In the last day or two, Baby and Cupid and Psyche have finally noticed each other. Their cages are on opposite sides of the living room. Since Baby has finished her medicine and has started eating the pellets I've been giving her, she's turned into a young thing again. Her flying has gotten a lot stronger and she spends much more time with us. As a result, Cupid and Psyche have been seeing her more and I brought her over to visit them. After the little visit, she flies over to their cage now too. When she's on the couch with us, Cupid and Psyche are in the close corner of their cage, looking like they want to join us.

 

We've been watching them closely when Baby goes visiting. Jared said that Psyche was posturing and lunged at her feet once. Cupid has been very friendly and investigative and nibbled on her toes once as well (it was more like a curious taste than a hack). Sometimes Psyche will ignore Baby and other times she'll go over to where she is and then leave her again.

 

What sort of behavior should we be watching for that would indicate they're not going to get along? I also wonder if Baby going over to them is intimidating to them in some sort of way, like she's invading their territory. When is it safe to let them out together? How do you break up a bird fight? What other things should we be aware of while integrating the flock? No, we're not planning on housing them together at all, just getting them to all be friends.

 

I think that Baby's new found energy and strength is a great opportunity for bringing Cupid and Psyche out of their shells. I just want to be sure that we do it right, know what pitfalls to look out for and know how to deal with them as well.

As things have been progressing, it doesn't seem like the birds are doing anything more than the little pecking and stuff that you see the birds doing at the pet store. In fact, it almost seems as if Baby is the one doing most of the pecking. Like her and Cupid wanted the same little bit of food and she was the one who told him to go away. There was a really cute sweet moment with Baby on top of their cage. I have one of their toys set up so that it makes a sort of swing. Baby was near that toy and Psyche came over, climbed up into it and looked at Baby all sweetly and just sat there by her. I think it looks like they're all going to be good friends.

All sounds great. They are working out their "pecking order" and how to get along. I love your descriptive stories.....it's like being in the room with them. Keep it coming.

Budgies are so gregarious that it is unusual for them to take an intense dislike to another budgie. Most fighting and bickering takes place in the home due to perceived competition...competition for food, a good sleeping spot, your attention, enough "space" or "breathing room", etc. A lot of people think there is a hierarchy or pecking order with birds, but in my experience I haven't really seen that. Some days one of my budgies will seem like "top bird", other days another bird is. It is a dynamic relationship that changes sometimes hourly. Parrots can be likened to toddlers. If someone else has something then they want it. NOW. Whether they really want it or not is a moot point. They don't even have to know what something is. If another bird looks like it is having fun with it, enjoying it, getting attention from it, eating it, etc. then the rest "all of a sudden" want it too. The next time you have free time, really watch your birds interact and think of toddlers while you watch them. I think you will see what I mean. This is one area where normal budgie jealousy can work in your favor. I read in one of your other posts about introducing them all to eating from a plate...so you have experienced it a little yourself.

 

If a real fight breaks out, try a diversion first. Turn up the TV really loud real quick with the remote. Toss a book or magazine on the floor, clap your hands, something to create a sudden loud diversion. That is usually enough to make them stop. I would break them up with your hands as a last resort, only because if they associate all that anger with you grabbing them, there is a good chance any taming you have accomplished will go right out the window. Obviously if there is blood and they are ignoring everything else but their intent on gutting the other, then you need to break them up however you can with your hands. But I've never seen budgies that intent on each other. I suppose it could happen in a breeding situation, but that isn't the case with you.

 

Be aware that hens need more "personal space" than the boys do. Most squabbles will probably be between your hens. Even if they dislike each other, given enough space and little or no competition for toys, food, attention, or perching spots they should tolerate each other. Keep us updated!

Thanks for the good info Rainbow. They really do act like little kids, don't they? Jared tried to get the two to want to take a bath, but i think they were too intimidated by the container, and Baby wasn't having as much fun as she usually does too. *L*

 

And I'm glad that at least someone enjoys my descriptions - sometimes I worry about being too wordy. *L*

 

What's really interesting is watching the 3 of them interact. Baby has spent all of her 15 years with the exception of when she was with her nestlings and since the end of October without any other budgies around. So she doesn't really know how to interact with budgies, just with people. Cupid and Psyche look all around while they're eating, very alert to their surroundings, where Baby is completely ingrossed in her food. Cupid will peck at her or bump her head and she'll just look dazed, like she has no idea what he's trying to do. *L* Its cute to see the differences in their behavior and watch them learn from each other.