Help with Aggressive Galah

[mypinklove]

Hey guys

I love Charlie so much and my favorite things about him so far are his intelligence (he picks up training super fast!) and when he sings and dances. He's such a clown and we are so entertained! My favorite time of day now is showering with him. He loves it! We really bond in the shower I think.

Lately though for some reason he is getting more and more aggressive. He bites, HARD, and when I say ow or no, he only looks at me or throws his head back and bites harder and doesn't let go until I move him. I've been trying to put him somewhere else and ignore him after saying no or ow while he is biting me, but he just runs back and attacks my neck or looks cute and then when I pick him back up he resumes biting. Just now he bit me all over my hand until I couldn't stay calm anymore and said no really loud, put him on the other side of the couch and then he just ran back and attacked me. I yelled ow again, which I feel bad about but it hurt like hell and I was pissed, and took him right back to his cage. He's been sitting in there for a few minutes grinding his beak and acting happy and chill. I'm over here fuming and wondering what I'm doing wrong.

Is it because he doesn't like when I try touching him?? I hate it that he's fine with me touching him and then I'll move my hand and he'll start tearing me apart. It's making me kind of timid about touching him and is putting a huge obstacle in our trust right now.

Help, please!!

Mae and Charlie


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[Pinkbirdy]

Its a hormonal time a year right now with my male RB2. He acts "Funny" towards me at times and not his loving self. I am just patient and keep those times hes out short.He seems to get over it . Just be happy with what your bird is willing to give [Im sure its a hormonal thing ).

 

[mypinklove]

Hey thanks for the reply! That HAS crossed my mind a few times for sure. Especially when I put him back after him attacking me and then he starts pushing his forehead against the cage and doing this weird, slow "Dance" thing and opens his wings very slightly... Lol. So if it is just hormonal, when will he be sweet and not be so unpredictable and mean?! Haha. Thanks again!


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[mypinklove]

Also I feel bad putting him back in his cage when I'm fed up but is it really okay to do that when he's being overbearing?


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[Pinkbirdy]

Yes ,thats what I would do . They can be moody ,just go with whats right for the day. Every day can be different . Birds do change as they age.

 

[mypinklove]

So when should the hormonal behavior pass? Also he is 13. Does it get better or worse as a bird ages? Thanks for helping


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[Pinkbirdy]

I think the males just get impossible at hormonal times

 

[mypinklove]

Okay. but I'm asking when the hormonal time will be over?


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[Pinkbirdy]

It varies for each species and individual bird.

 

[mypinklove]

Aw man okay guess I'll just have to wait it out and see. I hope that by July he is less hormonal, because I'm taking him to the beach with me and hubby for a week. I want him to enjoy himself and have fun


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[wrench13]

How long have you had charlie? If more then a year, you should have noticed this change before. Folks are saying this year is a particularly intense year for the 'change'. Your getting good advice here, just wait it out.

 

[mypinklove]

I've had him for two weeks. so nope, haven't seen this before lol. Good to know its hormonal and not that he hates me. I'm totally fine waiting


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[wrench13]

I know how you feel. Salty was the sweetest little parrot when we first got him. now he is going through his first molt. And he has quite a different attitude now, very irritated a lot of time. but we still love him and learn to deal with the changes. At least we got some bite pressure training in before this happened, so the bites are not so bad.

 

[mypinklove]

Thanks for the encouragement and I'm so glad it's normal. I'm so thankful for this community or I don't know what I would do!


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[OOwl]

My galah is molting really bad right now. Could that be the problem? It could explain why he's fine with your attention one minute and biting to avoid it the next. My guy wants the preening assistance but then is crabby if I don't do it to suit him. He doesn't usually bite, though, for which I'm thankful.

To be honest, I've never noticed severe moody hormonal season in my galah, who is also 13, so I can't really provide much more than has been said here. Waiting it out seems wise. Maybe someone else will know that information.

