Dangerous wild animal in the home...

So we hear how some people keep exotic animals as pets... non-domesticated 'wild' animals like chimpanzees, large cats, bears, wolves, etc. and when they become sexually mature (and especially males) how they say they can become dangerous and no longer suitable to keep as pets.

It might come as a surprise to you, but I have such an exotic animal in my home. But I will not rehome him. I love him and I want him .

Okay, so he's a bird . A parrot... and a fairly small one at that. Some of you know my Griffin. He's a Ruppell's parrot. An uncommon member of the Poicephalus family. Man, what 'hell on wings' he is ! He has the worst case of marked puberty that I've ever seen. I've had several parrots who have gone through puberty before, including larger parrots, but none were/are as bad Griffin! He is not actually old enough to breed at 2 1/2, kind of like a young teenage boy who is not 'old enough' to be a father .

He first started with a rather violent food dish territoriality where he needed to be out of his cage to service his dishes for my own safety. He's not cage territorial, just violently protective of his food. So no big deal, I learned the routine. Then... as of a couple months ago, he started attacking his "lover" and bonded best friend Raven. They're the odd couple. Raven is twice his size but is gentle with him. Even though Raven is bigger I have feared for him a few times when I saw how crazy Griffin was. I'm always right there supervising so was able to break it up fast.

NOW... he is not only limiting his attempted attacks on me when I touch his dishes in his cage, but any time I'm holding a stainless steel bowl filling ANYONE'S bowls anywhere in the room! I admit this must have looked funny... but the first couple times he tried to do a flying attack on me as I filled a dish with Harrison's fine sized pellets, was that my knee jerk reaction to avoid a painful and bloody attack, was to quickly jump, fumble and throw the dish up in the air with pellets showering down over me and all over the room as I ran away! I did out run him too btw. I laugh at it now, but I was pretty mad at the time since those pellets aren't cheap, and unfortunately it was a lot that I threw into the air! So now I can't forget, Griffin has to be locked up before I dare take out and hold anyone's bowls!

Griffin really needs an aviary. He tries to 'visit' Robin too, which has resulted in loss of his toenails, permanently. We don't need any more vet bills or anyone getting hurt! I swear, this is one active, up to no good, determined little devil! I've never had a bird like this. I love him, and Raven his bff loves him, so we just do the best we can for the time being, until I can eventually provide better accommodations for him in our house. I admit he has to be in his cage more than I'd like, because he is one of those that has to be literally "watched" every second that he's out. He's VERY different from his closely related cousin, Red Bellied parrot Robin who's such a good boy. I'm sure not all Ruppell's are the same, it's just his individuality that gives me a good challenge. He also had developed a phobic disorder that took me a good 6 mo. to a year to modify. That's a different story, but we've come a long way with that. He's still unpredictable and just a little bit "closer to the wild" in many ways than most hand fed hand raised parrots. It's just the way he is. He really reminds me of a truly "wild animal". I love the little guy nonetheless.

I guess I just wanted to get a little bit of frustration out by sharing this somewhat funny story with you guys about the pellets!

Ah Julie, sorry had a laugh at the pellets, pleased no damage done to you. You could say he is your keep fit regime? It was good to know a little more about your Griffin and if anyone can get through this you will.

I know how you feel re the pellets but in my case it is Plum tossing all over the floor or just chucking beakfuls out cos it's good to do!

Do you use the shiny stainless steel bowls? Have you tried pot ones? Plum goes bonkers (fluffs up, possessive etc) if I use stainless steel but is as good as gold with pot so you can guess what I use?

Thanks again and hope you will share again soon? Be careful!

Oh Julie, I'm sorry the little gray devil is giving you so much trouble Have you asked his breeder if this behavior is 'typical'? What does the vet have to say about it? Hopefully this is just a 'phase' and in a few years he will calm down a bit and be a little more manageable. Wonder if this is why rupell's parrots have never become very popular as companion parrots.

plumsmum2005 said:

Ah Julie, sorry had a laugh at the pellets, pleased no damage done to you. You could say he is your keep fit regime? It was good to know a little more about your Griffin and if anyone can get through this you will.

I know how you feel re the pellets but in my case it is Plum tossing all over the floor or just chucking beakfuls out cos it's good to do!

Do you use the shiny stainless steel bowls? Have you tried pot ones? Plum goes bonkers (fluffs up, possessive etc) if I use stainless steel but is as good as gold with pot so you can guess what I use?

Thanks again and hope you will share again soon? Be careful!

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Thanks so much for the encouragement K. It gets very difficult at times. I think regardless of what kind of bowl it is, it would be the same. I forgot what else it was I was doing, I think I was fixing one of his toys, and maybe at first he thought it had to do with food when it didn't, but he almost started at me then too.

I am reluctant to clip him, primarily because of a couple reasons. Besides working with him for almost a year on his phobia (he turned literally wild like he never saw a human before, oh that was fun trust me!) he actually started making more progress and gained a significant amount of confidence when his wings grew out from the breeder, and he began to fly. This bird has a TON of energy, and he loves zipping back and forth and loves to fly to burn off energy. I feel that he as an individual with his quirks, absolutely needs that outlet.

Yes, the pellet throwing (bowl up in the air and everything) is funny now, but it's something I am being very careful about never happening again!

Kiwibird said:

Oh Julie, I'm sorry the little gray devil is giving you so much trouble Have you asked his breeder if this behavior is 'typical'? What does the vet have to say about it? Hopefully this is just a 'phase' and in a few years he will calm down a bit and be a little more manageable. Wonder if this is why rupell's parrots have never become very popular as companion parrots.

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Thanks April. I haven't asked, but from what little info I was able to gather about Ruppell's parrots as pets, they should be just like any of the other Poicephalus of the same size, Senegal, Meyers, Red Bellied, Brown Headed. Except for slight differences, as well as individual personality, there should be nothing that sets the Ruppell's that far apart from the other species temperament wise. I am hoping that one day he will calm down a bit and be more easily manageable!

As far as not being popular as pets, I think Ruppell's weren't imported in very large numbers originally, and breeders never really took interest in a mostly plain colored bird. They are getting more popular, but still considered rare. I do wonder what other mature male pet Ruppell's are like. I bet not quite as freaky as Griffin!

Another thing... in his frustration these days, he seems to need extra tough toys sized for Amazons (or Pit Bulls) to take his anger out on. He had a toy with hardwood on it and it was destroyed within days. He shreds hard plastics like they're nothing! I can't believe this guy, he's like the Tazmanian Devil with toys. I give him one I think looks strong, and it's gone in a day!

Here's a recent pic of Mr. Crazy in jail...



Don't let the innocent look fool you!

Ah he does look innocent doesn't he? Lovely little fella! Agree re the clipping, he sounds like he needs that outlet. Bring on the aviary? Take care!

PS would he take to trick training, expend some energy and give him something to think about? If he is destroying toys at a rate of knots then maybe not too much of a challenge for him anymore WDYT?

Griffin would need to be more "tame" I feel for trick training? I have gotten him better to a point, but there is just something wired differently in his brain where he is just different from other birds. He is very smart though. I have (out of necessity) taught him voice and hand movement commands. He knows what certain short sentences mean, and what I want him to go and do.

For all of his shortcomings, I noticed that he is not real stubborn (like Raven is). So if he were tame (and also I had more time and gave more effort toward it) he'd have some great potential and learn quite easily I feel.