Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and I am so glad I have found you!! Its been great to get to know my feathered friends from your posts.

 

2 weeks ago I found a blue budgie having breakfast on a lawn in the sun whilst out on my morning walk, I knocked on doors but nobody owned it. I was concerned a cat or worse, a fox would kill it so I brought it home. I borrowed a cage from a friend, rang the vets in the area, put an add in the paper, some more door knocking (one lady said she'd noticed the bird flying around for over a week) but still nobody has claimed her. We have now decided to keep her. I bought a huge cage on the weekend and also a mate for company. I put them in the new cage at the same time. All seems to have been going well till today I noticed the blue one - 'Elly' is being defensive with 'Mellow' - yellow one. Mellow tries to get close to Elly but Elly bites and if Mellow turns its (not sure if male or female at this point, too young to tell) back, Elly grabs hold of Mellow's tail and pulls. Elly was also upset if Mellow tried to eat from the hanging seed treat in the cage if she was so I put another one in and they seem to be okay to feed on one each but the other biting continues.....should I be worried?

 

Chainey

This is part of the pecking order and in some ways can be minimised or avoided through quarantine. You are new to budgies so dont worry too much, but in future it is good practice to keep new birds seperate for 30-90 days (generally people do 30) to allow any hidden illnesses to show up in the new bird before you introduce it to your existing bird/s.

 

Ideally this is done in completely seperate rooms but sometimes people can only manage seperate cages in the same room. Whether one has them in the same room in different cages, or finishes quarantine and then places the new budgie in a seperate cage you can then place the cages together so that the birds can become familiar with eachother by sight and sound without fighting.

 

When you decide to introduce them into the same cage, start by re-arranging all the toys and seed/water dishes + perches so it looks like a cage neither budgie is familiar with or dominant in. Because the cage will be strange to them both it reduces territorial behaviours such as biting/pecking/bickering over food and space, favourite perch spots etc.

 

You did very well to add additional seed feeders, this is an excellent move. Even now is not too late to rearrange the cage, add new perches or move them so that both budgies have to readjust and hopefully this will allow them to both feel at home. Some pecking and fighting is normal in the first few days to a week as they need to establish a pecking order

 

Good on you for rescuing a budgie

This is part of the pecking order and in some ways can be minimised or avoided through quarantine. You are new to budgies so dont worry too much, but in future it is good practice to keep new birds seperate for 30-90 days (generally people do 30) to allow any hidden illnesses to show up in the new bird before you introduce it to your existing bird/s.

 

Ideally this is done in completely seperate rooms but sometimes people can only manage seperate cages in the same room. Whether one has them in the same room in different cages, or finishes quarantine and then places the new budgie in a seperate cage you can then place the cages together so that the birds can become familiar with eachother by sight and sound without fighting.

 

When you decide to introduce them into the same cage, start by re-arranging all the toys and seed/water dishes + perches so it looks like a cage neither budgie is familiar with or dominant in. Because the cage will be strange to them both it reduces territorial behaviours such as biting/pecking/bickering over food and space, favourite perch spots etc.

 

You did very well to add additional seed feeders, this is an excellent move. Even now is not too late to rearrange the cage, add new perches or move them so that both budgies have to readjust and hopefully this will allow them to both feel at home. Some pecking and fighting is normal in the first few days to a week as they need to establish a pecking order

 

Good on you for rescuing a budgie

 

 

Thanks for the tips

 

Is it worth separating them now or leave them to sort it out? I did introduce them to the new cage at the same time thinking neither will be familiar with it, so from what you say this was the right thing to do....good! If the bickering lasts longer than a week I'm guessing I will need to separate them? And while I'm here.... I'm wondering about how to protect them from the wind? Their cage is under cover in our pergola area, however, at times we do get strong winds, is covering the cage, which I am doing of a night to protect from the cold, enough protection from wind as well?

The seperation is about quarantine and health issues not whether or not they get along with each other.

The seperation is about quarantine and health issues not whether or not they get along with each other.

 

Hi Kaz,

 

Yes, I didnt word my reply very well. I was wondering if I should in fact quarantine them now after them being together for 48 hours or not worry considering they 'have' been together and the damage is done if either has health issues?

Nah quarantine is already broken so dont worry about it now

Hmm I dunno what I can add really, but from my experience, Janus used to bully Apollo a bit early on, but now they're inseperable. Sometimes they still have the odd lovers tiff, but in general they get along fine. It might take a little time for Elly to get used to having someone else around (as I'm gathering she's older than Mellow).

That's just my 2 cents, and I'm in no way very experienced with two birds in the one cage (as this is my first experience too!).

I know its only been a week and Elly & Mellow need to settle in together however, I think the bickering and bullying displayed by Elly is getting worse. No matter where Mellow is eating, Elly bullies her out the way and then eats there. I put in more feeders but this hasnt helped. There are also 2 hanging treat feeders and Elly just has to have the one Mellow is eating at the time. Mellow's feathers are also on the bottom of the cage so I'm not sure whats happening when my back is turned. Do I persevere or separate them?

 

cheers!

