Driving me crazy

Hi, am new here so apologies if I get anything wrong.

My male Senegal is nearly 10 years old and I've had him since he was about three months old. I've gone through all the hormonal stuff with him and he's always been, shall we say .... "challenging". He's bonded with me but loves to bite HARD and I've lost count of how many wounds I have now. He has a big cage with lots of toys but is out of it with me, unless he is sleeping or eating. He's on Harrisons pellets but also has cooked and raw veggies, potatoes, brown rice, grains, fruit etc. I'm with him 24/7 - so he never gets left alone.

Anyway, the last couple of months I have been on the edge of a breakdown because of his behaviour and, many days I've been in tears as I'm just so stressed. He has been so hyperactive. I mean, he won't sit still for a minute. He won't have his afternoon nap. He just screams - no matter what I'm doing with him. He's really got spiteful as well - and is biting for no reason. I play with him, talk to him, sing and dance for him but nothing is helping. If I try putting him down he screams (even if covered). His sleep cage is in another room and it's quiet and dark but still he screams to be with me. I've tried ignoring it but it can go on for hours. Then, when he's with me, he screams some more and is constantly on the move and biting me. He can't sit still for a second - just running, moving, screaming ....you get the picture.
I'm in the UK and it's Winter here and that's when he usually starts getting quieter. But not this time. It's worse than in Spring (when he's quite manic).

His health is fine - it's just this screaming and hyperness (is that a word) that is getting me down. It's constant. I've been bitten twice since writing this - once on the arm and once on the face. He draws blood and then attacks me again. But it's the screaming that is really doing the damage , as I'm scared the neighbours will complain. I'm not able to get anything done all day. Literally - no work, as I can't concentrate. And, if I try to do anything he throws a tantrum. It's getting to the point of me thinking about rehoming him but I don't want to give up, as I love him.

Sorry my first post is so negative but I'm sitting here in tears because of this behaviour. Does anyone have any advice please? Thank you.

I don't really have any solid suggestions but...

How recently has this new behaviour started? Have there been ANY changes in your household? New person, furniture got rearranged, any new appliances, new pets, a new sleep schedule... something interrupting his sleep... anything at all?

Secondly, you say he's in good health. But have you taken him to an avian vet? Birds are excellent at hiding all but the worst illnesses. A detailed blood panel and thorough check up might reveal something that is not immediately apparent.

Where abouts in the UK are you?

I have a sennie with a screaming problem, but not as severe as yours. Does the screaming ever diminish when you're around?

When does it improve? When is it at it's worst? (Time of day, covered, uncovered) etc.

I honestly feel for you, I've spent many days crying and begging Merlin to stop screaming because I've been at wits end, so please stick around and we'll hopefully work through it together.

HalfInsane said:

I don't really have any solid suggestions but...

How recently has this new behaviour started? Have there been ANY changes in your household? New person, furniture got rearranged, any new appliances, new pets, a new sleep schedule... something interrupting his sleep... anything at all?

Secondly, you say he's in good health. But have you taken him to an avian vet? Birds are excellent at hiding all but the worst illnesses. A detailed blood panel and thorough check up might reveal something that is not immediately apparent.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. It's been the last couple of months but has escalated over the past couple of days. Today is the worst day ever. I've been thinking and thinking if anything is different but I really can't see if there is. My routine is very dull and very much the same - nothing new at all.

I thought if he were ill, then he wouldn't be so manic - thought he'd be more subdued. But it's like he's on drugs. Seeing the vet sounds like a good idea though, to put my mind at rest. I just figured it is behavioural but getting checked out can't hurt.

Mayden said:

Where abouts in the UK are you?

I have a sennie with a screaming problem, but not as severe as yours. Does the screaming ever diminish when you're around?

When does it improve? When is it at it's worst? (Time of day, covered, uncovered) etc.

I honestly feel for you, I've spent many days crying and begging Merlin to stop screaming because I've been at wits end, so please stick around and we'll hopefully work through it together.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I'm in the South East. I can honestly say it's constant lately - from the moment he wakes, till the moment he goes to sleep. He refuses his afternoon nap and he still screams when I put him down at night. You'd think he'd be exhausted. I know I am. I can't get on with anything - he's completely gone manic.

He's become so aggressive too. He's always been a biter but he will deliberately go out of his way to attack me now.

Today, he has been on the go since this morning - it is now nearly 6pm. He is constantly running, dancing, swaying rapidly from side to side, screaming, trying to bite me, can't sit still for a second. I've tried everything but nothing satisfies him.

Hopefully we'll find the answer soon.

Oh boy, I can tell from your post that you're very upset and stressed! ((Hugs)). There are very knowledgable people on here. I'm sure someone will come up with a suggestion to help you.
Keep your chin up

I think a vet visit is something to do first then, rule out any pain or something that might be distressing him.

