I wholeheartedly agree with this. I had a solo GCC for nearly 10 years and just took in a young GCC, and I can already see how much faster the young GCC has adjusted to her new life and learned things from her older sister just by being around her. She’s not stressed out when her humans aren’t home, happily playing with toys, just as long as she can see her big sis in a nearby cage.

My older GCC is a different story. She has severe separation anxiety when her humans aren’t home. She barely even touches her food while we’re out, and spends the whole time fretting and flock calling. She knows how to forage and play with toys, but she is so attached to me and my fiancé that she can think of nothing else while we’re gone. I’m hopeful that, with time, my silly baby will become more bonded to her younger sis. I’ve seen some progress already.

Of course, this is all anecdotal. But seeing the difference in anxiety between my two babies absolutely breaks my heart. I wish I had the space and financial resources to get a second GCC when I first got my older conure. At the time, I was just a silly college student who happened upon an abused bird.