bucky91
New member
Hi everyone,
I'm a long-time lurker on this forum, but this is my first post. I'm struggling with my parrot's behaviour over the past few weeks, and am at a loss as to what to do. I've had her about a year, and I "adopted" her from her previous owner. I don't know much about her past, except that she was hand-raised and about 4 years old.
I had a break-up and had to move a few weeks ago. She ("Birdo") would bite occasionally over the past year (maybe every week or two), but rarely/never drawing blood. More like a "I don't like that, go away" warning. About a week before the move and increasingly more often over the past few weeks, she has become unpredictable and downright mean at times. She acts normal then suddenly turns on me, biting me VERY hard and much more often. I can no longer have her on my shoulder or anywhere near me because she will be acting normal then suddenly bite me SO hard it draws blood. I then have to remove her from me, which results in bites/tears all over my hands as I put her on another surface or in her cage. My ears and hands are covered in scabs.
This evening, I had her out for a bit and gave her a piece of raspberry as I was eating. She was on the table beside me. Soon after, she grabbed my hand and began attacking me. I've put her back in her cage, but have several large tears all over my hands that have been bleeding for 10+ mins now. Like, some of them look like they almost need stitches. I am in tears and don't know what to do - this bird has become SO mean, and I can barely handle her anymore as she attacks me so viscously and won't let go/continues tearing at me until I can remove her to her cage or another surface. I've had conures and budgies in the past, and they were never aggressive like this. Bites, yes, but not unprovoked.
It's completely unpredictable, which is the worst part. There is literally zero change in her behaviour before an "attack". No puffed feathers, no backing away, no eye pinning, etc. I could always tell if a bite might be imminent before, but not anymore. Her diet and routine is the same, albeit in a new house. I work from home, so normally she would be out with me many hours a day. I no longer feel that I can allow her out of her cage after tonight, as my hands are torn apart after tonight's attack. I understand the move has been a big change for her also, but I don't know if that is what is provoking this. It's been several weeks and just about everything in her routine and environment is the same, and she didn't have much to do with my ex so I doubt she really misses him.
This change is absolutely breaking my heart, and I don't know what to do. Can anyone offer any ideas? Or even just some support. Thanks so much.
I'm a long-time lurker on this forum, but this is my first post. I'm struggling with my parrot's behaviour over the past few weeks, and am at a loss as to what to do. I've had her about a year, and I "adopted" her from her previous owner. I don't know much about her past, except that she was hand-raised and about 4 years old.
I had a break-up and had to move a few weeks ago. She ("Birdo") would bite occasionally over the past year (maybe every week or two), but rarely/never drawing blood. More like a "I don't like that, go away" warning. About a week before the move and increasingly more often over the past few weeks, she has become unpredictable and downright mean at times. She acts normal then suddenly turns on me, biting me VERY hard and much more often. I can no longer have her on my shoulder or anywhere near me because she will be acting normal then suddenly bite me SO hard it draws blood. I then have to remove her from me, which results in bites/tears all over my hands as I put her on another surface or in her cage. My ears and hands are covered in scabs.
This evening, I had her out for a bit and gave her a piece of raspberry as I was eating. She was on the table beside me. Soon after, she grabbed my hand and began attacking me. I've put her back in her cage, but have several large tears all over my hands that have been bleeding for 10+ mins now. Like, some of them look like they almost need stitches. I am in tears and don't know what to do - this bird has become SO mean, and I can barely handle her anymore as she attacks me so viscously and won't let go/continues tearing at me until I can remove her to her cage or another surface. I've had conures and budgies in the past, and they were never aggressive like this. Bites, yes, but not unprovoked.
It's completely unpredictable, which is the worst part. There is literally zero change in her behaviour before an "attack". No puffed feathers, no backing away, no eye pinning, etc. I could always tell if a bite might be imminent before, but not anymore. Her diet and routine is the same, albeit in a new house. I work from home, so normally she would be out with me many hours a day. I no longer feel that I can allow her out of her cage after tonight, as my hands are torn apart after tonight's attack. I understand the move has been a big change for her also, but I don't know if that is what is provoking this. It's been several weeks and just about everything in her routine and environment is the same, and she didn't have much to do with my ex so I doubt she really misses him.
This change is absolutely breaking my heart, and I don't know what to do. Can anyone offer any ideas? Or even just some support. Thanks so much.