Tricked by a parrot... I fell for it!

[RavensGryf]

Just when I "thought" Mr. Hormone (Raven) was getting a bit better this week...

He hasn't been going into full display mode quite as much this week when I'd approach him, and he let me pick him up and tolerated me petting him a few times this week (which is unusual for him). The last time Raven had an x-ray (for things other than hormones) the vet mentioned his 'enlarged testicles' and suggested they're so enlarged that he might benefit from hormone therapy... I actually was hopeful that they might finally be "shrinking" on their own this week.

Nope. :49:..... I guess things haven't changed, and I have a cut up bloody finger to prove it . I'm thinking it's probably not just hormones, but him just being less tolerant with me too, since I, his owner, am unfortunately not his favorite person .

After the first bite, it required Mr. Towel's help to put him away in his cage. I stayed in the room, but proceeded to ignore him and go to cuddle with Robin. Although Raven doesn't like me to cuddle with him or touch him, I guess it made him jealous nonetheless lol. He wouldn't stop talking to try to get my attention. "Raaaaven, RaaAAAven, Ray Ray, Raaaay.... in different funny voices.

After some time I went up to the cage again and told him calmly what a bad boy he was, and testing his mood, I held my finger barely out of reach and said "gentle, no biting" but he looked like he still wanted to snap at me (his usual). Then he started saying "good boy?? good boooyyy" in a quiet little tentative voice that he says when he's sorry. I thought "aw, look how cute" and decided to open the door and give him another chance. He IMMEDIATELY dashed straight for my flesh and I didn't get it out of the way in time, and bit me even harder on the SAME finger in a different spot. He did NOT show any noticeable body language prior to biting both times, and Pionus have a very similar style to their Amazon cousins and usually always show you what they're thinking. Not this time. Dripping more blood! . This time, it was time for bed anyway. After voicing my displeasure, I covered the cage without giving him a treat or saying goodnight.

So I was fooled. He got me! Now I bet he thinks he can fool me again with his cute little "good boy?" in his most innocent of voices :20:

 

[RavensGryf]

There's the guilty one on the right. Look at his 'innocent' look LOL! (Everyone is molting now)

 

[itchyfeet]

Oooh I sympathise - The inlaws cockatoo did that to me once! Was totally out to get me, and just as I was leaving (he was safely back in his cage at this point) he started, in a sweet darling tone, with the 'common, common darling, good boy, common darling' speel and so I did. He lunged out - thankfully I was well out of the way, cheeky sod!

Fingers crossed Raven comes right without treatment

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Handsome looking guys though

 

[Kiwibird]

What a naughty naughty bird! Him and his little gray accomplice look so cute too! I hope your finger is feeling better. Sounding like Mr. Raven will be getting his, ahem, special medications soon:20:

 

[ToMang07]

My Too is weird like that. She won't (hard) bite me or my mother, but she will bite my brothers or my father.

 

[Allee]

Julie, it's hard to believe those two beauties could ever be anything but angelic. Look at Raven, he's absolutely beatific, and maybe a tiny...bit...bloodthirsty.

I hope they treat you better after their molt. Hormones aren't to be taken lightly. Are you considering hormone therapy for Raven?

 

[Birdman666]

Somebody holds grudges...

That's exactly what that stuff is...

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks everyone . Looks like some of you have had the experience too. I've heard of birds doing that, but my 2 Poicephalus are always straight to the point, and I figured my Pionus was also, but looks like he's now up to thinking of ways to try to manipulate mom. My finger is fine, but bugs me a bit since we are always using our index finger in daily life.

What a naughty naughty bird! Him and his little gray accomplice look so cute too! I hope your finger is feeling better. Sounding like Mr. Raven will be getting his, ahem, special medications soon:20:

Julie, it's hard to believe those two beauties could ever be anything but angelic. Look at Raven, he's absolutely beautiful, and maybe a tiny...bit...bloodthirsty.
I hope they treat you better after their molt. Hormones aren't to be taken lightly. Are you considering hormone therapy for Raven?

I'm still debating whether I want to try the Lupron for him. On the other hand I hate to have him so stressed out because of hormones all the time, which I know can't be good for his other medical condition. As far as I'm thinking right now anyway, I want to see if the change of seasons does anything to him more naturally.

Somebody holds grudges...

That's exactly what that stuff is...

I never thought I had a bird who holds grudges. Everything else he forgets about pretty quickly, but apparently he holds a grudge when it comes to being put in a time out! This was the first time it was bad enough to require Mr. Towel to come out.

 

[Birdman666]

Yeah, amazons do tend to hold grudges from time to time... so do these guys.

