Current mood:

confused

Is it mating season or what?
So I have a total of 5 tiels, 3 in one large cage and 2 in a medium cage, in the medium cage there is a male (Max) and a Female (Lily)

It is definatly mating season for Lily, She wont stop her mating call, lifting her tale and what not, then Max will run up to her but instead of getting on top of her to try and mate, he attacks her, he will bite her feet and wings, not hard but what seems to be enough to try and get her to stop, she will run around the cage stopping at every chance she gets to continue trying to mate as Max follows. Lily was our first tiel she is about 3 years old now, and this is the largest mating run she has tried. She has always attached herself to my Fiancé so she will initially act as though she is trying to get him to mate, yet when Max runs up she will approach him as though she would mate with him. We are confused because they have done basic, (unsuccessful) courting, they will sleep next to each other but for most part they are always nipping at each other and more than just lover's quarrels but then they are very protective of each other.

Max has grown attached to me but has never attempted any courting with me. He will sing to Lily and chase her around, if you remove one and bring them into another room they will call to each other until reunited.

Lily has proceeded to nest in the bottom corner of their cage, it is a little darker and is surrounded by some branches but is still really open, she has cleared out all debris and will sit there with her tail up and her vent pressed into the corner and stay there. If she notices you looking at her while she is down there she will start screaming, if Max gets close she will run out, hiss and bite at him to get him away. She has not laid any eggs yet but this is the first day she has really made a nest up. From her actions I would not be surprised to see one soon. Max is about 2 ad 1/2 years old and have been roommates for about 2 years now.

So when it comes down to it, it seems like Max sees Lily as a mate but does not want to mate with her, Lily does not really see Max as a mate but when in mating position she is willing to let him. We have tried separating them but because all our birds our in open cages Max will just fly back over to Lily's cage.

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated. I am not quite sure what to do, if I should continue to try and keep them separate, how long it will take to pass, or what now. Thank you!

Michelle,



Max watching very closely as Lily gives me a kiss.