BertieB and George relationship problems

[blue48]

Generally they seem to have been getting along well but I have noticed that George tries to prevent BertieB from eating.  As soon as Bertie goes to the food dish, George is there trying to block him off or get to the seed first.  I have two seed dishes, originally they were next to each other but then I moved one to the other side of the cage.  It didn't make a difference, George still scrambled to get there as soon as he saw Bertie eating.

For now I have separated them as I don't know what else to do but I would appreciate any suggestions.  

[Deleted]

I had a somewhat similar problem in that as soon as Indie ate Yuki would want to eat from the same container, but if Indie moved to the one next to it then Yuki wouldn't follow, so it wasn't quite the same issue.

I just ended up feeding them both out of one larger container. That way there was room for both of them at the same dish and it wasn't possible for one bird to defend the whole thing. If they tried then they wouldn't have time to eat because they'd have to keep running about.

[blue48]

Thanks @sillycat84, that's a great idea. I did look on Amazon to see if they did one long seed container and I found one but the reviews were not good.

Did you put the container on the floor of the cage?

[Deleted]

Yes, I tend to feed them on the cage floor because they're ground feeders. I was using a shallow cat bowl to start with, and then a plate. These lot got very used to their food containers changing, poor souls.

[Hezz]

I wouldn’t separate them and I’d leave them to sort out their own issues. Setting the two pots at opposite sides of the cage works well, usually. Yes you might get some back and forth for a while but they aren’t stupid, the bully realises quite quickly that trying to defend both seed pots results in no feeding actually happening.

[blue48]

Thanks Hezz. They are back together now. I tried the food on the floor but they didn't touch it. No husks when I cleaned the cage this morning so I will do as you suggest and let them sort out their problems with the two pots at opposite ends

[blue48]

I'm happy to report that harmony has been restored. In fact, once George was back in the big cage everything was fine and no more food stand-offs.

I don't know if George will ever be tame. The best I can say for now is that he is used to me and doesn't seem to see me as much of a threat, although he hates it when I put my hands in the cage and flutters around madly. I don't know what happened with him before he was returned to the breeder. Maybe he had a bad experience with the previous owner but he is still very nervous after 2 months with me and nearly a month sharing a cage with Bertie.

I have been unable to tempt him near me with millet. I talk, sing and blink, and he sees me with Bertie who still loves a bit of fuss now and again. They are very happy together though and great friends and that really is good enough for me. I won't push things because he's too scared, maybe he'll come round in his own time.