I have a huge cage ( 6 foot by 2-ish) that was the only colony cage for the budgies. 2 of the budgies paired off, so we've moved them and a nest box into another cage. That left 2 females and 1 male. We had another male, but he snuck out the only way out that we hadn't thought of.

 

Anyway, the 2 females have paired up, leaving the poor boy left out. The yellow hen is quite aggressive and is now chasing him around the cage. She is letting him eat, but not sit in peace. She'll land next to him and sidle up, only to snarl at him when close enough. Tricky little critter!

 

Anyway, I know this is all normal, but what do I do? Do I get a male and hope the boys make friends? Do get a female and hope all 3 hens don't gang up on the poor boy? Or do I leave them alone until they reestablish the pecking order in the colony? I would like to have 1 more, but is now the best time or the worst?

Maybe get another male, it is better most of the time to even the numbers.

Maybe get another male, it is better most of the time to even the numbers.

 

 

I agree with Ratzy. If you got another hen, the poor boy would be in even more trouble!

Please post a clear picture of the cage and perches and feeders.........................hens most often get nasty over SPACE and PERCHES.

I like even numbers... especially sexes, although that being said my budgie numbers are not even but it works for me. A photo of the cage as Kaz said would be nice.

Edited January 19, 201015 yr by maesie

Sorry I didn't come back to this sooner, I didn't get any emails saying there were replies.

I did end up getting a hen. She seems to be trying to make friends with the male (follows him, no aggression), but he keeps moving away. It's only been a week though.

 

 

I'll take some pics later today, as I have another question.

 

My yellow hen mated with my grey hen yesterday. Could the yellow hen be male? I'll take pics and upload them here so you can see her (it, him).

2 hens have been known to mate with each other but maybe it is a male. You will have to post pics as you said.

Sorry I didn't come back to this sooner, I didn't get any emails saying there were replies.

I did end up getting a hen. She seems to be trying to make friends with the male (follows him, no aggression), but he keeps moving away. It's only been a week though.

 

 

I'll take some pics later today, as I have another question.

 

My yellow hen mated with my grey hen yesterday. Could the yellow hen be male? I'll take pics and upload them here so you can see her (it, him).

 

emails re replies..............you will have to check your ticked boxes to see if you set it right for that function. Go into MY CONTROLS and EMAIL SETTINGS

 

No quarantine for your new birds away from your others ??

 

Yellow hen..............seems it has been sexed incorrectly ?

 

PICTURES please ?

Yes, she was quarantined. She was away from other birds for over a month in her previous home.

 

Not sure how clear that is, but it's hard to get a good angle to see the cage.

 

 

The young 'lady' in question.

 

 

'Sugar' and a bit of her mate Cutie.

Yes, she was quarantined. She was away from other birds for over a month in her previous home.

 

Not sure how clear that is, but it's hard to get a good angle to see the cage.

 

 

The young 'lady' in question.

 

 

'Sugar' and a bit of her mate Cutie.

 

Quarantine in her own home is different.

Its quarantine at your home that counts. Up to 5 metres away different room different airspace for 30 days minimum. You have misunderstood the essential principles of quarantine.

 

 

Looks like a female to me.

How old? Looks like a male.

How old? Looks like a male.

 

 

About... 15 months old. Why does it look male to you? I assume there are characteristic other than the cere that would show it?

How many birds in your cage?

 

Only 1 nestbox? Why is it in there at all?

 

Those hanging pots will look like great places to breed to the birds - leading to more fighting.

 

Time to make your cage suitable for your birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quarantine in her own home is different and not quarantine at all. Its quarantine at your home that counts. Up to 5 metres away different room different airspace for 30 days minimum. You have misunderstood the essential principles of quarantine.

How many birds in your cage? Only 1 nestbox? Why is it in there at all?Those hanging pots will look like great places to breed to the birds - leading to more fighting.Time to make your cage suitable for your birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree....................some kinds of advice we dont like to listen to despite it being best for the birds

Edited February 7, 201015 yr by KAZ

Quarantine in her own home is different and not quarantine at all. Its quarantine at your home that counts. Up to 5 metres away different room different airspace for 30 days minimum. You have misunderstood the essential principles of quarantine.

How many birds in your cage? Only 1 nestbox? Why is it in there at all?Those hanging pots will look like great places to breed to the birds - leading to more fighting.Time to make your cage suitable for your birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree....................some kinds of advice we dont like to listen to despite it being best for the birds

 

2 Nestboxes. 4 birds. 2 pairs, so it seems.

 

They weren't hanging pots, they're coconuts. They used to sit on them, not in them. They stayed in there until just after I took the picture because the only one who shows interest in them these days (since the bonded male and female moved into their own cage) was the grey hen. I figured since was bonded to a female that it wouldn't cause too much issue. Since her mate now seems to be male, it was suddenly an issue.

 

Just so you know, I've come here open midedly and in good faith for advice from more experienced people, not be talked down to. There are more respect for posters on other bird boards, but they are not budgie boards. If you are truely interested in helping people learn and bettering the lives of their budgies, then perhaps you could be supportive?

