ifnlovebirds
Member
- May 23, 2022
- 40
- 81
- Parrots
- Eclectus, conure, and cockatiel
Hello, this is about my 9-month-old male Eclectus. In the past three months, he has developed food aggression.
This kind of hurts because I have tried so hard to make sure to never take food from him and I don't think I EVER have taken anything from him (because my room is bird proofed I never HAD to). I'm always very cautious when taking baby animals in and always make sure aggression/health is first and have always raised them the way I have with great results. All of my other birds/animals have never gotten food aggressive, are very well desensitized, and just see me as someone who will GIVE food. I don't think it is hormones or learned behavior either. (I don't think hormones because he is still very young, not even a year) Obviously, I must've made a mistake somewhere but despite my efforts to ensure that he does not associate me with taking away food, I have been unable to pinpoint the cause of this behavior.
I have implemented various strategies to prevent food aggression, such as adding treats or more food to my bird's bowl/plate as I walk by, (so he thinks that when he's eating and my hand is close to his food, it only means I will add more) but these methods have not been effective. He exhibits aggressive behavior by puffing up, opening his beak, lowering his body, an angry expression. and will try to lunge past cage bars at my fingers (normal angry bird behaviors). I try to keep in mind that given that he had a history of aggressive behavior when I first got him, I suspect that it may have been the result of past abuse or improper handling. (I am assuming this because he came to me with VERY VERY aggressive behavior, couldn't even feed or hold him, or try to get near him without him flying away or attacking me if my hands were out, but was ONLY scared of HANDS which is why I assumed he was abused or accidentally hurt by hands) It took us 5 months to get here, and we still have years of work but he is no longer scared of hands and responds well to training and his recall is great already.
He WANTS to be near me and seems like he has bonded with me somewhat, I also share my food with him. Sometimes when he IS food aggressive, I move him to a stand or a place that is NOT his cage, and that alleviates the aggression. So this is possibly territorial aggression too? Most of the aggression I'm receiving occurs after I give him his food bowl and I close the door to his bowl (while I'm closing it he will try to attack) or when I change his water bowl that happens to be on the same side as his food bowl. He is not aggressive when I change his water when I hadn't given him food so emotional attachment to the bowl is ruled out.
// His food aggression is more pronounced in the morning or when he is particularly hungry
But this problem with his food aggression is REALLY scaring me that it could make his behavior even WORSE when he will actually be hormonal soon. I also don't like the idea of such a young bird being okay with aggressive behavior that wasn't intentionally instigated. I'm really lost and I don't know the next step, I've looked at other forum posts but none was specific to my case. I've dealt w aggressive birds before but I'm 18 and lack a significant amount of experience compared to some people here... and I'm really hoping someone with that knowledge could help me. I do understand birds are not domesticated animals but birds aren't necessarily food aggressive in the wild like ex. dogs and I never provoked him (as far as I know) so I'm so confused.
// also he's fine with me swapping bowls or TAKING the bowl itself when I'm giving him new food.
Thank you for reading and for any advice given.
- a worried ekkie mom
This kind of hurts because I have tried so hard to make sure to never take food from him and I don't think I EVER have taken anything from him (because my room is bird proofed I never HAD to). I'm always very cautious when taking baby animals in and always make sure aggression/health is first and have always raised them the way I have with great results. All of my other birds/animals have never gotten food aggressive, are very well desensitized, and just see me as someone who will GIVE food. I don't think it is hormones or learned behavior either. (I don't think hormones because he is still very young, not even a year) Obviously, I must've made a mistake somewhere but despite my efforts to ensure that he does not associate me with taking away food, I have been unable to pinpoint the cause of this behavior.
I have implemented various strategies to prevent food aggression, such as adding treats or more food to my bird's bowl/plate as I walk by, (so he thinks that when he's eating and my hand is close to his food, it only means I will add more) but these methods have not been effective. He exhibits aggressive behavior by puffing up, opening his beak, lowering his body, an angry expression. and will try to lunge past cage bars at my fingers (normal angry bird behaviors). I try to keep in mind that given that he had a history of aggressive behavior when I first got him, I suspect that it may have been the result of past abuse or improper handling. (I am assuming this because he came to me with VERY VERY aggressive behavior, couldn't even feed or hold him, or try to get near him without him flying away or attacking me if my hands were out, but was ONLY scared of HANDS which is why I assumed he was abused or accidentally hurt by hands) It took us 5 months to get here, and we still have years of work but he is no longer scared of hands and responds well to training and his recall is great already.
He WANTS to be near me and seems like he has bonded with me somewhat, I also share my food with him. Sometimes when he IS food aggressive, I move him to a stand or a place that is NOT his cage, and that alleviates the aggression. So this is possibly territorial aggression too? Most of the aggression I'm receiving occurs after I give him his food bowl and I close the door to his bowl (while I'm closing it he will try to attack) or when I change his water bowl that happens to be on the same side as his food bowl. He is not aggressive when I change his water when I hadn't given him food so emotional attachment to the bowl is ruled out.
// His food aggression is more pronounced in the morning or when he is particularly hungry
But this problem with his food aggression is REALLY scaring me that it could make his behavior even WORSE when he will actually be hormonal soon. I also don't like the idea of such a young bird being okay with aggressive behavior that wasn't intentionally instigated. I'm really lost and I don't know the next step, I've looked at other forum posts but none was specific to my case. I've dealt w aggressive birds before but I'm 18 and lack a significant amount of experience compared to some people here... and I'm really hoping someone with that knowledge could help me. I do understand birds are not domesticated animals but birds aren't necessarily food aggressive in the wild like ex. dogs and I never provoked him (as far as I know) so I'm so confused.
// also he's fine with me swapping bowls or TAKING the bowl itself when I'm giving him new food.
Thank you for reading and for any advice given.
- a worried ekkie mom