Budgies can be sweet, funny, and great companions. They are playful and animated, so it can be alarming to notice that your female friend is constantly attacking her male companion.
Attacks every now and then are one thing. Constant attacks are a completely different thing and can be a cause of great concern for budgie owners. However, these attacks can come about due to a number of reasons, most of which are not a great cause for alarm.
Your female budgie may be attacking your male budgie for a variety of reasons that range from a simple dislike of the male and hormones all the way to parenting disagreements and health concerns. The solution to the issue will vary according to the root cause.
Even if your female budgie’s attacks are not due to something serious, you likely do not want to just sit back and let it carry on. Doing so could lead to a lot of tension and even injury to one or both of your budgies. It can be quite difficult to put a stop to it though when you are uncertain of why it’s happening in the first place.
Below are the most common reasons a female budgie attacks a male budgie. Learning these reasons, knowing what to look for, and understanding the solution to each problem are the first steps in stopping these attacks successfully.
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Natural Aggression
One reason your female budgie may be attacking your male one is simply that she is female. It is a widely recognized and accepted fact that female budgies are naturally more aggressive than males.
The aggression is seen more often geared toward other females, but it does happen toward males as well. When this aggressive behavior occurs, you will need to determine if there is a cause behind it, such as the rest of the reasons listed here. However, you may not find one as it may simply be a natural reaction to the male.
In this case, separate cages placed beside one another might be the answer. If you notice she is still being aggressive while living separately, it might be best to keep them in separate areas. Put a mirror in each cage so that they will have a “friend” to talk to and be sure you interact with them so they do not suffer from a lack of socialization.
New Cage Mates
If the male is new to the cage, your female budgie may not be very receptive. This could end after a few weeks once she has become more comfortable.
Instead of adding a new male directly into the same cage, try putting them in separate cages that are side by side until they get acquainted. Often, a couple or a few weeks like this will have your female budgie a little more willing to accept the newcomer.
Of course, this can be true if the female is new, too. If you have just brought a new female budgie into your home, she will likely feel uncomfortable for a while. The anxiety and stress of it all can make her feel threatened and end up acting out. When bringing the new female home, she should be housed separately for a while.
Close Quarters
Another big reason for attacks is simpler than one might think: The cage is just too small and they are stuck in it together for long stretches of time.
Think about it. If you are stuck in a room with the same person all day every day, you can easily get tired of that person. No matter how much you love them, you will eventually want to find a way to escape. We all need time alone.
Now, imagine that being a tiny room where you are in close proximity constantly, sharing everything- food, toys, water, perches. How long would it take you to get thoroughly annoyed? For most of us, it would not take long because we all need space.
If your female budgie keeps attacking your male budgie, you can try a few things:
1. Provide separate food, water, and toys.
2. Purchase a bigger cage. Really, as long as it fits in your home, a cage is never too big.
3. Keep them in separate cages beside one another. This allows them to socialize yet still maintain their own rooms, so to speak. You can let them out to fly and play in your home or give them some time in a cage together, especially if you want them to mate. However, keep them in separate cages more than anything else.
Incompatibility
We have all been around someone that we just don’t click with. Budgies can be the same way at times. And while just not clicking usually does not lead us to attack one another, it can be different with budgies. That may be their only way of saying, “Stay away”.
It might also be that the female is just not comfortable and the stress that comes with that causes her to act out physically. This would be another time that separate cages would be in order.
Not Interested
Sometimes, a female budgie is just not interested in having a relationship. If the male is constantly pursuing her, she might act aggressively for self-preservation or as a way to scare the male off in hopes that he will stop.
If he does not take the hint and she continues to feel threatened, the attacks will likely continue and it may lead to one of them being hurt badly. It is much better to have them in separate cages if she seems uninterested in the male.
Territorial
This is actually one of the most common issues for aggressive behavior from a budgie, especially the females. They are protective of their home and their belongings. They typically view themselves as the queen of the castle and do not want that territory encroached upon.
Hormones
Just like hormones can make humans do some uncharacteristic things, they can do the same thing to your budgie. If your female budgie is dealing with hormones, it is not abnormal for her to be stressed and irritable, which can very quickly lead to some physical aggression.
This should, of course, go away when the hormones calm back down. If you only notice it during the mating cycle, you can just separate them during that time to keep your male from harm. Then, when it’s over, you can put them back together.
Parenting Disagreements
If the two have a baby together and mom attacks dad, it may be that she feels he is falling down on the parenting job. Budgies really are more like humans than many people think. When a human couple has a baby, it is completely normal for the two parties to disagree on how to raise the baby. There are times that one parent may not feel the other is pulling his or her weight, causing tension between the two.
Oddly enough, when budgies have a baby, the momma, or he, expects the daddy to handle certain tasks for the kids. When he does not, the momma can get a bit angry and attack the daddy.
Health and Diet
Sometimes, the problem is more serious. A female budgie’s moodiness and aggression may be due to her health.
If she has not been fed well or feels sick, she may respond in an aggressive manner. It could also be due to some form of pain or physical discomfort.
If this is the case, medical attention is the best move. Pay attention to her behavior.
- Is she limping?
- Does she look weak?
- Has she been eating like normal?
- Have you been feeding her a well-balanced diet?
- Has she stopped preening and grooming herself?
If you notice any of this or other behavior that is abnormal, the cause behind the aggression may be solved with a trip to the vet.