 

I guess this will get me banned, but honeslty, don't bother. I feel very unwelcome, so won't be returning.

Quarantine in her own home is different and not quarantine at all. Its quarantine at your home that counts. Up to 5 metres away different room different airspace for 30 days minimum. You have misunderstood the essential principles of quarantine.

How many birds in your cage? Only 1 nestbox? Why is it in there at all?Those hanging pots will look like great places to breed to the birds - leading to more fighting.Time to make your cage suitable for your birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree....................some kinds of advice we dont like to listen to despite it being best for the birds

 

2 Nestboxes. 4 birds. 2 pairs, so it seems.

 

They weren't hanging pots, they're coconuts. They used to sit on them, not in them. They stayed in there until just after I took the picture because the only one who shows interest in them these days (since the bonded male and female moved into their own cage) was the grey hen. I figured since was bonded to a female that it wouldn't cause too much issue. Since her mate now seems to be male, it was suddenly an issue.

 

Just so you know, I've come here open midedly and in good faith for advice from more experienced people, not be talked down to. There are more respect for posters on other bird boards, but they are not budgie boards. If you are truely interested in helping people learn and bettering the lives of their budgies, then perhaps you could be supportive?

 

I guess this will get me banned, but honeslty, don't bother. I feel very unwelcome, so won't be returning.

 

This wont get you banned.......you have to do a whole lot worse to get banned around here. Its is a pity the written word can be so misinterpreted so often. Good advice so often goes ignored. Your choice if you choose to listen or not really. I am sorry you feel that way.

We only try and help with advice based on personal experiences so others do not suffer heartache. Quarantine is one of those sensitive subjects and one where some of us have had experience in things that go pear shaped when steps are missed.

Edited February 7, 201015 yr by KAZ

I am sorry Mirren if you thought I was being harsh. That was not my intent.

 

The recommendations for colony breeding is that for every pair of birds, you have twice the number of required nestboxes. The reason I was wondering about the nestbox as you said you had moved the mating pair to a seperate cage (which is very sensible and the absolute right thing to do), thus why I was wondering about the nestbox.

 

Hens, even if they do not have a mate, will fight for the best position, so even if there is only 1 pair in there capable of breeding, fighting, and possible death could well be the outcome. No one wants that to happen.

 

You cannot be upset about me asking about what I thought were posts, but you corrected me and said they were coconuts. You yourself removed them after you took the photo. It is impossible for me to know you removed them without telling us, and yet again, i was simply suggesting hey be removed to save future bloodshed.

 

Anyone who puts information up on the world wide web needs to be aware that since there is no tone or punctuation accompanying the words, it is very easily to misinterpret what is typed.

 

Mirren, as stated before, I did not mean to offend you in any way by my words. If I did, I really apologise.

 

I do hope that you return to the forum.

And it's a lutino? Male ino birds keep there pink cere's all through life. Yeah, it was mostly the cere. Female budgies wouldn't have that colour cere at that age.

Edited February 7, 201015 yr by Ratzy

Hi all,It's all good. I probably did take things the wrong way and I'm sorry. okay, let's see-The hestboxes are there because they've been there from the start. It was my intention to try to breed the budgies in together, because I simply don't know what the perfect forumla is. We have 3 Eclectus parrots in an aviary flight together and know people who breed them and other large bird in together. 1 person we know has 7 pairs of Alexandrine together and they all breed.Budgies (for those of us who don't know better) have a reputation for being laid back and (seem to be) kept in colonies to breed a lot. The pair seperated were removed because we were experimenting and had a spare, good sized cage. As I said before, I thought we had 2 bonded females and a spare male, so the nestboxes seemed more or less redundant and it was harder to remove them than to leave them there. Removing them means rolling the cage up staris and results in much bird-trauma!okay, so I need either 2 more nestboxes or none?And it's a boy. okay, at least that is sorted!Also, I've never heard of there being a difference between quarentining at home and otherwise. it was my understanding that is simply meant separation to avoid speading disease. I realise that it's normal practice amongsy larger birds to let them get used to each other before they're face to face, as we did with our Alexandrines and ringnecks (cages side by side for a week), but was told it was okay with budgies because they're laid back.It's hard to know who, out there, are experts when they speak with confidence. I have to say budgies are more complicated than all our (28) other birds!

And it's a boy. okay, at least that is sorted

Not necessarily

I think that budgies are the most complicated little birds I have ever come across!!!!

And it's a boy. okay, at least that is sorted

Not necessarily

I'm not sure if I should smack myself in the head or aim it at you! Maybe both...

I think that budgies are the most complicated little birds I have ever come across!!!!

What other birds have you come across?

And it's a boy. okay, at least that is sorted

Not necessarily

I'm not sure if I should smack myself in the head or aim it at you! Maybe both...

Well, I didnt say it was a boy thats all.

Only Ratzy said male.

 

Maybe some more photos...close ups and no flash.

 

What is your gut feeling about this bird ?

Edited February 7, 201015 yr by KAZ