Catfighting going on

[Guest]

Is it normal for 2 females to fight over one ASY male........I have rolled the gourd rack down twice and shooeedd them out of the gourd for fear they were going to kill one another

[John Atteberry]

Hello Mr. Lodi,
It sounds like your colony is off to a good start! And yes the females will fight over a male too! I had that problem for about two weeks and two days ago that ended! But that is good sign that the females are fighting over him! Maybe the other female will get another male to come in and check things out! John!

[Glen Webb Jr]

I stopped interrupting male/male, female/female disputes many many years ago. Those birds are doing what they have to do. Disrupting the quarrels only makes them last longer IMO. I've watched countless battles of females vs. females over the years and always the loser gives up and looks elsewhere for a mate. I think too many people worry about losing a martin in those battles, but in the 15 years or so that I've managed martins, I've only seen one death result in those battles.

Oh yeah, something I've found funny over the years and it's on a similar note. Ever seen a paired female beat up another male martin that she felt was tresspassing on her mate's domain? Just hilarious to see.

[Guest]

I figured they were ok.just seemed odd to see wood chips and feathers flying out of the gourd at the time

[Guest]

I just find it strange that being here 4 days now she has not found a mate..every other species it seems to be always the male who is screaming or having trouble.........maybe she is one of my pair from here last year arriving before her mate from last year has arrived??????