atvchick95
09-20-2008, 01:06 AM
Is your bird aggressive?
Signs to look for:
Raising wings
Hissing at another bird
biting another bird's feet
Picking at another bird's feathers
Chasing another bird around the cage
driving another bird from food and or water
if you see any of these signs, put the squabbling birds in separate cages to keep them safe. Then try to determine a cause of aggression.
Jealousy
Signs To Look for:
Aggression towards the new bird
Aggression toward you in presence of the new bird
More vocalization for attention : change in behavior.
Solution:
Give your established flock as much attention as you did before the new bird arrived. Give your first birds treats when they're in the presence of the new bird,thereby associating it with good things for them.
Being territorial
Signs To Look for:
Aggression towards the new bird
Defending a perch or place in the house
Guarding food bowl
Solution:
Have several sets of food and water bowls for each bird so an aggressive bird can not starve another bird
Evaluate the cage is it large enough,or is there tension because of crowding?
separate the birds into different cages.
Incompatibility
Signs to look for:
Two birds staying on opposite sides of cage, or , if you separate cages they are as far from each other as possible
No social grooming or vocalization between them
Solution:
Separate the birds consider giving the birds mirrors so they can socialize with somebody they like!
Breeding
Signs To Look For:
Two birds do everything at the same time : vocalize, sit side by side: preen each other
Birds start claiming a nest area and defending it
Females lay eggs
Solution:
To discourage breeding behavior in small birds:
Give your birds only 10 to 12 hours of daylight time.
don't give birds access to dark recesses,such as bird tents or nest boxes.
if your hen does lay eggs allow her to sit on them for about 10 days before taking them. Be Strict about giving her only 10 to 12 hours of daylight to stop her hormonal cycle.
From: Bird Talk Magazine November 08 Subscription
Signs to look for:
Raising wings
Hissing at another bird
biting another bird's feet
Picking at another bird's feathers
Chasing another bird around the cage
driving another bird from food and or water
if you see any of these signs, put the squabbling birds in separate cages to keep them safe. Then try to determine a cause of aggression.
Jealousy
Signs To Look for:
Aggression towards the new bird
Aggression toward you in presence of the new bird
More vocalization for attention : change in behavior.
Solution:
Give your established flock as much attention as you did before the new bird arrived. Give your first birds treats when they're in the presence of the new bird,thereby associating it with good things for them.
Being territorial
Signs To Look for:
Aggression towards the new bird
Defending a perch or place in the house
Guarding food bowl
Solution:
Have several sets of food and water bowls for each bird so an aggressive bird can not starve another bird
Evaluate the cage is it large enough,or is there tension because of crowding?
separate the birds into different cages.
Incompatibility
Signs to look for:
Two birds staying on opposite sides of cage, or , if you separate cages they are as far from each other as possible
No social grooming or vocalization between them
Solution:
Separate the birds consider giving the birds mirrors so they can socialize with somebody they like!
Breeding
Signs To Look For:
Two birds do everything at the same time : vocalize, sit side by side: preen each other
Birds start claiming a nest area and defending it
Females lay eggs
Solution:
To discourage breeding behavior in small birds:
Give your birds only 10 to 12 hours of daylight time.
don't give birds access to dark recesses,such as bird tents or nest boxes.
if your hen does lay eggs allow her to sit on them for about 10 days before taking them. Be Strict about giving her only 10 to 12 hours of daylight to stop her hormonal cycle.
From: Bird Talk Magazine November 08 Subscription