Parakeet behavioral issues. Please help!!

[yammo]

Hi,

I'm having issues with my two male parakeets and my female cockatiel, any advice is appreciated. Lately it's been a real issue.

My two male parakeets are Katkout (if I had to guess his age, I'd say 2-3yrs old?) and Beskout (1yr old). My female cockatiel is Kouki (guessing around 5yrs). Their current setup is two cages, one for Kouki and one for the two parakeets. In my parakeets' cage, they have two of everything-- bowls, treats, and tons of perches. In my cockatiel's cage, I have her bowls, toys, and lots of perches too. I have a bird-safe room, so the only time the birds are locked in their cage is at night; the birds have access to both cages during the day. The birds' wings are not clipped, and they are on a seed, pellet and fresh veggie diet. They get 10-14hrs of sleep every night. I have attached a picture of their cage setup.

The problem is Katkout-- lately he has been the most annoying bird on the planet. From the second he wakes up to the second it's time for bed, he's at 200% energy. The first thing he does in the morning is go bother Kouki-- he has an insatiable need to get to her. I keep her door closed a little longer in the morning so she has a chance to wake up and eat in peace (well, a little peace). Katkout is immediately climbing on the other side of her cage like a mirror. The second I open her door, he follows her EVERYWHERE-- he's within 2 inches of her, chirping in her face nonstop. During the day, he's following me and Kouki everywhere and not giving us peace. While I'm working on the computer, he's either chasing Kouki in circles on top of me or playing and biting my hand. It's gotten so annoying to the point where I'll shoo him away (I never do this, I love having my birds on me), but he knows I won't hurt him and calls my bluff. Same with Kouki, she will charge him and he won't budge (she doesn't bite, only 'beaks'). He does this ALL DAY. On top of that, he'll often shoo Beskout away off of me. I don't think Beskout is too stressed by this, he eats well and doesn't pick his feathers. But he's not happy to be chased off of me all the time. I've tried putting Kouki in her cage so she gets some space from him, then he just climbs on her cage like he does in the morning. I try to put Katkout away (which is getting more difficult, since he knows I'm going to put him in his cage when he gets near it), and he goes insane. He'll climb on the bars of his cage, doing flips, doing anything to get out. I can't put him in Kouki's cage, because the bars are just wide enough for him to squeeze through and escape.

I know part of the reason his energy levels and behavior has gotten so much worse is because of hormones. I notice sometimes his droppings are very watery, other times normal. I did research on this and apparently it's more common in hormonal female birds? I am positive he is not female, he has a bright blue cere and well... I'll get to the next part. The biggest problem is him trying to 'be intimate' with my hand. I do everything to avoid this behavior because A. it's disgusting, B. it's incredibly annoying, and C. it's disgusting. I did what people recommended online-- distract him with toys and try and make my hand an uncomfortable place to be by moving it a lot when it's on it or gently bobbing him. Lately I've been limiting his time in the daylight, but even with 14hrs every night he's still like this. When he bothers Kouki excessively I'll try putting spray millet out to distract him-- and he just ignores it. He's way more interested in her or me. I don't (or don't think I have) anything that resembles a nest in their cages. I'll also mention that I'm the only one he does this with-- I'm their primary caretaker and the birds aren't as comfortable around other people. I think this behavior also worsens when I'm in the room, because the second I walk in he's start following me and Kouki everywhere. I don't know if it's because of the fact that me and Kouki are both girls? I haven't been giving them any high-protein foods during this time, because I hear it may make the more hormonal. He doesn't let me pet him either, so I'm not even petting his head. Thankfully even with all this, nobody gets hurt. None of them bite (except Katkout sometimes bites my hand like I mentioned earlier).

(You may notice in the picture of Katkout my cat is in the background; I know this is not contributing to this. My two cats are senior and don't move around a lot, they aren't interested in the birds at all and the birds are comfortable with them being there. They've have been around them for a long time.)

I'm really struggling with this, if anyone has any advice at all, please let me know. I can't spend quality time with Beskout because of this, and Kouki is bothered by all the noise and problems he's making. I don't know what to do. Katkout is disturbing everyone's peace, and it's seriously a problem.

Thank you.

 

[Sparkles99]

I’d not let the budgies share out time with the tiel.

Please post a picture of your other budgie’s face.

I have one hormonal budgie. He lives alone now. My others all get along.

Depending on your second budgie (really need face pics), you may need a third cage.

 

[yammo]

Here is a picture of Beskout. If I put Katkout by himself, won't he be lonely? He flock calls whenever he's separated from the other two.

 

[Finchbreed]

As you have said, both of your Budgies are male.
The little guy trying to mate your hand is because you are his chosen mate.
As I have experience of both Budgies and Teals, but not in a sharing situation. I can't say if his behavior towards her is as an alternative mate, or as a threat for your affections.
He is the problem, it would probably be best to isolate him in his cage while the others have free fly time, at least half the time till his hormones settle. She should not be shut away from him, it will confuse her, as she is doing nothing wrong.

 

[Sparkles99]

I’d get a third cage & have separate out time. Only one of the eleven male budgies I’ve had/have has been hormonal & it’s no joke. As Finch says, you’re his chosen mate. The hormonal state may be permanent. Ernest went into it close to the winter solstice & has never exited it (we’re now close to the summer solstice). Shortly after, he tried to kill a flock mate he’s known for years. I’m concerned for your other budgie. That’s a modest size cage & there will be no other budgie to deflect an attack or to defend against the hormonal male.

 

[yammo]

Oh no... I really hope that's not the case for my little guy. Katkout has been hormonal before, but it's never been this bad. I can house my other budgie with my cockatiel in the meantime maybe? I know it's typically said to keep different species in different cages, but Beskout doesn't bother anybody and neither does my cockatiel. I've done it before, do you think it'd be a good temporary solution? I kept Katkout in his cage for half the day like you all have said, and I must say it was much more peaceful for my other two guys. Beskout was able to come to me for affection without Katkout chasing him away, and Kouki was able to sleep on my shoulder uninterrupted. I thought Katkout had calmed down after being in the cage for a few hours, but the instant I let him out he started chasing everyone again and trying to mate with my hand again. Sparkles99, what did you do with your hormonal budgie? When you put him in a separate cage, how did he do with being alone?

 

[Sparkles99]

I’d not house the budgie & tiel together.

Ernest, the hormonal budgie, is perfectly fine solo. He can still chat & sing with the others.

 

[Finchbreed]

My only experience of Budgies and Teals sharing is in a large avairy, which works.
Sparkles is probably better able to advise re them sharing.