Control freak

plutus1947

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Jul 8, 2019
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I have a budgie (Merlin) and a Cockatiel (Peanut) living happily together.

The only problem is that Merlin is a total control freak.

For example if we put a piece of apple on their home when they are out and Peanut goes to have a couple of bites Merlin immediately comes across and pushes Peanut out of the way.

Merlin then proceeds to have his fill but when he has had enough he picks up the apple, takes it to the edge of the cage and throws it onto the floor so Peanut can't have any.

It is the same for food. If Peanut is eating Merlin pushes him out of the way just to prevent him from getting at the food.

Of course they are both getting enough food and they do get on extremely well and quite often they both share the food together but when food and fruit are in the equation sometimes Merlin just refuses to let Peanut have his fair share..

They feed each other and preen each other so they are happy little chappies.

They say that Cockatiels are much more placid than budgies despite the size difference and in the case of Merlin and Peanut this appears to be the case.
 

munami

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Have you tried to provide bowls for both of them on different sides of the cage? There should be a set of water and food bowls for each bird at the minimum to reduce the amount of squabbles.
 

itzjbean

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I would honestly keep them in separate cages so that each bird can eat, drink, sleep and play in peace from each other. Doesn't sound very fair for the other bird to be not allowed to have a bite of apple. Sounds like that would solve the aggressive behavior problem for both birds and both birds win.

Just a suggestion. If you do decide to keep them in separate cages of course they can still hang out around each other out of the cage but when eating, to prevent the dominant bird from harassing the other bird and hoarding food keep them both separated so both can enjoy food peacefully and safely.
 
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plutus1947

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Thanks itzjbean for you very interesting reply and comments.

Thankfully their home is very large and they can have their own 'peaceful' place.

All in all they do get on very well together and they both get their share of food and fruit. We always make sure of that.

I do feel that they both do actually love each other by the way they feed and preen each other.

Peanut actually removes the husk from his sunflower seed and passes the seed over to Merlin to eat.

To be honest I don't think Peanut worries too much about the odd times that Merlin stops him from eating etc.

I have kept budgies and cockatiels together before and they always got on extremely well too.

I believe these two birds are very intelligent indeed.
 

itzjbean

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Thanks itzjbean for you very interesting reply and comments.

Thankfully their home is very large and they can have their own 'peaceful' place.

All in all they do get on very well together and they both get their share of food and fruit. We always make sure of that.

I do feel that they both do actually love each other by the way they feed and preen each other.

Peanut actually removes the husk from his sunflower seed and passes the seed over to Merlin to eat.

To be honest I don't think Peanut worries too much about the odd times that Merlin stops him from eating etc.

I have kept budgies and cockatiels together before and they always got on extremely well too.

I believe these two birds are very intelligent indeed.

Let me ask this, you made this thread to try to stop the behavior, correct?

So replying and dismissing my advice as 'they're fine I've raised them forever like this' seems to me you heard something you didn't want to hear. Why exactly did you make this thread then?
 
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plutus1947

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For itzjbean,

I am sorry but I feel I must say that your reply to my thanks to you appears a little uncalled for. It seems to me that you are the one aggrieved because I may not act on the advice you gave me, which incidentally I was very grateful for.

If you actually read my initial post I was not asking for advice but would have been happy for all comments, as I was with yours, I was really just relating my experiences with the two birds I am currently caring for.

My reply to you was friendly and diplomatic and although I decided that I was going to allow my birds to continue to share the same home, for the time being anyway does not mean that I was not grateful for you post and your thoughts on the subject.

I am sure you have kept birds for many years but I have too and although I can still learn, as we all can, I have offered people advice many, many times but it is not always taken but I feel sure that those I gave the advice to appreciated it even though they did not act on it.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

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Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
For what it's worth...for their size,Budgies can be little a-ho's :52: When in a "pack" ( like a bunch of them in a big house in a pet store) I always see a couple of them going at it with each other. They don't take any crud!
Good luck with Merlin and Peanut! :)



Jim
 

Talven

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For what it's worth...for their size,Budgies can be little a-ho's
Jim

That is an understatement. I have 9 outside in a large flight cage and they are a bunch of the most unpleasantly behaved little so and so's. They fight over everything. Best perch, water, food, who is on the perch next to them, because they are fighting another will join in to help it's preferred one or just because the feel like it.

One budgie can be a domineering little brat with another bird but once you get multiples the poor behaviour escalates exponentially. I've seen a cockatiel brutalized by a group of budgies that it was put in a cage with in a pet store. Shredded feathers, bald spots and missing toes.

To me it sounds like you have a really well behaved budgie with your cockatiel. A little bullying is standard with budgies. It's just how they are made.
 

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