Pretty was hanging upside down from the cage door opening and Shelfie hopped over and started pecking at her. Pretty tried to pull herself up to get away but Mean Shelfie bit her foot. Poor Pretty was actually hanging from Shelfie's beak. It was only for a second then Shelfie dropped her. I didn't see any blood but Pretty was obviously favoring it.

 

Shelfie is just so mean. She wants to be around the other birds but she's constantly scolding them. I was feeding Dave and Pretty millet across the room. They don't peck at each at all. They were nicely sharing a millet sprig while sitting on my hand. Shelfie flies over and joins them. After a minute of eating, even though she had over 1/2 of the millet sprig to herself she started in on Pretty. Pretty and Dave flew away. Shelfie, the twit that she is won't stay across the room by herself. She has to be with 1 or 2 of her friends. They are all like that actually.

 

I just don't get her. She still grooms Dave and even tried to feed Pretty sometimes. Pretty seems to say get away from me you psycho. Even with me, every-time she steps up quite voluntarily (no physical contact initiated on my part) she hops up and nips me hard. She will sometimes gently nibble my face but sometimes she bites really hard. She came over and watched me for a while. She came up nibbled my nose for a quick second and then bit my eyelid really hard! I don't let her get near my face.

 

She's the most curious of them but just mean. She hasn't been plucking Dave anymore though. I'm afraid she might have to be separated if she doesn't mellow out.

 

And she's not molting now. And she's getting 12-14 hours covered time.

 

Any thoughts.

I has been advised to not have one bird in the cage and the other one out hopping around because birds will normal peck at the toes like this. My advise is that if they are going to be like this to cover the cage with a sheet so the toes don't go through and noone's feet can be pecked at.

 

I would continue the cover time and just wait it out if it gets bad you may have to separate in 2 cages, most birds do get along but there are the occasion where 2 must be separated for housing because 1 is bullying and hurting the other one.

I agree with Elly on this... they love to peck at "anything" that is hanging through the bars of the cage... including toes. I rescued three finches that are all missing toes because they were allowed to fly free in the owners home and from landing on the other birds cages they lost toes. Always have the top of the cage covered or get a "play unit" that can set on top of the cage so it can be up there without direct contact with the birds below.

I has been advised to not have one bird in the cage and the other one out hopping around because birds will normal peck at the toes like this. My advise is that if they are going to be like this to cover the cage with a sheet so the toes don't go through and noone's feet can be pecked at.

 

I would continue the cover time and just wait it out if it gets bad you may have to separate in 2 cages, most birds do get along but there are the occasion where 2 must be separated for housing because 1 is bullying and hurting the other one.

 

Actually they were all in the cage. The cage door was open and Pretty was thinking about going outside and moved to the door opening and hung upside down looking out. Dave moved the feedcup on the open door. Then Shelfie moved over and started pecking Pretty's feet. But they were both inside the cage. Pretty let go to get away but Shelfie grabbed her foot so Pretty was hanging upside down from one foot caught in Shelfie's beak. Poor Pretty was screaming for help. Then Shelfie dropped her and she fell to the cage floor.

 

Make sense?

 

Summer