cause of parrot zooms?

[Ecles]

I've had this guy a week and giving him time to adjust. He seemed the typical calm watchful quiet type but this afternoon Yoshi went into turbo mode. He's been warming to the puzzle toy with almonds in it, which is in his cage next to a red colored chili-flavored cuttlebone. I was happy he was getting more curious and animated, clamboring around the cage, taking a few nibbles of the cuttlebone. Then I turn around and suddenly he has utterly destroyed the thing, a pile of red dust on the bottom of the cage, red staining his beak and he's got this wild look. He starts snaking and lunging at the toy, and what I can only describe as attacking the cuttlebone. Then he starts climibing turbo-speed around the cage, pumping his head like an agitated pigeon, ruffling his feathers and flapping wildly in the cage. The expression I can only describe as 'hawk'. Hard to descibe the speed and motion -- sort of like an epileptic fit only coordinated, like someone had pressed the fast fast foward button on my parrot.

Maybe it was because I turned the lights up and he was feeling alert and cocky. Or is it possible to over-dose on almonds? Or is this a parrot version of the 10pm puppy zooms?

 

[Auggie's Dad]

It does sound just like a happy parrot - or your "puppy zooms"

Often Auggie will go into crazy modes. When in these modes/moods he loves to play and thrash - but if yours is anything like mine, be careful: he's just as happy to thrash fingers as he is toys in the heat of the moment.

 

[c3honey84]

Consider it a good thing. It allows him to burn off some energy! With agressive birds, they say it is good for them to attack toys because they will be less agressive when out of the cage. Either way, it's good!

 

[Ecles]

Thanks for your encouragements! I think in his case it was a case of cabin fever. I had just got him a week before and he had been in his subdued, quiet mode for that long. This was evidently a case of him kicking off his shoes with a very big kick to get relaxed and feel at home.

Since then he's been exercizng his wings more when he's out of the cage, doing somersaults on his perches for treats, talking, exploring new toys, figuring out his little puzzle toy, hanigng upside down, a very animated fellow!

 

[mrob]

ha! my boy has a case of the 'zooms' for a couple of hours a day...He attacks and growls at his toys, snakes his neck and makes all kind of funny noises. It cracks me up!

Ive found he is most playful during these times, he REALLy gets into a game of peekaboo. Id be careful playing when he is amped up if your bird is aggresive though...or stay out of beaks reach!

I think its just a sign of an active, healthy bird so dont stress! Ive given mine a stuffed bear bigger than him which he spends hours 'teaching a lesson' every day lol

 

[Ecles]

Thank you all, things are coming along well. Yes, definitely a case of a lesson in Moods. Yoshi has his happy talking hour, his antics hour, his "I'm going to stuff my face and hten sit and preen" routine worked down. We interact great even when sometimes he thinks I have cooties or something. Last ngiht he spent a good while snuggled on my arm while I typed at the computer, today he's enjoying a pumpkin feast. That is such a delightful side to these parrots, so much time in the relationship getting to know them and appreciate their plucky little selves.

 

[Remy]

LOL I love it when Puck does this! He's sooooooo silly! He dances around, bounces up and down really fast, zig zags, make silly noises, etc. I refer to it as "crazybird", since he gets a crazed look in his eyes.

You just have to to decide whether you want to risk putting your flesh by their beak when they're like it.

 

[mygirl]

be carefull giving eclectus cuttlebone, we gave mylah one and she went crazy and ate nearly all of it at once and it made her get a blocked crop, she was really sick, we dont give her any cuttlebone anymore our vet said they get enough calcium from there food

 

[Pinkbullets]

When Luna is in this mood we call it "Dinosaur Mode". Haha.

 

[Remy]

Sometimes Puck actually makes dinosaur-sounding noises! LOL

 

[Pinkbullets]

Sometimes Puck actually makes dinosaur-sounding noises! LOL

Lol I know!
Luna will actually growl at her toys and the bolts ontop of her cage.

 

[suncon97]

Somtimes Pearl will just start attacking her toys all of a sudden. Biting them,swinging on them,hanging upside down on them and attacking,then all of a sudden she calms and does and innocent series of chirps. All of the attacking is during the dinosaur sounding noises mentioned too!

 

[Pinkbullets]

Yep! Haha.
My husband and I will lay on the couch giggling at her, and I always hum the Jurassic Park theme song