I've had 3 canaries (1 male and 2 females) living together in the same cage for 13 months with no issues. Last spring and summer I had to use plastic eggs to keep them from continually laying eggs, but everyone got along. All was well until about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Then the male got very aggressive with one of the females (Buttercup) - to the point that I had to remove him because he had her pinned on the bottom of the cage. After I removed him, Buttercup got really aggressive with the other female (Marigold). I thought they would work it out but then Marigold got sick so I had to separate the females also. I read online that the males were ready to breed before the females, but when Buttercup starting flirting with the male through the bars I thought it was safe to put them all back together. The male again went after Buttercup to the point that I had to remove him. Unfortunately Buttercup got hurt in the scuffle. I'm not sure how bad - her leg was bleeding quite a bit so I pulled her out and put the anti-bleed powder on it, and put her in a smaller cage. She is not using that leg and I'm not sure what to do. There is an avian specialist vet about an hour away but I really don't want to put her through that stress and I'm not sure they could help her anyway. But maybe they could. Even with her hurt leg she was still bullying Marigold.
How is it that they could all get along fine for over a year, and now none of them are able to co-exist peacefully? I'm so frustrated. And I feel so bad about Buttercup. Obviously I shouldn't have tried to put them back together. Any advice is welcome because I am at my wit's end and there is no consistent information out there on the internet. Can they ever go back together? Is this a seasonal issue? They were fine together last spring but it's drama central now. I really don't want all these bird cages all over the place, but of course I'll do what I have to.
How is it that they could all get along fine for over a year, and now none of them are able to co-exist peacefully? I'm so frustrated. And I feel so bad about Buttercup. Obviously I shouldn't have tried to put them back together. Any advice is welcome because I am at my wit's end and there is no consistent information out there on the internet. Can they ever go back together? Is this a seasonal issue? They were fine together last spring but it's drama central now. I really don't want all these bird cages all over the place, but of course I'll do what I have to.