Puberty? Three boy green cheek conures - 2 now fighting

[PhinsUp]

We have three green cheeks - Enzo a sun cheek, Linus a moon cheek and GusGus our turquoise. They are about 2 years old and although there has been the occasional scuffle of boys will be boys, it was always quick and everyone was good again. Yesterday, however, Gus and Enzo got into it! A couple small foot injuries and sheer shock on our part. We separated them and dealt with the injuries (very minor - thankfully). We tried to have them out together again a little later and they just charged at each other again. We spent the day stressed and trying to be fair to Linus giving him time with both his brothers separately and tried again in the evening at meal time to see how that worked. Not as bad, or we just were on high alert to keep safe, but they went to fight again.

For the first time in months we separated them for sleep putting Linus in the middle cage. This morning they tried to fight again! It looked like Enzo was the aggressor but when Gus was in a cage and Linus and Enzo went over to him, Gus went to the side of the cage to snip at Enzo.

I am not sure that I have any hope of them getting along as they did, which makes me very sad, but I am truly concerned about Linus and making sure he is not punished in this separation. Do I let him sleep with a brother every other night? Do I separate them all? Is it okay to have Linus and Gus out for 30 minutes and then put Gus in a cage and give Enzo time with Linus.

Is this just a puberty thing that will mellow out.

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[April]

@webchirp @Emma&pico @Pixiebeaks

 

[PhinsUp]

@webchirp @Emma&pico @Pixiebeaks

Did they fight? So afraid of such an ending.

 

[PhinsUp]

Did they fight? So afraid of such an ending.

Sorry, just realized you were reaching out to help me find advise. Thanks! Amy

 

[April]

Sorry, just realized you were reaching out to help me find advise. Thanks! Amy

No worries. Sorry I'm busy so didn't have time to type out a reply and tag so I just tagged and ran,lol

 

[Emma&pico]

They are gorgeous you 100% dna tested all boys ?

 

[Pixiebeaks]

Hello phins up! Those are some gorgeous green cheeks!!!
Are these all DNA sexed , so you for sure know their sex? It could be 2 are trying to pair up .

I had 2 DNA girls for many years that were a true pair bond even having girl sex and regurgitate to each other . Slept in a pile and shared a cage . Every once in awhile throughout their 7 years together they would have a brief rough patch and have to split to seperate cages but allowed out together. Usually in a month they could go back to sharing a cage .

I currently have a DNA male female pair sharing a cage ,it's only been a year so I dint know if we will have bumps in the road . ....I just added a 3rd green cheek that I have yet to have DNA sexed. I haven't integrated them into a flock yet. I animal genetics online , cut a toenail to get a drop of blood to send out for sexing ,Is about 20 bucks and I have used them for years .

 

[Emma&pico]

Remi and pip fought when I first got them big fluff ball on floor fight once as I didn’t move fast enough
I found having a bath together settle stuff down they would sit close and preen which then lead to remi (who was aggressive one ) slowly walking up to pip to preen
I had one in cage one on perch outside cage and gave treats to both one through cage bars and on perch and kept swapping making sure there was no negative reactions
The aggressive one got put back in their cage and told no nicely then other back on perch for treats for positive behaviour
I found them both knowing and doing tricks together them one in cage waving etc one on perch waving flipping etc
Also found having them in a neutral place away from cages and what remi thought of as his helped loads

remi can be arse with blu blue crowned conure but I’ve been working on having them both on my arm and doing tricks together which seems to have helped but remi isn’t doing overly aggressive to blu it’s more like I know I can make you move than a I want to fight you because blu just flys off to me remi then gets what he wants pip just full on acts like blu doesn’t exist
I can have all three on perches with distance going tricks which honestly I find helps loads as concentration is on me and getting treat safflower seeds they will do anything for

 

[Emma&pico]

Sorry quick reply just finished 12hour shift need a bath and something to eat

 

[PhinsUp]

Thank you SO much. We believe that the DNA testing was accurate, but may redo just because. It very much seems like aggressive mating stuff. It's really bad

Lots of good suggestions. We are also going to get all three clipped again to put everybody down a notch. Please send prayers, we miss having a flock.

 

[Synth]

I have a trio now although Medoh came along much later. Astrid and Nayru have been a bonded pair for a long time. They used to live side by side in a divided cage but then hormones happened and now they have entirely separate cages. They are wonderful friends during most of the year but during hormone season we have to heavily monitor the boys out together. During puberty Astrid actually bit one of Nayru’s toenails off. It was rough for a while. Lots of cage time outs and reinforcing positive interactions happened.

I hope your boys mellow down as time goes on, ours (the older 2) did after the terrible 2s. Medoh is currently 2 as well and it’s a lot to handle. My poor hands are over it lol.

 

[BiancaHors]

No advice, but they’re beautiful