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Post by dianapalmer on Nov 4, 2013 17:37:09 GMT
Hi.
Sarah, you mentioned that Piper and Snowy might be hormonal, because these two males seemed to be trying to mate.
I have a related question: I have been training them with a target stick and clicker. This is how I get them out of the cage. Recently, when I approach the cage door with the target stick, they start fighting. It gets pretty intense (I usually separate them somehow when it happens). It seems they both want the treats. Piper, in particular, wants to keep Snowy away from the target stick, my hand, and the treats. Snowy isn't backing off, tho. (The funny thing is, I alternate giving them treats, but when they fight over who gets to the target stick first, it seems they forget all about the target stick and the treats while they are fighting.)
Once I ge them out of the cage, I keep one on the play gym and one on top of the cage, so they don't fight. But, it's funny. Snowy will train fine on the play gym, but he will suddenly climb back up to the cage top to be with Piper, then they are fighting again over the target stick. They do seem a bit like teenage boys.
They are about four months old. Do they often get hormonal at this age? I this another sign that they are getting hormonal? Does it pass?
You mentioned in a previous post covering the cage more and avoiding fatty foods. I have already been keeping the cage covered for twelve hours a night. I could cover it longer. I feed them Roudybush pellets in the cage and I give them Nutriberries as treats when I train them. Is this too much fatty food?
The two of them are definitely less lovey-dovey and peaceful than when I first had them. They get along well most of the time. In addition to training time, they sometimes scrap over both wanting the same toy.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I don't know much about hormones in budgies.
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Post by Sarah on Nov 4, 2013 17:41:35 GMT
This sounds like two males trying to sort out the pecking order. This is a bit of an unusual situation, because fighting usually occurs between females, who sort out dominance and then choose a mate, thereby giving the males a rank in the flock. I hope that they do grow out of this quickly. Tussling is going to happen, but if there is ever even so much as a drop of blood, please separate them immediately. How long have you had them? If they are about 4 months, I assume you have had them for less than a month yourself? Hopefully they will calm down over the coming weeks. Please keep me posted, and I will try to learn more about this.
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Post by dianapalmer on Nov 4, 2013 17:48:06 GMT
Thank you.
I got Piper September 2nd and Snowy September 9th. So, it's just over two months.
There's no blood--They bang their heads forward forcefully, often banging beaks against the other in the process. I haven't seen them actually bite each other.
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Post by Pammy on Nov 4, 2013 18:36:55 GMT
Diana, Kringle & Clausy will fight like this sometimes, too, but not to the degree you are describing with Piper & Snowy. My boys will squabble like this mainly when being offered seeds cupped in somebody's hand. Kringle always starts the problem, and sometimes Clausy will immediately back off, and other times he will assert himself and then they fight by stretching themselves up as tall as they possibly can, and clashing beaks (all right in the palm of the hand feeding them). This happens (though less frequently) when I put the pellets in for the evening every night. The boys peacefully eat their vegetables together during the daytime hours. And of course I've already told you how Kringle blocks Claus and won't let him participate in any form of training exercises.
I'm thinking the two of us need to enlist the help of two tiny, feathered females to get these little man birds to calm themselves!
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Post by dianapalmer on Nov 4, 2013 20:48:56 GMT
Yes, Pammy. I am wondering if a pair of females would help sort things out.
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Post by Pammy on Nov 4, 2013 21:10:53 GMT
Are you considering pulling the trigger on it, Diana?
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Post by Sarah on Nov 5, 2013 0:49:15 GMT
Oh! They are banging their beaks together? Are they putting their chests right together?
This is a dominance display, much like how rams butt heads. It will pass, and the best way to help it pass faster is to let it work itself out. They aren't likely to hurt each other during this behavior - the way you described it at first, I thought they were like, attacking each other XD. For now, I think it would be best to separate them when you train. Work with one at a time so they have fewer things to argue about. Do you have another room you could take them to?
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Post by Pammy on Nov 5, 2013 2:29:29 GMT
Sarah I'm sure you are talking to Diana, since this is her post, but as for me and my boys, yes, they do touch chests and grapple at each other's beaks and wobble stiffly from side to side while they are tussling.
I am unable to train my boys in separate rooms. I might be able to get Kringle into a different room, but I absolutely cannot take Clausy to a different room.
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Post by Sarah on Nov 5, 2013 2:31:27 GMT
Well, perhaps you could leave Kringle with your husband or daughters while you work with Claus in the main room.
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Post by Pammy on Nov 5, 2013 4:19:58 GMT
That's a great idea, and such a simple one that I feel like an idiot for not thinking of it myself. Clausy really needs some one-on-one time with me, without Kringle constantly trying to block him from training sessions. I do want to be clear that 98% of the time, Kringle is very nice to Claus and they get along beautifully. It's just during hand fed seeds time and training time that there are dominance problems.
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Post by dianapalmer on Nov 5, 2013 16:35:08 GMT
Pammy,
I'll be very interested in how this works for you.
I miss the days when P&S were all lovey dovey all the time. They were billing and cooing nicely last evening. Then, this morning they were fighting over the food dishes, even though there are two of them.
I'm not sure about getting two females. P&S chirp all the time when anything is going on--TV, radio, etc. I don't mind. It is such cheery sound. But, I'm not sure about doubling it.
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Post by Pammy on Nov 5, 2013 20:52:11 GMT
That's exactly where my husband is, Diana. I desperately want to get two females, increasing my budgies flock to four, plus the adorable Mistletoe makes five birds. That's a LOT of chirping! Fine with me! I love happy sounds. Hubby? He's not so sure he wants THAT much happy noise.
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Post by Emily on Nov 6, 2013 0:47:10 GMT
Gosh...that is also what's going through Jarod's head, but if he gets to buy another motorcycle or toy car to work on, I'm SURE I'm justified in getting two more lovely budgies.
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Post by luvsanimals2 on Nov 6, 2013 1:12:08 GMT
Pammy, I'll be very interested in how this works for you. I miss the days when P&S were all lovey dovey all the time. They were billing and cooing nicely last evening. Then, this morning they were fighting over the food dishes, even though there are two of them. I'm not sure about getting two females. P&S chirp all the time when anything is going on--TV, radio, etc. I don't mind. It is such cheery sound. But, I'm not sure about doubling it. how close are the dishes to each other? mayb do one on the other side of the cage |
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Hormonal?
Nov 11, 2013 2:52:38 GMT
via mobile
Post by kennyt on Nov 11, 2013 2:52:38 GMT
Hope it all works out for you ladies and your boys calm down. I'm just glad the only thing I've got to watch is limiting Kylie's day light exposure because when she goes into breeding moode man is she mean when Kyba ignores her and spends more time with me then he'd rather with her cranky butt. Considering ALL the discouraging I did the first year 1/2 with them he's doing his part on his own now lol makes life easier for me n in him lol
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