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I've got a problem with bullying. My older parrot is bullying my new young baby parrot. The baby has a much less strong personality than the older one and this is used against her advantage by the older one. Also, she is still weak cause she's a baby. I have to leave them in the cage during the day cause I go to work and the reason I have two is so they can be friends but this is really a big problem at the moment cause the baby doesn't really defend herself and I can't keep defending for her. Any help please?! I'm afraid this will also affect her starting to eat seeds cause the older one won't let her come near the food in the cage either.

Buy another cage and separate them. Older birds become very territorial over their space. The baby is going to get hurt or killed by the older. Only have them out together when you are there to supervise. They may never become buddies it's only going to create fear in the baby.


Donna

I agree with donna , separate these two as soon as possible. You cannot force friendship simply by making them live together infact it will be detrimental even fatal to your little one. It is a case of the old pecking order and birds will defend to the death.

You may find that given time in seperate cages, they will get use to each other and with monitored time out in a nuetral area together they may even become tolerant of each other, but it is always best to house separately unless they become a bonded breeding pair.

Do separate them and give them their own space and time with you. Also being separate will give them a chance to bond without physical contact or being within biting distance from each other. Monitor them when they are out of the cage together. Always keep an eye on them or give them separate 'play' times with you.

It can be normal for some to be the dominant alpha bird. My baby is boss over my 7 year old here. But hes quite happy being second to a baby.

Thanks guys for your advice! They seem to be ok like they sleep peacefully together at night and I haven't really seen the older one bite the baby and the baby still seems ok after a few days alone with the older one but I think I'm going to separate them. Only thing is the other cage that I have is much smaller and the baby has become used to having lots of free space and being outside so she cries a lot to come out of the cage. she seems to hate it in the cage. I don't know if this is because of the older one but she doesn't like being in the smaller cage either. I don't want to create bevioural problems by every time coming to her aid when she cries because I've read this can create behavioural problems when they get older. Any advice?

I don't really know why she's crying because I feed her and hold her but she still cries. It's almost like a baby child I guess!

ps. The baby is the blue one btw but the yellow one is not that old either - maybe just a month older than Eggy (the blue one)

the only thing I can think is to get another bigger cage and place the cages close together but not so close they can get at each other.

Time will have your baby get use to being in a seperate new cage.

When you say bullying, is it biting and attacking or is it more growling and chasing, because my Jordan and Pickle growl and lunge at each other alot but Jordan will always back off, move away and has learnt to keep out of pickles way when he is like that. We still monitor them when they are out togeteher, also, Pickle (the more dominant one) is clipped and Jordan has flight, this way Jordan can easily get out of pickles way if he needs to.

I would get a bigger cage or just the same size as your older's. Keep them close together so they can bond.

As long as your baby gets alot of free time out of the cage and love from you, IRNs can adapt.

Growling and chasing is normal. My eldest moves to a lower perch when Yoda is telling him how it is. (Alpha bird always gets highest perch) Just remember they do have natural instincts. One of them is too be the boss! It can be normal for one bird to 'rule the roost'. But don't let them rule you! I would still separate them though just to be sure of no accidents.

Thanks guys! It's more like chasing and growling/hissing but then the baby quickly goes away from older one. Have one more issue. the baby calls for me a lot even after I have fed her and she doesn't want to stay in the cage. She's always trying to escape which is bad for me cause they will ruin the house if I leave them outside all day when I work. Also, the baby is still eating baby food but I'm sure Sahara ate seeds at a much earlier stage. Any help on this and how she can learn to eat seeds?

yea i aggree get another cage put it side by side but with a little gap that way they can get use to each other but cannot hurt each other id do this soon before the little one gets hurt there bite is strong trust me ive had it done lol