Do You Separate Your Parakeets When They Attack Each Other?

Time Out

• Just like you would with a couple of kids scrapping over the last cookie, you should separate your parakeets when they attack each other. You can try making a loud noise, either by clapping your hands or slamming a door to distract them from the fight long enough to move one out of the cage. Sometimes, however, your stubborn little budgies will be too into the moment, and nothing but physically separating them will work. Talk to them soothingly before you open the cage and cautiously place your hand inside. Hold your hand flat and place it vertically between the two brawling birds. Continue speaking in a gentle voice until everyone is calmed down, then command one to step up on your hand and remove her from the cage.

Careful Introductions

• When you bring a new parakeet home, you won't be able to simply plop him down inside the cage alongside your first parakeet and expect them to instantly become best friends. There's always the possibility that could happen, but usually parakeets need some get-to-know-you time with each other before you can keep them in the same cage. Initially, you'll have to keep your two budgies in separate spaces, but place the cages next to each other so they can see and interact with one another. Due to differences in personalities, it can take anywhere from a day to two weeks or longer before your birds start getting along. When your parakeets are curious enough to want to interact "in person," you can open their cages and allow them to visit one another. If they want to live together, they'll eventually choose a cage and settle in.

Keeping Two Parakeets

• A pair of 'keets are more fun to watch than cable TV, but only if they're friends. You can increase the odds of your birds being willing cohabiters by pairing two males or a male and a female. Female budgies are more aggressive than males, so trying to house two girls will end in a best-case scenario of constant bickering or could develop into a more tragic state that involves drawing blood. If you end up with two females, or even a combination of the sexes whose personalities clash, everyone will be safer and more comfortable with permanent separate housing.

Dealing With Aggression

• Sometimes you can diffuse the tension between cage-mate parakeets if you know what is causing one or both to be aggressive. Maybe one bird is territorial, one or both could be jealous of each other over your attention, or it could be they simply don't like each other. Territoriality can be addressed by having a cage large enough to allow each bird his own space away from his roommate, along with separate food and water dishes. If those solutions don't work, you'll have to resort to separate cages. As for jealousy, give each bird one-on-one play time in addition to playing with them together. Giving them treats in each other's presence will give them a positive association and encourage camaraderie. In the case of a personality clash, the best option is just to give them their own cages.