Ruby Behaviour Issues

Hey guys, I'm having a serious issue with Rudy.

He isn't clipped, but when I take him out after a bit he will fly around the house (or room). He's broken several family heirlooms and some antiques trying to land on them, and some other stuff. It's gotten so bad that I've started shortening the amount of time he spends outside his cage, because as soon as he flies once I get ahold of him again I put him in his cage to try to teach him that's a no-no. But he's stubborn and this tactic seems to be having the opposite effect.

Today I decided I would clip his wings myself (as far as I know he's never been clipped, I got him when he was about 5 months old). I cannot afford to take him to a vet and have them do it. But as soon as he saw the scissors in my hand he freaked out. He lunged at my hand, then reared back and lunged again. It was all for show, he wasn't close enough to do any actual damage, but the threat was clear. Then he took off for the other side of the room and wouldn't let me come near him until I put the scissors down.

You know those hoods they make for hawks to keep them calm, in falconry? I was wondering if covering his head with a small bag would calm him down long enough to clip his wings? Or would he freak out? I'm not sure what to do at this point.

I had asked about giving him raw ginger root in another thread I'd made about car travel to calm his nerves, if it turned out I needed to (7-8 hour road trip). Do you think it would help with this?

If you cannot take him to the vet, please make sure you know how much to take off. It has been awhile since I have trimmed wings because I keep my girl in full flight. You will need two people and a towel. You want to wrap her in the towel, keeping her fro. Seeing what your doing. One should hold her and there is a certain. Ay to hold so not to hurt her and so she cannot get you either. May e someone can jump on with more experience to tell you, as I said it has been years. You really have to be careful of blood feathers and do it in such a way so she is not butchered. If you are not real comfortable, it really is better to have a vet do it and show you. The last thing you want is for it to be a traumatic experience for either of you as she could lose trust in you.

Thanks! Yeah I knew to look for blood feathers first.

I finally found a pair of nail clippers that I use on my dogs. Rudy wasn't afraid of it so I went ahead and clipped one feather off one wing...and then he caught on -.-

Now I can't get near him with those. My oldest son is out of town now, but will be home tomorrow. I will get him to help me try toweling him.

Just an update. I got my youngest son to help me. I toweled him and held him still while my son clipped his wings using the cat/dog nail clippers. The feather ends are a bit messy but they're clipped! I would have taken scissors to neaten them up a bit but Rudy was panting so hard under the towel I was worried about him.

I was worried he'd be super pissed when we were done, but he immediately crawled up my son's arm and perched on his shoulder a bit, then tried to fly to me. I picked him up and he was fine, although a bit bewildered. Since his head was covered he didn't know which of us did what so he's forgiven us both for the whole toweling apocalypse.

He's only tried to fly once more since then. He knows something is wrong, poor dear, but can't figure out what. He flaps his wings, then ruffles his feathers and preens, then flaps again and looks at me inquiringly. It's only been a few days but already his behavior has improved. He's still stubborn, but not as much. I was worried it might make things worse. I'd much rather than a well-behaved bird than a rude one while at my mom's.

I'm happy to hear Rudy has forgiven both of you so quickly. IF you wanted to, of if you see the rough edges poke in his sides, I'd towel him once again and smooth them out with the scissors.

I'm sorry he broke family heirlooms and other things while airporting through the house.

My Niko has broken countless things while learning to properly use his wings, and he's finally figured out where he can and cannot land - but is sure took a long while.

Doubtful you can do this without toweling him...

There used to be a product called a beak bubble... it's a little cage that goes around the head to keep them from biting during grooming...

(Yeah, like he's gonna just sit still for that one either!)

LOL

I read 'cage that goes around the head' and immediately thought of the jackal head cage guy from '13 Ghosts'.

Mommajack said:

LOL

I read 'cage that goes around the head' and immediately thought of the jackal head cage guy from '13 Ghosts'.

Click to expand...

....so did I!!!! JUST watched that movie again 2 weeks ago, so the visual was quite fresh. :11:

Google it. You're not far off!

http://parrotconsultations.blogspot.com/2010/09/birds-beak-bubbles-blah.html

(Just so there is no mistake, I am not recommending this product, I'm making fun of it.)

Birdman666 said:

Google it. You're not far off!

Parrot Behaviour & Enrichment Consultations: Birds, Beak Bubbles, Blah!...

(Just so there is no mistake, I am not recommending this product, I'm making fun of it.)

Click to expand...

:11: OH MY GOD!!! :11: That is THE most atrocious thing I have EVER seen. That should be banned to never be used.

Yeah... I know. Oddly enough these things have been around awhile. I've never known anyone to use them. I can't imagine doing that to a bird!

NOW, MY GREENWING ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT BITE, BUT IF YOU TRIED TO PUT THAT THING ON HER HEAD, I BELIEVE SHE WOULD...

My RFM on the other hand, would snatch it out of your hand, and play keep away on the big playstand, while attempting to chew it to pieces...

But there is no way "that thing" would be going on either of my big macs heads...

It comes with a training video where you condition the bird to allow you to put this on its head. Good luck with that. (Or we could just train the dang bird not to bite!)

Birdman666 said:

It comes with a training video where you condition the bird to allow you to put this on its head. Good luck with that. (Or we could just train the dang bird not to bite!)

Click to expand...

*giggles*

Exactly this! If you have time to train a bird to wear a cage, you have time to train it not to bite!