Male won't let female eat

Hey everyone, Just wondering why it is that my male budgie won't let the female eat. Once I feed them he immediately checks it out, and usually will eat a little (well, he eats ALL the time, he's a piglet!) but if she wants to go down and eat too he won't let her, not for quite awhile after putting food in there, and she has to fight for it. Is this a sign he wants to be the one to feed her, are they wanting to breed? I posted another message saying the females cere is dark brown, which is a sign she's ready...but today I checked her over again, and it's back to the normal pale color, it's no longer dark brown. Do you think if I take the nest box out of the cage, set it up in a new cage and attatch it to the outside and put them both in the new cage, they might be a little more willing? She doesn't seem to be cooperating with my male LOL. Smart girl 8) But any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

-Mandi and her un-cooperative budgie couple. :shock:

 

Hi this is typical behaviour when a male bird is wanting to mate.
But if the female's cere has gone back to her normal colour then the conditions for her to breed are not right and she will not allow mating till she is sure everything is safe and the way things should be..

Be very careful as the male might be pushy when it comes to the food but the female will get very agressive and she will hurt him they are worse than the males. seperating them for a few days usually does the trick when it comes to breeding.

But keep a very close eye on them incase she does hurt the male.

mike