Once they "voice" their displeasure it's generally over, but watch your fingers just in case.

"Okay, now we're even."

 

[RavensGryf]

This morning before his cover was off, I heard a little quiet voice saying "what are you doing?" Raven NEVER makes a noise in the morning. In fact, he's VERY quiet for a parrot, usually only making a noise to talk or mimic, or voice a complaint (bickering to Griffin).

So he remembered this even by the morning lol. We're good now. I asked if he was going to be a good boy today, and showed him a treat to get him to step up (the only way he'll step up for me unless I surprise him) and I got to kiss him. I figure, I can't be scared of my own bird, and I certainly can't let Raven know, although after it happens it makes you feel slightly shy about it for a bit.

 

[Birdman666]

My foster Ruby macaw was a horrible "sucker" biter...

Trusting her was like Charlie Brown trusting Lucy not to pull the football...

She'd do the macaw "must I scratch my own head" pathetic look thing, just to get you to put those fingers within range...

She'd pull a "gotcha" then look you square in the eye and tell you to "be nice" - then LAUGH AT YOU! (In other words, this was all just a big game to her!)

It took me eight months to break that one of the biting!

Yeah, there's that "parrot cookbook" thing... she was quite high on the list of parrots who nearly ended up roasting on a spit.

 

[RavensGryf]

Charlie Brown trusting Lucy haha. So how did you go about getting your point across after 8 months?

 

[Birdman666]

Charlie Brown trusting Lucy haha. So how did you go about getting your point across after 8 months?

I gradually wore her down.

I just took it as a given that she was going to bite me regardless of the situation, and I OUTFLANKED her, CONSISTENTLY, EVERY TIME...

Eventually the game became SO NOT FUN to play... that she stopped doing it.

AND I TAUGHT HER SOME NEW GAMES... that came with built in both attention and treat rewards when she played along.

THEN I PLACED HER ELSEWHERE!!! She was quite the handful, but the really, really smart ones almost always are. That's one of the reasons why I put up with the evil birds. They were usually super smart, personality birds, once you harnessed that destructive energy into something constructive. She was one of the most evil of my "evil" birds.

She has her person now, and is in an only bird home, which is what she needed.

 

[Dinosrawr]

My goodness are they ever handsome! Raven's colours are always a treat for the eyes. It's incredible how birds can just switch on a dime, without us being able to know. I have a short video of Shiko doing that while I was trying to figure out his aggression. He sat perfectly still, let me do our "boop" game, and with ZERO warning went for my fingers. There's no evidence in the video that he was going to, even in slow-mo.

Hopefully mister handsome Raven's hormones settle down without the use of medication. I can understand your hesitancy to use them. And I also hope your love bite heals soon! It hurts when they get you good [emoji33]

 

[GreatBlue320]

I would have been fooled by that "innocent", handsome face, too!

Glad things are better today

 

[Birdman666]

My funniest birdie manipulation ever was a Squawkitoo...

Hanging upside down, playing with a toy... suddenly writhing in pain, and flapping and squawking in a blind panic... OH NO! HE'S GOT HIS FOOT CAUGHT IN A QUICK LINK. So, I run and open the cage door. The too immediately flips over, runs up my arm to my shoulder, and presses his little face against mine.

His toe was never caught. He was faking it all along. He just wanted out.

Falling for it occasionally comes with the territory.

 

[Anansi]

That Raven is a crafty one, Jules. They can strike like lightning when they want to, can't they. Don't feel bad for getting drawn in. All of us here have a soft spot for these feathered guys. That's what makes us so susceptible to their evil little tricks. Hahaha!

...I have a short video of Shiko doing that while I was trying to figure out his aggression. He sat perfectly still, let me do our "boop" game, and with ZERO warning went for my fingers. There's no evidence in the video that he was going to, even in slow-mo.

Uhmmm... Chantal? Are you going to actually... show us the video? Hahaha! Talk about teaser posts!

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks Stephen . Raven is pretty crafty it's true... he's my best talker, and can use speech to his advantage. He is much different in every way from my Poicephalus.

I thought it was interesting too, about Chantal's video of Shiko. I'd also like to see it, since she says there's NO evidence of the impending bite even in slow-mo. I know he's an IRN, but that sounds more like the Poicephalus style. Then again, Raven (Pionus who are a species known to show overt body language before striking) hid his motive also. From what I've experienced in the past, plus hearing of other species, it probably happens from time to time with most every species. ...and especially if they're trying to trick you!

 

[Anansi]

Oh, yes. I've seen Maya bite my wife, and the approach looks no different from when she's looking to gnaw gently on my fingers! Eye pinning and all!