Hi all,
I'm new here and new to looking after birds in general. Prior to marrying my husband, he owned two eclectus birds but I believe he brought them at different times so they haven't bonded. After we got married, he left the birds with at his parents house as they had a huge bird cage made for them outside. While my in-laws are overseas, the birds are staying at mine in different cages (the male and female fight). Since coming over, I have been feeding them a diet rich in fruits, veggies, and nuts/tumeric here and there. However, both birds are aggressive towards me. I try not to be too loud or invade their space. The male first bit me when both him and the female were on my husbands shoulder and I asked the male bird to come to me and he didnt want to so he bit me. I didn't force him to come but just said step up while holding my hand out. Straight after this, male and female had a fight on my husbands shoulders. Two days later while I was working from home, I thought I'd let out Ruby (female). She was fine on my shoulder eating an apple while I was having my lunch until I walked past the bird cage and she jumped onto the bird cage and starting attacking the male inside. I went towards her and asked her to come and she bit me (my fault) and proceed to hit at the male bird cage trying to get at the male. After this, she got down from the bird cage and ran towards me. I closed the door as she looked like she wanted me dead. After a while I opened the door and she slowly came towards me and climbed up my leg. I thought it was all good as she wasn't being aggressive, but I was wrong and she started biting my hand. I ended up locking her in my office and calling my mother who has more experience with animals. While I was waiting for her to come, I watched Ruby from the window outside and saw that she was throwing everything on the desk onto the floor. When she saw me, she came towards the window and started biting and ripping up my work documents while staring into my eyes (as if she knew she what she was doing). When my mum came, my mum approached her in a kind manner and in a soft voice asked her to come. She also bit my mother to the point my mum's hand was bleeding (my mum didn't yell in pain like I did and didn't pull away like I did). Finally we got her in her cage using the towel technique. My husband doesn't fully believe what has happened as they don't behave in that way with him. Last night, the male did try to bite me while he was with my husband. The female just puts her wings apart and ignores me if I'm not next to my husband. Regardless, both birds are becoming more and more aggressive towards me just from the cage. When I walk past they hit on the cage or scream. I don't know what I am doing wrong. Not sure if they are still not use to the environment, if the cage is too small, if it's cause they now know I am scared, if it's their diet change, or if it's just hormones (and they don't get along?). While at my in-laws, Ruby use to bite her feathers off (sometimes she use to have bold patches) and cleans her self regularly. Her feathers have grown since she's come here. I'm at a loss and can't take them to the vet by myself and not even sure if theres anything the vet can do. Any insight and guidance will be much appreciated. Also, please no hate or aggression towards me and my lack of knowledge. I spent 20 minutes writing this thread and I don't want a blame game as that's doesn't help the situation. Solution focused please
I'm new here and new to looking after birds in general. Prior to marrying my husband, he owned two eclectus birds but I believe he brought them at different times so they haven't bonded. After we got married, he left the birds with at his parents house as they had a huge bird cage made for them outside. While my in-laws are overseas, the birds are staying at mine in different cages (the male and female fight). Since coming over, I have been feeding them a diet rich in fruits, veggies, and nuts/tumeric here and there. However, both birds are aggressive towards me. I try not to be too loud or invade their space. The male first bit me when both him and the female were on my husbands shoulder and I asked the male bird to come to me and he didnt want to so he bit me. I didn't force him to come but just said step up while holding my hand out. Straight after this, male and female had a fight on my husbands shoulders. Two days later while I was working from home, I thought I'd let out Ruby (female). She was fine on my shoulder eating an apple while I was having my lunch until I walked past the bird cage and she jumped onto the bird cage and starting attacking the male inside. I went towards her and asked her to come and she bit me (my fault) and proceed to hit at the male bird cage trying to get at the male. After this, she got down from the bird cage and ran towards me. I closed the door as she looked like she wanted me dead. After a while I opened the door and she slowly came towards me and climbed up my leg. I thought it was all good as she wasn't being aggressive, but I was wrong and she started biting my hand. I ended up locking her in my office and calling my mother who has more experience with animals. While I was waiting for her to come, I watched Ruby from the window outside and saw that she was throwing everything on the desk onto the floor. When she saw me, she came towards the window and started biting and ripping up my work documents while staring into my eyes (as if she knew she what she was doing). When my mum came, my mum approached her in a kind manner and in a soft voice asked her to come. She also bit my mother to the point my mum's hand was bleeding (my mum didn't yell in pain like I did and didn't pull away like I did). Finally we got her in her cage using the towel technique. My husband doesn't fully believe what has happened as they don't behave in that way with him. Last night, the male did try to bite me while he was with my husband. The female just puts her wings apart and ignores me if I'm not next to my husband. Regardless, both birds are becoming more and more aggressive towards me just from the cage. When I walk past they hit on the cage or scream. I don't know what I am doing wrong. Not sure if they are still not use to the environment, if the cage is too small, if it's cause they now know I am scared, if it's their diet change, or if it's just hormones (and they don't get along?). While at my in-laws, Ruby use to bite her feathers off (sometimes she use to have bold patches) and cleans her self regularly. Her feathers have grown since she's come here. I'm at a loss and can't take them to the vet by myself and not even sure if theres anything the vet can do. Any insight and guidance will be much appreciated. Also, please no hate or aggression towards me and my lack of knowledge. I spent 20 minutes writing this thread and I don't want a blame game as that's doesn't help the situation. Solution focused please
