Mating Plucking...Help!

[DoryLucky]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum but I need some help with my splendid parakeets.

I have a pair of one and a half year old male and female splendid parakeets that I got about two months ago. When I first got them the male started pulling feathers off the female and she let him know in no uncertain terms that she would not tolerate it by pecking him.

But ever since they started mating about a week ago, he would take advantage of her crouched position and pluck a few feathers off the left side of her back before he got on her to do his thing.

Outside of mating if he tries to approach her with his beak for anything other than feeding she would still fend him off, but when she is in position she lets him pluck her. Now there is only a gray patch of down on her back where there used to be green feathers. The male only plucks her, but never plucks himself.

Is there anything I can do? I'm a first time bird owner and I'm starting to panic.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you guys can give!

 

[crimson]

some birds will pluck their mate during mating,...I know it sounds mean doesn't it?
It is mother nature.

Birds use their feathers to line the nest with for extra warmth and comfort.

As long as he doesn't physically injure her, you should keep them together. Trust me, when she is starting to get close to laying eggs, he won't want to mess with her!

Hens turn into very protective, guarding, volatile protective mothers as it should be.
No male will mess with a mad hen
If you notice any abusiveness from the male towards her, and he is making her life miserable or unbearable you could remove him once she is nesting, although I am not quite sure that would be the best for her. you might want to read up on nesting behaviour between splendid parakeets...you can just google it.
or if I get time today, I'll research it and get back to you, either way, you still should know

 

[henpecked]

This is pretty common behavior in birds that are paired by humans. It also unheard of in wild birds. If i have the resources(enough birds) i try and let the mates pick themselves. I doubt there's much you can do to fix it, i've tried, no success. Incompatible mates usually stay that way, they'll breed , but the behavior doesn't change. I'd keep and eye on babies and eggs as these types of parents usually have issues. Incubation might be necessary if you really want to breed this pair. PM me if you need to ,i hang out in the amazon section and don't visit here much.

 

[Pajarita]

That's strange... splendids are usually very mild-mannered so I would have to agree with Henpecked that this pair is not really well bonded to each other. Personally, I would separate them and wait until after the fall (they breed twice a year, in the spring and again in the fall) to put them back together. In time and without sexual hormones raging in there they might become a better match.

 

[DoryLucky]

Hi guys, thanks so much for your replies I was afraid that was what was happening. The male is still plucking feathers from the female and has started on one of the wings now that there is only a gray patch of down on her back. But she suddenly seems very attached to him and follows him around. I don't know if she's wanting to breed so badly that she is willing to tolerate the rest of it. I can't understand that.

To add to the drama the female just laid her very first egg today, but instead of laying in the nest box, she laid it into a metal dish that held their food. The egg has an indentation and a bit of cracking on one end where I'm guessing the egg fell and hit the metal dish. :'(

There was a smudge of egg white coming out and I was so sad since it's the first one I've ever seen in person. I guess I was hoping to save it and see what would happen, so I cracked a chicken egg and soaked a tiny piece of napkin paper in the egg white and patched it over the dented part of the egg. It dried stiff and is holding well, but I'm not sure what I should do with the egg. Should I put it back in the nest box or try to incubate it?

These guys seem a bit clueless, I guess it's because it's their first time. If the egg doesn't hatch I understand, but I just wanted to try my best and see if I could save it.

I seriously love them, but boy has there been a lot of drama lately!

 

[Pajarita]

I would not keep an egg that is cracked. Once the integrity of the shell has been compromised, there is no telling what got into it...