Zebra Aggression Full Blown

[ranchnanny]

Had all three pairs of Zebs in the flight cage until yesterday. The fighting, chasing and pulling of feathers on other zebs was to much for me. Soooo! I brought 1 cage down from the garage. Since Jack (bad boy) is the aggressive zeb I moved the other 2 pairs to the new cage. Today the fighting continues in the new cage with the 2 pairs Yikes!!!!! Soooo! another trip to the garage for another cage and moved 1 pair to the new cage. Now I have the flight cage with 1 pair +other finches and 2 other cages beneath the flight with 1 pair in each cage........... Boy its alot quieter having them separated.... I think Jack (bad boy) and Jill will be in the market for a new home. Since I am getting Gouldians in a few weeks I can't have Jack (bad boy) and Jill in the Flight.

Anyone want a pair of Zebras with 3 eggs BTW!!!!

[ac12]

I have had similar "problems" with my zebras. Some will be very aggressive to the other zebras. If I don't hear hissing and flapping (the chase) coming from their cage at least twice a day...something is wrong. The only time that I have had any peace is when I only have 2 birds in a cage. And even then, I have to have them paired correctly. These are same sex birds, so no complications with them being in breeding mood. Some times I have gotten so frustrated with the hissing, chasing and plucking that I want to get rid of ALL the zebras.

[ranchnanny]

I didn't have any problem with my first pair which were supposed to be male and female and ended up being both females. They got along great until I introduced the males.
I'm serious saying I will be letting one pair go that's Jack (bad boy) and Jill.

[Queen_Bee]

What a shame they don't get along. I have 8 in one cage and am lucky that they only have minor spats from time to time. There was some initial scrapping when they were introduced, but they settled down nicely. However, like people, I guess some birds are bigger troublemakers than others.

[ac12]

Jacqui
You are right. I have my males separated (4+2) because I have one male that was getting picked on. And since he is my prime breeding male, he has to be separated from his aggressive kids that pick on him. I don't know how these chicks get so aggressive when their parents are not, and they start of nice and calm (for zebras). Mine start developing their aggressive behavior as juvs; some as they molt into their adult colors, some soon afterwards.

Occassionally I have had a weanling that becomes aggressive towards his parents as soon as he weans. Talk about biting the hand that fed you. Thats gratitude.