Nothing but a big fat bully!

Marbroza · May 11, 2020

Hi there
I have two green cheeks, Rescued about 3 months ago

They came as a pair and seem to be quite attached to each other. Every night they snuggle up together and sleep, never more than 10cm apart

However I noticed recently that one of them is just a big ol bully! He kicks his "brother" and steals food from him.

He also tends to get a little bitey if we let the bullying carry on.

Neither bird wants to come towards us and apart from the odd whistling / screeching matches we have, they dont seem to be too fond of humans

How can I put a stop to the bullying?

noodles123 · May 11, 2020

Separate them if it's really bullying that's going on...that's my opinion. Siblings will mate, fight, etc...doesn't matter that they are related.

When you have a pair of birds together, it also makes human bonding more difficult. It's hard to know how they will react to being separated (it could upset them quite a bit) but it could also be a safety concern to keep them together long-term (depending on the situation)...Again-- there may be new behaviors etc as a result of a separation (because they sound semi-bonded) but separation is one option.

Do they have 2 food/water dishes in the cage for each of them?

fiddlejen · May 11, 2020

My two budgies are pretty well bonded. In the past when they have squabbled I would separate them. They would immediately become un-fairly separated lovers, each clinging to cage side nearest the other cage. When I was gonna do this: budgies squabble. I say "no fighting!" They keep squabbling, I say, "okay this is because you keep fighting," and remove one to a small cage. (Right next to the main cage.) No use trying to figure "who started it," they don't care. I did try to keep track of whose turn it was to get moved. Because they don't like to be separated, therefore it did not take to long before they... well, they have Never stopped squabbling ...but they Learned that "No Fighting!" means to stop at that point, and they usually do so.

Something of this sort Might work for you too...

Marbroza · May 12, 2020

@noodles123 ,
They have a seed bowl and a fruit bowl.
that doesnt seem to be the main problem, its more when we place food for them to eat,

I will try the separation thing and see how it goes.
thanks for the advice

noodles123 · May 12, 2020

Just be empathetic and give them time---it may really upset them, so don't assume it is nothing if they react, but also, don't over-react to an initial reaction. If they are really not adjusting to the separation over time, you might consider changing it up. Monitor their eating and drinking carefully and make sure they are getting plenty of sleep during this time (but not more than 10-12 hours of darkness per day). Bird bond pretty strongly, so you shouldn't dismiss any heartache-- they really do feel deeply. Just watch closely and monitor and research bird behavior.

SassiBird · Jun 1, 2020

Marbroza said:
@noodles123 ,
They have a seed bowl and a fruit bowl.
that doesnt seem to be the main problem, its more when we place food for them to eat,

I will try the separation thing and see how it goes.
thanks for the advice

Can you setup another set of food bowls? It has helped reduce the "kicking" in my flock.

Nothing but a big fat bully!

Marbroza

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noodles123

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fiddlejen

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Marbroza

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