Expert: Marie Charon - 11/28/2009

Question
I have a pair of budgies who are at most times quite content. However, at times when I leave the room, step outside, etc I hear a distinctive set of noises (kind of sounds like the parekeet equivalent of "LET GO YOU JERK!!!")from my female bird, and find the male pulling on/mussing with her tail feathers. He's roughed them up pretty badly, not to the point of removing them, but the feathers look pretty tattered. She calms down quickly when I intervene, even verbally; she'll let me 'fix' her feathers afterwards with not a noise of protest. They have lived together for over three years, and this has only started happening in the past six months. Any ideas on how to discourage this behaviour, or why he's doing it in the first place?

Answer
I would try putting two of everything into the cage.  they should have separate food cups for each bird spaced apart from each other, same with water. Give treats in multiples so each bird has it's own, for instance if you have 2 birds, you should have two swings, two bathtubs, etc.


Most spats between parakeets are because someone has become territorial of something and don't want to share, so the easy answer is give them each their own everything.

Hope this helps.
marie