Quincy is getting aggressive...

Quincy69

New member
May 7, 2018
76
5
So we've had Quincy about a year and a half now. We loves being with me. As soon as I come home its Quincy squawking until I open his cage, then he flies to me.
Or in the mornings that I'm not working, I uncover his cage and he's with me while I make coffee. I spend alot of time with him..........that's until he all of a sudden turns into attack mode. He will bite my neck really hard, then when I try to get him he will bite my fingers. When he's on my shoulder and attacking I just remove my shirt so I can get him into his cage without getting bit. After that i leave him in there for hours with not even any eye contact.

My questions are........why all of a sudden he goes into attack mode? I'm sure he's trying to tell me something, but wtf is it?
My wife says that when I'm not home he doesn't bother her at all. He may fly to her, but then he will go back to his cage, but he has gotten aggressive with her too.
He doesn't like anybody but us. My daughter and granddaughter video called me....Quincy attacked my phone and me.

Not understanding his change.
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charmedbyekkie

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May 24, 2018
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Cairo the Ekkie!
How old is he? Sounds like puberty. What measures have you taken to manage his hormones?

Am mid-commute, but I'm sure other timezones can fill you in in the meantime.
 

Laurasea

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Aug 2, 2018
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Hi,
Behavior problems are complex. But leaving him in his cage for hours with no eye candy after biting isn't going to fix your problems. It will just lead to more frustrations for your parrot.

As mentioned above puberty can cause some changes in parrot behavior, just like any teenager. But I don't like this as a catch all, or easy out for problems.

Take stock and evaluate , objectively observe. It might also be time for an overhaul of the cage, toys and perch placement. Work on some new foraging ideas. Parrots like to destroy stuff, as they actually want the object to be destroyed. Providing them with old paperback books that they can shred up it is fun. Or a little cardboard box that you cut holes and slits in, then stuff the inside with long pieces of bird safe stuff to pull out, like shredded paper, bird safe leather ECT. Look on the DIY page for toys here for lots of ideas. You want to provide more stimulations and ways to burn energy. Parrots as you know are so smart and get so bored every day.. use veggies as forage toys. Cut a paper bag panel into a long fringe like a Hulu skirt and hang it over a perch so he had to duck under it to get to the other side.

Biting you when out with you , might be because he sees your wife ( rival) and wants to get you to move away from her. Or because of another pet in the house, or something frightening him. Be scientific keep a log of bites, and track trends.

Have a plan in place for how to treat bites , and do the exact same thing every time a bite happens. If you don't have any other pets in the house or small children, you can say no bite, and place the bird in the floor, wait a few seconds and pick him back up and go on as though nothing has. If a second bite happens right away , say no bite and put him back in the cage, for just a couple of minutes. Then go get him out and take him to a play area. For me when bites happen I say no bite, ( try and determine why happened) for me bites happen because I have multiple birds and sometimes there is jealousy, or my dog spooked them, or I hit a pin feather by mistake. Anyway for me first bite I put them on my finger look at them and say no bite with strong eye contact. Then we just go on. A second bite I say no bite and move them to one of the play areas and just go on. If they fly to me just to bite me I say no bite and put them in their cage for a few minutes. Being put in the cage only works if they want to be with you and hate being seperate. If their goal was to get away from you in the first place but isn't going work as well.

Try having at least three different areas for your parrot to hang out. I use hooks in the ceiling and fishing line to hang rope hoops and rope bungie from , putting them at face level or a little above, or little lower. They have lots of perches and toys on the top of their cage. Then I have these hanging in front of a couple of Windows, one over the breakfast bar, and I have one if those metal stands that I attached a rope bungie and oerscges to, so I can move that where I want. Mine are free flight when I'm home, and at each area they know there could be a yummy and a toy. I have dogs do I don't want them on the floor or furniture. Plus they really enjoy hanging out at different spots.

This link is very good as well.
https://www.2ndchance.info/tameparrot.htm
 
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Laurasea

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Aug 2, 2018
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So just a little more.
Bites can happen from over stimulation, to much petting or playing. From being out to long without access to food and water, they need to nibble often. Because they are tired. Because they saw something's that spooked them, or you spooked them. Because they see another person and want to keep you for themselves. Because it's becoming their only entertainment in a boredom life. Or any combo of the above. So taking the time to evaluate each bite is important.

