Griffin challenges the OLD man!

So as some of you know, my boy Griffin who is almost 9 months old, (Ruppell's Poicephalus) is a super obnoxious guy.

Yesterday, I was in the kitchen getting the bird's food, my coffee and breakfast ready. I was rushing around so that I could get to the gym, get home, get ready and get to Thanksgiving destination on time.

I hurried down the hall to the room carrying the tray of food and coffee... I pushed the door (where the birds are in the room) open with my foot, and walked right in.

I THANK GOD that I didn't trample over Robin!!! He was on the floor. WHY was he on the floor?! Out of the parrots, Robin, is the one least likely to be on the ground. In his older age, he knows the rules by now and doesn't challenge it. I've always thought it was too dangerous to have them on the floor, especially since I am often walking in a hurry.

I was stunned to see THE REASON that Robin was on the floor... I looked up at Robin's cage, and Griffin was on it looking like the king of his castle!! Young Griffin obviously chased/knocked the older guy right off his own house!

I hope this doesn't become a problem!

I'm glad you didn't trample Robin too!!! Poor guy, getting kicked off his cage by a young 'hooligan'. That Griffin sure is a naughty little thing isn't he? From what I've heard of Robin's attitude towards other birds, I'm surprised he didn't put Griffin in his place!

I'm betting this is just the beginning. Sydney is bad about chasing Sammie off her cage.

Kiwibird said:

I'm glad you didn't trample Robin too!!! Poor guy, getting kicked off his cage by a young 'hooligan'. That Griffin sure is a naughty little thing isn't he? From what I've heard of Robin's attitude towards other birds, I'm surprised he didn't put Griffin in his place!

Click to expand...

While they both basically have that classic Poicephalus personality, what Birdman calls "Sennie Tude", I've noticed that Robin has mellowed a bit over the years. I thought after getting the lead out of his system, he'd be back to being his old self, but apparently at 20, he is just becoming more mellow. It will be interesting since his hormonal season is just starting. The past several years though he's bit me, it wasn't quite as vicious or as often as when he was younger. We shall see this year. Overall though, Robin has become a really sweet old man lol. I am definitely not looking forward to Griffin hitting puberty! He's small, but man is he a feisty one!

thekarens said:

I'm betting this is just the beginning. Sydney is bad about chasing Sammie off her cage.

Click to expand...

Uh oh... Yeah, I knew you'd see this thread since you told me that before. I couldn't remember who was instigating. Sydney was the newcomer too just like Griffin! What does Sammie do? Does she try to fight back?

Sammie just squawks and flies off. I try to catch him before he gets that far but often he gets past me.

I'm so glad you didn't trample poor Robin! Griffin, respect your seniors, young man! Was Raven involved in Robin's eviction from his home?

No, Raven seems completely uninterested in Robin.

I'm sure Griffin "knows" they're in the same genus and are closely related species, so there is that competition. Plus the fact that Poi's usually don't like each other.

The thought of trampling a bird gives me goosebumps. I've caught most of my birds at one time or another on the ground, foraging for dropped almonds or discarded chunks of wood between sweepings, but most will immediately take flight once the door opens. I try to condition the few that seem comfortable walking around with a quick squirt from a water bottle.

I even made a sign for the door that says: "STOP, BIRD, FLOOR." Not that the sign is looked at and mentally processed each time, but simply a subconscious acknowledgment of the danger.

Perhaps what you observe is an instinctive "pecking order" challenge? I see that on occasion with my flock, and it is almost always spurred by my presence - most likely jealousy?

Awww, poor Robin! I bet he is planning a grand revenge to teach that young whipper snapper some manners!
I am also terrified of stepping on one of my birds. I will be sitting here at the computer and all of a sudden get a sharp nip on my foot, and there will be Talli or Ekko, looking up at me.

Yes that thought is horrifying. Especially with Robin and Griffin, they're both small and brownish gray on the back... not too much contrast with the carpet. I'm making an extra point to make it a habit no matter what, to open the door, walk in, and quickly scan the floor before running forward.

At least your birds who you catch on the floor are either larger and/or more color contrast down there. I think I'd be nervous about it unless it was a large, brightly colored macaw with a long tail (can't miss it unless you're blind). Then again, even the small dogs like Chihuahuas you have to be careful with since they are so tiny and can get under foot and in the way at times. Well, maybe not YOUR Chi's Terry, but "I" would have to be careful since I am often a klutz because I often rush around too fast.

My mom's birds are the exception. Grass parakeets, so they by nature run around on the ground FAST. No chance of trampling them. They literally run, they don't lumber aronnd like tree dwelling species.

Scott, I do believe young Griffin is starting to challenge Robin for pecking order. He especially has it in for him probably since he's similar species. He knows he already has his larger Pionus friend Raven whipped! The Budgie too (although Twigs does stand up to the parrots, I wish he wouldn't!). Griffin wants to just take over and be the boss of everyone

Even as a very young boy, he'd strike out at Robin when I held him within a foot or so. Then when he was about 8 months, I started seeing a hint of him wanting to take over. I found him last month INSIDE Robin's cage with Robin over in the corner :52:! Robin is much less feisty these days at his age.

