change of behavior...big change!

[michaelstrange]

I have a breeding pair of Society Finches who produced two male babies last October. I have only sexed the babies by listening to their song. They started singing the love song as soon as they were weaned. They were pretty aggressive to their mom, (and taught their dad a some bad habits like picking out her tail) so I moved them to their own cage.
These two young males were just bursting with energy, singing, jumping around, bathing enthusiastically. One is a fawn color, the other the typical dark brown and while. The brown and white bird was clearly dominant, and ruled the roost, (for example, he was the only one who ever went on the swing and he would eat first, chasing the fawn brother away) but they seemed really fine, healthy and happy.
All of a sudden about 2 weeks ago, the brown, dominant bird began to "nest" in the food cup. He sits like a hen for hours a day, no longer sings, and I mean right down IN the cup. He will get out only to bathe, and to eat from the cup with the greens. At night, he gets half way out of the cup, and will allow the other to cuddle next to him...this is how they slept before the big behavior change. But that is the only time of day they do their normal routine.
I suppose this COULD be a female, but I truly doubt it. There was so much "male" activity for so many months.
I wonder if anyone else has seen this happen, and what you suggest to do...maybe nothing...maybe give them away to the pet store so that they can have female companions? I am not willing to have another cage, and/or more birds. I do miss their antics, and their joy.

[Lacybug]

I've heard that in same-sex pairs, one bird may take on the "female" role, and act like a hen. I'm not sure what to do about it though. Hopefully someone can give you more info!

[Ginene]

Male societies sit and incubate eggs just like hens do. I have given my males a nest and then added fake eggs to prepare them for being fosters. If you don't want the pair to act as if they are nesting, remove the food cup and replace it with a feeder they can not sit in.

[MiaCarter]

Agreed with Ginene.

I'd simply replace the food cup.
II think there's a good chance he's male if that's what his behavior indicates. As someone mentioned, it's quite common for one to take on the opposite gender role in a same-sex couple.

Replace the food cup and the problem should be remedied. Otherwise, it sounds like they get along nicely so I wouldn't rehome them. They can be very content with a same-sex partner.

[wildbird]

I'll bet he would really like a real nest.

[lovezebs]

michaelstrange
Hi.
Were you planning on puting them back with the parents at any time? If not, and you dont't want two cages anyway, then giving them away seems a perfect solution. As to one trying to nest, it's a fairly common behaviour. However, if one is by some chance female, you really don't want siblings mating. That's just wrong.
Goodluck.

[michaelstrange]

Thanks for all the helpful comments. I did remove the food cup, and though I think my little nester was a bit tired not being able to sit all day now that he's used to doing so...he was much like his old self, full of life, even singing his old sweet song. I think it may be as simple as that!

[Corkysgirl]

michaelstrange that's great you found the solution!

[michaelstrange]

So now how do I get the male of the original breeding pair to stop picking out the female's tail feathers? The two male babies that were the concern of my first post have responded nicely to the removal of the seed cup. After they were hatched last October, when all four birds were still in one cage, the males all started to peck out the female's tail. Before the babies came, this never happened. The trouble is that it hasn't stopped now that the two male babies have their own cage. The dad just keeps it up and she has NO tail.
I have provided a toy to chew on, but the female plays with it, and the male leaves it alone. He seems to be afraid of it.

[finchmix22]

Give them feathers, like Emu feathers, which you can purchase online at ladygouldian and other sites. Some people, take the white feathers from a down pillow to give them feathers. That should stop the plucking.

[Corkysgirl]

I believe he may be picking out her feathers because he wants to breed again. That's what my aggressive "feather plucker" was doing with his mate. Mine were together with fledglings when he was doing it to his mate. He was also doing it to his offspring so I finally removed him.

[MiaCarter]

Agreed with the emu feather trick. I've used that trick a number of times with lots of success.

As Corkysgirl mentioned, it can be associated with mating instincts. They use the feathers to line the nest.

If it still doesn't stop, separate them for a little while. Sometimes, birds and other animals get stuck in a rut. In these cases, a particular behavior is no longer performed to serve a particular function or purpose; it's performed because it's become habit. So sometimes, you need to change up the circumstances to break them of that habit.
Plucking seems to be one of those habits that is hard to break without a change in circumstance.

Feather plucking, when it involves another bird who's getting plucked, often involves a dominant plucker who, in part, does this behavior as a show of power/dominance.

When it's self-plucking, it's more likely to be the result of stress, anxiety, boredom or lack of confidence.
That reminds me of a saying in the parrot rescue world: "That which does not kill us causes us to pluck out our feathers."