Overly aggressive Double Bars?
Posted: 30 Nov 2016, 05:05
I bought three young Double Barred finches from a home breeder. All three turned out to be male, tho I was hoping for a female because I had a lone male already, his mate had died.
I had always heard that Double Bars were peaceful, like Bengalese/Societies (which do you prefer to call them? In the US, we use Society). But these three boys have turned out to be what we call completely psychotic. Originally, I called them Violet, Lilac, and Periwinkle, which were the colors of their leg bands. Now, we call them Violent, Lucifer, and Perpetrator. They are about a year and several months old, now.
They cannot live with each other. Had them in a large cage with 3 Spices who just don't care who else is around. Lucifer and Perpetrator ganged up on Violent so badly, I had to pull him and put him elsewhere. Then, after a bit, Perpetrator went after Lucifer until I had to pull him, too. Perpetrator now lives with the Spices, who leave him out (he started to try and push them around, but they don't take any guff from anyone and put him in his place quickly.) Lucifer is in with a female Zebra.
Violent went in with a male-female pair and their two babies. He seems to have replaced the male, the female seems to prefer him. I think the babies are one male, one female, they are about 9 months old now, and I know I really need to isolate them to see who sings. He is now chasing EVERYBODY violently, males and females alike, I think I may have to pull him. Their cage is 60" x 18 x 18 (152cmx45x45) with many natural branch perches and lots of fake greenery to break things up.
Is this normal Double Barred behavior? Or am I right that these three are not quite right in their heads? My zebras don't give me half this much trouble. I have seen others' cages of Double Bars and they have a happy, peaceful community.
And, if I let Violent breed with one of my females, is it likely their offspring will be psychotic, too? I suspect he is split to Fawn (had pinker beak when young, and has pink legs, not dark like his brothers), and my adult female is fawn.
It is so hard to get a hold of Double Barreds where I live. These three were my hope for being able to bring new genes for a second generation. But, they are not sweet, peaceful birds like I thought they were supposed to be.
I had always heard that Double Bars were peaceful, like Bengalese/Societies (which do you prefer to call them? In the US, we use Society). But these three boys have turned out to be what we call completely psychotic. Originally, I called them Violet, Lilac, and Periwinkle, which were the colors of their leg bands. Now, we call them Violent, Lucifer, and Perpetrator. They are about a year and several months old, now.
They cannot live with each other. Had them in a large cage with 3 Spices who just don't care who else is around. Lucifer and Perpetrator ganged up on Violent so badly, I had to pull him and put him elsewhere. Then, after a bit, Perpetrator went after Lucifer until I had to pull him, too. Perpetrator now lives with the Spices, who leave him out (he started to try and push them around, but they don't take any guff from anyone and put him in his place quickly.) Lucifer is in with a female Zebra.
Violent went in with a male-female pair and their two babies. He seems to have replaced the male, the female seems to prefer him. I think the babies are one male, one female, they are about 9 months old now, and I know I really need to isolate them to see who sings. He is now chasing EVERYBODY violently, males and females alike, I think I may have to pull him. Their cage is 60" x 18 x 18 (152cmx45x45) with many natural branch perches and lots of fake greenery to break things up.
Is this normal Double Barred behavior? Or am I right that these three are not quite right in their heads? My zebras don't give me half this much trouble. I have seen others' cages of Double Bars and they have a happy, peaceful community.
And, if I let Violent breed with one of my females, is it likely their offspring will be psychotic, too? I suspect he is split to Fawn (had pinker beak when young, and has pink legs, not dark like his brothers), and my adult female is fawn.
It is so hard to get a hold of Double Barreds where I live. These three were my hope for being able to bring new genes for a second generation. But, they are not sweet, peaceful birds like I thought they were supposed to be.