bluefronted
New member
I have two issues with my Blue-Fronted:
1. Separation anxiety when I leave the room (I do have to use the restroom from time to time) - I know people post this same topic all the time all over the internet but all the tips I've read won't work. Some people refer to it as the "call" to his flock...whatever--it's not, and if it is, it's not the normal call.
-tried covering his cage for a time-out when the screaming starts, it barely phases him and I can't leave him covered while I'm at work--that would be mis-treating him.
-spray him with a water bottle? I can't because as soon as I come around the corner, he sees me and quiets down, so if I spray him, wouldn't I being spraying him while he was quiet? (I need an automatic one I guess or a robot to do it).
-call out back to him and teach him to say 'hello' or something else instead of screaming, then I'm answering his call and reinforcing it (he may add a word or two in the mix but he's still screaming non-stop).
Does he just need a bird friend?
2. Agressive toward EVERYONE else - Luckily his wings are clipped because the other day he was out and the neighbor came to the door, and right away he flew over toward him but coasted down to the floor due to his short wing span before he could attack him. He tried to attack someone else before and I caught him mid-flight because I knew he'd do some damage--well he thought the 'stranger' had him I guess and chew into my arm for the longest 10 seconds of my life. (that was about 3 yrs ago and still, and always will have the scar).
He is 27 yrs old and always been in our family. Granted, this behavior was never stopped before while my mother had him but I would like to change that. Is he just one of those few that can't be fixed--set in his ways and I can take it or leave it? :-(
If you've tried these same things and they didn't work for you either, what did?
1. Separation anxiety when I leave the room (I do have to use the restroom from time to time) - I know people post this same topic all the time all over the internet but all the tips I've read won't work. Some people refer to it as the "call" to his flock...whatever--it's not, and if it is, it's not the normal call.
-tried covering his cage for a time-out when the screaming starts, it barely phases him and I can't leave him covered while I'm at work--that would be mis-treating him.
-spray him with a water bottle? I can't because as soon as I come around the corner, he sees me and quiets down, so if I spray him, wouldn't I being spraying him while he was quiet? (I need an automatic one I guess or a robot to do it).
-call out back to him and teach him to say 'hello' or something else instead of screaming, then I'm answering his call and reinforcing it (he may add a word or two in the mix but he's still screaming non-stop).
Does he just need a bird friend?
2. Agressive toward EVERYONE else - Luckily his wings are clipped because the other day he was out and the neighbor came to the door, and right away he flew over toward him but coasted down to the floor due to his short wing span before he could attack him. He tried to attack someone else before and I caught him mid-flight because I knew he'd do some damage--well he thought the 'stranger' had him I guess and chew into my arm for the longest 10 seconds of my life. (that was about 3 yrs ago and still, and always will have the scar).
He is 27 yrs old and always been in our family. Granted, this behavior was never stopped before while my mother had him but I would like to change that. Is he just one of those few that can't be fixed--set in his ways and I can take it or leave it? :-(
If you've tried these same things and they didn't work for you either, what did?
Funny yet effective. Yes, I also do believe that the bird needs a better socializing, try to take him outside with you "if possible" and try to introduce other people to the bird. This could be a territoriality attack so it only attacks strange people when they are in the house or near the cage, is this the case? If so, What happens when he is around new people outside or away from his cage?
! He wants to know where I'm at. I honestly think there are some animals that just can't be re-trained--he's been this way for all his 27 yrs. I wait til he's quiet before I come out when he's squawking, but it's that way every single time. (Kind of like refilling your gas tank...it gets low, then you refill it then the cycle starts all over again.) I would like to get him another companion besides myself--a bird companion--but don't know if it would even phase him.
