Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 3/29/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello! Its Anna here, i asked a question the other day "what can i do to incourage my birds to breed"
Well ive done everything you said, tried to introduce veges etc, but they will not go near it, they seem scared of anything new i put in there cage, i keep trying but they wont eat it :{

Also Im a bit worried because sky the hen keeps bullying pie the cock, if he goes near her she pecks him away! and if he trys to eat seed she flys over and pushes him out the way, also she keeps going up to him and grabbing hold of his tail and pulling it and she wont let go!!!!!!! She hasnt actually managed to hurt him yet but she is being really mean, and i dont know why nor do i know what i should do, should i separate them??? Sky seems to be really interested in breeding now, she has half of her body in the nesting box this morning, shes a bit scared to go all the way in though! She is paying more attention to the mineral stone and cuttle bone!! and her cere is definatly turning brown!

Please help! I dont want the bullying to get vicous!
Anna
ANSWER: Hi again, Anna.

You need to give your birds some time!  Things don't happen overnight, especially when it comes to birds.  You just have to keep offering human food every day until they eventually try the new foods.  It also depends on what you are offering and how you are offering it.  Give me some information about what you are trying to get them to eat and in what shape/form, etc., and I'll try to help out here.  Sometimes it takes weeks to introduce new foods.

Sometimes birds we put together don't get along.  There are no guarantees.  If the male is getting bullied, perhaps he needs a less aggressive female.  

If Sky is being aggressive to her male mate, she isn't interested in breeding!  She may be interested in the nesting box for other reasons, but if the two of your birds aren't pair-bonded, then mating won't occur.  

I'm a bit confused as to what is going on here with your pair.  Are there other birds in the same cage with this pair?  Has Pie been in the nesting box at all yet?  What are the ages of these birds?  Usually, the male prepares the nesting box for the female, then the female goes in to lay her eggs.  Please tell me what's going on in regard to this.

Chrys

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello!! Well they WERE bonded really well, they always "groomed" each other and pie always feed sky, they used to kind of cuddle up together on the same perch, but its only recently that they are becoming more separate, and sky has just started to bully pie the last 2 days! I thought skye was more "interested" in breeding because she is paying more attention to the mineral block and cuttle bone and her cere is turning brown, i know that hens ceres turn brown eventually anyway, but i thought maybe she was going into breeding condition! Sky is also being very "destructive" she is trying to chew through everything (including the nest box) and is playing with her toys very enthusiastically, she broke one of her toys earlier today!!
I will give them more time to get used to the veges, i think im just being very impateint! I thought they would go straight for the new food and eat it, as would most of my other pets (dogs/rabbits etc) But i understand it will take them a while to get used to it!

No theres no other birds in the cage! Yes, I thought that the male goes in the box first but pie hasnt payed any attention to it at all. They are both about 1yr and 2 months, so they are still quite young and it might just take lots more time, but i dont know why they have gone from being a happy "couple" to being completley "separted"
They are definatly hen and cock!

Where i brought pie from he had been living with a hen who bullied him but as sky didnt seem a very "dominant" female i thought that they would get on well, and as soon as i introduced them they were great together, after a few weeks they were a lovely perfect bonded pair of budgies, obviously to young to breed back then though! So i decided when they were old enough id breed them, obviously i read up about it and everything!

thanks
Anna
ANSWER: Hi again, Anna.

Sometimes birds "fall out of love" and we have to separate them.  We can't force birds to like each other.  Cere turning brown is a hormonal thing the bird can't control itself.  It occurs when hormones start running rampant during breeding season.  Going into breeding condition doesn't necessarily mean the bird is interested in breeding...it means her body is hormonal.  The hormones also result in the need to chew as a result of stress.  

Birds aren't like dogs/rabbits and most other pets.  They are intelligent and respond differently.  Even a dog won't readily eat a new food...they sniff it a bit and some refuse new types of food.  Birds are still wild to a great extent since they haven't been domesticated as long as dogs/cats and some other pets.

Since you have dogs and other pets, could these other pets be upsetting your birds?  Dogs are natural enemies for birds, so be aware your birds might be scared to death of your dog (and other pets).  Do you have any substrate in the nesting box?  If so, take it out.  This might be why they won't use the nesting box.  Your birds are about the right age to start breeding.

You may have to choose different mates for your birds or try to figure out what the current problem might be.  The dog might be one of the issues.  Perhaps the 2 just don't care for each other any longer.  Do they have a big enough cage?  

Chrys

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: That makes sense about the hormones, could it be the hormones which are making her be bossy and not very nice to pie??? My other pets definatly dont bother or affect the birds, the birds dont even jump when the dogs bark, they have grown up together and really dont mind each other, the dogs would never dream of hurting the birds, my dog charlie plays with my giant rabbits! All my other pets are outside apart from my turtles which are in a tank!
I did put wood shavings in the nest box but have already taken it out! They were in a large cage which is meant to be suitable for 4 budgies, but the day before yestarday i decided to move them to my indoor avairy!! So they have lots of room to fly about and i thought that they may feel happier in an avairy as they arent tame! Also i put them up in my bedroom, so they have some peace!! : }

Anna
ANSWER: Hi again, Anna.

If Pie is her bonded mate, she shouldn't be mean to him, but, yes, hormones could be giving her an attitude problem.  However, improper diet can also result in birds having bad attitudes, as can other things.  Even though your other pets don't normally bother the birds, when babies/offspring are brought into the equation, things change!  The adult birds instinctively need to protect their eggs/potential offspring from predation, thus, perhaps they have an issue with the other pets at this time.

If they are doing better in the aviary, then you've found a solution to one problem.  However, moving them can also result in creation of other behavior problems, especially if they have eggs.

Chrys

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok well i will keep trying to get them onto veges and things that are good for them, they are now away from all other animals, and in a much quieter place! Its taken them a few days to settle in the avairy but they seem quite happy! Sky is still being bossy, but they dont have proper fights or anything! Im thinking about getting 2 more budgies in may, i was going to get a pair that are already bonded but maybe ill get 2 separate ones and try sky and pie with different parners??
thanxs

Answer
Hi again, Anna.

I really don't recommend you add any more birds to your flock until you learn more about them in general and particularly about the breeding process if this is what you want to do before you acquire any more birds.  If Sky and Pie are pair-bonded, you really shouldn't split them up.

Chrys