TWO SHAFT-TAIL BOYS LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP...

[lovezebs]

Hello.

A question to all who raise Shaft -Tails.

Long story short, last Summer, I got a true pair of Shaft -Tails. Two years old, they were very attached to each other.

Sometime after I got them, my female Holly, was severeky injured by one of my cats, and died the next day.

My male Hunter, was devestated. He kept calling for her endlessly. I looked everywhere, but couldn't find another female anywhere.

Finally a few weeks ago, I found another Shaft Tail male and brought him home. Another two year old, this one a fawn, I named him Archer.

Well, Hunter and Archer , hit it off immediately. They chatted, they sat together, they slept close on the same perch, and ate out of the same dish at the same time.

I was very happy.... untill today......

I heared a commotion in the flight, and noticed that Archer, was chasing Hunter around. I put it down to a minor squabble, but it continued all day. Finally by evening, Hunter, was left sitting in the floor of the flight, with Archer not even allowing him to perch.

Not sure what to make of this. ANY IDEAS??? Should I remove Hunter? Archer? Or should I just let them figure it out on their own?

They are in a flight with Zebras, Green Singers, and a Cut Throat male, who are staying out if it, but lending a lot of vocal support to both parties.

If anybody has any suggestions, I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

~Elana~

[cindy]

I raised shaft tail for years... how is the cage set up at the top... equal number of perches across from each other? the one dominant male has claimed a perch or area and will not let the other male approach the area or perch on it. This is typical, but if the chasing is intense it can escalate...I have seen this behavior with male shaft tails that get along well and then it suddenly changes. The dominant male will eventually/can become physical with the other male. I have seen one male take a hold of another male's wing as it flies by or grab the top of the head and dangle the bird (victim) in the mid air.

If they are doing this now it likely may get worse and you may need to separate them. The bird being chased may end up getting hurt or worse.

How big is your cage and how is it set up? Even with two perches directly across for the other will not resolve this since the birds tend to hop across from one perch to another.

[lovezebs]

cindy

Hi Cindy, and thanks for response.
It's a large flight over 30 some inches across, and some five feet tall. There are enough perches and multi perch branches, also little half one bird twigs here and there and private spots to hang out in. Plants, a couple of beloved swings, more than enough food and water dishes for everyone.

It just peeves me off, because I so wanted a companion for Hunter, and they were getting along smashingly well, and now this. Darn it!

Is there a chance, that they might reconcile (I've had Zebras do that) or is it pretty much a lost cause with this species? I definitely don't want bloodshed and mayhem.

~Elana~

[steve]

I have seen one male take a hold of another male's wing as it flies by or grab the top of the head and dangle the bird (victim) in the mid air.

I have seen this happen with mine, luckily my cage it large enough for birds to get away.

Steve

[lovezebs]

steve

Hi Steve.
I have seen this behavior with Zebras, and it's not pretty. Would you then recommend removing one of them? I gather, that this is not a situation that's going to resolve itself amicably then (?)
Thanks for info.

~Elana~

[Colt]

I moved some Shaft-tails the other day together in an attempt to free up cages. They were all single birds from different cages. And of course I ended up with a pair that proceeded to terrorize the other birds. They severely plucked my little Pied male that has the missing leg. I pulled him and put him in with the Societies. He's so layed back I didn't trust him with the Zebras. I'm hoping to pair him up with a female Normal/Isabelle later this year. But the ladies don't usually like him...

[lovezebs]

Colt
I did end up pulling Hunter out, and putting him in with the Socies, Parrots, Strawberries, Gouldi juvies, and Canary.

That flight is getting too crowded, although everybody gets along amazingly well. I so need another flight.

Anyway, Hunter is so happy in there. He and Archer talk back and forth, but at least there is no abuse and bloodshed. Hopefully at some point, I'll be able to find a couple of girls for them.

~Elana~

[MiaCarter]

Glad to hear you got it sorted for now.

If you hadn't relocated him, I was going to recommend rearranging the cage.

Clearly they CAN get along, so personality conflict is not the problem.

My guess would be a combo of dominance and territorial issues.
Newcomers and juveniles are almost always at the bottom of the totem pole by default (with the exception of the rare, super dominant male.)
Then, within a week or two, they get comfortable and start fighting it out to find their permanent spot within the flock hierarchy. So that's likely what's happening here and it became a bit of a dominance/turf war.

Rearranging redraws the property lines, so the newcomer can claim his own property rather than trying to commandeer another bird's existing turf. (In the process of this, they often get nasty because they feel the need to prove and defend their new position in the flock.)

So that's likely what was happening.

Shafttails are fairly pushy in my experience. I've always found them pushier than zebras (though I think -- no, I know -- I have a batch of pansy pants zebras who are uncharacteristically easygoing. So a bit of context for you there.)
But similar to the zebra stereotype, I've found shafttails don't back off from a conflict like many more easy-going species would. And they tend to vie for the alpha power position in the flock more often than other species.
So it's probably best you separated them for now.
Though once you get a new cage and thin it out a bit, I'd try them together again. (With a fresh perch/cage arrangement inside.) They can get along. They've proven this. It's just a matter of letting them find their place in the pecking order. A super crowded cage makes that more challenging as more birds = more complex dynamics.