Well, we have had Coco for almost a year now and this week we introduced him to Kif, our new male budgie (after quarantine of course ) and they are not getting along very well.

 

Coco is a very hyper bird, looks like he has been drinking coffee all day, and pretty much runs circles around Kif while they are out. He will then try to feed Kif, play with Kif, and just drive him a little nuts. Poor Kif will just sit there like 'get this psycho away from me'.

 

But this isn't so bad, it is when I try to let them have a play in one cage that Coco turns nasty. I have tried putting Coco into Kif's cage as Coco may be territorial with his cage, but he is just as bad. He will peck at Kif (but not actually touching him) until he falls to the bottom of the cage, and will just keep doing it.

 

Their cages are next to each other and they have been chatting for the past week, and they spend most of their time out of the cage on the play gym together, but they just don't want to share a cage.

 

What can I do??? Has anybody had problems like this??

 

I would love any suggestions!

Time, time and more time. Maybe don't do the 'cage play' for a little while yet. Once the out of cage play is a little more calm and controlled... you could go back to the cage play. Do you have plenty of things to keep them occupied out of the cage?? toys etc??? Some birds just don't get along, but hopefully, with time and patience, your two can. Good luck and please keep us updated.

I went to the Melbourne Zoo the other day and was told this by one of the Zoologists:

 

They had two groups of meercats that they needed to house together, but as you may know they are very territorial and have very close family groups... what the zoo did was walked passed the enclosure with birds of prey a couple of times... the meercats stopped fighting each other to protect themselves from the common danger...

 

I wouldn't recommend that for your birds But like maesie said time time and more time Good luck and keep us posted..

I have a play gym set up and rattle balls that they play with out of the cage, and a few other bits and pieces.

 

I will give them more time out of the cage before I try them in together again

 

Interesting about the meercats, but yeah, I don't think bringing a cat in would help in this situation

Give them more time out together and keep the cages open so they can go in and out of each other's cage, how big is the cage you are wanting to house them in? Also are there are any toys that can cause territorial behavior such as bells, mirrors, reflective objects?