Conure help

FenrisVarg · Apr 25, 2019

Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum and have tried to do a bit of research on this issue, but I figured this may help too.

We have a 1yr old pineapple conure, male....

Here's my problem.

We got him when he was 6 months old, in November, and have had no issues at all. He's been very loving and cuddling. And now, all of a sudden, he's biting and attacking. It started with just a bite here and there. Then, literally out of nowhere, he started puffing up and attacking my boyfriend. And I keep reading to pay attention to what may be triggering him, but we will just be sitting watching TV, nothing out of the ordinary and he attacks him, even flys at him and attacks. And he seems fine with me most of the time, but he's bitten me so hard twice in the past 2 days, he's broke skin and made me bleed.

We're doing what we've been able to research online. Firmly say no, and push down on his beak, not hard, but when we try that he attacks and bites so hard, and he won't let go. So we put him in his cage and don't interact with him. He even starts to attack the cage if we go near it. But is there something more we can do? Are we doing this correctly? And I Kno it's not going to be an overnight thing, but I don't understand where any of this came from.

Like I said, he was loving towards both of us, more to me, but nothing has been done to him to make him afraid or upset.

So any info and advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

ChocolateChipCookiez · Apr 25, 2019

I don't know much ways to help but since your conure is 1 year old, he might be going through puberty now and from what I read, they tend to get a little aggressive during that time.

I don't know ways to stop biting since I haven't had to deal with that yet but other members will be able to help.

Aratingettar · Apr 26, 2019

Please provide us some more information on the general situation with your conure.
Is he/she tame (I assume yes)? Does your bird have any "nest" he/she can protect? Any "happy hut" (remove immediately!) , dark & cozy box?

You should get rid of anything that can trigger hormones and/or "nest protection mode" for your conure.

RemiBird · Apr 26, 2019

Sounds like birdie hormones kicking in.

jousze · Apr 26, 2019

I agree with Remi, spring is coming, hormones are coming too ... actually spring is here lol

noodles123 · Apr 26, 2019

If you are petting him anywhere other than the head, you should stop. Cuddles seem cute to us, but they are not fair to the bird. This applies all the time--- touching birds elsewhere is sexually stimulating and triggers hormone release. A hormonal bird often appears aggressive, prone to screaming and other problematic behaviors as well (plucking, and even egg-binding in females).

If your bird has any sort of tents, huts,hammocks, boxes, or access to shadowy places (under furniture, low ledges, piles of bedding-type material, pillows, blankets, under your clothing etc) you need to block access and remove any shadowy spaces from the cage. Although birds like dark spaces, it is a nesting/hormonal behavior. They should sleep on the perch, so please remove any "tents" if you have them. Not only are they hormonal triggers, they also are extremely dangerous for other reasons (such as strangulation and intestinal blockages).

Avoid warm/mushy foods because they can trigger hormones.

Certain types of shred toys (grass variety/paper etc) can make an already hormonal bird more hormonal, so consider the types of toys in the cage and opt for the sturdier wooden varieties while your bird is hormonal. It just will depend on the bird.

Make sure your bird is getting a solid 12 hours of uninterrupted, dark sleep each night. Be mindful of the importance of a sleep/light routine in regulating a bird's hormones and immune function. Too much or too little light can also cause issues.

Make sure your bird has plenty of things to do and make sure that your bird is getting lots of out of cage time.

Behaviorally, when your bird does bite, do not scold or react to the biting. In order to say more on this end of things, more information is needed.
Explain a typical bite scenario and exactly what you are doing before and after the bite (what is said, any contact, who is involved, proximity of the people/pets involved etc)....?

FenrisVarg · Apr 26, 2019

Aratingettar said:
Please provide us some more information on the general situation with your conure.
Is he/she tame (I assume yes)? Does your bird have any "nest" he/she can protect? Any "happy hut" (remove immediately!) , dark & cozy box?

You should get rid of anything that can trigger hormones and/or "nest protection mode" for your conure.

The only thing we have like that is a small thing that hangs in his cage, like a little tent or hut, but he's never gone it in. He goes hehind it at night to sleep.

noodles123 · Apr 26, 2019

Don't ever reprimand a bird for biting. Pushing on the beak etc is all wrong. Here are some links to other threads that deal with similar issues:

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/79026-help-aggressive-green-cheek.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/79450-new-conure-need-some-help.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/80296-pionus-out-control.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/78322-biting-senegal-parrot.html

noodles123 · Apr 26, 2019

FenrisVarg said:
Aratingettar said:

Please provide us some more information on the general situation with your conure.
Is he/she tame (I assume yes)? Does your bird have any "nest" he/she can protect? Any "happy hut" (remove immediately!) , dark & cozy box?

You should get rid of anything that can trigger hormones and/or "nest protection mode" for your conure.

Click to expand...

The only thing we have like that is a small thing that hangs in his cage, like a little tent or hut, but he's never gone it in. He goes hehind it at night to sleep.

BINGO-Please, please, please remove it today. They are deadly and they are hormonal disasters waiting to happen. Your bird will be fine without it. Seriously. I cannot emphasize the importance of removing this thing ASAP.