Do you have a good avian vet where you are? I'd recommend one but I think he's probably a bit too far for you (Northwhich). I wouldn't trust a standard vet to be able to find anything.

I honestly understand, please hang in there.

Do you have a travel cage? Is he getting enough natural light? When Merlin's getting particularly fussy (although usually when it's warmer) I'd plonk him in the back yard for a while in his travel cage... a change of scenary, fresh air, natural light, all does wonders.

Do you respond to the screaming at all?

MomtoPercy said:

Oh boy, I can tell from your post that you're very upset and stressed! ((Hugs)). There are very knowledgable people on here. I'm sure someone will come up with a suggestion to help you.
Keep your chin up

Click to expand...

Thank you. I feel a bit better having just spoken about it.

Mayden said:

I think a vet visit is something to do first then, rule out any pain or something that might be distressing him.

Do you have a good avian vet where you are? I'd recommend one but I think he's probably a bit too far for you (Northwhich). I wouldn't trust a standard vet to be able to find anything.

I honestly understand, please hang in there.

Do you have a travel cage? Is he getting enough natural light? When Merlin's getting particularly fussy (although usually when it's warmer) I'd plonk him in the back yard for a while in his travel cage... a change of scenary, fresh air, natural light, all does wonders.

Do you respond to the screaming at all?

Click to expand...

Yes, I have a good Avian vet - he costs a fortune. It's all come at once, as am having my dog tested for Cushing's disease at the moment, so it's going to be an expensive Christmas.

I try not to respond the the screaming but it's so hard and I'm failing miserably. After an hour of constant ear piercing screams, I tend to give in. But then he just screams still, even though he's with me. He's just had his before bedtime porridge (made with water) and he's still moaning. I've danced for him, sang with him, built brick towers for him, let him go through all my cupboards - he's still acting like he's on speed and screaming, trying to kill me by lunging at my face, and running around like a maniac He'll eat, run around, come back and eat, run off again - it's like a toddler on E numbers. He won't even sit still to eat. I'm exhausted just watching him. Surely his energy will run out soon. And he's so much more naughtier than usual - he'll throw everything on the floor, break anything he can, try to bite the dog, he basically is just going on the rampage, like a little hooligan and then runs off laughing. My daughter has gone round my Mum's for the weekend to get some peace. Apart from how it affects me - I'm worried that he's not happy and hates me, or hates living here. Nothing I do seems to be enough.

The joys of being a parrot parent.

SennieSlave said:

MomtoPercy said:

Oh boy, I can tell from your post that you're very upset and stressed! ((Hugs)). There are very knowledgable people on here. I'm sure someone will come up with a suggestion to help you.
Keep your chin up

Click to expand...

Thank you. I feel a bit better having just spoken about it.

Mayden said:

I think a vet visit is something to do first then, rule out any pain or something that might be distressing him.

Do you have a good avian vet where you are? I'd recommend one but I think he's probably a bit too far for you (Northwhich). I wouldn't trust a standard vet to be able to find anything.

I honestly understand, please hang in there.

Do you have a travel cage? Is he getting enough natural light? When Merlin's getting particularly fussy (although usually when it's warmer) I'd plonk him in the back yard for a while in his travel cage... a change of scenary, fresh air, natural light, all does wonders.

Do you respond to the screaming at all?

Click to expand...

Yes, I have a good Avian vet - he costs a fortune. It's all come at once, as am having my dog tested for Cushing's disease at the moment, so it's going to be an expensive Christmas.

I try not to respond the the screaming but it's so hard and I'm failing miserably. After an hour of constant ear piercing screams, I tend to give in. But then he just screams still, even though he's with me. He's just had his before bedtime porridge (made with water) and he's still moaning. He'll eat, run around, come back and eat, run off again - it's like a toddler on E numbers. He won't even sit still to eat. I'm exhausted just watching him. Surely his energy will run out soon. And he's so naughty - he'll throw everything on the floor, break anything he can, try to bite the dog, he basically is just going on the rampage, like a little hooligan and then runs off laughing. My daughter has gone round my Mum's for the weekend to get some peace.

The joys of being a parrot parent.

Click to expand...

Haha, I love that your daughter has gone into hiding. I wish I could get some respite too sometimes! I'm sorry about your dog and hope it works out well for you.

Unfortunately, expense is something that is often an issue with Avian Vets. I'd suggest going in and seeing what they say, they may want to run the works on him but your AV might see something you're not just on a physical

I understand the worry with the neighbours too, I'm in terraced housing (doh! ) but so far they've all been understandable and said that they 'enjoy' the sounds of my birds chattering (what they think of the screaming I don't quite know...) but I find myself apologising on every occasion we see each other.

