Problems with my parrot, only people with parrots please answer!?

Question

I have a 5 y/o Sun Conure that I have had for about 4 months. I have never had any problems with him, we have bonded very well. Out of nowhere this week he has literally attacked my hand and brought blood 5 different times. Before and after he attacks he starts making all of the noises he can make he starts saying buhbye, hello, buhbye, doing his telephone noise, and any other noise he can make repeatedly, and acting scared! He never acted this weird even when I first got him. It has primarily been happening when I ask him to step up when he is on my chest or something, never when he is on his cage, a chair etc. I'm really getting frustrated cause I don't want to be scared of him but he has taken huge chunks of skin from me! He is taking treats and other than that acting normally. The only thing different is I recently did an overhaul and dejunked my room, it's starting to get darker earlier, and it looks like he's having a small late season molt. Is this the problem?? HELP??!!!

Also his wings were clipped about 2 weeks ago! And I changed his diet, I forgot to mention that. Is it environmental stuff, or do you think he is just testing me?

Answer 1

Your Sun Conure may be "nesting" on your chest. My sun conure does that, and if you disturb a bird in that attitude it can have an adrenaline rush, "protecting" its nest. The fact that it then says "everything" it can corroborates this. Your baby is then articulating "this is my turf, don't mess with it". I would suggest you try to keep your bird off your chest for the next two-three months until its "mating season" is over. Also, make sure that your bird doesn't have more than 10 hours of light (this may mean turning off the light in the morning after you feed it and before you go to work so it can get up with the sun). I have found this to help with both my conure and my Meyer's. I didn't want to lose my time with them, so this method worked well for me. Molting will also make this attitude worse, so now that you know this is a hard time for your bird, you can prepare ahead of time, and be careful. My girl gets really grouchy when those new pin feathers come in. Hope this helps, good luck.

Answer 2

I have had a Cacatua for ten years. Pretty much the same that it started to attack me after I moved from Indonesia to Thailand. When we were in Indonesia, the bird was really sweet, and I was able to let it flew around the room. It would flew to me when I call it. I couldn't precisely determine the sex of the bird, as there were different theory. But, when the environments changed, i.e. being move, it started to get frustrated and getting weird sometimes. I bit off chunk of skins from everyone around. When people try to hand feed it, it pretended that it couldn't reach the food, and once we move a little closer it bit off a piece of skin from your hand.

I've read and watched documentaries on these talking birds, and there are many theories. Some say, it start to talk to you because it mistook you for its mate, and bird mates for life. Sometimes, the bird does funny things inviting you to mate with it, like saying this is the time to lay egg already.

Another theory says that the bird is pushing its boundary trying to see who will dominate whom; i.e. you versus the bird. In this theory, it says you must demonstrate an upper hand, not fearing it.

I found that carcatua makes so much noice in its spare times that my neighour gone crazy. It could be really noicy and the trick is to cover the whole cage with dark piece of cloth to fool it that it's already a night time, so it would go to sleep.

If you abandon a parrot, it would turn really silent and very sad and subsequently died like it would missing it's life time mate. I resolve never to have another one anymore, unless I'm working at home, or retire and really lonely.

Answer 3

Conures can be pretty particular and touchy when they are molting. I have a Nanday that I can't touch when he is molting. Connie is about 7 years old and I had a very similar problem with him a few years back when he became sexually mature. He became very dominating and bit and was not a "Good Bird: for about 4 months. Eventually he out grew it, or came to terms with it.

Give your Sun some time. Handle him, but be wary of him. they can pack a nasty bite.

Answer 4

Birds are very intelligent and complex creatures who for the most part live in large flocks and have social hierarchy.
Clipping your birds wings was definitely the right thing to do. Always try to keep him below your eye level, even when he is sitting on his cage.
I have in the past had a few juvenile birds exhibit similar behavior and it can be difficult to curb. Without being there and actually seeing the bird behave it is had for me to advise but it sounds to me the he is just pushing you to see who will be head of the "flock".
After he bites you and he gets a reaction (which I'm sure he does) he begins talking and babbling probably doing a silly dance as well, in my opinion he is doing a "victory" song and dance...he just won. You wanted to approach him and even if he really wanted you to he wanted to see if he could stop you...and he DID! He won!
What I did with my misbehaving, power tripping "darlings" (as hard as you might find this to do) was, as soon as they "attacked" me, I immediately gently lifted them up and placed them on the floor at my feet. Once the bird showed signs of wanting to get back up I lifted him back up...I won! They never bite when they are asking for an up.
It may take some time and you may get a few more bites but don't give up...trust me. Always be gentle but firm. A few commands like "up" when you want him up on your hand, "no" when something isn't right and so one. Use these commands faithfully.
Try to get "Bird Talk magazine as well. It is full of great information.
Remember that in a flock the "leader" of the flock changes constantly. There is never a one time alpha so birds naturally, through out their lives vie for command. If you watch a flock of birds playing in a tree or on T.V. You will notice that the bird who sits the highest is the , literally and figuratively...the top bird. Keep your bird lower than your eyes...always!
Good luck!

Answer 5

I have a green-cheeked conure and what I would do when he would bite me, I gently grab his beak so he couldn't bite and say "be nice." Now if he trys to bite, I just say "be nice" and he'll stop. You don't want to hurt the bird just make it so he can't bite. Putting your bird back on its cage and ignoring it for a few minutes can work too. Always reward it when its doing the behavior you want it to do. That helps a lot! Good luck!

Answer 6

hi!
Ok first did you clip his wings or take him to someone? And changing the diet wouldn't cause this hun. But, him seeing the room empier might. Conures are very territorial and he may feel like you just moved some of his favorite things to look at away and hes letting you know

Answer 7

They can go though moody stages. I just got a few parrots and was reading how at certain times, including some time regarded to breeding, they can get fussy. It passes.

Do get a few books from the library, for good information.

Also, don't hand feed him. Perhaps he sees your hand coming at him and thinks of food? I'd totally go back to the old food. that is for sure.

Answer 8

You did not supply various information, however the poultry is probable only afraid. finding on the placement you're able to desire to income his/her believe. start up via sitting close to the cage and examining to him/her or only chatting together with her such as you will possibly a guy or woman. grant treats as you communicate and after awhile she could heat as much as you. Then in case you could start up putting your hand interior the cage and offering treats. Use a perch to instruct her step up, and while she bites it enable it pass limp. which will help discourage biting and assist you build believe. this is going to take time, and various attempt in spite of the shown fact that it is rather worth it. additionally you could not make a poultry communicate, they'll purely communicate in the event that they desire to.

Answer 9

You might be looking at breeding mode. They can get REALLY nasty when they are ready to breed, For about two months every year, I have to be very careful with my Macaw, Senegal and Alex, all will become really MEAN and ugly, then it passes. It's a chicken thing. LOL!! ( I call then chickens, giggle : )

Answer 10

hormones you've heard of them well birds have them too and at certain times you might say they have raging hormones and boy are they bitey then try buying the book compaion parrot by sally b maybe this book could help u anwser alot of your questions