Pecking Order - Interfere or not?

[BudgieLoverNY]

Hi,

We have 4 budgies, all under 15-20 weeks old. We started with one, then added a 2nd a month later, then 2 more a few weeks later. The first budgie found a sleeping spot on the rope on top of the swing. He stayed there always and goes there at bedtime.
Budgie #2 took the spot on the other side of him on the same rope on top of the swing. 

All is good.

When I added the 2 other budgies, they found a spot on a perch facing the first two on their swing top.

All is good.

Now, 4-5 weeks later, one of the new budgies, a hen, is starting to fight with the first budgie for the spot on the swing top. In fact, last night after covering the cage I heard fighting and budgie war-talk warbling for a bit and when I went to check, the hen managed to get budgie 1 off his spot and she was there and he was on the perch.

All is not so good.

I righted the wrong and put hen to the perch and budgie 1 to his normal spot on top of the swing and made sure they stayed that way (and they did).

My question is, obviously there's a pecking order being established in the cage now that everyone has settled in and life is normal, should I get involved and stick up for the first budgies and try to enforce order and "protect his rights" or let them work it out between themselves (with fighting, etc..)?

Thanks in advance.

[rio13]

I have to say you have a beautiful set up! The budgies probably have a great time in there. Is the scenery a backdrop or something?

I'm no expert, and I'm sure someone else with more experience will be able to shed some light on the issue. In my personal opinion though, I wouldn't let them fight it out, let alone if it has the potential to get violent/out of hand. I think you should interfere somehow. I'm not sure what would be appropriate though, so I'll wait for someone with more suggestions to come along.

[Hezz]

Mind your own business, in the nicest possible way. The birds have to sort it for themselves, and interference from you will mean nothing. If things become violent, with the very real possibility of blood and damage, only then interfere. If you have one hen (I can't remember) it is inevitable that she is going to be the boss. Theirs is very much a matriarchal society. If you have two hens, you might find that they have to sort out their own pecking order, yet again.

[Marianne Marlow]

Everytime you add a new budgie, the dynamic and pecking order will most likely change, as Hezz said, especially if it's a hen!

Agree with Hezz in that if they are violent to each other then you need to intervene, but if it's just the usual knocking each other out of the way and jostling for space then just leave it.

There is a lot of stuff in their cages!!

[samwiseg]

Totally agree - they will bicker and squabble but an order needs to be established and it will settle down. Only and ONLY intervene if viscous behaviour starts where blood can be drawn.

Budgie dynamics eh? What could be so mis-understood? LOL!

[suesbird]

Every night my hen insists on sitting on Pippins swing for an hour or so just to annoy him, after an hour or so she goes to her own swing, but we have to have this ritual every night. Pippin pulls her tail, squawks and gives her a right mouthful, does she move, NO. Not until she wants to.

Evey night I hear that tone in Pips mutterings and say to my oh "is she on his swing again" answer is usually YES

[Marianne Marlow]

suesbird it's endearing behaviour really isn't it

[steve05412]

You could try removing everything from the cage and set it up again with a complete change around then it will be different for all of them. That way no one has preferences on anything. ... only a thaught. .. hth

[starlingqueen]

Agreed, the hen is boss and will rule the roost. Interfering will only make the process longer. She will be top bud and that's that.

[BudgieLoverNY]

Thanks all!

I will leave them be and only interfere when/if it gets too violent (hopefully it doesn't...).

Regarding the background, I printed out a picture of a lush green meadow with trees and all for the budgies to have what to look at (then I realized they were bred in a home and don't even know the association...but it looks pretty anyway).

[suesbird]

It looks lovely, these hens can be right stroppy at times. Females rule the roost.

[ffiscool]

Lovely cage and set up. I hope it gets sorted easily

There is a pecking order here too, Bailey gets his way over me, lol

[milliej]

The only time I'd interfere is if my two young'uns started attacking my old gal and I'd separate them otherwise I just keep a close eye when I hear that cluck clucking sound which seems to say, get off my tail