Where did this vecro bird come from?!

Parker is NOT himself, and this time I can’t attribute it to hormones.

He is so clingy and needy! He has flown so often to come to us. Just a minute ago he flew past me, through a mostly closed door onto the kitchen to get to my partner. He NEVER does this.

Those familiar with him, did you catch that? He’s flying FREQUENTLY.

He’s wandering constantly now. Oh the wandering, so dangerous around here. And demands to be held 24/7.

Most people dream of this, especially with an ekkie, but I’m just perplexed and actually a bit frustrated. He is not his independent self contentedly daydreaming. I dunno who this bird is. Don’t recognize him at all. I’m at a bit of a loss to explain it.

What’s worse is I don’t know why I’m upset about it. He just wants attention. Though it’s not like he has ever been attention starved. Maybe it’s this intersection of huge behavioral change coupled with a perception of instinct overriding his training because he’s frustrating my best training efforts right now.

Nike goes through clingy days, more often now than before.

When she was first re-flighted she spend a lot of time on the floor, I know I almost squished her at least twice. Now that she has the lay of the land she is never on the floor...thankfully.

I enjoy her clingy periods because it gives me an excuse to sit around and do nothing

I've seen bits and pieces of some of your flight threads. I may be wrong, but it seems like he has gotten a lot more confident in his flying. When Kalani became a confident flyer, I dealt with the same thing. He flies to me constantly, so the "stay put" training continues.

I don't think you are wrong to be upset. Your friend and companion is having a drastic change in personality. That would cause any caring person concern. I'm sure you'll come out alright though, don't beat yourself up because of concern. From what I have seen you will keep a good eye on Parker and take action if and when need be. I'm still a newer bird owner but I am a parent of 16 years, your feelings are perfectly normal.

We have experienced like reactions from our Amazons as they recover their flight or experience their first ever flight. Its like, they are experiencing the full impact of having 'Free Will!' The emotional swings as they want the comfort of being dependent and then swing to being independent. As flight strengthens, the swings slow to a comfort of choice and as we are now seeing with our Julio. Not overly cling, nor totally separate and uninterested.

Time will tell.

Enjoy!

I can always count on you all to make me feel better! Mooshiebird that was a beautiful post, thank you

Steven, you might have it. There might be a diet link. Over the last month or so, independently, we’ve both inadvertently bought Parker a few bags and packages of nuts as treats, forgetting he’s already got nuts at home. . So he’s been ODing on these fatty treatsc and I know nuts can engender high energy. Couple that with what you’ve seen regarding sudden freedom and we might be on to something!

This is never easy. One big puzzle after another. And the training continues, eh Don?

SailBoat said:

We have experienced like reactions from our Amazons as they recover their flight or experience their first ever flight. Its like, they are experiencing the full impact of having 'Free Will!' The emotional swings as they want the comfort of being dependent and then swing to being independent. As flight strengthens, the swings slow to a comfort of choice and as we are now seeing with our Julio. Not overly cling, nor totally separate and uninterested.

Time will tell.

Enjoy!

Click to expand...

Oh...just WONDERFUL Steven!!! Is this what I should expect from Amy,when he finally realizes "Hey??!! I can FLY NOW!!!"...Maybe I should think twice ( or three times!!) in what I am attempting to do now??

Sorry Chris, I have no real advice to give you I can say though,since little Beebers discovered if he waves his arms frantically,he goes places a lot faster and further!
He comes to me when I call out to him (most of the time) and he KNOWS he can get away from me and P.M.R.O if he choses to do so,and he can agitate poor Amy by landing on one of Amy's out-of-house- multi-colored- bendable- ropey- type- perches that is just outside and maybe three inches away from Amy's nummy bowl door.
But then again,I'm talking about Fluff Boy,and not Parker Doodles/apples and oranges..iffin ya know what I mean??

Maybe you should be excited/happy,for the moment? It would suck big time,at least to me,if Parker owned me,then one day he decided being with me wasn't as groovy as he first thought...just sayin' my friend!


Jim

I can understand if it's unsettling - A big change in behaviour can feel like you have a different bird (it might also be our instincts warning us that changed behaviour is sometimes bad if they're sick!). Having a bird start to be more active can be a strange feeling too, you feel like you've lost control of things because now you can't just scoop 'em up!

Remi is unusually smoochy for an ekkie (at least from what I've heard) and she'll often fly the length of the house looking for a snuggle from my partner. (Who then provides snuggles in large quantities!)
A good thing about being flighted though is it's much easier for them to tell you they're not into something - they can flap away rather than bite.

I wonder if Remi's inclination for snuggles will subside when she grows up a bit more but it's hard to tell.

Looking forward to clingy time, hopefully we get there
I learn so much from you guys thank you
Happy New Year to you all

Flying frequently?!? Sweet! I'm loving this update, Chris! Yeah, I know it's freaking you out a little bit... but big picture, brother! He's flying frequently! The health benefits alone are huge. And who knows, such a dramatic lifestyle change could spark other beneficial changes as well.

I'm excited for you and the Parker man!

Ah yes, This thread is due for an update!!

Steohen, my man, ever the master of turning lemons into lemonade! Please don’t ever change, ever.

Flying has settled a lot, now it’s just incredibly obnoxious wandering off the cage. I know many people love and encourage the walking on the ground. But it’s just not safe here. We’ve come within half an inch of stepping on him several times, body checking and all. And given the dog sitting that goes on around here, and the danger he poses to our little 4lbs dog,I work hard to curb it.

And yes, the danger HE poses to the dog. Dog avoids him or ignores him. He’s more likely to aggress to her. Even Eddie can sense this so it’s always a panic when we see Parker on the ground, “OMG where is sasha!??”

Velcro has also subsided...somewhat. It’s still there, just not as intense. He’s self entertaining again a lot more. But I’m always the one to put him back on the cage so I sense a simmering resentment towards me. Less happy to see me than usual.

And the saga continues.

Sam in all liklihood you can expect the snuggles to change in some capacity. Regardless of species most parrot babies tend to be much more affectionate. Once puberty hits, especially with ekkies, the snuggles change. They may want not to lay against your neck and be petted up and down, but rather quietly on your shoulder accepting occasional head scratched or beak rubs.

I can't believe I missed this thread! Ekko is also flying more frequently, and this gives me hope that maybe he will start to bond with me more. He is obsessed with Reg, and doesn't even talk around me, much less want attention from me. I hope he will allow us to bond again, and maybe want to get closer to me after reading what Parker is doing. Ekko also wants to be on the floor, that drives me crazy as well. Today he got too close to Charley the too's cage, and that didn't go well at all. How are you handling it when he continues to go to the floor?