In the days before the advent of surgical sexing and the more recent and safer option of using DNA to establish a parrot's sex, the only way to know whether you had a true pair was via fertile eggs. Many aviculturists in those days had "true" pairs of birds that mimicked perfectly the happy family, i.e. male and female but were in fact either two females or two males. Copulation often takes place between two males and the only clue to the fact that they are two males was when the supposed female suddenly takes up the male's mating position.

Once you have purchased two birds of the opposite sex, you must then test for compatibility. Introductions can be quite traumatic. It is wise to allow the hen to establish her territory within the aviary prior to placing the cock bird with her. It is also good policy to allow the cock bird to be placed in a smaller cage attached to the aviary or alongside the existing aviary so that they can view each other from a distance prior to introduction. Sometimes it can be love at first sight, but in my experience it tends to be somewhere in between that and total dislike. A high degree of apprehension normally prevails at the first introduction. I have found that if you can get the two birds together in the hen's aviary for a couple of days or so then move them to an aviary in which neither bird has previously been. Because of the strange environment the only comfort they can gain is from each other. I have found this to work on many occasions and sometimes in the most difficult pairings. With larger birds such as Macaws and Cockatoos where they have volatile personalities, it is essential to remain vigilant and don't go too far away before you are sure that either bird is in danger from the other. It's worthwhile having a net and gloves available if you are required to intervene.

THE TEXT ABOVE IS FROM "BREEDING PARROTS IN AVICULTURE" A PARROTCARE PUBLICATION FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE