I took these from my thread on flying ~ cause i think this is a great topic.

My 2 ~ Laker & Rio
Yesterday, after they were out for about 2 hours, Laker got pretty aggressive when he was sharing his gym with Rio. He started to get closer to Rio which i thought was a positive act initially. Then I could see it wasn't all that friendly as he was pecking at him - on the back of his head & wings. When i came over to talk to them Rio flew away & Laker followed. They flew around the room a few times & then flew to their cages.

This happened 2x's yesterday. Each time they flew to their cages, Laker flew straight into his cage. I really mean he flew into his cage - no stopping at the door - right onto the rope perch inside. He is quite the flier! I closed him in to stop any more flying. At that point the baby was alone on the boing, outside the cage, & stepped up for me so I was able to put him into his cage. As soon as he was in the cage Laker seemed to perk up & shimmed over to the cage door. I opened his cage & he hopped out.

I swear he was happier & almost cocky. They began to harvest the grass in the vase between the cages - sharing but separate. Laker even came to the side of Rio's cage. It was my impression that he was more animated than when they're together. Then, when we were in the office, he flew in to join us & do all he things he used to do when he was the only bird. Rio didn't complain - he didn't even contact call - i think he was tired too.

I guess in the early days they still [especially Laker] need their own space.
I also worry that Rio isn't getting any water when they're out - he avoids his cage whereas Laker has no trouble coming & going from his cage but he doesn't want Rio in his cage at all. Only once did Rio go inside & Laker was very upset - my husband got them out & separated them.

Regarding Laker/Rio, Jerry/Winston, Sami/Joey et al.
It will be interesting to see how all 6 Budgies do [even more Budgies' stories, as we do have other members!] as time goes on.

Great idea starting a topic about this! I like to read how others' budgies are reacting to one another as well because every night I am still fixated on Jerry and Winston's behavior towards one another as they tend to be very hot/cold with each other. I try to watch for triggers and anything that may set them off one way or another.

Last night was odd. BUT, recently there was a full moon and I do think that affects their moods (ours too!) AND Jerry has been hormonal this past week (humping his boing while holding a toy in his foot - not even a shiny toy, I replaced the bell for a dried pasta toy thinking that wouldn't get him excited, didn't even matter!).

Back to last night though - he and Winston did play happily together quite a bit, but Jerry also did something strange that I haven't seen him do. Winston would be sitting on the gym and Jerry would fly over near him. Jerry would then hop closer to him, within an inch or two. And then all of a sudden he would jump right into Winston, right at him! I wasn't sure what to make of it, it didn't seem utterly aggressive and out of anger, but at the same time it was pretty darn rude! He did this multiple times, and of course Winston screeched and took off. I also thought that maybe it was Jerry's way of getting a game of tag started. Winston didn't seem upset about it in the minutes after, he sought out Jerry to play many times last night.

This is always why I'm wondering if their "playing/fighting" is normal behavior. I don't feel like their safety is in danger, and they do clearly enjoy beaking each others' beaks and singing into each others' faces. Maybe they're just two boys who like to rough-house

My two really do seem to need their space. Judging from how they react and play and squabble with each other now, I don't feel confident that they could live together unless I had a HUGE flight cage. Jerry's cage is big, but I don't think it's big enough to make those getaways when someone doesn't want to play. And they both seem to like their alone time in their cages after a long play/fly session and they settle in for the night.

Regarding going into each other's cages at this point, Jerry doesn't care one bit, he thinks it's rather amusing. But Winston does not seem to like Jerry *that* close to him when in closed quarters. Anytime that Jerry will try to approach him in either his cage or Jerry's, he gets anxious and makes a quick getaway and flies out.

I don't know if we 3 are a bit different from the norm - many people keep multiple Budgies in cages full time. I guess we are lucky to be able to offer our homes as aviaries!

Are others more successful with younger birds? Arty's cage is one of those aviary cages - quite big. I think 2 horse/Angie & Catschair [sorry your name escapes me at the moment] have multiple Budgies as well.

Ideally i would like to have 1 cage. I think i'll wait until they're are together longer before i make a final decision about the cage(s).

Sarah - do you think Jerry was trying to mount Winston? His lack of finesse is not surprising. Mo (Mom's Tiel) doesn't even get the right end sometimes, as embarrassing as that is.