With me the human, FINALLY, Griffin is MOST of the time, being good about bite pressure when being beaky with me now, or when he does go too hard, he usually immediately obeys the word 'gentle'. I've noticed he's learning .
I'm pretty strict about laying ground rules with this one from a young age because I can see the devil in his personality already :16:.

Don't get me wrong, he is ALSO extremely cuddly, soft, and a little baby sweetheart when he's not hyper and causing trouble . His babyish peeps and squeaks also make him irresistible .

Now does THIS look evil? Maybe the second pic

The first pic he looks like he's thinking about what kind of trouble he can get into. The second pic he looks like he's gloating

Mom it wasn't me. I tried to help him stay on the cage, the old man fell off all by himself, lol.

Taw5106 said:

Mom it wasn't me. I tried to help him stay on the cage, the old man fell off all by himself, lol.

Click to expand...

Lol Tracey Exactly!!

Wow, that second pic looks like he's really giving you the evil eye! The red is kinda scary right there. If I were Robin, I'd have jumped off that cage too! Hahaha!

Anansi said:

Wow, that second pic looks like he's really giving you the evil eye! The red is kinda scary right there. If I were Robin, I'd have jumped off that cage too! Hahaha!

Click to expand...

Lol, yes the red does have that effect. I think it should become more red eventually. What I've noticed (from pics) is the Poi's who are outdoor birds exposed to tons of natural light have a pitch black eye ring of skin, with depending on species, either a bright red or bright yellow eye. Now THAT is striking. Griffin would look even scarier lol!

RavensGryf said:

Scott, I do believe young Griffin is starting to challenge Robin for pecking order. He especially has it in for him probably since he's similar species. He knows he already has his larger Pionus friend Raven whipped! The Budgie too (although Twigs does stand up to the parrots, I wish he wouldn't!). Griffin wants to just take over and be the boss of everyone

Even as a very young boy, he'd strike out at Robin when I held him within a foot or so. Then when he was about 8 months, I started seeing a hint of him wanting to take over. I found him last month INSIDE Robin's cage with Robin over in the corner :52:! Robin is much less feisty these days at his age.

With me the human, FINALLY, Griffin is MOST of the time, being good about bite pressure when being beaky with me now, or when he does go too hard, he usually immediately obeys the word 'gentle'. I've noticed he's learning .
I'm pretty strict about laying ground rules with this one from a young age because I can see the devil in his personality already :16:.

Don't get me wrong, he is ALSO extremely cuddly, soft, and a little baby sweetheart when he's not hyper and causing trouble . His babyish peeps and squeaks also make him irresistible .

Click to expand...

This makes me wonder whether captivity and human interaction alter the normal "pecking order" status? With Griffin it seems personality is the stronger determinant than size.

The 3 Goffins born and raised in my home were consecutively larger, yet Abby, second in birth order, is the most feisty, and more resistant (for a cockatoo!) to cuddling. Abby frequently puts Squeaky, youngest and largest in his place and cannot be left alone with Gabby. Gabby is the oldest, smallest, and most bonded to humans. Sometimes while cuddling in the bird-room it seems the others cast daggers at him, but each have made what seems a conscious choice how deeply they wish to interact.
Squeaky makes his desires known either with a gentle bite to the bridge of my nose, or after flying to my shoulder and crawling down to chest-level which means its cuddle-time! While Abby and their mother, Peanut would dart after Gabby with me in the room, I have on rare occasions noticed the aftermath of a cage-invasion whereby Gabby's cage was opened and he chose to exit; he's either hiding on the back of a cage or at perch-level by himself or hanging out with his big buddy Big-Bird, the Moluccan.

Somehow I believe if all 7 birds in that room were left with open cages and fed by robot - no humans present - they would get along with a minimal of squabbles!

Intersesting Scott. I remember the lovely story you shared about 'how' you came to have all those Goffin's Toos and all related! Nice that they're still in your family after all these years.

Definitely personality plays a bigger role in who's the boss. You should even see Twigs the Budgie stand tall and peck at Raven and Griffin! He's has some close calls when Raven is not in the mood and is serious. Leave it up to a Poicephalus though! *rolls eyes* the younger males can really be aggressive little things. That's the Poi drawback, but they're also so soft and cuddly, irresistible!
Also spoke too soon, Griffin was back to hard beaking with me yesterday even though I know he knows better. He does it just to see what he can get away with.

RavensGryf said:

Definitely personality plays a bigger role in who's the boss. You should even see Twigs the Budgie stand tall and peck at Raven and Griffin! He's has some close calls when Raven is not in the mood and is serious. Leave it up to a Poicephalus though! *rolls eyes* the younger males can really be aggressive little things. That's the Poi drawback, but they're also so soft and cuddly, irresistible!
Also spoke too soon, Griffin was back to hard beaking with me yesterday even though I know he knows better. He does it just to see what he can get away with.

Click to expand...

Congratulations, you live with a bunch of teenagers!

At least they won't be asking for car keys.... wings of flight are so much better!