Does he still scream when you're out and holding him?

Is he clipped or can he 'fly attack' you? Have you tried doing the 'flip flying' thing to burn off more energy?

Yeah, he still screams when he's with me. He uses me like a climbing frame and runs up and down, screaming at me. He can't just settle. I wonder if parrots have mid life crisis'? He is clipped but can still fly low. I've been "flying" him. But he'd rather walk, sit on me and then attack me.

Thank you for your thoughts about my dog. I lost my other dog 4 months ago - very suddenly, from a vet's mistake, so am still grieving. I have wondered if that has anything to do with Ri's behaviour - but him and my other dog used to just ignore each other and were never close. Plus his behaviour didn't change straight after my other dog died - only about the past 6 weeks.

Have just done his night time routine and put him down for the night, in a quiet room, covered up. Can still hear him yelling but am hoping he will stop soon. I need to detach but it's very stressful. It's just bizarre how he isn't tired. Sleep has to come some time.

Think I'll give his vet a call tomorrow. Thanks for letting me vent. I sound like a horrible birdie mother but I do love him dearly (just don't like him too much right now).

If I were you, I would clip his wings, which may act as a "reset" button on his behavior ... he'll be very busy trying to figure out how to deal with his new situation.

Next, I would work on just hanging out doing nothing together. Either in or out of his cage, I would let him be with but not on me. I would be going about my business, and he could watch from in or out of his cage. It sounds like you may be stimulating him with constant activity.

I would not let him bite more than once ... twisting your hand to throw him off balance for a moment (if he is standing on your hand) is a good way to stop biting immediately. If he bites again, it's back in his cage.

Overall, it sounds like he is locked into a pattern of behavior that you are unwittingly perpetuating.

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I can see how I may be making things worse. It's just all so sudden with this behaviour and I have no idea where it has come from - I'm treating him the same as always.
I'll try to be tougher with some of these tips you've given me. It's so hard not to react when the screaming has been going on for so long. He's still screaming, even though I put him down for bed an hour and a half ago. I just want to go in there and stop it (because of the neighbours) but, even if I did - he'd still be screaming. Nothing is keeping him happy. It's like he's so manic, he doesn't know what to do with himself.

See I disagree with the clipping (but everything else being good points) as I think that having him fly to burn off his excess energy could probably be a good thing, although I also understand your reasoning too.

Perhaps he is, indeed, bored with the 'daily grind' of everything being the same!

I suggest a vet visit first, speak to the vet about it and see what he thinks.

SennieSlave said:

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I can see how I may be making things worse. It's just all so sudden with this behaviour and I have no idea where it has come from - I'm treating him the same as always.
I'll try to be tougher with some of these tips you've given me. It's so hard not to react when the screaming has been going on for so long. He's still screaming, even though I put him down for bed an hour and a half ago. I just want to go in there and stop it (because of the neighbours) but, even if I did - he'd still be screaming. Nothing is keeping him happy. It's like he's so manic, he doesn't know what to do with himself.

Click to expand...

Have your neighbours ever said anything about his noise levels before?

I'd maybe suggest posting an xmas card and apology note through along the lines of. "Bird is working through some issues at the moment, I'm really sorry for all the noise but we're hoping to fix it soon! Sorry again!"

It's so frustrating, I do understand. Merlin tends to quieten down when covered and dark, but I can't keep him like that all day

I'd agree with everyone else with the vet visit first and assuming that's good I'd start training him. It will give you time together and something for him to focus on. If he has a "job" it might help. Sennies are usually pretty easy to train to do tricks.

legal_eagle said:

If I were you, I would clip his wings, which may act as a "reset" button on his behavior ... he'll be very busy trying to figure out how to deal with his new situation.

Next, I would work on just hanging out doing nothing together. Either in or out of his cage, I would let him be with but not on me. I would be going about my business, and he could watch from in or out of his cage. It sounds like you may be stimulating him with constant activity.

I would not let him bite more than once ... twisting your hand to throw him off balance for a moment (if he is standing on your hand) is a good way to stop biting immediately. If he bites again, it's back in his cage.

Overall, it sounds like he is locked into a pattern of behavior that you are unwittingly perpetuating.

Click to expand...

I totally agre with this, and I might add invest on some EAR PLUGS, and ignore his screaming behavior completly even if it means leaving the room. Don't allow him to bite you, knock him off balance.

Thanks Mayden.
Neighbours haven't said anything before but I don't really want to give them an excuse to. He's a spiteful little man and would complain just for the sake of it.

Well, it's been 2 hours since bedtime and he's just stopped screaming in the past 5 minutes (fingers crossed). I really need to desperately go to the bathroom but don't want to disturb him and set him off.

