Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 3/4/2007

Question
hi there,
i was just wondering i got 9 budgies outside in an avairy and all of a sudden
today theyve been fighting over one breeding box,ive got enough breeding boxes
in there but now there fighting over one. do you think i should split them up or
leave them to sort it out???
i feel sorry for one of the budgies an original it must of been in a fight and
been bleeding out his nostrils.i dont know if i should seperate that one
especially
what do you think??
thanks alot


Answer
Hi, Meg.  Thanks for posting!

How many nesting boxex do you have in the aviary?  You would need to have a couple extra boxes than the number of pairs you have in the aviary.  In other words, if you have 4 bonded pairs in the aviary, you would need to have about 6 nesting boxes for them to choose from.  

You need to split them up.  Individual pairs need to have their own breeding cage.  If you leave them to sort it out, you'll have some dead birds.

Yes, very definitely, you need to separate the one with bleeding nostrils from the rest.  If you have 9 birds in this aviary, you have an odd one (one without a mate).  This one needs to be separated from the other pairs.  

Budgie females can be very ruthless.  They will fight to the death over nesting boxes, eggs, baby birds.  Some will kill babies of others, break open eggs of others, etc.  This is usually why colony breeding budgies/keets doesn't work.

Chrys