The honeymoon phase is over - Sunshine is starting to act out!

Hey guys,

The moment I expected but wished wouldn’t come is here. Sunshine is starting to act out.

She gets very frustrated when I don’t let her do something, and then bites. Tonight we were sitting on the couch, and she was on my lap. I’m told by her previous owners daughter that she was a shoulder bird, which I wasn’t happy to hear since I don’t like anything larger than a conure on my shoulder. (I prefer my eyes firmly inside my head, my ears attached, and my lips/nose not punctured.) We were cuddling and everything was great, but then she seemed to run at my face. I assumed it was just to get to my shoulder and not to bite (I hope) but it resulted in a bite anyway, because I blocked her with my hand, and made her step up. She bit me immediately, just enough to draw a tiny bit of blood on my hand, and I calmly walked her to her cage and put her in time out for a few minutes.

Last night she bit me once, but not too hard, after I kept stopping her from walking over to see my chihuahua, since my birds make him uncomfortable, being twice his size and all. She went to her cage for time out then as well.

The worst was tonight, when I had her on the back of a chair while my fiancé and I were cleaning out a closet. She was clearly in “go” mode, dancing crazily with her crest fully erect. I walked past her, and she lept onto my shoulder, and refused to get down. This resulted in a bite to the neck that didn’t bleed, and a nip on my finger that drew a tiny bit of blood. I knew that was going to end with a bite or two by the time I forced her to step up, but I tried to wiggle as little as possible so it wasn’t fun for her. After the bite, she stepped up and I calmly put her in her cage.

It’s clear to me she needs more to keep her busy, and the t stand she spends most her time on probably isn’t stimulating enough. She has some toys in her cage, but nothing interesting enough I’m sure. The bites don’t worry me, in fact it’s alarming how used I am to being pinched by a hook bill after all these years (haha) but I just wanted to check in with you guys and make sure I’m doing everything right.

I plan on getting her a larger stand with branches, and spots for more toys to hang. She’ll be getting some foraging toys and opportunities for that as well. Do you guys have any recommendations on other ways to keep her busy/engaged? Home made foraging toys? Etc?

Did I handle the time out situation right? I do my best to react as little as possible and get her in time out as fast as possible for 10-15 minutes.

Thanks in advance guys.

You sound pretty good-to-go to me!
And you're still so new to each other.
Keep us current. There are so many great bird behaviorists here!
If things keep progressing, I'll be asking YOU for advice of how to manage my Patagonian miscreant.

What you're doing is what I would do - I guess time will tell if it's effective.

Minor detail - some people don't like making the cage the time out place, as it may create a negative association with the cage.
To be honest though, I don't know where you can put them for time out that's appropriate in that case. Is out of sight enough? If a flighted bird flies back to you after time out is that enough?

Thanks for sharing. My own bird is starting to act out too, I'm trying to figure out what I've done wrong too. (Due for a thread at some point if I can't figure it out myself!)

Well, that was quick!

First item is to consider a strict no-shoulder policy. Easier said than done, but shoulder privileges ought be limited to trustworthy birds. The potential for severe damage or worse to your face or neck is real.

Have you read this thread? http://www.parrotforums.com/cockatoos/17694-owning-cockatoo.html Is it possible she is hormonal? Certain foods will exacerbate vs calm this temporary period. Seems she is easily overstimulated, during which time all bets for behavior are off.

Make sure she clearly understands the time-out period. Limit them to serious offenses and be consistent. I would agree a location other than the primary cage is most effective and will reduce the likelihood of negative association.

I would just keep doing what you are doing and I agree with Scott about a strict no shoulder policy until you can trust Sunshine. Another thing that you want to avoid with using the cage as a time out spot is that your bird may learn that biting gets them back in their cage, effectively "training" you. I feel hungry, chomp. I want to play with my toys, chomp. I want to go to bed, chomp. That was easy! It worked again and I'm back in my cage!

Birds can be stubborn as you know. Eventually, she will get it if you keep doing what you are doing.

