will need a very big aviary. No parrot/finch mix will ever work in a confined space.

Keeping Parrots with Quail

Conures, Cockatiels and Budgerigars can be kept in the same aviary as popular species of pet Quail such as Chinese painted quail, aka Button quail or King quail (Coturnix chinensii), and the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). The parrots will ignore the Quail scuttling around the cage bottom like wind-up toys, and the Quail will be happily oblivious to all the parrot fuss going on around them. However, most of the larger parrot species will take an unhealthy interest in the Quail, so should not be mixed with them. There are exceptions, including some docile Amazon Parrot species, so it’s always worth checking with an expert, in person or via an online forum.

Green-Cheeked Conure - one normal type, and one Cinnamon type

Keeping Parrots with Finches and Canaries

Finches can mix with Conures, Cockatiels and Budgies, but only in a very large aviary. Canaries are not very good mixers, however (and the same applies to other timid finch species), and in general they will not be happy in a mixed aviary that includes any member of the parrot family.

Budgerigars and Zebra Finches are neighbours in their native Australia

Keeping Parrots with Chickens

This is not a good match. Chickens are omnivorous and aggressive and may attack smaller birds. If the birds are large enough to fend off the chickens, that’s hardly a good outcome either. In brief, chickens are not aviary birds.

Keeping Parrots with Doves

Doves are placid aviary birds, and will only be happy with other placid species. Not many parrots fall into this category, but Conures and Budgies are suitable cagemates. Common dove species available as pets include the Ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola) and the diminutive Diamond dove (Geopelia cuneata).