I know its only been a week and Elly & Mellow need to settle in together however, I think the bickering and bullying displayed by Elly is getting worse. No matter where Mellow is eating, Elly bullies her out the way and then eats there. I put in more feeders but this hasnt helped. There are also 2 hanging treat feeders and Elly just has to have the one Mellow is eating at the time. Mellow's feathers are also on the bottom of the cage so I'm not sure whats happening when my back is turned. Do I persevere or separate them?

 

cheers!

id put in seperate cages next to eachother

the feather lose is most likley stress related but as i cant see i dont know

I know its only been a week and Elly & Mellow need to settle in together however, I think the bickering and bullying displayed by Elly is getting worse. No matter where Mellow is eating, Elly bullies her out the way and then eats there. I put in more feeders but this hasnt helped. There are also 2 hanging treat feeders and Elly just has to have the one Mellow is eating at the time. Mellow's feathers are also on the bottom of the cage so I'm not sure whats happening when my back is turned. Do I persevere or separate them?

 

cheers!

id put in seperate cages next to eachother

the feather lose is most likley stress related but as i cant see i dont know

 

I agree differently separate as soon as possible.

id put in seperate cages next to eachother

the feather lose is most likley stress related but as i cant see i dont know

 

I agree differently separate as soon as possible.

 

 

isnt that what gb said?

Edited May 24, 201014 yr by KAZ

id put in seperate cages next to eachother

the feather lose is most likley stress related but as i cant see i dont know

 

I agree differently separate as soon as possible.

 

 

isnt that what gb said?

The key word is AGREE

id put in seperate cages next to eachother

the feather lose is most likley stress related but as i cant see i dont know

 

I agree differently separate as soon as possible.

 

 

isnt that what gb said?

The key word is AGREE :rofl:

Agreed

Hmmmm....I was afraid you'd all say that. Not so sure what to do now as I only have the one cage and unable to keep them both if they do need to be in separated permanently. I suppose giving Elly to a friend who has an aviary will also result in her birds being bullied?

No, I don't think so. Just tell her to remember quarantine.

No, I don't think so. Just tell her to remember quarantine.

 

Oh okay, I do have a lot to learn about birds dont I! :yes:

I will get intouch with my friend and see if she will take her. Fingers crossed!

 

Thanks everyone!

Thought I would let you know the outcome....

 

I was able to give Elly to my friend with the aviary. I expected she would quarantine (as I have learnt from this site) yet she was happy to put her straight in with her other birds even after me explaining etc. I'm now worried about 'her' birds because Elly just attacked each and every one of them. I have been consoled to some extent and been told if there are males in the aviary, which there are, that they will sort it out. I truely hope so!

 

I decided to get Mellow a mate from where I got her and yes, I'm doing the quarantine this time Already Mellow and ? - havent named him yet, are getting along fine. I borrowed a cage from my friend and they are talking to each other through the bars and sitting quite close to the cage walls to be near each other (the cages arent too close) and I'm left wondering if they could even remember each other? I cant express what a relief it is to have Elly not attacking Mellow anymore and I'm even happier these 'seem' to get along.

 

Ahhhh...the peace is bliss

Thought I would let you know the outcome....I was able to give Elly to my friend with the aviary. I expected she would quarantine (as I have learnt from this site) yet she was happy to put her straight in with her other birds even after me explaining etc. I'm now worried about 'her' birds because Elly just attacked each and every one of them. I have been consoled to some extent and been told if there are males in the aviary, which there are, that they will sort it out. I truely hope so!I decided to get Mellow a mate from where I got her and yes, I'm doing the quarantine this time Already Mellow and ? - havent named him yet, are getting along fine. I borrowed a cage from my friend and they are talking to each other through the bars and sitting quite close to the cage walls to be near each other (the cages arent too close) and I'm left wondering if they could even remember each other? I cant express what a relief it is to have Elly not attacking Mellow anymore and I'm even happier these 'seem' to get along. Ahhhh...the peace is bliss

quarantine in a cage next to the other is NO QUARANTINE AT ALL.seperate cage........seperate room at least 5 metres away....minimum 30 days

I expected she would quarantine (as I have learnt from this site) yet she was happy to put her straight in with her other birds even after me explaining etc. I'm now worried about 'her' birds because Elly just attacked each and every one of them. I have been consoled to some extent and been told if there are males in the aviary, which there are, that they will sort it out. I truely hope so!

Males dont sort anyone out................does your friend have nestboxes in this aviary ? and if so are there underaged budgies in there ? I really dont think the solution for Elly was a good one.

Edited June 4, 201014 yr by KAZ

Thought I would let you know the outcome....

 

I decided to get Mellow a mate from where I got her and yes, I'm doing the quarantine this time Already Mellow and ? - havent named him yet, are getting along fine. I borrowed a cage from my friend and they are talking to each other through the bars and sitting quite close to the cage walls to be near each other (the cages arent too close) and I'm left wondering if they could even remember each other? I cant express what a relief it is to have Elly not attacking Mellow anymore and I'm even happier these 'seem' to get along.

 

Ahhhh...the peace is bliss

 

Ummm. I don't think you have grasped the real meaning of quarantining new birds. It means keeping the new bird well away from your existing birds for a period of 4 weeks ...

 

Here's some reading for you:

 

Why we should quarantine

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=22067

Quarantine Practises for Everyone

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=18548

:angel: ohhhh!!!!

 

No, I did not grasp the meaning of quarantine at all did I :angel: I guess once again damage is done.