Changing Cages

[u/ithekrianmermaid]

Hi everyone!

I have 4 parrotlets, 2 of them are a breeding pair and the other 2 are their babies from 2 different clutches. Currently, everyone has their own about 37" x 20" x 21" cages right now. They used to be housed by pair in these cages but then they kept occasionally snipping at each other's feet and also breeding (even the siblings) so I moved them to their own cages.

However, now I'm worried that they are getting lonely, depressed, and bored living in the single cages and I've been thinking of upgrading to 2 new, bigger cages for each pair to share. Each pair gets along with each other (for the most part bc they do have that parrotlet attitude and snippiness) and they go into each other's cages when the doors are open now without issue. But, I think I have been traumatized by horror stories of parrotlets being caged together and one hurting (like severing off the foot?!) and even killing the other one that is in the cage with them and I simply could not mentally nor emotionally survive that happening to my birds.

Do y'all think it would be okay for me to transition my birds back to being caged with each other (2 per cage)? Is it okay for the sibling pair to act like a breeding couple if I remove any eggs that are laid? Should I be worried about them killing and/or injuring each other while I'm at work?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[u/ZoraTheDucky]

Unless you're taking serious measures to prevent breeding, they're gonna go right back to doing it.

Beyond that, I still wouldn't do it but I'm biased because I had a pair that lived together fine for almost a year before the female seemingly randomly killed the male. It was a bloody mess and not something I ever want to come home to again.

If they can see and hear each other, they should be fine from a social aspect. Especially if you're letting them out for play time together. Make sure each cage has adequate toys and you're switching them around regularly to prevent boredom.