Ask Lafeber

My cocktail keeps on biting others

So I have a big cage with lots of toys and perches, and a total of 4 birds, 2 female parakeets and 2 male cocktails, Sam and Dumbo. Dumbo will attack Sam and chase him around the cage, expecily when you give Sam attention. but when I separate them, it seems like Dumbo gets anxious, he runs around the cage screaming trying to chase Sam, it’s even worse when he can’t see Sam at all. I thought it might have been that maybe Dumbo had separation Anxiety, but I’m honestly unsure. But when you take them out of the cage, Dumbo will follow sam around the place, and it used to be that Sam would kind of attack him to get him to back up but now it’s Dumbo attacking Sam when ever he gets close to him.

I try to give both of them attention, like giving Dumbo kisses then turning to Sam and giving him kisses too, in hopes of maybe like calming Dumbo down from going for Sam, without making Sam jealous but it only works half the time.
I’m not sure on how to solve this problem.

I’m not sure if it matters but I’m pretty sure Sam is a year or two older than Dumbo (can’t be for sure since I found him outside) but we put them in the same cage when Dumbo was just a few months old and slowly he kind of got more aggressive towards Sam.

Thankyou for your time.

Hi,

Part of the problem may be having two species sharing a cage. Budgies and cockatiels can sometimes share a really large aviary – the type you can walk into where the birds can fly and have lots of territory. But for the most part, it’s best not to mix species. Separating the species might help. Mainly it sounds like the two cockatiels really aren’t compatible and should be separated. The problem with having birds share a cage, and also trying to handle them, is you are causing them a lot of confusion. Even with two males, their instinct is to have only one mate, and for lack of a female, they can form a mate bond. But it sounds like Dumbo wants to bond and gets frustrated with Sam, and Sam possibly just wants to be a pet. These aren’t domesticated birds – they are driven by instinct. So handling them in front of each other is almost like taunting them – I can steal your mate anytime I want. I would separate them, and if Dumbo calls too much, keep the cages side by side, but let Sam have his own cage. It’s very stressful for him to be bullied and chased by Dumbo all the time.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda