NO NO NO!!! LOL Read again (or do I need to re read what I wrote????) They were still fighting and are separated for the night. Aruba and Caico in one cage and Antigua and Cayman in another. Aruba and Antigua were still having knock out drag out fights this afternoon.

I hope it is just spring fever! I am hoping that there is no medical reason for a bird to suddenly turn so mean (and no they are not molting. They all just finished molting about a week ago. They got along fine then.

OH heck, I thought I read they were giving each other the 'look' but were sitting there. haha

Birdy time out it is then!

Maybe it's a ploy to get you to buy a bigger cage!
Just kidding! I know it is upsetting to say the least. I don't have clue, but the bigger cage was my first reaction....
I hope it irons itself out.

Didn't you just get a larger cage a while ago? Weren't you the one who started the run on mansions?!

Dumb question here, are you sure they are all boys? (my bad, just a thought).

That was an earlier post in the first hour that they were out. I was hopeful things would be okay at that point but just after that, they started in again. My parents were here and my dad saw them. He said he has never seen birds fight like that before!!

I hope tomorrow is better.

Yes, makes you wonder what in the world set them off. Specially if they don't normally fight.

there is no medical reason for a bird to suddenly get aggressive enless it had rabies which is 99.9999999% impossible for a pet bird.

its probally some kind of pecking order/mate type thing, and by mate i mean friendship and/or lovers. it could also be a maturity issue, when birds turn a year old (give or tak a few months) they begin to get more spunky and their personality often changes, they are no longer babies and can become quite crabby and mean for about a year but if you stick to training and remain patient and loving birds will often come out of this "teenage" phase and once again be the nice birds they were before, if not they can remain mean like this. its like the terrible 2's in a human toddler or the teen years, they are no longer babies and are becoming adult birdies... it isnt an easy time for them or us.

they can be mean and irritable during that time.

also maybe the one did somethng that just flat out offended the other ... like trying to mount him or persuing him in a way that wasnt solicited, birds can get quite aggressive in those situations. and this can happen between birds of the same sex.

are you 100% sure they are all males? its been a while since ive seen pics of their ceres but i think they were all clearly male yes? if ther eis a possible female that could be the problem right there.

and pecking orders change, they arent lifetime appointments and that can get ugly. i would keep them separated like this with very limited playtime together, i know its ahrd on us, but its best for them. i had to do this for a while with my keets and they got over it in a couple months.

I understand what your saying my keets act like that every morning I can't figure out if their fighting or playing.speckles sits back and watches when they come her way she beats them up and sends them away.when I feel its to much I speak to them telling them to stop sometimes I put my hand in the cage to break it up.I'm afraid at times they'll hurt each other.

I am glad to hear there is not a possible medical issue! That was my biggest fear. I remember watching a show where a brain tumor (in a human) caused aggressive behavior. That kept popping through my thoughts.

Yes, they are all clearly male. (very dark bright blue cere w/no white) (the beginning of my avatar shows a fairly good close up of each.

The mounting thing could be. At the beginning of one of the fights it did look like Antigua was trying to mount Aruba. It happened so quickly and they were locked feet to feet so fast that I wasn't even sure if that was what I saw.

Since I adopted Caico and Antigua from a gal here and she had gotten them from a shelter after another owner gave them up, I honestly am not sure how old they are. She thought they were about a year old when she gave them to me but I'm not sure. That would put them around 2 now. At any rate, they weren't babies. Aruba was around 9 months old when I got him so that puts him also at about 2. Cayman was about 3 months when I got him so he is actually about 1 right now but he doesn't seem to be involved with the aggressive behavior at all.

I'm glad I didn't sell this other cage. The other one I have is just too small for a longer term separation. It's one of those cages that uneducated people (yes, that was me in the very beginning) get for their birds to start with.

I will do what I have to do and keep them apart as long as needed. It isn't going to be easy-I really don't have any good place for this other cage to sit but I'll work it out.

The worst part is that they are all 4 very used to being out of the cage from the time they are uncovered in the morning till they are covered at night. We will work out something though.

OH NO!! I was hoping to come back and find out that they worked things out and every thing was back to normal
It's going to be very weird for them not to be able to all be out together for most of the day. I guess you'll have to let them out in shifts?
I sure hope things work out REAL soon. Sounds like it's going to be a pain in the butt for you and them.
Good luck!!!! Positive, squabble ending vibes((((()))))

Sheri - I am thinking that spring is the problem. I am in the process right now of separating Tweety and Jason from Gracie and Gilbert. At first they were chasing Tweety all over the cage constantly. I think if she had stood her ground there would have been a fight. So I separated her out - now they (Gil and Gracie) are doing the same thing to Jayson. It is so funny, Jayson keeps coming to the front of the cage, hanging on to the bars like "get me out of here." I hear what you say about glad not to have sold previous cages. I pulled one out and set it up for Tweety and Jason.

Good luck with your guys - mine have pulled this before and it did get better and I had put them back together. Soooo - the lesson here is hang on to those cages.