Lisa Shea Forums Parakeets General Parakeet Chat Agressive female parakeet...Help

I have a female who has become extremely agressive toward another female of mine. They have been living in the same cage for almost 4 years now so I dont know why the sudden change in behavior.

Key-Lime will almost stalk Mrs. White. When they get on the same perch Key Lime knocks her off and wont stop until she hits the bottom of the cage and once there, she will not let Mrs. White back on any perch. I actually have to seperate them. It has gotten so agressive, and both are now missing feathers. I dont know what has happened to cause this, but I know I cant let it continue. It happens all night and all day.Key Lime hates the spray bottle so that will work to separate them, but as soon as I have to leave the room, I can hear them go at it.

My questions is...Do I remove KeyLime(agressive one)or Mrs. White who is getting beat up? How long do I keep them apart? I am really afraid for Mrs. White, she is just too old for this.If I take out Mrs. White will Key-Lime just pick on another bird?

I'm sure lots of people with more experience than I have will answer you, but here is my suggestion: I hate to say it, but is there any chance that Mrs White is sick? KeyLime may be picking up on something that is "off" about her. I would separate them for now, and put Mrs.White in a different cage. If the problem is some kind of hormonal thing, maybe Keylime will settle down, and you can put them back together, but if Mrs White is sick or getting feeble from age, you don't want her getting picked on.

this is typical female budgie behavior. put the aggressive bird in a cage by themselves, close to the other cage and allow them time together to fly around the room together but give them their own cage, this is not a punishment, keep that in mind, you are simply giving them the space they need. females become hormonal, like all females, and sometimes they get sick of each other, ive had to do this with my females and after a week or so of being in their space they are ok to go back, but possibly she might enjoy being in her own cage. one of my male cockatiels is in a cage by himself, because he is grumpy and hormonal, a very happy bird, he just likes his OWN space and he comes out and plays with the others but goes back to his own place and he likes that.

I would go w/Aminah's advice:) She's worked with birds a long time and is studying to be an avian vet.