 

[mypinklove]

He's got lots of pokey feathers sticking out around his head and neck especially. Sorry if I sound stupid, but how do I know if he is molting? I see a few feathers here and there fall out while he is preening and he is pretty dusty, but I've only seen one flight feather on the ground since I've gotten him.
Thanks for more good input, I appreciate it


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[plumsmum2005]

Hey guys

I love Charlie so much and my favorite things about him so far are his intelligence (he picks up training super fast!) and when he sings and dances. He's such a clown and we are so entertained! My favorite time of day now is showering with him. He loves it! We really bond in the shower I think.

Lately though for some reason he is getting more and more aggressive. He bites, HARD, and when I say ow or no, he only looks at me or throws his head back and bites harder and doesn't let go until I move him. I've been trying to put him somewhere else and ignore him after saying no or ow while he is biting me, but he just runs back and attacks my neck or looks cute and then when I pick him back up he resumes biting. Just now he bit me all over my hand until I couldn't stay calm anymore and said no really loud, put him on the other side of the couch and then he just ran back and attacked me. I yelled ow again, which I feel bad about but it hurt like hell and I was pissed, and took him right back to his cage. He's been sitting in there for a few minutes grinding his beak and acting happy and chill. I'm over here fuming and wondering what I'm doing wrong.

Is it because he doesn't like when I try touching him?? I hate it that he's fine with me touching him and then I'll move my hand and he'll start tearing me apart. It's making me kind of timid about touching him and is putting a huge obstacle in our trust right now.

Help, please!!

Mae and Charlie


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Sorry I don't think this is hormonal but RB2 power play. They get settled in and then bam, I want to be boss. You will need to nip this in the bud. I have a RB2 too and have experienced this with mine and the baby I am holiday mom to.

Don't let Charlie be at face height until you can trust him, better that then need ER treatment. Start a daily routine, have regular bedtimes and concentrate on training. If you allow him on your hand then use the side of it so it he starts you can wobble your hand to distract that latched on bite. If this doesnt work then scoop him up in a towel and return him to his cage. Better this than an injury to you or him. Look for the warning signs face and head feathers out and that tail fan. The tail fan can be in a blink of an eye, something not right and bam. Be careful if he is flighted as they will fly at your head. It will get better but he has to know who is flock leader and it isnt him. I love my Plum dearly but he will still push his luck on a bad day. Be consistent so as not to introduce confusion to him. If they get pumped ie after flying around the room be aware that you can be at risk for a minute or two.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I think so too ,I didnt realize you only had him 2 weeks . Honeymoon is over. Go about things slow and rebuild your relationship.

 

[mypinklove]

plumsmum: Oh wow I didn't realize that they had a dominance type dealio at all. I was told that birds see you as their equal, and there isn't a pack mentality at all... Well then! Learn something new every day.
I suppose that could be what he's doing, since he is so outgoing and confident in himself. Maybe it's a mix of that AND hormones, which is what is making the aggression so unpredictable?
How did you establish yourself as the "flock leader" and not to be bitten so much then? I'm trying to be firm and redirect him or distract him with a little earthquake or by saying no pretty loud and then showing him the mirror and dancing him around (which he loves.) So far that seems to work more than just saying owe and waiting for him to stop. I also praise him lots when he lets me touch him even for a moment, without biting. Is this an okay long term solution until he figures it out, or should I be doing more?
Great suggestions on handling as well, I really appreciate it thank you!!

pinkybirdy: lol yeah honeymoon is over I guess but I love him with all my heart and I'm committed to making this relationship work. Also I wouldn't say it's a broken relationship or anything - I was able to take him out and about the house with me while I cleaned, and just now when I showered, and he did bite a few times but not nearly as aggressive as before... He seems to forget about it when it happens? lol.

 

[Doublete]

Yikes have you read all of the cockatoo tutorials here on the forum as well as all of the biting ones birdman has posted? Birds DEFINITELY can have dominance issues.