hannah.kelley
New member
My Moluccan - who I've had for 15 years - has been becoming more and more aggressive as he ages. This I expected and have worked around for years, and is usually not a problem as I can read his behavior better than anyone. But his interests are almost exclusively limited to nesting and nesting related behavior, which is of course also an aggressive, territorial one. Whatever toy I provide or distracting activity I attempt (foraging, playing "fetch," colorful stacking cups, etc...) he will destroy, dig, display and smash everything in an angry "nest building" fashion. Playtime independent of his sexual aggression seems like a pipe dream at this point.
I am not his chosen "mate" so we can actually have a good time relaxing together. (Since we kind of grew up together, his is my "avian brother"). What complicates things is that he has chosen my partner as his mate, and he cannot relax in his presence. It's rough enough when he is apart from him and still feeling sexually aggressive, but when he is around my bird simply loses it. If he disappears from sight for less than a minute, the infamous M2 screaming commences. He bites anyone who threatens his attention, including his own "mate." He has to be in his lap whispering and digging at all times, and whistles, screams and paces incessantly until he gets what he wants.
I'm at a loss on how to curb the behavior. When my partner isn't home and I take my bird away from the house (all "his things") and outside into a park, the stimulation and sunlight distracts and pleases him, and he acts like a sweet angel. But of course I can't have him outside all the time. And I live with my partner, so the behavior recommences every day.
I have had a couple face bites in the past week - both times I should have put him away earlier than I did because he was so worked up. It's just that he is always worked up, and if I left him in his cage whenever that were the case, he'd never get out! And of course I want him out and playing whenever I am home.
I am of course aware that the M2 is the neediest, most emotionally fragile bird of them all. I know they are both the cuddliest and also the most aggressive. I genuinely don't believe that they should be pets at all. It breaks my heart to think he's constantly frustrated, angry and confused. Does anyone have similar experiences with male Moluccans? Have you found a reliable way to successfully turn their attention away from nesting and aggression-fueled behavior? Is there a way to keep him from being so helplessly neurotic around his chosen "mate?"
I am not his chosen "mate" so we can actually have a good time relaxing together. (Since we kind of grew up together, his is my "avian brother"). What complicates things is that he has chosen my partner as his mate, and he cannot relax in his presence. It's rough enough when he is apart from him and still feeling sexually aggressive, but when he is around my bird simply loses it. If he disappears from sight for less than a minute, the infamous M2 screaming commences. He bites anyone who threatens his attention, including his own "mate." He has to be in his lap whispering and digging at all times, and whistles, screams and paces incessantly until he gets what he wants.
I'm at a loss on how to curb the behavior. When my partner isn't home and I take my bird away from the house (all "his things") and outside into a park, the stimulation and sunlight distracts and pleases him, and he acts like a sweet angel. But of course I can't have him outside all the time. And I live with my partner, so the behavior recommences every day.
I have had a couple face bites in the past week - both times I should have put him away earlier than I did because he was so worked up. It's just that he is always worked up, and if I left him in his cage whenever that were the case, he'd never get out! And of course I want him out and playing whenever I am home.
I am of course aware that the M2 is the neediest, most emotionally fragile bird of them all. I know they are both the cuddliest and also the most aggressive. I genuinely don't believe that they should be pets at all. It breaks my heart to think he's constantly frustrated, angry and confused. Does anyone have similar experiences with male Moluccans? Have you found a reliable way to successfully turn their attention away from nesting and aggression-fueled behavior? Is there a way to keep him from being so helplessly neurotic around his chosen "mate?"