I can't believe that it is 8 weeks since Cheeky and Nosher entered our lives. Their home is a roomy 20"W x 24"H x 32"L so there is room for each other, there are 4 feeders with seed, nuts and sunflower seeds that are moved around for variety. One end of the cage has hoops and other hanging toys that are rotated along with toys for the bottom of the cage. there is a parrot size swing between two of the perches (one of which is a Sandy Perch) and a corner clip together percy. There is a 'nest' made of strips of paper for them to hide if necessary.

 

Nosher loves toys and plays as with them all. Cheeky loves sliding down the sides of the swing but otherwise ignores the toys.

 

Just over 4 weeks ago Cheeky started with the agro, going for Nosher's feet, pulling feathers, yet they were still feeding each other regularly during the day. At first I put it down to them looking at who was the top cock. The fighting got worse and in the end no matter where Nosher went Cheeky was following with open beak slashing and stabbing especially at the head and eyes. It got to the point where Nosher was bleeding from cuts and was jumpy at the slightest movement. After reading previous posts and other boards (I am more at home here ) along with my vet, the decision was made to move Cheeky out for a few days and to try them againg after a few days.

 

Well the few days are over and Cheeky is back in the main cage along with Nosher and they were all over each other at first. Now the bickering has started again. I am at a loss because I cannot keep them apart permently as I do not have the resources to keep two cages permently going all the time, in different parts of the house. At the same time the sound of both birds calling out to each other all day is heart breaking. Nosher even stopped playing!

 

I do not know what the next step to take is apart from re-homing one of them.

it is too bad that they are not getting along. l know you mention that you are not able to keep them apart in different rooms, but are you able to keep them in separate cages in the same room?

 

okay, l was just thinking and l was wondering if it would be possible to keep them in the same cage but when they start to bicker, you could separate them and put each one in a separate cage, sort of like a time out. once they settle down abit. you could put them back together.

Edited August 12, 200718 yr by birdluv

Hi Birdluv, I have 2 cages. When I had to seperate them Cheeky was in the smaller'hospital' cage. At first he was in the same room and both birds were flying onto the cage sides as if they were not there. The only way I could settle them down was to put them out of sight and sound.

 

Because of the severity of the attack Nosher was as timid as timid, even now I can not go near his cage with out him becoming a shivering fur ball. It is going to take a while but I will try and regain his trust as he is such a joy. Cheeky no longer likes me but he was happily sitting on my daughters finger singing away as if he was the sweetest of sweetest birds.

 

If I had to determin which of them stays I would choose Nosher and here is why:-

 

I mentioned the various toys in my original post, one of them is a cotton rope that has a variety of wooden shapes threadded onto it with a bell on the end. Nosher started on the top of the swing, did a 720 on the way down, missed the perch and carried on down. He did not miss the blocks on a rope though! Slipping one by one (it was only the bottom two) he eventually came to the bell. He must of been stunned because he made no attempt up to this point to slow the force of gravety. Back to the bell. No toe tried to slow the downward motion, his chest feathers sped him up as they made contact. At the last possible second a beak darts out and makes contact with the clapper. With a sudden jerk and wings sending the contents of he sand tray flying every where he stops his down ward motion.

 

For a good 10 seconds there is this stunt budgie holding on for dear life with his wings going twenty to the dozen to stop falling the last three inches between foot and floor

 

 

Nosher is the Grey and Cheeky is the white lump.

 

Edited August 12, 200718 yr by AlexB

Looks like your budgies may both be hens and if they are at that "hormonal age" .....near first moult....that may be the problem. Hens bicker together more than any other mixes of the budgie sex.

They do look like two girls. I'd get rid of the 'nest' and anything that might look like a neat hiding place to lay eggs in.

 

Good luck but girls can be pretty snitchy. I've got one cheeky 2 month old who's cere has just turned brown flirting with her half-brother and I swear looking for somewhere to nest!

 

KathyW.