Ask Lafeber

Female lovebird is hormonal and getting aggressive, need advice

A couple days ago i saw the birds mate for the first time since i got the male (2-3 yrs ago) A day or two later in the afternoon the male had blood on his face. I dont have another cage so to seperate them i just moved her wnd her box below the cage and left him in. How long to i keep them seperate? It seems like he’s trying to get to her. Do I remove her box completely? She’s had it for years, even before he came along.
(not sure if important: She’s had a previous mate before and had kids with him)

Hi,

You have to take lovebirds fighting very seriously. Harmless sparring is normal, but if blood is drawn or feathers ripped out, the birds have to be separated immediately. Lovebirds can be vicious, even with a cage mate or mate. A lovebird can kill another really quickly. I would remove the nest box before you try them together again. They only need a box for nesting and it should never be left up year round. You only hang a nest box when a pair is truly bonded and has started mating behavior. Then you remove the nest box after each clutch of eggs – either when chicks have left the nest or when the eggs are not going to hatch  She has possibly claimed it as hers, and she attacked him for trying to access it. Regardless of the reason, since she did draw blood she might do it again, or worse. I would get an extra cage in case these two cannot live together anymore.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda