Plucking feathers from new bird

[HannesT]

Hi, a couple of weeks ago we introduced two new birds to our flock, one baby cocatiel, Opie and a budgie, Jacksson. The baby cocatiel is a male and the cockatiel we've had for almost 2 years is a female. Now, they get along ok BUT our older cocatiel (Muffins) does not preen our new one (Opie) gently. She starts off gently but then pulls whole feathers out around Opie's ears and crest.

Is this a show of dominance? jealousy? or is she not used to the act of preeing someone else?

Any tips on how to make her stop or do it more gently (or is it just a matter of keeping an eye on her and give it time)?

They get along fine except for that, they dont fight or bite, but Muffins is just very keen on preeing/pulling a little too hard (Opie still puts his head down for her to preen)

Btw, I had an account here before under username: Hannes
but it seems I either forgot my pw/email (cause i cannot seem to log on)or something has happened with the sites database, so, this is my new account.

Cheers,

Hannes

[Pajarita]

Are you keeping them in the same cage? Because it sounds as if she doesn't want him there. What you describe is what parents do to their babies when they want them to leave the nest -or the cage where they are housed.

Tiels are the gentlest parrots ever, they never fight hard, they never attack, and they are very tolerant but they don't like usurpers in their space and they usually let them know by plucking them...

[HannesT]

Hi, thank you for the answer.
No, i do not keep them in the same cage, this happens when they are out and about, either sitting on/in one of the cages, on their perches or with us. She walks over to him and starts gently, he bends his head down and right after, she does it too hard, on purpose and even feathers can come out. He screams and then she backs away for a while, but then she comes back and does it again if we don't stop her...any thoughts? What to do?


Cheers,
Hannes

[Pajarita]

She might be jealous of the attention you are giving the baby but, if the birds were mine, I would supervise them closely and, whenever I see the hen doing it, I would shoosh her to make her fly away. If you stop her every time, she will eventually stop on her own. Besides, the baby will grow into an adult and fly off on his own later on so, in reality, time will take care of it.