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Help Needed... An Aggressive Owl Finch

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:13 am
by Red_Panda
Hi all!

I have a mixed aviary. 1 Cut Throat, 1 Gouldian, 2 Societies, 2 Silverbills and 2 Owls.

They have been getting along well until last night, when the female owl flies at and attacks the male society.

We have recently taken away a water feature that the owl had made her nest. We don't know whether it was the owl, the silverbills or one of the single species that keeps eating the eggs. The poor societies have not been close to the nest. So I don't know why she has taken such a dislike to the male society. It looks to me like she's stopping him eating and drinking!!

Is the female owl acting like this because we have taken the nest out? I am loath to take her out of the aviary!

Any suggestions will be gratefully received.
Thanks
Christine

Re: Help Needed... An Aggressive Owl Finch

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:38 am
by Uolym
How long have they been together? And is it their first time breeding in the same aviary? It might influence their actions.

Re: Help Needed... An Aggressive Owl Finch

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:45 am
by Red_Panda
We got the female owl in January and the male society in March. The owl has been laying eggs since we got her, but she is looking a state with plucked feathers so we decided it would be best to take the nest out and she began to attack the male society. :(

Re: Help Needed... An Aggressive Owl Finch

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:01 am
by Uolym
Im not a specialist like many here, but I would take out both birds for a time, the female owl so her feathers can grow back and the Society so he can heal. Then when they are back in shape, rearrange the aviary (perches, add more food bowls, etc.) and add them at the same time. Or the male Society first since he was the victim.

Do you know how the female Owl got her feathers plucked out?

Re: Help Needed... An Aggressive Owl Finch

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:05 am
by Red_Panda
She's plucking her feathers to make a nest, her mate also plucks her. It's a sorry state. :(

Re: Help Needed... An Aggressive Owl Finch

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:08 am
by Uolym
I would definitely take her out for some a healing break. :/

Re: Help Needed... An Aggressive Owl Finch

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:10 am
by Fraza
Red_Panda ur other Statement is roght

Ur female owl is stressed which can be caused over a numerous of things but it’s not fair for her to distrupt the rest of the group you should take her out by herself or with her mate and have a foraging box so she has something to pull at but don’t have anything that looks suitable for a nest and when her feathers have started to grow back (1-2 weeks ) introduce them back in

It also may be a good idea to give the others a nest whilst they aren’t there and leave a spare nest for the owls when they return then the other species have somewhere to dart off and hide if she feels stressed again but I think it will work

Goodlick