Bad or normal parrot behaviour

Boniface · May 25, 2015

Hi all,

I have a 1 year old senegal parrot calls Patrick (as far as I know he's a boy).
He's taken a shine to me and likes to sit on my shoulder all the time. So much so that he won't leave me alone.
And lately he's been acting 'naughty'. He refuses to step up for anyone else, is lunging at my partner, biting more than usual, begging for food (every time we eat he's pestering).

Is this normal parrot behaviour or not? Is there anything we can do to address these issues?
He needs to lunge and bite less than he is.
I would like him to be more social with other people.
I want him to be less clingy and not begging.

Any suggestions?

ZephyrFly · May 25, 2015

These issues can be dealt with, some easier than others and there'll be people on here that can help better than me but here's a shot.
I haven't dealt with lunging (is this spelt right?) but all I could recommend is working slowly at introducing people maybe one on one with him? They give him treats on his terms and so on, then after a good experience he can be put away after awhile (maybe even brought back out?). Perhaps start with him in the cage, new person enters the room and talks to him a bit, after some good behaviour have the new person give him a treat (carefully) through the bars, then if everyone is calm have him out for a bit together? I look forward to seeing what more experienced people say on lunging.
Does he have a play stand? If so encourage him to play there, add food and toys he likes (play with them, be interested in them so he gives it a try). Maybe work on this more before introducing lots of new people.

A better experienced person will be along soon!

RavensGryf · May 25, 2015

Sure, they love to eat when the rest of the flock (or people) are eating

.
They have a very strong 'one person, bite others' tendency. IMHO from personal experience as well as years of hearing from Senegal owners, or owners of related Pois, you may or may not eventually be able to socialize him sucessfully to others. They are not like the conures (for example), where consistent socialization and positive reinforcement over some time is likely to change the behavior. Some do, some don't. Depends on the individual, but generally speaking, this trait is more hardwired into this species and genus than some others.

Keep letting your partner be around you and Patrick, and be used to him there, but don't have your partner impose upon him. Patrick may choose to befriend your partner on his own terms. It can happen... Good luck

Boniface · May 27, 2015

Than,s for the responses.

I've also been wondering if Patrick is 'clingy' because we're not at home too much.
My partner and I get up at 6 leave at 7 and I get back about 4:30.
Then he takes himself to bed about 8. During the time when I get home I try to give him as much attention as I can. He spends all him time on my shoulder and won't really leave to go to his perch or anything.

Could he be unhappy about us leaving him alone so much?

RavensGryf · May 27, 2015

Boniface said:
Than,s for the responses.

I've also been wondering if Patrick is 'clingy' because we're not at home too much.
My partner and I get up at 6 leave at 7 and I get back about 4:30.
Then he takes himself to bed about 8. During the time when I get home I try to give him as much attention as I can. He spends all him time on my shoulder and won't really leave to go to his perch or anything.

Could he be unhappy about us leaving him alone so much?

The good news of this is that Poicephalus in general, are one of the species which are most 'able' to be independent birds, yet still be happy... Unless you MAKE them expect to be dependent.

My Pois readily accept whatever schedule they have to adapt to, because they're accustomed to it. Even when they want attention, and I have things ie. important business, unexpected, emergency, or whatever to attend to, they are good at going back to their toys. I find that a well adjusted Poi will NOT be persistent in calling for attention like some other species tend to do.

All birds get to know a certain routine if you give them one. Perhaps Patrick knows that the routine is physically being with you as much as possible when you're home, and therefore gets a bit insecure and seemingly clingy when you should set him down for longer than he is used to. He may wonder what is happening. IMO, especially while he is young, he needs to learn and be reassured that it's okay that when you're home, he can still be independent when he has to be, and that it's still 'safe'.

Boniface · May 27, 2015

RavensGryf said:
Boniface said:

Than,s for the responses.

I've also been wondering if Patrick is 'clingy' because we're not at home too much.
My partner and I get up at 6 leave at 7 and I get back about 4:30.
Then he takes himself to bed about 8. During the time when I get home I try to give him as much attention as I can. He spends all him time on my shoulder and won't really leave to go to his perch or anything.

Could he be unhappy about us leaving him alone so much?

Click to expand...

The good news of this is that Poicephalus in general, are one of the species which are most 'able' to be independent birds, yet still be happy... Unless you MAKE them expect to be dependent.

My Pois readily accept whatever schedule they have to adapt to, because they're accustomed to it. Even when they want attention, and I have things ie. important business, unexpected, emergency, or whatever to attend to, they are good at going back to their toys. I find that a well adjusted Poi will NOT be persistent in calling for attention like some other species tend to do.

All birds get to know a certain routine if you give them one. Perhaps Patrick knows that the routine is physically being with you as much as possible when you're home, and therefore gets a bit insecure and seemingly clingy when you should set him down for longer than he is used to. He may wonder what is happening. IMO, especially while he is young, he needs to learn and be reassured that it's okay that when you're home, he can still be independent when he has to be, and that it's still 'safe'.

Really? Patrick seems not to be remotely independent. He follows me everywhere, won't get off me, flies straight back to me if I do somehow put him down, and screams when we leave him.

Just for more information:
He's out first parrot (so I know some stuff but not everything)
He's not a hand raised parrot the breeder left him with his parents until we got him (about 4-5 months old)
He's flighted - I can't bring myself to get his wings clipped
He'll never go in his cage (unless we force him) he doesn't like it at all. He's in the living room all day by himself.
He won't just sit and amuse himself generally when we're in, except the weekend as we're in most of the day.

Birdman666 · May 27, 2015

Boniface said:
Hi all,

I have a 1 year old senegal parrot calls Patrick (as far as I know he's a boy).
He's taken a shine to me and likes to sit on my shoulder all the time. So much so that he won't leave me alone.
And lately he's been acting 'naughty'. He refuses to step up for anyone else, is lunging at my partner, biting more than usual, begging for food (every time we eat he's pestering).

Is this normal parrot behaviour or not? Is there anything we can do to address these issues?
He needs to lunge and bite less than he is.
I would like him to be more social with other people.
I want him to be less clingy and not begging.

Any suggestions?

Sounds like typical overbonding behaviors....

He needs more structure. [This is your time with me. THIS is the time when you need to learn to self entertain.]

He needs more interaction with people other than you to lessen the biting and socialization issues. Taking him out in public does seem to help, even if it's in a travel cage.

Do the arm wrapped in a towel thing with the other members of the household, and make him step up nice. Control the biting with one or two fingers on the top of the beak with a firm no biting command. Reward and praise good behaviors. Do not reinforce bad behaviors.

Bad or normal parrot behaviour

Boniface

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ZephyrFly

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RavensGryf

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Boniface

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RavensGryf

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Boniface

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Birdman666

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