Pesky Cordon Blue

[J-Netty]

I've had my birds for several months (2 owls, 2 male cordon blues, 3 male gouldians, and 2 male greenback twinspots) and everything was going fine, but two days ago one of my cordon blues began chasing the other one around the flight cage and stressing every bird out. I have a 6' wide flight cage and there's plenty of space, food, water, etc. There were feathers flying everywhere and he just wouldn't stop. So I had to remove him from the cage. I left him out for 2 days, but when I put him back in, he immediately started chasing the cordon blue all over again and I had to take him out. Now he's in a cage by himself. Does anyone know why this happened or what I can do? I'd hate to get rid of him, but I can't have him stressing everyone out.

Thanks!

[Rox]

I have two BCCB boys together in an aviary and they go between loving each other and fighting/chasing. The fighting usually starts after one of them has been doing a mating dance or call (looking for a hen) and then the other boy comes and interferes. My aviary is large though, so they never hurt each other. At night, they roost and cuddle together. Go figure...

You can leave them together and see if they settle down into a routine of sorts. Just keep an eye out that there are no serious injuries. If it carries on, it would probably be better to keep them separate.

Good luck!

[Sally]

I have an HQ double flight cage (64x21x35) which houses a group of males--3 BCCB, 1 RCCB, 1 Senegal Fire, 2 Purple Grenadiers, and 1 Black-cheeked waxbill. All get along most of the time, even though CBs and Grens aren't supposed to like each other. Every once in a while, there will be minor squabbling, but this never lasts, and there are no injuries or feather plucking. If your one aggressive male simply won't settle down and get along with the other, you may have to permanently remove him. They all do have their own personalities, so sometimes you just get a bully in the group.