I just got back from my art class - apparently they were good - Laker came into the office on his own for a break. I brought grass that i got in the park, by the creek, & they are very happy having lunch right now.

Very interesting thread.

Sarah, I just noticed your new avatar. I LOVE it!!

Most of the time my inside budgies are free 24/7. For quite a few months I did not have any cage and they all slept on the gym or on my daughter's ladder. I don't see aggressive blood fights except with breeding females and that is about territory. It is not as if one budgie will chase another for the sole purpose of attack. Any other budgie disagreements that happen, somebirdie leaves the action, except for a while Cheeky and Peewee (2 baby females) were getting into big time fights. Peewee made holes in Cheeky's chest. Both of them claimed what was Peewee's swing. These fights happened when they had freedom of the entire room. I now have 2 swings in the same cage and there is harmony in the land. Moving the original swing to the cage also helped alleviate the stress. It could be that I just needed enough swings outside the cage. The cage is new to all so nobirdie owns the cage, although Cheeky was the first resident with her injury. It caused stress to Peewee & Cheeky to be separated so they all got to be in the cage. (not sure why they need each other) The boys never involved themselves in the squabbles. The cage door is pegged open, very seldom closed.

The outside aviary is big so there are no fights since there are now 1 1/2 nest boxes per female in summer. I would think it is only possible to have bonded budgies in a small cage if there is no chance of escape. If the budgies are not bonded the cage needs escape places.

Oh dear! At first I was wondering if Jerry was trying to mount Winston but it was so abrupt and almost forceful that I kind of dismissed it, but it very well could be. To me it has seemed that Jerry has not directed any of his hormones towards Winston, but towards his toys (Winston won't even let Jerry touch him, like preen him or anything - he does let him beak him).

IME you cant judge anything in spring breeding season. And in Laker's case he's a grown up and Rio just a dorky baby. So Laker isn't getting the adult responses he'd normally expect. Versus Jerry and Winston who can communicate in an adult way.

They'll calm down after July15th and for now I'd just lower the protein and vitamin e (what else is new LOL), give more dark leafy greens and veggies, and make sure they arent up late.

Wheatgrass is very high in protein and will trigger a heavy breeding response. And a breeding response makes them unpredictable. Well not exactly unpredictable, we can predict they will be hyper and pushy.

I see alot more breeding behaviors and also more "exhuberance" (aka wildness) EXACTLY on the days I give sprouts. And all breeders give sprouts to breeders in larger quantities than non breeders. It's a shame for the hen here with lipomas because although the sprouts are good for her health it's a problem that her mate wants to breed her if he gets them.

Jac, Sarah, Angie, its great to hear all your observations on their interactions. We're all learning a lot from you guys, you know that?

I think this sounds like a very reasonable observation.

[quote=homebird;38789]I don't know if we 3 are a bit different from the norm - many people keep multiple Budgies in cages full time. I guess we are lucky to be able to offer our homes as aviaries!

Are others more successful with younger birds?
QUOTE]

Jac, I think it's WAY too soon to evaluate anything although I know it's a big concern. But a baby and an adult wont have any "normal" interaction imo until the baby is about 5-6 months old. And I agree two cages for now. I wouldnt expect Laker to be ok with that until more time passes by and Rio acts more like "him" (Laker).

AND I think it's always different with two males versus a male and female. An adult female.

IMO Laker is feeling it out and trying to figure out what the deal is. And if Rio ends up being a boy then they'll need to learn about friendship. Versus the biological imperative of procreation. Rio right now is looking for Budgie companionship of the flock he lost and his siblings were his own age so they were all the same. I'd bet his own father would be not so nice to him, trying to get him OUT so he could breed the hen again ASAP.

Two males can be together and although I never did it....in just twos...I'm sure they'll work it out.

If you think Laker is overly possessive of his stuff I'd change it ALL. Even his cage. And the locations of things.To throw him off. When I combined Piper and Toby she was the existing one and the minute she went into a new cage with all new stuff she immediately went to him. She was possessive of her favorite food dish so I got rid of it. Budgies arent quite the same BUT I do know that the males that I've known will push others away from things they want. Like the food dish.