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Hello!
I have two budgies, Sammy (male, I think) and Coco (female, I think). (I originally thought Sammy was female, but after a month or two her cere turned a very distinctive blue color, and Coco's has remained pink.)
I got Sammy about a year ago, last June. We got him a large cage, and put him in our living room, as that is the most active room in my house. I eventually was able to get him to trust me enough that he would perch on my finger, and i began letting him out of the cage sometimes (in the living room only.)
I got Coco in September, because even though I was able to interact with Sammy, I was worried about him being lonely when I wasn't home, or being depressed without another bird, even when I was there. So I purchased a second cage, and got another bird, Coco. I put her in the second cage because i read that's how you're supposed to introduce a second budgie, as well as for quarantine purposes. The cages were within view and hearing distance of each other, so they could get used to another bird. I eventually put them both in Sammy's cage, and they've been there ever since.
They've never really gotten along, as far as I could tell. They bicker a lot, although I've never actually seen them full-out fighting. However, I also have never seen them really cuddling or grooming each other or feeding each other like budgie couples are supposed to. They do occasionally share a perch, but at a distance from each other.
Also, I have never been able to train Coco to perch on my hand, or eat from it, or anything like that, which I kind of expected.
This morning, when I was giving them fresh food and water, I noticed that both of their feet have red patches, as though the skin had been pecked off. I also saw blood on one of the perches, and Coco has a slightly larger, darker scab on one of her feet. My first thought was perhaps they had mites, so I researched it online and couldn't find any pictures of birds with mites that matched what my bird's feet look like. They are acting totally normal, eating, flying, and chattering just the same amount as always, but I think that they're fighting. I checked their whole cage, and there is nothing that could be hurting the tops of their feet like that. The only plastic things are the water and food bowls (there are two food bowls, but only one water bowl, although I do have another bowl that I use for special treats like hard boiled eggs occasionally that I could use for another water, but I doubt they would fight over water) but they do not spend long periods of time on those. There are a couple of wooden dowl perches, but they also have a fabric-wrapped swing and three natural wooden perches (safe wood) of different sizes. They do climb on the walls of the cage, but again, these wounds are on the tops of their feet and their legs/ankles, and budgies climbing cages is normal, so I don't think it's that, either. I'm rather worried- I do not think Coco suffered extensive blood loss, as she is not acting lethargic or out of the ordinary whatsoever, and i cannot see much dried blood, but I do not want them to be at risk.
I am aware that the most viable solution if they are fighting is to separate them, which I am prepared to do, if necessary. Unfortunately I sold the other cage that I purchased when I got Coco, but I will buy a new one if I need too. However, I don't have any other budgies, and since budgies form strong pair bonds, would separating them cause them both to become depressed? Honestly, I'm not convinced that they're really bonded, especially if they're hurting each other, but I don't want to risk it, if they would get depressed if I separate them, but if I keep them together, will they hurt each other more? I want to do what's best for them, so advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
I have two budgies, Sammy (male, I think) and Coco (female, I think). (I originally thought Sammy was female, but after a month or two her cere turned a very distinctive blue color, and Coco's has remained pink.)
I got Sammy about a year ago, last June. We got him a large cage, and put him in our living room, as that is the most active room in my house. I eventually was able to get him to trust me enough that he would perch on my finger, and i began letting him out of the cage sometimes (in the living room only.)
I got Coco in September, because even though I was able to interact with Sammy, I was worried about him being lonely when I wasn't home, or being depressed without another bird, even when I was there. So I purchased a second cage, and got another bird, Coco. I put her in the second cage because i read that's how you're supposed to introduce a second budgie, as well as for quarantine purposes. The cages were within view and hearing distance of each other, so they could get used to another bird. I eventually put them both in Sammy's cage, and they've been there ever since.
They've never really gotten along, as far as I could tell. They bicker a lot, although I've never actually seen them full-out fighting. However, I also have never seen them really cuddling or grooming each other or feeding each other like budgie couples are supposed to. They do occasionally share a perch, but at a distance from each other.
Also, I have never been able to train Coco to perch on my hand, or eat from it, or anything like that, which I kind of expected.
This morning, when I was giving them fresh food and water, I noticed that both of their feet have red patches, as though the skin had been pecked off. I also saw blood on one of the perches, and Coco has a slightly larger, darker scab on one of her feet. My first thought was perhaps they had mites, so I researched it online and couldn't find any pictures of birds with mites that matched what my bird's feet look like. They are acting totally normal, eating, flying, and chattering just the same amount as always, but I think that they're fighting. I checked their whole cage, and there is nothing that could be hurting the tops of their feet like that. The only plastic things are the water and food bowls (there are two food bowls, but only one water bowl, although I do have another bowl that I use for special treats like hard boiled eggs occasionally that I could use for another water, but I doubt they would fight over water) but they do not spend long periods of time on those. There are a couple of wooden dowl perches, but they also have a fabric-wrapped swing and three natural wooden perches (safe wood) of different sizes. They do climb on the walls of the cage, but again, these wounds are on the tops of their feet and their legs/ankles, and budgies climbing cages is normal, so I don't think it's that, either. I'm rather worried- I do not think Coco suffered extensive blood loss, as she is not acting lethargic or out of the ordinary whatsoever, and i cannot see much dried blood, but I do not want them to be at risk.
I am aware that the most viable solution if they are fighting is to separate them, which I am prepared to do, if necessary. Unfortunately I sold the other cage that I purchased when I got Coco, but I will buy a new one if I need too. However, I don't have any other budgies, and since budgies form strong pair bonds, would separating them cause them both to become depressed? Honestly, I'm not convinced that they're really bonded, especially if they're hurting each other, but I don't want to risk it, if they would get depressed if I separate them, but if I keep them together, will they hurt each other more? I want to do what's best for them, so advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
