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Post by adamrmusic on Nov 19, 2014 16:36:19 GMT -5
I honestly don't know what to do at this point. This is my last resort, so here it goes..
I have an 8 year old quaker. I adopted him at 5 years old, after he was surrendered by his previous owner.
He was very aggressive when we first got him, but that settled down for the most part. There was a large span of time during which he was completely tame (around me..never other people).
Ever since I went on a trip in 2011 (and had to leave him at home, with a sitter who could only feed but not handle him), he has been back to this aggressive behavior. Here's were it gets strange, though. It's completely unpredictable.
I could give him a treat, talk nicely too him, and he'll start purring and cuddle up to my hand. Out of nowhere, he'll hiss and bite me. If I approach with that hand, he'll keep hissing and trying to lunge. When I use the other hand, he will calm down and let me pet him again. I thought it might be my rings, so I took them all off. Same results.
He used to be trained to step up on command, but now when I put my hands near him, he will either remain calm, retreat into his "happy hut", or hiss and try to bite (which is extremely painful and draws blood).
I've tried rewarding good behavior with treats, but he'll even hiss and look uncertain about whether he's going to take the treat or bite my hand. If I suffer a bad bite, I never scream. My usual response is to shut the cage for the time being and let him calm down.
He screeches when I leave the room he is in. But he also (non-predictably) will screech when I'm around, and it's so loud/high pitched, it's almost unbearable. I'm also a musician, so my home studio is useless (no way to remove a bird screech). It's impossible to focus on homework. I don't mind noise. I expected noise; he's a parrot for pete's sake. What I can't deal with is the nonstop shrieking.
How am I actually supposed to be addressing these issues? There's so much inconsistency online in what is recommended, and none of what I am trying seems to be working.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 19, 2014 20:03:25 GMT -5
I would say, the first thing to do before trying to diagnose behavioral issues and if you havent already is take him to an avian vet and make sure there is nothing physically wrong with him. As a human, we all know how grumpy and moody we get when we arent getting enough healthy food, exercise, mental stimulation, whatever. So, have him checked out by a vet to rule out any physical issue Forgive me, if you have done that already and let us know so we can help you  |
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Post by easttex on Nov 20, 2014 6:30:25 GMT -5
I agree with Sharyn. Making sure he's healthy is the first order of business. In the meantime, don't despair, and try not to let your bird sense your frustration. If it does turn out to be behavior and not medical, there are things you can do to repair your relationship.
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Post by adamrmusic on Nov 20, 2014 20:40:45 GMT -5
I agree with Sharyn. Making sure he's healthy is the first order of business. In the meantime, don't despair, and try not to let your bird sense your frustration. If it does turn out to be behavior and not medical, there are things you can do to repair your relationship. What things can I do? I can't get him to a vet right now, as I'm caught in a snow storm stuck at home. I also have the issue of being a broke college student. I don't think my parents will help me out with a vet visit because that's spending "people money" on a bird. However, we have an avian expert that makes house calls to do his wings/nails, and she has not noticed any health issues with him. He eats, drinks, and poops very regularly. I'm not saying I won't take him to a vet as soon as I can, but I am more inclined to believe that the issues are just behavioral. I was able to talk him out of his happy hut with a piece of apple and get him to sit calmly on my hand/bed for a while as I pet him, but the unpredictable hissing and biting started again (so badly that I had no choice but to put him back in the cage). He spends so much time in the cage because of my schedule, I think he is very possessive of it and threatened when I remove him from it. Any advice specifically for those kinds of problems would be much appreciated. |
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Post by easttex on Nov 21, 2014 6:23:37 GMT -5
Not everything works with every bird all the time, which might account for some of the inconsistencies in advice you've noticed, but here's what I would do. Start over. Seriously behave as if he is a bird you've never met and have just brought into your home. Let go of all your expectations for how he will behave. If you can, move his cage to a different room, at least temporarily, if you have one that you can spend time in. Let him watch you for a few days or even weeks without making any demands on him. Talk quietly to him. Give him treats when he's being quiet. After a while of this, open his cage, but don't force him out. Let him choose. When you think you're both ready, start training. You may have to bribe him out. Take him somewhere out of sight of his cage. You can re-teach the step up, or do target training (try reading Sharyn's recent thread about target training with a clicker for a good account), or anything really. Training, if done positively and frequently but for short periods of time, is a very good way to build a bond. Don't start with the idea that he's going to step up and then he'll get a reward. Break it down into tiny increments and reward each little step repeatedly before trying to move to the next. If you need training instruction yourself, there are many experts out there, but I like Barbara Heidenreich's force-free program. She has lots of videos on YouTube. The hardest part of this may be letting go of your own expectations. You might be stuck in a cycle of negativity with him right now. They are intelligent and sensitive, and they can pick up our moods and emotions quite easily, even if we're not aware we're broadcasting them. So keep it upbeat, even if you have to call on your drama skills. I also recommend that you pay close attention to his body language when you go back to holding him. Many birds like, or at least tolerate, a certain amount of petting and affection, and no more. They almost always give signals when they've had enough. If you haven't paid attention to that in the past, he may feel he has to bite to get his message across. Other members here may have some other things you can try. I would have him checked by a vet when you can. |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 21, 2014 8:44:16 GMT -5
I agree with everything that Easttex said and I'd like to add something about one's attitude towards one's bird. Bird's are not dogs, there really is no "alpha" and they are not domesticated the way a dog is. With a dog, you show them who is boss and expect them to behave. A parrot is NOT like this. The way to a parrot's heart and a wonderful bond is to allow the parrot to make his own choices. Your quaker should WANT to come hang out with you. He should be eager to step up, purr when you pet him, snuggle into your hand, and eagerly look forward to spending time with you. If this is not the case, then you need to go back to square one.
That being said, it is YOUR job to convince your bird that hanging out with you is fun and wonderful things happen when he steps up, doesnt bite, doesnt squawk, etc.
Recognizing the birds body language is KEY to this process. If you disrespect the birds body language when he moves away from you and force him to step up or come to you, you are teaching your bird that BITING is the only way to get your attention.
There are many excellent training videos on youtube (free!) and many books but I also recommend Barbara Heidenrecich's program in which the bird "chooses to participate" and if, he doesnt choose to, you leave him alone. This may sound counter-productive, and of course, in an emergency where he must be handled for his safety you do what you have to do, but you are letting the bird know that you RESPECT the boundries he has set.
Eventually, if positive behavior is reinforced and the bird understands that he has the choice to "participate" (step up, come out, whatever)he will WANT to be with you. Quakers are super social parrots and love human companionship if presented to them in a positive way.
I think a lot of us here have adopted rescued birds that have come from a less than ideal situation so we have dealt with biting, screaming, cage aggression, etc. Remember that baby steps count! Also, as Easttex said, these guys are SMART and sensitive, if you treat them with respect and learn to "speak" their body language, you will be rewarded with a wonderful companion.
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