Aggressive BCCB...AKA Bert

[Ginene]

After 10 days on antibiotic, I finally put Ernie (BCCB) back into the flight with Bert. There was a bit of bickering, but things seemed to settle down that evening (Saturday). This morning I found Bert beating up poor Ernie, in a corner on the cage bottom. Poor Ernie looked stunned... So, I caught him easily, gave him 2 drops of Soverign Silver to his beak and put him back into the hospital cage. He has a heat lamp and NV Powder in his drinking water. At first he didn't move...just sat on his vacation feeder. But after a while, he seems to be improving...eating, drinking and flying. Bert, however is becoming impossible. He is definitely my most aggressive finch. He has been living solo since Ernie's 1st trip to the hospital cage. The pair was housed in a mixed flight until Bert attacked my Owl hen and put a hole in her beak (almost completely healed). My original thought was that he might have been protecting Ernie, as he was under the weather at that time. But now I think he's just a bully and can not be housed with community finches. So after Ernie has fully recovered, Bert is going into a 30x18 cage by himself. I will try Ernie with the Owls and Stars again, and see if they will live peacefully without Bert. As for Bert...maybe a male zebra would be good company for him in the future. Any other ideas would be AWESOME!!!

[debbie276]

Glad Ernie is doing well. Bad bad Bert!
Hope you can figure out a harmonious combination for them all.
good luck

[Ginene]

debbie276
Lol...thanks Debbie.

[Zebrafincher]

Hi Ginene,

Sounds like Bert and Ernie are observing their real life ("puppet") counterparts! If Bert is being a bully it might because he perceives Ernie as weaker (if he's been ill). I have three males (Canary, Zebra finch and star finch) and I have to keep them in all separate cages because they all beat each other up! Sometimes I can fly them together, but as its spring, they're all driving me crazy! Esp. my canary, Kevin! You could keep Bert in a separate cage next to the other so he can see and hear the others, but not pick on them. All my finches have mirrors, and generally fall in love with them !
Good luck with your two boys!


Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 6 months
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years

[Ginene]

Zebrafincher
Its amazing, but Bert and Ernie only started to really get along when Ernie began feeling sick. They would snuggle and spend lots of time cuddling in their cage. Now that Ernie was well again, Bert became a bully again. I think I will keep Bert alone for a while and try putting Ernie with the stars and owls. The flight is huge and has plenty of space for 5 birds. But first Ernie has to build up his strength again. I think Bert really needs a hen...he has been singing to Ernie for weeks before this all started...

[Zebrafincher]

LOL A female would definitely help. My male birds are all in love with their mirrors, and there's a lot of singing and posturing going out between them! Your two sound cute!

Good luck

[fhgwgads]

Ginene I am so sorry to hear this!! Poor Ernie!! You can borrow Shadow from me.. I am sure he would give Bert a run for his money! LOL! But in all seriousness it sounds like Bert got used to being the man of the cage and decided he owned it! Maybe you could try rearranging everything before you put Ernie back? Or swap then and let it become Ernies cage and then add Bert? Or you could just put Ernie with the others and let Bert pay for his behavior by being alone! It breaks my heart when birds don't get along.. but Bert apparently wants to be the man! And the only bird! Though him snuggling Ernie when he was under the weather seems odd.. maybe it was just a timing thing and they started becoming friends? I hope everything works out!

[Ginene]

Update...Well, things have been a bit less peaceful in my bird room this December. Not only did Bert pummel Ernie, but Curly (crested/frilled society) plucked 3 out of 4 cage-mates. So this past Sunday I made some major housing decisions. Bert is officially alone in a 30x18x18 cage. I gave him a mirror for company, but he was afraid of it...Go Figure . As for Curly, he is now living in the left half of my giant double flight with Ernie (fully recovered), and the Green Singer pair. So far all is going well. Ernie seems to be Alpha Finch, even though I changed up the flight. Thankfully, Leonard finally stood up to him. I was a bit worried about that. And believe it or not, Curly actually goes after the singers when they come near the corner shelf that he claimed. Its an interesting arrangement...but if it works, I'm happy. As for Bert...maybe Ahmed (breeder) will have a hen in the spring for me. I think that's the best bet for Bert. Otherwise, there's a lonely Shaft Tail in my neighborhood Petland who can use a home. But I REALLY don't want to buy from pet shop. That would definitely a 90 day quarantine...

[wildbill]

cordons are a problem at the best of times.......especially the males. ive had success in colony breeding when birds were introduced as young stock. not long ago i ran 5 pair pied birds together. males are the main problem fighting and sometimes for no reason at all there up in the air and into it.
usually after the alarm call fighting in mid flight about 3 feet off the ground . i'd be looking at total separation which you have now done plus a hen for the highly strung boy. never place one hen in an aviary with both cock birds ........that would be a fatal mistake especially for ernie