Green cheeks fighting

[sofiaee]

Hi guys!

So Mia's quarantine is over and all seems well with both her and Oliver's health. I have gotten them out together in a neutral area. They are okay if I am holding both of them and can be within a foot of each other but if I put either or both down or they get too close one attacks, usually Oliver but sometimes Mia.

If only they loved each other at first sight! That would have been great. However I knew going in that this was a possibility and if necessary I do have enough time for separate play time, which I have been doing. And I also get them out together and hold them within a foot of each other and they both act calmly and preen and sleep and stuff. I got them to eat some blueberries together but then Oliver attacked Mia after a little while. I separate them as quickly as I can (I have gotten some nasty bites the past couple days). Last time there were 1-2 down feathers pulled.

I'd like to encourage them to get along if possible. I don't mind if it takes lots of time/effort and if they never get along I'll just have to deal but I'd still like to try. If anyone has any suggestions or personal experience to offer I'd love to hear it.

 

[sofiaee]

Also I have read that some people allow their birds to work out their fights on their own but I'm afraid to do this as Oliver and Mia's fighting seems extreme to me? Although this is my first time owning two birds at once so I'm not sure what normal bickering looks like.

 

[MikeyTN]

Only time will tell! They're bonded directly to you at the moment, so the other one becomes a threat invading their territory. So if you could find a neutral spot, a different room that they don't really go in, don't use the same bird stand. Then see how they react in a neutral zone.

 

[sofiaee]

I've tried having them in my room which is a new room so Oliver hasn't been in it all that much, but it's not brand new to him either. Maybe I will sneak into someone else's bedroom when they aren't home ^.^

And I've tried the kitchen/living room area, it's all connected. His cage used to be down there and I also hangout with him there. His favorite territory there is under the moniter where you put the keyboard haha, that's his little cave

 

[sofiaee]

But yeah I should probably be more patient. What do you think about the letting them fight it out thing? They can bite pretty hard and their little toes are so small! Seems like they could do some real damage?

 

[Echo]

They have to establish a pecking order. You can't be too close to them when they are interacting, it gives them too much back up . Stand back and just be ready to intervene if it gets too heated. Use a rolled up newspaper to put in between them if you need to break them up. They are the same size so only a few feathers should be shed, and one should fly away while the other stands his ground. Once that is determined, they should be better with one another. If you intervene too soon, they won't be able to determine ranking. Sometimes one is really being abusive to the other one when that one has clearly surrendered. Keep and eye on that behavior and be ready to step in.

You should sit away from them both and pretend to read and not pay attention to them ( even though you are)....and evenings in low light will tend to mellow them out ( birds are not too feisty when they can't see well for quick flight).

 

[Joeyx]

since they alreay know each other.. have you tried maybe putting their cages in one
room? or maybe put one of them in a portable cage and place it in the other's room
for a bit and see how they react to each other. maybe they'll lash out for a while then
become all buddy buddy eventually. ;p

 

[Kalidasa]

I agree with echo, they have to just hash it out, it's hard wired in their genes to do so, especially it both are males.

 

[sofiaee]

Their cages have actually been fairly close to eachother since quarantine has been over. Okay I'll see how letting them hash it out goes. Any major things I should look out for to know when to intervene? Also is including food in the area a bad idea? I'll go to a neutral area

 

[sofiaee]

Yeah I haven't dna'd them so they could both very well be males. Thank you so much for the help guys it's very appreciated

 

[sofiaee]

Wow I let them fight it out and it didn't last all that long, a little scary but neither are badly hurt. They each seem to have a little scratch on their toes, should i have them dip their toes in antiseptic solution?

I'm surprised by how calmly they are acting now! Oliver 'won' Mia ran away and now they are both super relaxed hanging out with me by the computer.

If they fight again should I still let them work it out themselves?

 

[Echo]

I wouldn't worry about the tiny scratch.
They may well be done with any "arguing" now that it seems they have the pecking order straight. I would let them both out together mainly in the evening for now. You can have them out one on one the rest of the time.
If they fight a bit, you can also say "hey! Enough!" Loud enough to startle them a bit. Sometimes that's all it takes. When they are hanging out nicely in the evening, give them a treat. Only give them treats when they are BOTH out together nicely for a while.

 

[Joeyx]

congrats on the progress. now just be calm and just enjoy their company while they're
both out together but keep a close eye on them still. and yea, let them hang out in the
evening and give them treats when they're both behaving.

 

[MonicaMc]

My first two conures never got along... even though I had both for three years before the first passed on. My second and third conure are not really getting along after 3, going on 4 months.

 

[sofiaee]

I really hope they get along! I hate to see how Oliver is being such a bully. Mia is afraid of him now and knows to stay out of his way. I have enough time to get both out separately though and I try to get them out together for a time each day too.

Is there anything else I can do to encourage friendship or is it pretty much all them at this point?

 

[Chelle]

Mine have never really been in a fight. They do "gripe" at one another on occasion but that is as far as it goes. Kind of like an old married couple...lol

Good luck!

 

[sofiaee]

Yeah Oliver will literally chase Mia off, so then Mia runs to me and hides in my arms or clothes, it's really cute actually but I feel bad. Haha Oliver is very bratty when it comes to Mia. She is in his old cage now and when I have both out he will sometimes go into her cage (his old one) and eat her food even though it's the Harrison's food and he doesn't even like it very much!