FenrisVarg · Apr 26, 2019

noodles123 said:
If you are petting him anywhere other than the head, you should stop. Cuddles seem cute to us, but they are not fair to the bird. This applies all the time--- touching birds elsewhere is sexually stimulating and triggers hormone release. A hormonal bird often appears aggressive, prone to screaming and other problematic behaviors as well (plucking, and even egg-binding in females).

If your bird has any sort of tents, huts,hammocks, boxes, or access to shadowy places (under furniture, low ledges, piles of bedding-type material, pillows, blankets, under your clothing etc) you need to block access and remove any shadowy spaces from the cage. Although birds like dark spaces, it is a nesting/hormonal behavior. They should sleep on the perch, so please remove any "tents" if you have them. Not only are they hormonal triggers, they also are extremely dangerous for other reasons (such as strangulation and intestinal blockages).

Avoid warm/mushy foods because they can trigger hormones.

Certain types of shred toys (grass variety/paper etc) can make an already hormonal bird more hormonal, so consider the types of toys in the cage and opt for the sturdier wooden varieties while your bird is hormonal. It just will depend on the bird.

Make sure your bird is getting a solid 12 hours of uninterrupted, dark sleep each night. Be mindful of the importance of a sleep/light routine in regulating a bird's hormones and immune function. Too much or too little light can also cause issues.

Make sure your bird has plenty of things to do and make sure that your bird is getting lots of out of cage time.

Behaviorally, when your bird does bite, do not scold or react to the biting. In order to say more on this end of things, more information is needed.
Explain a typical bite scenario and exactly what you are doing before and after the bite (what is said, any contact, who is involved, proximity of the people/pets involved etc)....?

Nope, only pet him on the head, cuz I've read it can trigger them. And like I said the only hit we have is in his cage, but he's never gone in it and he doesn't shred or have anything like that. But I will pay attention. He's out of his cage, unless he's bitten, most the day. When it gets dark out, or we're not home he goes to his cage on his own. And comes out when we get home or when the sun comes out.

And we don't yell, or scold, read that too. But must admit, it's hard sometimes, cuz he bites so hard that we can't help but make a sound, but we've been getting better.

And so far, cuz this just started last week....a typical bit scenario...we get home, he comes out the cage, talking, happy to see, me at least. But then he sees my boyfriend and he flys and attacks. Or we will be just sitting watching TV, our bird is just doing his own thing, then BAM...he comes at him. The few times he's bitten me is if he's gone after him and I'm trying to keep the situation calm and helping to put him in his cage.

And we kinda figured it might be hormones, cuz he's started humping me and his age.

He does have plenty of toys, but doesn't seem to have much interest in them.

Thank you for the suggestions and I will keep this all in mind.

noodles123 · Apr 26, 2019

Seriously---remove the hut!
http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/80202-how-get-rid-hidey-hut.html

Pushing on a beak and saying anything is attending to the bite--you don't want to give any attention as a result of a bite if you think your bird might be doing it for attention. I am looking for a thread that I posted about this so I don't have to re-type it all...I will post it if I find it.

FenrisVarg · Apr 26, 2019

noodles123 said:
Don't ever reprimand a bird for biting. Pushing on the beak etc is all wrong. Here are some links to other threads that deal with similar issues:

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/79026-help-aggressive-green-cheek.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/79450-new-conure-need-some-help.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/80296-pionus-out-control.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/78322-biting-senegal-parrot.html

This is awesome! Thank you. From that video, it's seems, yes it is hormones and from my suspicions, he's chosen me had "his person"

FenrisVarg · Apr 26, 2019

noodles123 said:
Seriously---remove the hut!
http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/80202-how-get-rid-hidey-hut.html

Pushing on a beak and saying anything is attending to the bite--you don't want to give any attention as a result of a bite if you think your bird might be doing it for attention. I am looking for a thread that I posted about this so I don't have to re-type it all...I will post it if I find it.

I will remove it now, absolutely, thank you!

noodles123 · Apr 26, 2019

Here-- also, read this (it is the post I was talking about). My post starts on page 5---it sounds like a similar situation...I would type the same thing again, so just see page 5 lol.

http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/79902-first-vet-visit-5.html

FenrisVarg · Apr 26, 2019

noodles123 said:
Here-- also, read this (it is the post I was talking about). My post starts on page 5---it sounds like a similar situation...I would type the same thing again, so just see page 5 lol.

http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/79902-first-vet-visit-5.html

Lol, yep, this sounds about right. This is all great advice. I can't thank you enough for it. And now I have a little better idea. I've had a duck before, in the past, so I knew a little about hormonal behavior, but I knew this would be different. So I appreciate any and all help.

FenrisVarg · Apr 26, 2019

So one more question. When he does start with the hormonal behavior, like humping and rubbing himself against me, do I just set him down and not say anything. Just ignore him till he stops?

noodles123 · Apr 26, 2019

I would redirect his attention and change the tone. Think of that dog in Up..."SQUIRREL!" --If you are petting the bird and it starts, stop. I would reduce contact but you don't have to get super serious and walk away or anything (unless the behavior continues in your presence regardless). You can jingle a toy or something and do something to distract the bird. Different people will have different opinions on this part.
Keep in mind, despite the fact that the root is likely hormonal, your reaction to the bites will still play a gigantic role.

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He won't step up!!!

Need some "comforter"ing advice

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