Fighting baby IRNs

[Jade]

I've mentioned previously that I hand raised a pair of IRNs when a cat got their parents before....

Anyway, they are fully feathered, about 7 months old (one green, one yellow) and they are living in an aviary outside my son's bedroom. Anyway, because I hand raised them, they are used to me but I didn't sook them too much because I knew they were going back into an aviary and my house pet bird Chookie didn't like the competition . Anyway, over the last few weeks, the green IRN (Chuckles) jumps on my shoulder at feed time and bites my ear as hard as he can. If I try and touch him, he bites and draws blood. I won't use gloves because I find they scare the birds more. The yellow IRN (Sunny) has always been a bit shy but when she comes over to me, Chuckles attacks her too. He seems possessive of me, but then tries to dominate me like he does to Sunny. (obviously I am guessing their sexes - Chuckles just seems like a bloke with his whole macho thing going on).

I have tried to ignore the bites (as I've read from other peoples advices) but I am sick of the injuries!! Also, when I put the food in their cage, if Sunny goes to eat first, she gets attacked (not serious, just a bit of a beak battle until she backs off).

I never had this trouble with Chookie, but then Chook was raised alone. He had the odd nibble but never anything bad or that drew blood.

I always know when Chuckles is about to bite because when he lands on my shoulder, he starts to make 'chuckling' noises (hence his name), then attacks. My husband calls him 'Devils Spawn' .

I guess I'm putting the question out there - Is this just a normal thing or is he too bossy and I should separate the birds?? It seems that the birds I hand raise all end up with strong personalities (mostly good, Chuckles being the only evil one!!), whereas the birds raised by their parents are a lot calmer but won't come near you.

By the way, they have lots of toys and a happy hut which Chuckles is the boss of and won't let Sunny use.

Thanks for any suggestions or advice!

Jade

[rocketrod67]

I've mentioned previously that I hand raised a pair of IRNs when a cat got their parents before....

Anyway, they are fully feathered, about 7 months old (one green, one yellow) and they are living in an aviary outside my son's bedroom. Anyway, because I hand raised them, they are used to me but I didn't sook them too much because I knew they were going back into an aviary and my house pet bird Chookie didn't like the competition . Anyway, over the last few weeks, the green IRN (Chuckles) jumps on my shoulder at feed time and bites my ear as hard as he can. If I try and touch him, he bites and draws blood. I won't use gloves because I find they scare the birds more. The yellow IRN (Sunny) has always been a bit shy but when she comes over to me, Chuckles attacks her too. He seems possessive of me, but then tries to dominate me like he does to Sunny. (obviously I am guessing their sexes - Chuckles just seems like a bloke with his whole macho thing going on).

I have tried to ignore the bites (as I've read from other peoples advices) but I am sick of the injuries!! Also, when I put the food in their cage, if Sunny goes to eat first, she gets attacked (not serious, just a bit of a beak battle until she backs off).

I never had this trouble with Chookie, but then Chook was raised alone. He had the odd nibble but never anything bad or that drew blood.

I always know when Chuckles is about to bite because when he lands on my shoulder, he starts to make 'chuckling' noises (hence his name), then attacks. My husband calls him 'Devils Spawn' .

I guess I'm putting the question out there - Is this just a normal thing or is he too bossy and I should separate the birds?? It seems that the birds I hand raise all end up with strong personalities (mostly good, Chuckles being the only evil one!!), whereas the birds raised by their parents are a lot calmer but won't come near you.

By the way, they have lots of toys and a happy hut which Chuckles is the boss of and won't let Sunny use.

Thanks for any suggestions or advice!

Jade

Hi Jade,
Sounds like Chuckles is not a male but a female. The female is the dominant sex of irns. We have one of each and the female is a year younger and still kicks Zeus out of his cage and steals his toys. Unless you want them to breed maybe separate them at bedtime. But during the day it will always be the same. Our male just gives in and very rarely fights back. This is the nature of the breed. Usually quite comical especially when he sees an opening to have a quick bite at her tail. Do not be too concerned myabe just be more firm with Chuckles and use your fist closed when approached or put your hand up in front of their face and firmly say NO or DONT be repetative and usually they will realise they are not the boss with you. But they will still try it on. Hope this helps.
larocnt@bigpond.com