Shaftail fighting

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:41 pm

I have a pair of shaftails that have always got along until recenly.
They have raised two clutches together. When this last clutch fledged they began fighting. I put the hen in a cage with the babies until they were weaned.
I have now added her back to the aviary and the cock is bullying her something awful. I don't know what has brought this on because they appeared to be so bonded. I really hate to do it, but I suppose I am going to have to rehome him because he is being such a bully. I have had him for about a year now and no problems until recently. Has anyone else had this problem with a pair suddenly no long longer having a tolerance for each other? I was hoping that they would adjust, but he is being relentless.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:49 pm

Wow, thats crazy. When i had my pair they were so bonded and the zebras were the ones bullying them so i gave them to a friend. I was actually planning on getting another pair. im actually moving back down to pensacola, fl in a month from now, my old pediatric office called and want me back so now i will finally be able to get the owls i wanted and all the rest of my finches i wanted. Well, i hope he gets his act straight so you wont have to rehome him. Maybe i will keep my pair in a cage instead of an aviary.

Post by **Sally** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:43 am

Funny you should bring this up. I have one male Shaft-tail in my mixed community flight cage. He had a juvie male Owl as a buddy. I moved all the juvie Owls together in another cage, and now the Shaft-tail is becoming a bully in the mixed flight. For now, I have moved him in with my pair of Red-faced Parrot finches, since they are similar in size, and all seems to be fine, for now anyway. Even with cages, and with no Zebras, it is constant vigilance to make sure everyone is happy! Shaft-tails are listed in the pushy category, but I thought I had an exception.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:10 am

So did I!

Mine have always got along. But I guess soon or later their true nature comes out.

RT08260 · Post by **RT08260** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:50 am

I have 3 shaftails I think its one male and 2 females they get along with the other species of finches in the same cage. They lay eggs but they only sit on them for a couple of days then the eggs are gone. They don't like any of the nesting material I give them. MY pair of red-faced parrot finches were the same way but now they are using shredded news paper. They have mated a few times but no eggs yet. What kind of nesting material do your shaftails like?

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:36 am

RT08260 wrote: What kind of nesting material do your shaftails like?

They like jute, coconut fibers and also I take burlap and cut it into two inch squares and then shred it apart. They love that.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:24 pm

okay, he has to go! I really hate to do it because I have had him a year. But now he has buddied up with my chocolate society and she is sitting on gouldians eggs right now. He is even trying to go into the nest and help her incubate the eggs. He is crazy! This is one of my GREAT foster society finches. He is still chasing the female shaftail around. I have even had to resort to put another food station over at the other end of the aviary to be sure she is getting enough food. I think I am going to have to put those shaftails right up there with the zebras as far as agressive goes. I have had this pair for almost a year with no problems. Now it starts......

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:08 pm

LOL! I agree. STs are crazy! I have one pair, thankfully, and the male is constantly ripping the nest up while the female tries and sits on eggs.

They really are similar to Zebras. Not as prolific, but annoying just the same, which is too bad....they are comical and very entertaining.