Fighting Yellow Gouldians

[Trecorum]

I purchased a pair of purple breasted yellow Gouldians last week and they seem to be settling in okay for the most part. But even as I type this, the female acts very aggressively toward the male. The male will be sitting on the perch minding his own business and then the hen will start furiously pecking at his face, chirping angrily.

I had hoped they would be amicable toward each other, but they fight frequently. Attached to this post is a photo of them during a rare moment of peace.

[dfcauley]

I can't see from the picture, but how large is the cage and do you have enough perches? They are beautiful birds.

[debbie276]

I was thinking the same thing.

Nice looking birds!

[CandoAviary]

Nice looking goulds. Many times they will squabble especially if the hen is not in breeding condition. With green backed birds the beak will turn dark/black when in breeding condition. With the other color backs you can not tell physically...you must go by behaivor. Some behaviors to watch for. The hen will stare at the male as he is singing. She may hop/fly/perch on her side of the cage closest to him. She will answer his song by a few call notes...dweep, dweep, dweep. When she is really ready she will lower her head and twitch her tail feathers, I have even seen females join in the hopping motions of the male. If the bickering gets too much then you may need to seperate them and then try placing them back together when the female is 'more in the mood'

[cartel]

I think it might be the other way around I think the male is not in breeding condition and the hen wants to breed

[ac12]

One method is to use a divided breeding cage, and separate the 2 birds. Give them a week or so to "get used" to each other.

I have successfully used this method to get zebras where the female was aggressively chasing the male to calm down and pair up then bond and mate.
I also used this method to introduce a new gouldian to the community cage. The aggressive of the birds get used to the "newcomer" w/o chasing of the new bird.

[MLaRue]

Very pretty birds

It could just be the hen doesn't like the male at all. It looks to me like the hen is in breeding condition too with the smeared red on the beak.

This hen could have been bonded with another male from where you got her from...

[Trecorum]

Thanks for the interesting insight. She has been a little less cranky today, maybe in time she will grow to tolerate his company. The cage is 19" wide by 25" deep and about 25" tall as well. There are two perches. I plan on getting a slightly bigger cage.

I also have my suspicions that they have air sac mites. The male doesn't sing like in the videos I've seen on YouTube; his song is more like a croaky clicking sound and he often opens his beak in a weird yawn. I googled that it can be cured with a product called SCATT, but it is not available in Australia. Are there any other remedies I might find in Australia?

[sonic4]

Thanks for the interesting insight. She has been a little less cranky today, maybe in time she will grow to tolerate his company. The cage is 19" wide by 25" deep and about 25" tall as well. There are two perches. I plan on getting a slightly bigger cage.

I also have my suspicions that they have air sac mites. The male doesn't sing like in the videos I've seen on YouTube; his song is more like a croaky clicking sound and he often opens his beak in a weird yawn. I googled that it can be cured with a product called SCATT, but it is not available in Australia. Are there any other remedies I might find in Australia?

hi Pip
try this link
http://www.vetafarm.com.au/
they sell scatt and have a demo youtube how to administer it. they are a lovely looking pair of birds you have.
i am trying to get a hen like yours in the the uk and i think i will find moon dust sooner lol
good luck Allan

[MLaRue]

Or S76 from Dr. Marshall - he is in Australia

http://www.birdhealth.com.au/contact.html