Is Bert Feeding OK?

[mizloco]

Here is a video of them eating. Bert seems to chew funnily, is he OK? Bert is the green one.
I may well be just spending too much time watching them, avoiding my essay.

[samwiseg]

Good question, is he doing this every time he eats?

Our Wiggins eats like this sometimes, but I think it is because he might not want the other buds round him to bully him out of the way so its like he does a nervous beak grind, does that make sense? Other than that he eats normally.

Also how long has he been doing this for?

[mizloco]

He has just started recently, but Ernie is a bit of a bully when they eat together. Ernie will get in the bowl and munch or he will push Bert out of the way with a peck. They get on like two boys in the playground...sometimes nicely sometimes get out the way.

[Hezz]

I looked at this a couple of times, Nina, and didn't want to make a call.

This may be a silly question, but do you have another seed pot in the cage? Or even maybe two? I have found that with some ...... most, provide as many seed-pots as there are birds. Unless they have a special bond, most will not share a pot, so either one misses out, or has to wait until the other is finished, and that works only if the first doesn't bully him out of the way. In fact I have been thinking of putting my third pot back into the birds' cage as Misty is being a bit pushy with Sparky .......

For you a second pot, if it isn't already available, could solve all problems.

[Rachael Kellett]

I'm also finding it hard to judge just from the video. Its easier for you to watch him because you are there with him every day i have two budgies that eat strangely. Ozzie will sit there just chewing and chewing with his beak, i swear it takes him longer to eat than the others lol. How is Bert otherwise? Is he active, not fluffed up or anything like that? It could just be that he is a funny eater

[mizloco]

I've been watching them both today when they have been in the cage eating. It appears that Bert does this when Ernie is being rude and pushing him out of the way. Bert got sick of it and told Ernie off and then he was eating normally.
Bert has been flying around all day, demolished his millet they had as a treat and is now sleeping next to Ernie.
I'm hoping it's just me fussing. I will keep an eye on him.

[Hezz]

Back to my original question - do you have another seed pot available, so they can both feed at the same time?

[samwiseg]

Mar 31, 2013 10:46:40 GMT mizloco said:

He has just started recently, but Ernie is a bit of a bully when they eat together. Ernie will get in the bowl and munch or he will push Bert out of the way with a peck. They get on like two boys in the playground...sometimes nicely sometimes get out the way.

Sounds to me like just a imaptience for eating out of the same bowl - as Hezz recommends make sure there is more than one seed pot (if you haven't already).

We have 5 feeders believe it or not for four budgies! Despite them bickering for the same one they still have the others available should one of them get shoved out of the way

[mizloco]

Yes there are two other pots of food.

[samwiseg]

Usual thing of "I want what you got" syndrome then!

[mizloco]

Yes I think so

[blade100]

I've noticed my two do this, in that I mean sky has to eat where cedric is eating so gets shoved out the way so then he goes to the other seed pot and she flys over to that one!

[Hezz]

Apr 1, 2013 7:32:35 GMT mizloco said:

Yes there are two other pots of food.

In that case Bert will just have to get over himself and either be bullied or go elsewhere to eat. Not a lot you can do.