Please help!!!

Millienel

New member
Feb 25, 2013
2
0
Hello everyone,

About 2 1/2 years ago, I found a parakeet in the street. He obviously flew away from someone and I felt terrible for him so I picked him up and brought him home. My husband and I tried to find a home for him, though I must admit we didn't try too hard as we both fell in love with him almost immediately.

We also have 2 small dogs at home who at the beginning tried to eat the parakeet. After a few weeks, the dogs were no longer interested in the parakeet so we started letting him out of the cage. He was very friendly, would land on us constantly and was very affectionate.

Fast forward to 3 days ago: Our sweet, little parakeet has become a giant terrorist in a tiny body. He constantly tries to land on one of the dogs and chases them around the house. Our dogs are terrified of him and it is becoming dangerous as I'm afraid that one of the dogs will one day hurt him. We tried keeping him in the cage but he goes crazy in there and tries to open the door himself. He also loves attacking my husband's toes. While we thought it was cute at first, the bird is now bitting the toes pretty hard.

As much as we love our little terror, we are also at our wits end. We simply don't know what to do to keep him from chasing, landing and pecking at the dogs.

Can anyone please recommend a solution?
 

BillsBirds

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2012
1,371
40
Largo, Florida
Parrots
Timneh African Grey (Bailey), Lovebird (Elvis)
I'm going out on a limb here, and will remind everyone that spring is coming! That means "Hormone Time!". My Lovebird & Cockatiel, both of whom are very friendly (with birds & people) have begun to snap at each other, and the Lovie bit my wife on her lip tonight. I think Spring is in the air! So, let's get ready for a few weeks of madness. I cannot be sure if that's your little guys problem. But, he is of age, and it is new behavior. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about this, except ride it out. Have patience, watch the dogs, and keep your shoes on! :32:
 

weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
3,342
12
USA
Parrots
Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
That thing Bill's been peddling 'spring is in the air' is catching a lot of parronts by surprise.

You're right to be worried about the new 'I am bulletproof attitude,' because one quick turn, mouth open, a chew or two and 'monster bird' is history.....even though he has fits over being caged, you can either cage him or lock up the dogs.....if you are worried about him sneaking out nof his cage, stop by Lowes, Ace or other well stocked hardware & pickup several 1/8" stainless steel quick links to close up all his secret escape routes.....

Hormonal impediments, like his current one, will last less time than any of the potential training/re-directing packages that may be suggested, so if you have lots of free time to commit, work on the re-directions, otherwise you can keep the dogs at bay for part of the day & keep monster bird sequestered for part of the day.....
 
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Millienel

New member
Feb 25, 2013
2
0
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Thanks for the advice guys!!
A co-worker of mine also suggested that our bird may just be lonely and wants to make the dogs part of his flock. She suggested we get him a playmate. My husband and I stopped off at a pet store this morning and we were told to make sure that Joey is a parakeet and not a budgie because budgies are much smarter than parakeets and if he is in fact a budgie and we get a parakeet, Joey might try and hurt the parakeet.
According to google, there is no difference between the two.
We are also exploring the option of finding him a home that does not have dogs. We feel terrible that we have to lock him up and seeing him struggle to get out of his cage. If anyone is in New York city that might be interested or knows anyone in New York that is a true bird lover, please contact me.
 

aliray

New member
Jan 28, 2012
2,269
1
Rotonda West , Fla
Parrots
yellow sided green cheek conure,Chiquita Quaker parrot Sweetie Pie, African red bellied parrot Tiki, spanish timbrado canary Lucas
A budgie is a type of parakeet but there are also lots of other grass keets that are not budgies. A picture would help us to identify what type of bird that you have or you can look up pics on the web Google Pictures of parakeets kept as pets .a lot of the long tailed austrailian parrots a re also called parakeets . :)
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
Media
2
43
Parrots
Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
A parakeet is any small member of the parrot family with a long tapering tail. This is anything from budgies and cockatiels, to grass parakeets, rosellas, conures, quakers and ringneck (Psittacula) species.

A budgie, or budgerigar, is also known as a "shell parakeet" due to the lines that they have.



If you want to get your budgie a friend, then the second bird is going to need it's own cage and quarantined away from your current budgie to ensure he/she is healthy. That will also give him something else to entertain himself with rather than chasing the dogs. Foraging and fresh/safe branches are also a great thing for birds to occupy themselves with! Especially wet ones!
 

MarciaLove

New member
Jan 4, 2012
1,274
1
USA Georgia
Parrots
Sugar the Blue Crown Conure♂, Merlin the Camelot Macaw♂
a friend might be a good idea but you would need to quarantine a new bird and after that introducing them is very slow you cant just put the two in the same cage right away there is a VERY HIGH chance they will kill eachother no matter if they are the same species or not!! I have youtube videos on how to introduce the birds to eachother mine are on lovebirds but its the same for pretty much all birds the channel is in my signature. Most likely though your problem is just spring my birds are acting up as well!
 

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