ZEBRA MALES CONTINUE TO BE AGGRESSIVE LOOKS SERIOUS

[rayeast]

I posted recently about one of my Zebras getting aggressive and territorial with the other. Last week I added identical height perches, an extra water cup , a plant . The have reversed roles and now the original territorial one is the victim and today has had feathers plucked and is miserable.
What should I do. ? .
The cage is 28 inches wide by 18 x 22 high. I need to act. I dont have a second cage to separate them Though I can buy one tomorrow.

I like having two males because breeding is very impractical in my apartment. I work from home so I can observe them most of the time. More birds? separate them and add a bird for the relatively less aggressive one?

[Spreckles]

You need a flight cage at least 30x18x18 little fellas aren't helicopters. Its strange 2 males are fighting with no female present. Do you have a nest in there? If you do remove it. Separate them for now.
You can place the cages near each other and let them get acquainted from a safe distance first.
Be sure you have PLENTY of food! Research egg food recipes, greens etc..
2 males should buddy up. See if you can observe what might be the cause of their squabbles. If you can afford a bigger cage look at finch flight cages. Some even have partitions in the middle to separate breeders. I wouldn't introduce more new birds now. Are you sure they are the same species? Pictures?
Hope you solve it soon. Good luck.
Karen

[rayeast]

Thanks for the advice. I just purchased a 30 x 18 x 18 inch flight cage. Looks bigger, maybe I was wrong about the size and the old one has arched and curved roof sections that are mostly a waste.
Might not have been a good idea to put the fake Ivy in one corner as a refuge. It got them into a competitive frenzy.
Anyway, I guess I'll separate them this evening, I read that removing them in low light as they grow a little calmer and fear less the Big Hand. (plus I bought a safe lookig net.
They did buddy up very well for months. Both males, but the younger one just got all his colors in mid-February. I have a notion that the younger one just came to his frisky age.
Again thanks. [img]owner/mydocuments/zeebs1.jpg[/img][album][album]

[Celeris]

rayeast

It would likely benefit you to have two plants in opposite corners. I have my boys set up with near identical "hidey spots", which has prevented competition, since they can't defend two plants clear across the cage from each other (and there's not enough of a difference to form preference.) I have found the plants are extremely useful to the birds when tensions start to rise--they'll seek shelter behind the plants, not look at each other for a while, and eventually seem to forget their squabbles. I also have multiple food and water spots set up in opposite corners. I successfully house two male societies and three male zebras in the same flight without any more than the typical "beak sparring." However, each bird has its own personality and I think I just happen to have the perfect combination of personalities.

Can only imagine your frustration!