Good luck and keep us posted

The honeymoon period is over so its now time to truly bond. Your bird is now like a toddler and is seeing how far he can push maybe?
I would definitely agree that shoulder surfing is now out, being on your shoulder is a treat and a total trust thing.

When Enzo gets frustrated/aggressive/excited I will stop in my tracks and stare at Enzo with my finger pointed up and out of beak distance, maybe 5 to 10 seconds is enough, sometimes ill tell her to calm down (I am a Scouser after all!). This is often all it takes to diffuse a situation and Enzo's body language will relax very quickly. If on the very rare occations she doesn't relax i'll now place her on the floor and walk away or stand close to her, LordTrigg's advised this and it seems to work.

The only time i put her back in the cage is if she has made me mad, but I feel like I have failed her when I do that

One added thing is, sometimes if Enzo raises herself up, feathers fluffed she looks like she is going attack me but actually she justs wants rough play time...... not easy

Good luck, keep setting the boundaries on your terms and learn the body language.

Thanks guys! I agree on the cage as a time out location being bad. I’ll start moving her t stand to a designated “time out corner.”

She hasn’t had shoulder privileges since I adopted her and I think that’s part of what makes her so frustrated.

I have read that thread and enough literature over the last week to make a normal person crazy. Haha

When she’s over-excited I’m going to be keeping a safe distance (a little figuratively and a little literally) until she calms down from now on. I’m certain she’s testing me now to see how I react to these behaviors and see what she can get away with since she’s so darn intelligent. To quote my favorite movie, Jurassic Park, “When you look at her you can see she’s working things out.” The comparison to a velociraptor is not lost on me. Haha

She’s a great bird all things considered, and this challenge actually motivates me to be a great owner for her. I’ll keep you guys posted!

You've got the perfect attitude, Chad. Just be patient and consistent!

Soyajam said:

What you're doing is what I would do - I guess time will tell if it's effective.

Minor detail - some people don't like making the cage the time out place, as it may create a negative association with the cage.
To be honest though, I don't know where you can put them for time out that's appropriate in that case. Is out of sight enough? If a flighted bird flies back to you after time out is that enough?

Thanks for sharing. My own bird is starting to act out too, I'm trying to figure out what I've done wrong too. (Due for a thread at some point if I can't figure it out myself!)

Click to expand...

I've heard a dog carrier(metal for the larger birds) put in a dark bedroom or bathroom is a good time-out area. Dark and quiet and no attention, what parrots hate.

I think your approach is great. No shoulder. It’s a slippery slope if they have already nipped. Your bird sounds very smart and I imagine with consistency you will break through. Time out is more to calm down and “get a hold of your bird self,” haha. Whenever Any of my birds have gotten out of hand, they are on the stand and I say “get a hold of yourself!” I’ll talk to them and walk away, periodically checking in and asking if they were OK.

The too threads are also invaluable...go #teamsunshine

I was wondering if everything is happening too fast for her and that it would be better to keep her in her cage for awhile and just sit outside of it while talking quietly to her.

chad246emr said:

Thanks guys! I agree on the cage as a time out location being bad. I’ll start moving her t stand to a designated “time out corner.”

She hasn’t had shoulder privileges since I adopted her and I think that’s part of what makes her so frustrated.

I have read that thread and enough literature over the last week to make a normal person crazy. Haha

When she’s over-excited I’m going to be keeping a safe distance (a little figuratively and a little literally) until she calms down from now on. I’m certain she’s testing me now to see how I react to these behaviors and see what she can get away with since she’s so darn intelligent. To quote my favorite movie, Jurassic Park, “When you look at her you can see she’s working things out.” The comparison to a velociraptor is not lost on me. Haha

She’s a great bird all things considered, and this challenge actually motivates me to be a great owner for her. I’ll keep you guys posted!

Click to expand...

Hi chad I adopted a U-2 also months ago I had too give him up he was so aggressive with my kids and I I couldn’t trust him anymore. I just want too warn you too’s are very athletic can jump a few feet without using their wings and bite with that scissor beak fast,I have a female Goffin she has a total different personality...I know it’s a different too than I had just take it slow and watch her as soon as you let your guard down bang that’s when I’d get bit.