Taking your frustrations and emotional reactions out if the situation is also important. Try to be calm and objective. I am also going to link an article that I really love titled stress in the parrot
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/
 
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OP
Quincy69

Quincy69

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May 7, 2018
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Thanks to you both for you input. Quincy is very picky when it comes to food, and toys.
I'm going to work on his toys, I'm feeling he's bored, and jealous of anyone that's around me. He attacked my cell phone the other day when I was video chatting with my granddaughter.

Again, thanks for the help.

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noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
8,145
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
does he have access to any huts/tents/sleeping bag things? They are hormone triggers---remove anything like that if he has them. Don't allow under clothing, furniture, low shelves, drawers (anything shadowy). NO petting anywhere other than the head/neck ever (the rest spells s-e-x to a bird).
 

Laurasea

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Aug 2, 2018
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My GCC would bite my phone , and tell my phone NO! Or bite me as I am paying attention to phone.

I worked on this by giving her a treat everytime I held the phone. I'd give her a treat here and there as I text on phone, I'd show her what I was looking at and read stuff out loud to her. Now the phone is a non issue.

Your parrot has chosen you to be bonded to. This is programed into them and even stronger than a marriage bond, as they don't devorce. So honor that and set time aside for just the two of you. Birds like routines, so find a good time you can commit to for just you guys. And that he can count on. Also it might be possible when he is in the snuggle me preen me time to maybe invite the wife and do a group preen .... But I wouldn't try that till he feels more confidence in you twis relationship. Parrots don't make easy pets, you have to always be working on your relationship.

Diet can improve. If he isn't eating his veggies you definitely need to work on that. Parrots learn from their flock. Share meals, when you are eating a salad or veggies eat something and offer some. Take time to hand feed, feed what you know he eats first, then a different times offer something you would like him to eat. I hand feed all my parrots little bits throughout the day, they now come running to see what I've got. I always say yum yum then offer. I also put veggies on plate in top of the cage and let them find and try themselves too.

On toys , you can thread millit through the toy to make it more tempting. And observe what type of toys or shredding stuff your guy likes and work off that. I have a ladder in one cage because that bird like to carry foot toys up and down the ladder. ;)

Also I hope you will keep your thread active, and share what works , what doesn't, share your frustrations, and success. A to of people have the same problem with biting that you do, and will learn from you.

As an parrot becoming an adult and going through puberty, and looking at the world as an adult bird does cause some bump in the road. I just think it expose problems that were already there. And I just don't think it's an excuse the this your hands up in the air and say oh nothing I can do it's just a hormonal bird. Because many many people latch onto that as excuse not to deal with the bird. When providing outlets, activity for those dealing with that will have a huge impact. And if we are the target of those feelings we need to be respectful, and redirect when we can.
( Noodles we double posted ;) )
http://www.parrot-parrots.com/important-stages-life-parrot.php
 
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furandfeathers

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Dec 12, 2019
5
1
So. Calif
Parrots
Albino Cockatiel, Blue Fronted Conure, Dusky Conure, Green Cheek Conure, and a Sunny, who heartbreakingly, passed in July.
Sounds like every bird I've taken home! Yellow and green spounges, anything with a red "eye" like a snake, any phone that I "pet" and talk to or put on my shoulder. Hardest was a little green cheek we named Jade. She was afraid of everything. She had been in a room with a schizophrenic woman for ten years. The woman had to be permanently institutionalized. Sad for all concerned. Anything that could open, cupboards, trash cans, doors, and things that just appeared outside the window like an airplane or wild bird terrified this little one. Constant re-inforcement that she was safe and staying calm. I bled a lot. She ended up singing all of the wild bird songs and had so many friends sitting outside her window. She liked a brief walk, even being petted once or twice, then just sitting with you. She was always a sweet, shy girl. Changing routines upset her but she just nipped her displeasure in time.
The suggestions and links above are very good and likely will help. I just thought I'd add my jealousy and fear observations, especially the red light on the coffee maker.
 

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