fids fighting

[dhraiden]

For the past day and a half our two Conures can't seem to stop aggressively fighting each other when in close proximity outside of their respective cages. They have always been close snuggle buddies. But now it seems as if something has triggered a change in their behavior: whenever they are on the same perch they might start out preening each other but then quickly shift to biting.

mochi, the female gcc is about 2.5 years, mango is a gold capped male 6 months her junior. mochi is more dominant and generally instigatory- however in one incident this morning mango's continued haranguing her from the outside off her cage after she'd been put back in got his foot a biting - there was some bleeding which I used styptic powder on. this is belligerent behavior we have not ever previously observed to this intensity, duration, or extent.

Diet is zupreem pellets with goldenfeast and occasional fresh fruits. It is winter here in the Northeast they do not get much direct sunlight but plenty of outside cage time. Is this sudden aggression hormonal in nature? To Stave off territorrial-ness we have shifted things around in their cages. They also get at least 10 to 12 hours of sleep in a darkened room each night.

 

[Flboy]

Yep, they at that age! Onset of puberty! Keep them safe and separate for a while!

 

[MonicaMc]

Please do not put styptic powder on an open wound!!! It burns!

You can try teaching both station training and rewarding good behaviors - but agree, keeping separate for now would be a good thing.

 

[dhraiden]

it's a specific kind for birds, for use on wounds (not just broken pin feathers). in any case it was more important to halt bleeding.

I hope to see more replies... stationing and positive reinforcement are techniques we're only in the very early stages of implementing, both because of our limited understanding and the stubborn habits our imperfectly trained fids picked up.

two days in, the SO has resorted to literally smooshing them together so that they'll preen and snuggle, but the second it turns aggressive her hand separates them and the instigator goes to their cage..

 

[Kiwibird]

Your birds are the right age for the onset of puberty and their aggression is likely hormonally driven. I would separate them for now and in a few months try allowing them to hang out again in a neutral space under close supervision.

 

[dhraiden]

Definitely hormones. Poor Mango has a little white-bald patch where Mochi plucked out a beakfull of feathers on two occasions where we weren't quick enough during supervised-together time.

We've since become much more cautious about that; they've got their own spaces, and each one in taken out for outside-of-cage time separately. Trying to be good about giving them treats and attention simultaneously so as not to arouse jealously or agitate further.

Expecting than once Mochi's gotten through this, maybe it'll be Mango's turn? Ugh!

 

[dhraiden]

Bumping this to solicit more sage wisdom and advice.

Late January and fids can't seem to stand each other for very long out together, and only when under close supervision - otherwise, Mochi inevitably attacks Mango and rips off more head-feathers!

Mango for his part is probably aging into the puberty phase as well, and has begun certain agitating tendencies that only serve to further provoke Mochi (bonking his beak on everything from me to my SO, Brianna, to demonstrate that they're "his").

Anything for this other than continued supervised separation?? I hate having to leave them in their cage when I finally come home, but I can only have Mango out peaceably - Mochi has this thing where she's fond of chomping me randomly. And I can't rotate them out when I'm the only one home, as the other (whose out) will inevitably antagonize the caged one and that leads to screaming and bitten toes.....

I'm trying to think up feasible solutions to provide enrichment and alleviate boredom that don't involve the bird not let out feeling resentful when they see the other get let out. Toys (& treats) are only momentary distractions..

 

[dhraiden]

Still bumping! :/ :|

 

[dhraiden]

Still Bumping! :11poke:

No productive updates on any progression to apprise anyone else dealing with a pubescent conure, unfortunately -- Mochi still tries to bite Mango whenever they're out together, and that hasn't changed

 

[MonicaMc]

Have you started any station training with them or teaching them any desired behaviors???

 

[dhraiden]

I haven't; due to time-constraints. Though we reinforce positive behaviors and diminish negative ones, in general with the outside time they're given we don't do much more than a bit of recall, poop, no bites, and so on.

Mango would probably be quite receptive to training of any sort; Mochi I think would find it frustrating or perplexing. Still no real changes in Mochi's behavior or attitude towards Mango - she goes for bites, especially when he's on an area that she considers "hers" (bed, couch, top of cage)..

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

Are they clipped? Not clipped? What does a typical time spent out of the cage look like? Where is it spent? Who interacts with who? What are you and your SO doing? What are the birds doing?

 

[dhraiden]

Not clipped / Outside time = SO has Mochi, and I have Mango, they just generally like being on us and getting respective scritches ; when bored of scritches, they enjoy flying around downstairs, exploring carpet/couch/table/etc / When I'm home, I engage them with talking, petting etc, but they generally simply like to be out, and, once secured somewhere (on top of TV, or cage, or couch) - just preening themselves contentedly.

Occasionally I'll bring home some new chew-toy (wooden-hangy-thing) but they don't have much interest in those things, when not inside cage (or not much more when in). Mostly they seem to enjoy watching me putter around or play games, actually.

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

Not clipped / Outside time = SO has Mochi, and I have Mango, they just generally like being on us and getting respective scritches ; when bored of scritches, they enjoy flying around downstairs, exploring carpet/couch/table/etc / When I'm home, I engage them with talking, petting etc, but they generally simply like to be out, and, once secured somewhere (on top of TV, or cage, or couch) - just preening themselves contentedly.

Occasionally I'll bring home some new chew-toy (wooden-hangy-thing) but they don't have much interest in those things, when not inside cage (or not much more when in). Mostly they seem to enjoy watching me putter around or play games, actually.

Okay, I'm going to see if I can offer you some advice, other than the great advice you've already been given. Long term, I honestly think the ideal solution would be to station train both birds so that they could each be out in their own areas which would go a long way towards just preventing the fighting to begin with.

Since that doesn't seem to be going so well for you so far, a temporary solution for the time being, that may help you get through the first major surge of hormones for the two of them, may be to give each of them a light clip. This may make it just a little bit harder for them to get at each other if you put one bird on a playstand in one part of the room, and the other bird on the back of the couch, for instance. Then while they are a little less mobile, really try to reinforce the station training.

It is also possible, now that they are both maturing into adult birds, that you may have to consider the fact that they may need separate out of cage time. Would we all prefer to have all of our birds out all of the time? Of course, but it isn't always practical. Especially if there are safety concerns. Making each of them spend a little extra time in their cages and taking them out separately is MUCH better in the long run than ending up with a seriously injured or even dead fid. My lineolated parakeet does not get as much out of cage time as my bigger guys, but that is for his safety. He is harder to keep track of if he gets underfoot while I'm moving around the house doing things, and he cannot be out at the same time as the other birds. I make sure he has plenty of toys that are rotated regularly and foraging opportunities to keep him busy and occupied when I can't supervise him or the bigger birds are out and he is no worse off for it. It does not make you a bad parront if it ends up being what you have to do. Safety of your birds should be your number one priority.