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Post by siobhan on Jun 2, 2015 17:20:43 GMT -5
Rocky attacked Hubby today and bit him so badly he thought he might need stitches. Rocky's been getting more and more aggressive with him in the last week or 10 days and at this point, Hubby's kind of afraid to even go near him. Obviously this isn't a good situation, and with my crazy work hours, it means Rocky will have to be locked up the vast majority of the time. That also makes him scream like a banshee if he wants out and nobody lets him out.
Probably it's spring hormones, but with his giant cage in the living room and nowhere better to put it, really -- because I'm afraid to put him in the room with the other parrots or in the room with Ringo, for everyone's safety -- I don't know how to provide him with the silence and darkness of an early bedtime like I do with Clyde when he's hormonal. I really begin to fear that we'll have to rehome him. AGAIN. Poor baby's been in so many homes it's ridiculous already. Does anyone have a better idea?
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Post by msdani1981 on Jun 2, 2015 17:50:48 GMT -5
Oh no!!! You know...there's a Cockatoo sanctuary here in Washington...I bet if you wrote an email to Betsy, the woman who runs it, she might be able to give you some Cockatoo-specific advice. The website is www.mollywood.org. Good luck! |
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Post by easttex on Jun 2, 2015 17:50:58 GMT -5
Does your husband have a more normal schedule? Have you considered allowing him to be Rocky's primary person? If Rocky hasn't p***ed him off completely, that is. I would hate to give up those cuddle sessions with Rocky, but it would beat rehoming him.
I assume you use cage covers at night. Even if Rocky can't be in a really silent place, a good, thick cover might help - one that would really block the light, without suffocating him, of course.
I hope you're able to work through this. It probably will cure itself after the hormones settle down, but then there is always the next round.  |
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Post by siobhan on Jun 2, 2015 19:01:14 GMT -5
He actually IS Rocky's primary caretaker, up until today. He's the one who cleans his cage, feeds him, gives him junk mail to tear up, and spends the most time with him. Rocky sees me for a while in the morning and a little cuddle in the evening and that's it, and sometimes he doesn't get the evening cuddle if I have to work late, which I often do.
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Post by aaron on Jun 2, 2015 20:18:45 GMT -5
Darn it! That is an unfortunate situation to say the least  Those huge beaks can be scary. What was happening when he attacked your husband? Were you there? I think Easttex's idea of a thick cover is a good one if you aren't doing that already... Unfortunately you can't provide the silence factor but light is more important I would imagine. |
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Post by siobhan on Jun 2, 2015 21:26:09 GMT -5
I was at work, so it wasn't some misguided attempt to protect me or stake his territory of me. Bill said he climbed down to the floor and started tearing at the couch. Bill picked him up and put him back on his cage. He came down again, and Bill started to head him off at the pass before he could do more damage, and suddenly Rocky put up his crest, spread his wings and ran at him in full on attack mode. Bill tried to soothe him verbally, and finally got him to put down his wings and crest, and then went to pick him up again and Rocky grabbed him by the wrist with his beak and left a couple of very nasty deep holes and bruised his hand and wrist so that it's stiff and sore yet, and that was hours ago. Rocky can't fly due to a sloppy wing clip and his own shredding of his wings and tail, but someday that might grow out, and an aggressive 'too who can fly is not something I want to contemplate.
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Post by aaron on Jun 3, 2015 0:06:30 GMT -5
Wow, that's pretty scary, frankly. I can totally understand both of your reservations at this point. I don't really understand Rocky's behavior. Hormones are really the best explanation I guess. Really unfortunate |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 3, 2015 4:06:15 GMT -5
Do you think he is trying to figure out where he is in the pecking order? Could you give him some camomile tea to help settle him down? It is just such a shame but, hopefully, he will revert back to the sweet little bird he was when you first got him.
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Post by easttex on Jun 3, 2015 10:13:00 GMT -5
Another thought, Siobhan. I know that Lupron is usually thought of as a means to stop chronic egg laying, but I looked it up this morning and see that it can reduce hormone production in either sex. Maybe worth discussing with an avian vet, anyway.
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Post by siobhan on Jun 3, 2015 11:26:49 GMT -5
I follow this Facebook page devoted to a grey named Felix, whose mom runs a parrot web site and is willing to provide advice by email. I told her the long, sad story -- and she's the one who assured me I could manage a 'too and promised to help! -- and she seems to think she can coach us through this and get it fixed. Hubby is as reluctant as I to give up on Rocky and uproot him yet again, if we can figure out a way to keep him, so we're going to give it a few days. Rocky spent most of yesterday locked in his cage and I didn't get him out this morning for a cuddle, either, in case too much cuddling set off his hormones. Normally he would shriek the house down if he didn't get to come out when Mommy's home, but he didn't. He seems to understand he's in exile and maybe even why, and has been very quiet and cooperative.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 3, 2015 16:50:40 GMT -5
You are such an angel giving him another chance. I sincerely hopes he settles down as I dont think he realises just how lucky he is to have found you and hubby.
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Post by siobhan on Jun 3, 2015 17:10:46 GMT -5
Kathy seems to think he's gotten comfortable enough to establish territory and he's testing boundaries. So my guess is she's going to tell us how to set those boundaries. According to her, 'toos are not like other parrots and what works on a Quaker (as much as anything works on a Quaker) will not work on a 'too.
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Post by aaron on Jun 3, 2015 18:08:02 GMT -5
That sounds promising. I've gotten the impression that 'toos are in a league of their own behaviorally. I hope her advice helps!!
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 3, 2015 21:49:29 GMT -5
I have been looking at a group called "Brainy Birds" which is a rescue group (in South Africa I think). They might be worth contacting to see what they say. Anyway, look them up on Facebook and see what you think.
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Post by siobhan on Jun 4, 2015 9:50:15 GMT -5
I got Rocky out last night and sat with him on the porch as we are accustomed to do, and he was kind of jumpy, but otherwise okay. This morning I got him out for his morning cuddle and he was hesitant and jumpy, but didn't try to bite me or Hubby, who stroked his head and beak without trying to hold him himself. I believe he knows that something's wrong and that he's in trouble (Hubby disagrees), but I've read that when there's an incident, you have to start all over as if you and the parrot just met and you're establishing a relationship and boundaries. So until I hear back from Kathy, that's the principle I'm operating on.
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Those huge beaks can be scary.