Plucking and Bullying

sein · Post by **sein** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:48 pm

I have three zebras, two female and one male. The older female and the male have paired up, but pluck each other's feathers, mainly around the neck (though I did notice some tail feathers missing on the older female). The younger female often tries to get the male's attention, which usually results in him ignoring her or chasing her around the cage. Occasionally the older female will chase her off of a perch, but not nearly so often.

I separated the male from the two females so they could regrow their feathers, and everyone's looking nice and healthy again (the females get along just fine as long they aren't in the same cage as the male).

I'm worried that if I try to put the male back in with the females that he'll start plucking at the older one and chasing the younger one, again, so does anyone have any advice on how to encourage peaceful relationships between them all?

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:01 pm

Is there a nest in their cage? And if so, do you have nesting materials or are you dicouraging breeding.....
They ususally don't stop plucking once they have started.
You could try to put him back and watch them closely and see what happens. If there is a nest, but no nesting materials he is probably trying to pluck her for nesting materials. Perhaps someone else will jump in with some advice for you.

sein · Post by **sein** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:14 pm

Woops! Forgot to mention that. There is a nest in their cage, and they have plenty of materials. I did check the nest, though, and there aren't any feathers woven into it, so I don't think that's what started it.

An interesting note which isn't really related to the plucking is if the females can both see the male (his cage is in the same room), then the older one will chase the younger one. If they can't, then they don't get into any fights at all, even if they can hear him.

I think I'll try reintroducing him later today or tomorrow. If he still can't get along with the younger female I'll move her to the other cage in the hopes that he can get along with the older one without pulling her feathers out.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:41 pm

Well, I know two males don't work, but I didn't think there was a problem with two hens...... Perhaps you need another cock and divide them evenly......

then I am sure there will be lots of babies for you.

sein · Post by **sein** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:41 pm

That's something I was considering. I don't have the space to house two pairs separately if none of them can get along with each other, though.

I'm looking into buying/building a larger cage, though, so maybe in a month or two...

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:03 am

That may work. I didn't think to ask you what size your cage was.
Overcrowdness will certainly cause that also.

Post by **Sally** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:56 pm

Trios almost never work with Zebras--you need 2 per cage or 6+, and if you have 6 or more, you need a large flight cage. With your setup, you will continue to have problems. If you don't have room enough to have 2 pair in separate cages, then I would suggest rehoming one of the hens. If you keep a male/female pair, expect eggs and babies, too--Zebras multiply like rabbits! If you don't want babies, rehome the male.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:09 am

I agree with Sally. You normally cannot house three zebras together. They are some of the most aggressive finches. I had one male black cheek zebra in with my aviary of mixed finches and he was the only one causing problems and chasing the others around. I got rid of him, and there is much more peace within the aviary.

If I ever get zebras again, I'll have to buy a seperate flight cage and house only a pair together, or if big enough, 3 pairs.

sein · Post by **sein** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:48 pm

Thank you all for the advice! I've almost finished planning a larger enclosure for them, but in the meantime I'll look into rehoming one of them.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:19 pm

You could also buy some preening toys and see if that takes their attention off plucking eachother. Also I would remove the nest until you have even pairs, preferrably 6 or more.

sein · Post by **sein** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:00 pm

I did get a couple of toys when I first noticed the problem, and while the male pecks at them frequently the female has never taken an interest.

gerald · Post by **gerald** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:54 am

ya i think if you could have them in a flight cage or an aviary, you might be OK. but in a smaller cage there would be trouble..

you could try to relocate the cage, to another room. give them an new environment and see how that works

If you do plan on pairing them up make sure you have a buyer for your chicks....lots of babies ....in no time

good luck

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