Beak fencing...is it serious?

[Zebrafincher]

Hi All,

I've just purchased a new, fat Zebbie - a bouncing boy called Beaky! My canary, Kevin, doesn't deign to even acknowledge the other two finches are there when let out. However my sweet little Star Finch, Merl, whom I got Beaky as a companion, beak fences with him, when I let all three out (I fly them separately. Is this a serious thing? Or is it just their way of settling their 'pecking order'? Merl is a harmless little thing and wouldn't hurt a fly....except that now with another male in the roost, its all feathers flying, and puffing up, and singing.

[debbie276]

I would think it's just deciding their pecking order but would keep a close eye on them for a while. If it doesn't stop shortly you may have a problem.
good luck

[Musetta]

Both of my Spices (m/f) bill-fenced periodically when I first put them together; now they peacefully cohabitate. Same thing happened with my male zebs, and now they are best buds. HOWEVER, I have had a case where bill-fencing led to increased aggression, and I had to separate the birds. But that was also a case of "odd one out." Do you have all three birds caged together?

[Diana]

My new and only zebra boy chick, Sparky, beak fights with everybody, especially with grandpa Robin. He is trying to assert himself at the moment as he is the newest one there. They don't share the same cage, he still lives with mom and dad but during their free flight time around the room he likes to pick on Robin , chases him screaming around the room and beak fight. Nothing serious. I keep an eye on them still just in case they try to injure each other but that has not happened so far so I guess it is more of establishing the pecking order:)
I would keep an eye on your 2 birdies and see how it goes.

[Zebrafincher]

My three birds all have separate cages - mainly to stop aggression on the part of my canary! But when I have three out together (I stay in the room to supervise), Kevin the canary ignores the other two, and Beaky and Merlin go for it!