I have 4 budgies, three females and one male. Colour is the oldest, but i do not know her age as i got her from a shelter and they could not tell me anything other then she was an adult. The other three are all younger, approx 5 months. The problem is Bluebell. Colour is very set in her ways, and recently Bluebell has been trying to challenge her over everything. For example, her swing. Bluey will jump up on Colours swing with her and fight till Colour hops of and moves to a vacant swing, then Bluey just follows her and repeats the process. She also seeks out the other two babes just to bicker with them. They just keep out of her way. At the moment she is in a cage on her own so the others can have some peace, but she clings to the side bars with her head pressed against the roof and i feel sorry for. Can anyone help with why this is happening and what i can do

How large is the cage and what way do you have it set up ?

How large is the cage and what way do you have it set up ?

 

It is a large rectangular cage, with a roof section that opens up, i'm not sure of the exact measurement, but at least 18 inches in length. The pet shop owner where i brought it is very good with big walk in enclosues that he keeps all his birds in. I trust him and he said it was ample for 4 birds. I have four perches (tree branches) and four swings. Two food dishes and two water dishes, a long rope ladder and a long chain of loops, plus a couple of balls on the floor

How large is the cage and what way do you have it set up ?

 

It is a large rectangular cage, with a roof section that opens up, i'm not sure of the exact measurement, but at least 18 inches in length. The pet shop owner where i brought it is very good with big walk in enclosues that he keeps all his birds in. I trust him and he said it was ample for 4 birds. I have four perches (tree branches) and four swings. Two food dishes and two water dishes, a long rope ladder and a long chain of loops, plus a couple of balls on the floor

18 inches wide or high ?

All four can sit comfy on the highest perch with out touching the sides or each other, my husband thinks closer to 20"x25" across the base

Edited January 22, 200817 yr by suzii

Generally this kind of bickering occurs due to lack of space or hormonal budgies. Not all petshops get it right about budgies cages unless they are dedicated budgie owners themselves. If a cage is too small for 4 budgies they have to have out of cage time and the cage is then treated like a bedroom and restaurant. The wider the cage the better for budgies...taller is more for finches and canaries. Open top cages are for cockatiels who are out most of the day.

I would have 4 budgies in a wide cage of 24 to 30 inches and it doesnt have to be a tall cage. They need their perches set up so they can fly across the width of the cage...most cages come with the perches in all the wrong places. Sometimes we fill the cages so full of toys and perches in the wrong spots that all they can do is sit or sidle along the perch. Maybe it just needs a rethink.

Edited January 22, 200817 yr by KAZ

I agree with Kaz. I would also think about rotating toys around at least 2x a month or more therefore they don't get too attached to a particular toy and become territorial. You can find this type of behavior in a single budgie too that doesn't want to share his toys (espeically mirrors or reflective type of types). So I would take Kaz's advice, a bigger cage, toy rearrangement etc...

 

Do you have a picture you can post of the cage?

All four can sit comfy on the highest perch with out touching the sides or each other, my husband thinks closer to 20"x25" across the base

 

I finally found a tape measure and it measures 22' x28' accross the base and 30' high, i am pretty hopless at estimating measurement.

I chose it over the budgie cages as it was large with easy access to fly in and out,but still suitable for indoors. They are out for about two hours each night and pretty much all weekend. The other 3 budgies are all good, happy, she is the only one who wants to bicker, and it only seems to happen when the are settling for the evening. and has really only started to do so recently. The four swings concern me, but i just want to fair as they all like to sleep on a swing, so it would have to be all or none. The cage gets rearranged every weekend when i empty it out to wash down.

My husband thinks i am being obsessive and that it's natural, she wants to be the boss.

The pet shop we use is not a big commercial operation, and they only deal/specialise in small birds and fish, the only staff being the owners and their daughter. My husband has built up a good relationship with them over years as he loves fish and they are the only people he trusts. They genuinally care for their animals. I believe they would not delibratley led me astray

 

My second cage is a little over half the size, so i will try giving them more space by splitting them up for a while into twos.

See how they go. Any more advice on this move would be greatly appreciated. A bigger cage indoors is not really an option, with all us and two huge fish tanks to contend with. Should i look at moving them outdoors. I just want them ALL to be happy.

Edited January 22, 200817 yr by suzii

Instead of splitting them up which is stressful I would work on rearranging toys, perches and even give them foraging toys so they are busy. A lot of what you find is bored budgies with nothing to do. Sitting in the same cage day after day with no scenic change I am sure is quite boring .

Your setup sounds fine. Maybe just have to think like a budgie and shift a few things about again ?

Also, We both work 8 hours aday and cage them during this time for their own safety. Is this necessary. If they could fly free all day it would solve issues of boredom and space?

Also, We both work 8 hours aday and cage them during this time for their own safety. Is this necessary. If they could fly free all day it would solve issues of boredom and space?

If the cage is just a little too small then flying free would help YES. BUT not if you are not at home to watch them. Maybe just bite the bullet and get them a much bigger cage. You can always keep the other cage for a quarantine cage for the future or onsell the first cage to help pay for the bigger new cage ?

Edited January 22, 200817 yr by KAZ

Really they should be in their cage all day. There have been incidents of budgies getting trapped behind dressers, flying in to walls quickly and hurting themselves they really need to be supervised during flight time.

It sounds like you've been given some great advice already, but I'll add my two bobs worth :(Laughing out loud): . I would definately be leaving them caged whilst you're not home, it's too risky not to. I have an avairy and find my budgies tend to bicker at night just as they are settling also (and they have ample room) It's like when we toss and turn in bed to get comfy... maybe remove the four swings and replace them with something else for a while. They'll find some where else to sleep no worries. You could also try to tire them out during the day, so they have less energy to bicker at night. Try foraging toys... paper bags/newspaper filled with seed/fruit and vegies that they have to 'dig' for... Give them chewing/shreading toys... anything to keep them busy and pre-occupied. Worth a try anyway. Good luck and keep us updated

Tonight they have settled with only a little bit of bickering from the two younger girls. I have placed the swings in each corner, so they have a least 18 inches between them. This did not stop bluey from climbing onto the roof and hanging above angel and starting a fight whilst hanging upside down. My presence over them broke it up and Angel left the desired swing and has settled on a perch in the middle. Bluey got her way an now seems content. The other two birds were left alone and settled quietly. I don't wont to take the swings away as Colour has slept on one every night in the 2 years that she has lived with us. I don't want to upset her.

Only a suggestion :(Laughing out loud): That's fair though, you know them best!!! ...and there's probably enough stress as it is. If you just keep a close eye on them when they settle at night and give them a talking to if they start to bicker, I'm sure they'll get the idea. Budgies are usually pretty smart and are fast learners. Sounds like they already know who's boss! Good Luck :(Laughing out loud):

Only a suggestion :(Laughing out loud): That's fair though, you know them best!!! ...and there's probably enough stress as it is. If you just keep a close eye on them when they settle at night and give them a talking to if they start to bicker, I'm sure they'll get the idea. Budgies are usually pretty smart and are fast learners. Sounds like they already know who's boss! Good Luck :(Laughing out loud):

Yeah :(Laughing out loud): . I don't think bluey likes me much at the moment as she is often in the bad books and she knows it.

Thankyou for your advice it is greatly appreciated