Im a bird lover...with a big problem..help?

Question

There is this pet store in my county that has the widest selection of animals in it...i go in there and ALL the animals are disgusting and dirty and not well kept at ALL. I look down and there is a cherry headed conure named *Paco* in a dog crate with ONE toy that has debre ALL other it, nasty food nasty EVERYTHING.. i asked the owner to talk it out & he was horribly mean.. buttt to make a long story short i rescued him.

i bought him his own california santa barbara cage with a playtop many MANY toys, top of the line food..EVERYTHING.

iv had him for a little less then a year but i have gotten so attached. he only trusts ME.. noone can touch him but ME..I am the only person that matters in his world.

but as of two weeks ago he has started to lunge and bite me. for no reason. i havnt changed any routine.

im thinking about giving him up, i dont know what i can do. it breaks my heart that hes acting this way.

what should i do? can a troubled parrot ever let go of the past?

Answer 1

IT'S NORMAL,KINDA LIKE A KID GOING THROUGH THE TERRIBLE TWO'S. JUST LET THE LITTLE GUY KNOW THAT YOU AREN'T HAPPY WITH HIS BEHAVIOR. DR. IRENE PEPPERBERG'S ADVICE IS TO TURN YOUR HEAD TO ONE SIDE AND GIVE HIM A QUICK SHARP LOOK AND SAY "NO". THEN TURN RIGHT BACK TO LOOKING STRAIGHT AT HIM. I USED THE METHOD TO TRAIN MY AFRICAN GREY THAT BITING IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR AND IT WORKED. DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON HIM. YOU ARE HIS FAMILY, HE LOVES YOU, HE'S JUST BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT YOUNG BIRD. HE'S TELLING YOU AT THAT TIME HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE BOTHERED. ALWAYS ASK BEFORE YOU REACH FOR HIM, "DO YOU WANT TO COME OUT? STEP UP". CHANCES ARE LIKELY HE WILL TELL YOU BY BACKING OFF OR SHAKING HIS HEAD IF HE DOES NOT WANT TO.

Answer 2

Look for a vet that specializes in avians. See if you can get a consult - often a consult doesn't cost anything and if it does it isn't much. Let the vet know what is going on.
You may think nothing has changed but something so minute may have. Have you started taking any medication? New vitamins? Maybe drinking alcohol every so often? Changed your perfume/colonge? The reason I ask is these things can alter you chemistry and change your smell. You won't notice but animals do. I have a friend whose dog goes nuts when her brother comes in after a night of drinking or after having taken sleeping medications.
Keep in mind, too, that birds are very emotional creatures. My dad had a Double Yellow-headed Amazon parrot who would only allow my dad to handle him. He liked my sister because he watched her grow up, but he couldn't stand my dads wife. The parrot preferred men to women because the owner before my dad was a woman and they didn't like each other.
Before giving up your bird, do some research on avian behavior and consult an avian vet.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

How long has he been doing this since he started? Have you noticed ANY change in his behavior whatsoever? (Has he not been eating as much, drinking as much, etc.?)
Have you had ANY company over at ALL in the past few weeks? Are you dating anyone that has been coming over regularly?
Parrots are pretty darn smart and sometimes people don't give them enough credit where credit is due.
If you've noticed any signs whatsoever that he hasn't been eating or drinking as normal, I would consider taking him to an avian vet to first make sure nothing is going awry health wise. He could be suffering from sort of kidney or digestive problem that's making him cranky.
If you've had any company or boyfriends or ANYTHING over regularly or more so than normal, he could just be lashing out and this is a phase he may or may not grow out of.

What all have you tried as far as getting him back on your side? Is this something that happens unexpectedly.. or is he behaving like this regardless of the actions?
Parrots can be finicky..
I think it would be a horrible shame to give him up now just because he's acting a little vile for the time being.
I'm fairly positive you'd have a hard time finding a home for an aggressive parrot who at the onset wouldn't let anyone else but you touch him in the first place.. not to mention he may then as a result go through home cycling because other individuals would be unsuccessful at taming him.
Even if you can't love on him and hold him - don't you still owe him enough to still provide HIM with a loving, safe home?

Answer 4

Don't give up on your bird. The bird loves you and only you. Placing it with someone else would be devastating to him, especially after it was YOU who rescued him in the first place.

