The Five Peeps - Blue-capped Cordon Bleu Fledglings

[Sally]

I can't remember where I saw it, but there was a video showing the BCCB's mating dance in slow motion. What appears to us as simply hopping up and down is a much more intricate dance.

Maybe you saw my earlier post:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkumbnYc8Ns

That was it! Can't remember anything these days, lol.

[a_gouldian]

These 5 Cordon bleus are now weaned and we put them in a large double flight cage with the 3 Cordon Bleus that are 3 months old. One of the 3 month old males (2M,1F) turns out to be an alpha male and he was chasing around the new birds. We changed out a branch perch and I think things are settling down now, a few hours later, but we will have to keep our eye on them.

Does anyone know if it is recommended to separate the males and females as the get a little older, say 4-5 months old. There will be no nesting material, boxes, or baskets in the cage.

[Sally]

Eventually, as they become sexually mature, you will have to separate them by sex. Males can get along with other males as long as no females are present, but with females present, the males will fight each other. Preferably, the males can't even see the females.

[a_gouldian]

Eventually, as they become sexually mature, you will have to separate them by sex. Males can get along with other males as long as no females are present, but with females present, the males will fight each other. Preferably, the males can't even see the females.

Thanks Sally. We have a large double flight cage in another room that only has two lavenders and a fire finch in it so we will probably move the females in there. At what age do you think it would be best to move them? Just this week I noticed that that alpha male has started practicing the courtship dance. Perhaps the sexes should be split up in 2-4 weeks?

[a_gouldian]

A few pics of the two clutches of Cordon Bleus in the large double flight cage. There are five that are 32 days old, and three that are 11 weeks old. The older ones have the reddish/pink beaks. I was only able to get pics with 6 of the birds on the perch at the same time. There are 8 total in this cage.