Question for multiple budgie owners....

[~Melissa~]

Ok, I know that a few of you here have quite a number of birds and I was wondering if you have one that is the "runt" of the flock. Elwood is by far the smallest budgie I have, and seems to be getting picked on from the other birds. He gets pushed off perches and pushed aside when eating. What can I do to make sure that he gets all he needs? Thanks in advance for the help!!

[MotherHen]

How many feeding area's have you got..If it is only one. I would be putting a few around. Perhaps a few more perches as well.

[telmadee]

I have 03 main feeding areas in my aviary, one in the indoor enclosure for seed, grit and water, i stick fruit on the end of branches in htere, then in the outdoor flight i have saem as the inside but also a dish for greens, which doubles up as a bath too lol, i also made a monkey nut swing for them so they can swing and much too

[lin]

I think the important thing is, as has been said, perches and feeding areas. There are usually only a couple of bully birds, so if you put in 3 or 4 feeders, then they can't protect them all

[Julie]

Yes I agreee with everyone-although I only have three,when we first got Birdy he was picked on mercilessly by Budg2 who would fly from feeding pot to feeding pot to push him away. Luckily I had them in a cage which could be divided so I used that at feeding time so that Birdy could eat in peace. It still happens from time to time now but since Sherbets arrival,Birdy has really come into his own and can look after himself to a certain extent although he will always be at the bottom of the pecking order.
If it gets to the point where yours is seriously being deprived of food I would consider maybe putting him with another 'nice' bird in a cage on their own for a while to allow for a bit of TLC and to build his strength and size up?

[~Melissa~]

I have separated him for a while and put him with Skyler. Those two are like best buds. I am planning on getting a larger cage soon. When I get that one I hope that I can reintroduce him inot the rest of the flock. Here is the cage:

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7763344966&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX_Stores

[Jo]

Ohh nice cage! We look at getting one of these and thought it was a bit big, but excellent for seperating birds!

[Julie]

Very nice!

[Hanlou]

Yep. I'd say the same things.... I have 4 budgies and 4 feeding pots, it's just easier that way! Otherwise, if one is at a feeding pot they all want to be at that particular one. The girls are most definitely the bosses though. Lil is the bossiest, then Angelica. Phil is the laid-back one and Tommy is just plain greedy. #wink#

[Scully]

I had the same with my two, Harvey can be a bit of a bully to Graham. My new cage came with these two twin feeders. Large double pots with one long perch. They are great, and everyone can get and have a feed without any squabbling.