Daughter is back tomorrow and Ri is always better behaved when she is here - even though it's me he wants to be with. Maybe I'm just too boring on my own. I'm just sitting here looking through Northern Parrots website, getting him his Christmas pressies. Unfortunately, they don't do gags.

Ringing the vet tomorrow and will try and get him there this week. Have to fit it around my dog's vet visits and need to get someone to drive me. Ah, the stress.

thekarens said:

I'd agree with everyone else with the vet visit first and assuming that's good I'd start training him. It will give you time together and something for him to focus on. If he has a "job" it might help. Sennies are usually pretty easy to train to do tricks.

Click to expand...

It's like he's completely regressed. Ten years of reasonable behaviour - just gone in a few weeks. Yes, maybe I need to start from the beginning again. He just doesn't seem to care for my approval or not, at the moment.

SoCalWendy said:

legal_eagle said:

If I were you, I would clip his wings, which may act as a "reset" button on his behavior ... he'll be very busy trying to figure out how to deal with his new situation.

Next, I would work on just hanging out doing nothing together. Either in or out of his cage, I would let him be with but not on me. I would be going about my business, and he could watch from in or out of his cage. It sounds like you may be stimulating him with constant activity.

I would not let him bite more than once ... twisting your hand to throw him off balance for a moment (if he is standing on your hand) is a good way to stop biting immediately. If he bites again, it's back in his cage.

Overall, it sounds like he is locked into a pattern of behavior that you are unwittingly perpetuating.

Click to expand...

I totally agre with this, and I might add invest on some EAR PLUGS, and ignore his screaming behavior completly even if it means leaving the room. Don't allow him to bite you, knock him off balance.

Click to expand...

The screaming doesn't bother me, as such. I just worry about the neighbours. Maybe I'll pop some ear plugs through their door.

SennieSlave said:

thekarens said:

I'd agree with everyone else with the vet visit first and assuming that's good I'd start training him. It will give you time together and something for him to focus on. If he has a "job" it might help. Sennies are usually pretty easy to train to do tricks.

Click to expand...

It's like he's completely regressed. Ten years of reasonable behaviour - just gone in a few weeks. Yes, maybe I need to start from the beginning again. He just doesn't seem to care for my approval or not, at the moment.

SoCalWendy said:

legal_eagle said:

If I were you, I would clip his wings, which may act as a "reset" button on his behavior ... he'll be very busy trying to figure out how to deal with his new situation.

Next, I would work on just hanging out doing nothing together. Either in or out of his cage, I would let him be with but not on me. I would be going about my business, and he could watch from in or out of his cage. It sounds like you may be stimulating him with constant activity.

I would not let him bite more than once ... twisting your hand to throw him off balance for a moment (if he is standing on your hand) is a good way to stop biting immediately. If he bites again, it's back in his cage.

Overall, it sounds like he is locked into a pattern of behavior that you are unwittingly perpetuating.

Click to expand...

I totally agre with this, and I might add invest on some EAR PLUGS, and ignore his screaming behavior completly even if it means leaving the room. Don't allow him to bite you, knock him off balance.

Click to expand...

The screaming doesn't bother me, as such. I just worry about the neighbours. Maybe I'll pop some ear plugs through their door.

Click to expand...

LOL a peace and quite offering.... I hope you get to the bottom of his behavior. For your sake and his.

Thank you SoCalWendy.

SennieSlave said:

Thanks Mayden.
Neighbours haven't said anything before but I don't really want to give them an excuse to. He's a spiteful little man and would complain just for the sake of it.

Well, it's been 2 hours since bedtime and he's just stopped screaming in the past 5 minutes (fingers crossed). I really need to desperately go to the bathroom but don't want to disturb him and set him off.

Daughter is back tomorrow and Ri is always better behaved when she is here - even though it's me he wants to be with. Maybe I'm just too boring on my own. I'm just sitting here looking through Northern Parrots website, getting him his Christmas pressies. Unfortunately, they don't do gags.

Ringing the vet tomorrow and will try and get him there this week. Have to fit it around my dog's vet visits and need to get someone to drive me. Ah, the stress.

Click to expand...

I don't drive either, getting to the vets is a pain. I use a taxi in emergencies but unfortunately that's £20 each way (and they've moved slightly further now!) Is the screaming any better when Ri is around?

I was going to suggest earplugs, but if he's screaming despite being ignored, I think that's more... putting a plaster on a gunshot wound? :21: I think the screaming is probably down to boredom and his routine being so similar. Have you swapped out toys and things recently? Maybe he needs it, or a toy is winding him up!

Do you have a room thats generally 'off limits' to him? Maybe setting him up there for a while might help too.

I also use scarlettsparrotessentials by the way, I think they're great for toys and things (just incase you fancied browsing elsewhere!)

Please keep us updated on the vet visit anyways.