Zebra finch help, what to do with a bully?

[apachetear]

My male zebra finch Apache isnt happy that i got two more zebra finches a week and a half ago to live with him and his 3 other friends.
He's made it clear that although he used to be a lovely submissive bird he now wants to be top dog, and is hissing and chasing everyone apart from his gf, they arent aloud on HIS perch, to use HIS feeder, or to use HIS toys.
He is absolutely awful, i know finches need time to adjust and i've observed to see if there is any reason why he is being like this.
My other female Zarkava (not his gf) was not impressed by the newbies to begin with and hated them but i realise this is due to her molting at the time, and now is very motherly toward the youngsters.
I cant see a reason for his behaviour and i dont know what to do?

My mum thinks i should put him in a separate cage for a few days, but i'm not sure what to do?
any advice please ?

[L in Ontario]

You could try the 'time out' as you mom suggests for a day or so. When you put the others in - did you rearrange everything? You could try that too. Then it's new territory to all of them.

Good luck.

[apachetear]

i rearranged it when i put the new pair in and rearranged it again 2 days ago. He still mantains the whole cage is his.
If i put him in a separate cage, should i put his gf in too? or leave her with the others??

[L in Ontario]

If he's not physically hurting the others, you can leave them to work out their hierarchy / pecking order. They will need to every time you add a new bird.

You can wait and see what others say, but I would move just him out to 'solitary'. Hopefully it would help as when you put him back in - he will in essence be the 'new kid on the block'.

[lovemyfinch]

I agree with Liz. Separate him on his own, that way everyone else will have a chance to get settled in.

[ac12]

I have had to separate birds, to 'solitary confinement.'
Sometimes they mellow out, other times no difference.

One possibility, is you mentioned his GF. If he is in mating mood, that could be the problem. I have had a very mellow zebra turn VERY aggressive when he wanted to mate. It was when I removed him from his mate after they had their clutch. I think he wanted to mate again, and was VERY aggressive to the other males who used to be his buddies. Took him a while, but he mellowed down, probably after his hormones settled down and out of mating mood.

[apachetear]

Thanks everyone. I shall give him a few more days to settle down perhaps but if his behaviour doesnt improve a separate cage for a few days may be a solution.
Thanks

[annague]

Best wishes! Separating the aggressor has worked for me at times so hopefully that will do the trick. You may have to separate them for a couple of weeks or more, though.

[ac12]

Keep an eye on him.
You may have to remove all the other birds, and let him and his mate raise their clutch w/o other birds in the cage.