FINCHforum

I don't know if my 2 young birds have had an argument or something but for the past few days they have done nothing but fight with each other, they would often buddy up but now it seems they can't stand to be on the same perch anymore and instead of sleeping together they now try to get as far away from each other as possible. Is this normal in young Javas?

Cheers,
Geordie

I've heard that Javas are pretty aggressive... but I have personally never owned them. How big is their cage? I've also heard that Javas need a pretty roomy cage.

It's a pretty big cage with 5 perch levels, 2 food trays with mixed seeds, water tray, bath and grit tray, got some seed hanging above one perch and some fresh veggies on another, they have plenty of room to fly, certainly more than enough for 2 birds. The only time they seem to get along now is when they have their evening playtime with me, thats when I let them out of the cage so that they can bounce around on me. But now they are starting to keep their distance from each a bit during that time also.

I am puzzled because this has happened suddenly

My Javas bicker between themselves and I haven't noticed them going after other species. It is odd that they have just now started to fight. Did you change anything around? Did you get any new birds? Females perhaps?

Nothing has changed except for a new cuttlefish bone, do you think they are fighting for dominace...pecking order so to speak. This morning it actually got very bad with one grabbing the others beak and throwing it off the perch.

Some Javas seem to have a tendency to turn from friendly to violent really quickly. My single Java hen that I had got along with everyone in the aviary until about 2 months ago, then she started to chase everyone and grabbing them by the leg and letting them dangle etc. I had them in a nice large, outside, walk-in aviary(with only 4 finches at the time more then enough space). Needless to say, I didn't want it to get worse when I move them inside for the winter in a smaller aviary so she went to a new home with more of her own kind.

Geordie wrote: do you think they are fighting for dominace...pecking order so to speak.

It's possible, but I don't know for sure. After reading what Boothcreek wrote, I'd say anythings possible. Just for the heck of it why not take the cuttlebone back out and see if anything happens. I really hope they settle back down. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Could the fact that they are molting be of any relevance I wonder?

It's possible, I know it makes them grumpy. My doves have been a real pain

I think it could be because of the molting, they only really started getting aggressive and agitated since the fluff started to come off. Just in case, I am going buy a bigger aviary for them to give them more space and move my older, single Java into the cage that Riff & Raff now occupy.

Riff & Raff's cage now is about 2.5 to 3 feet high, 2.5 feet long and about 2 feet wide, with a bit of rearranging I may be able to get about double the size.

I thought at first that this was an adequate size for a couple of young Javas but I am reading now that they need a lot of space.

Geordie,

I have several Java Sparrows and they "bicker" all the time. I don't think it's anything to really worry about. They've never hurt eachother - it's just a lot of "whining" and some occasional pecking.

Cheers Nipper and everyone. I have just let them get on with it, and I don 't get involved anymore. I think this has worked a bit because they tire themselves out after a while and seem at peace for a while....Season of goodwill maybe