"Piper is probably defending his nest area. This is natural when a bird is breeding."

I guess that fits in with why it is said one should avoid colony breeding.

I had Piper in a separate cage overnight and this morning. However, I couldn't make myself stick to it. He and Emma were obviously very unhappy. Piper was pacing back and forth on his perch. Emma was climbing around and around the outside of Piper's cage. When I let Piper out, he immediately started humping Emma and then chasing Silver.

I have now given Silver the smaller cage, temporarily.

Any other ideas? I still have them on 14 hour nights. Do I just need to weather several weeks of this, and then will it settle down?

He is definitely very hormonal. On occasions, I like to provide my birds with a sexual outlet. My lovebird Teak had a rope perch he shredded at an end and that became his outlet. He would go to town on that thing.

Maybe you could try offering him something like that to get it out of his system? I don't know, I'm just throwing it out there, because I don't know how many hours more you should increase it if he's already on 14 hour nights.

Also, have you rearranged the cages around yet? It makes it not as familiar.

Hi, Bluekeet.

Thank you for the suggestion.

I did rearrange everything in the cage several days ago. I will try to think of something that would help him get his aggression out.

I have calmed down about it a bit. Right now my thought is to keep Silver in the smaller cage and give him separate outside time from the other two.

I also ordered some dummy eggs. I hope they come soon.

In the midst of all this anxiety, Emma decided to give me a present. She flew over to my shoulder while I was playing the piano and stayed there for a long time. I talked to her, and she softly chirped back at me. For a female, she's pretty vocal.

Every once in a blue moon she does something friendly, and I feel so graced.

That's good of her.

Dianne, I know you have a good flock chemistry, but have you considered getting a hen budgie for Piper? I don't know how you feel about that but it could be something to think about.

I have thought about getting a hen budgie for Piper. I'm not sure though. He might not bond with her.

Right now, I'm finding three a lot to manage, what with managing Emma's eggs and keeping Silver out of the kitchen. Things were much easier a few months ago.

Life is definitely more complicated when the birds are hormonal lol.

Yes. But, when it's time for sleep, when I sing their lullabye and go over to the cage with their cover to tuck them in, they look at me with such sweet, trusting little faces. Then, I forget all about the problems of the day.

Sneaky birds! Playing the fluffy card. They're nice and cozy, then ready the next day for more mischief.

I have my fingers crossed. Emma may have stopped at three eggs. Yesterday they were all very sweet (the birds, not the eggs). I haven't seen any mating. The fourteen hour nights seem to be working.

Silver is still tending to fly out to the kitchen. I put up a temporary curtain (with a tension rod) to try to keep him out. However, he's clever about getting around it. The rod is about 3" below the ceiling, because of moldings up there. I may have to give him a light clip . I'll wait a day or so before I decide.

Emma has been flying to my shoulder and hanging out there. I never would have thought that would happen. She's a very sweet bird.

Even Piper has been hanging out on my finger a little bit.