JOHN gave you some good advice about the molting and the bird being in breeding mode. Your bird has become sexually mature. Give it time.

Please do not add mirrors or the kind of toys the bird will fall in love with because then its bond with YOU will break and it will begin to want to "protect" its toy or mirror friend from YOU!

The worst thing that can happen is that the bird is not as friendly any more and you just have to accept it, but if he has a new home, he might be passed on and on through many homes for the same reason. Poor bird.
Good luck to you AND your bird.

Answer 5

try moving the cage to a different spot every day it sounds like the bird is in the treble two stage from what you've describe i think he maybe getting board sitting in the same spot and take hime outside for some fresh air alone just place the cage on the porch or wherever out side and stay with the bird and just pay him no attintion see if this might help just move the cage into different places in the home and outside
i am no bird expert but there is something you can do i just remember at the moment. and if he tries to bite tell him no in a firm manor like a dog and put him the cage turn around and pay him no attention (birds love attention so dont give it for the bad behavors)

and why not call the aspca on the man

Answer 6

All of these answers have merit ! All may be completely correct.

But everyone seems to be forgetting about 2 events that hit most birds every year!

All birds molt each year. they lose some feathers, and grow in more. During this time the bird is itching terribly and constantly!! Obviously this can put the bird in a very bad mood, and some will bite at this time! The bird will pass through this phase in a few weeks. In the meantime you can check his head and neck for white "quills" which are actually hard itchy "Pin Feathers." The bird will remove all of these he can reach, but may need your help with the ones on his neck and head. Sometimes you can gently roll the hard outer sheath of these feathers loose and then gently pull it away. If not, you may have to pull out the pin feather( and ONLY the pin feather). The bird will squawk , but will be better off in the long run and won't hold a grudge. if he has many pin feathers, just do a few each day. Pulling too may at one sitting can injure the bird.

The second yearly event is Mating Season!!! At this time of year many birds get very hormonal and territorial! They can get aggressive, and often will attack!! In 4 to 6 weeks the bird will revert to its old ways, and wonder what all the fuss is about!! About the only solution to Hormonal Rage is to keep the bird in his cage, talk to him each day, and wait for it to pass!

The fact that you have had the bird about one year would seem to confirm that your bird is going through one of these yearly events. Have patience , and give your bird some time. He will most likely revert to his old loving self in a few weeks !!

Don't give up hope !!!

Answer 7

He may just be trying to say I'm boss, you acn't make me blah blah blah. It's great that you rescued him, but don't give up on him now! When he bites Say no!, and grab his beak between your thumb and pointer finger knuckle. Then put him in the cage for about 2 minutes. Then bring him outside again. Everytime he bites do this, and also if he is on your hand and he goes to bite wiggle your finger/hand so he has to focus on regain his blance rather than biting. Teach him Step up or step down. You may need to use a mazanta perch for this so that you don't get to bit up. Also when he bites: show no reaction, or as little as possible. The more you react the mroe likley he is to bite, and maybe even harder. it may not have anything to do with the past, especially if eh was doing well before. Just be consistant with discipline and teach him step up and step down. He may be going through a "puberty" or his teen age years. Many birds get a little nippy during these moody times. Just be strong with discipline and it will pass.

Answer 8

I had a sulfer crested cockatoo do the same thing to me! she was abused by her former owner and when i got her she wouldnt even come out of the cage, then she got really attached to me and started lunging and nipping. I used a water bottle to spray her on the wing (not in the face) whenever she did it and yelled bad bird....she stopped after about a month...they do get over it but yours is probably testing dominance, or could possibly be "ready to mate" My blue and gold macaw got like that everytime she got ready to lay eggs....or yours might just be mad at you for some unknown reason.

Answer 9

Hi, nice of you to rescue the bird. Call bird rescues, a bird vet specialist or the L.A. Zoo for advice on your lunging bird. All animals behaive differently due to their species. Find a bird specialist. Bird stores may have info. for you. Rescued animals don't always behave the way they're expected to. They have been through alot. I am sure he loves you and is very grateful, he may be trying to tell you something.

Answer 10

My cockateil went through that, last winter. He is really really tame and attached to me. I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on, until I found in his box that he plays in, a tiny white plastic ball off the end of a diabetic lancet. He had it in his box and thought it was an egg. I waited until he went to sleep, took it away, and the next day, he was fine. Check to make sure there is nothing in his cage, that he might be protecting.