Re: behavior

Posted by carolan from c-67-164-194-192.hsd1.ut.comcast.net (67.164.194.192) on Friday, July 07, 2006 at 1:26AM :

In Reply to: Re: behavior posted by carolan from c-67-164-194-192.hsd1.ut.comcast.net (67.164.194.192) on Thursday, July 06, 2006 at 5:41AM :

: : I have a 3 year old male cape, named Merlin.In the past 6 months he has become very aggressive. I don't trust him with anyone but my daughter and myself. He flew (his wings are clipped)at my sister and scratched her face.If he was tired he was always nippy but not like now.I'm wondering if my daughter moving out has affected him.When she comes home (often) he is excited to see her,gets right on her finger then bites.I think he's upset that she has moved because when he sees her car leave he makes a sound like crying. He has also started screaming and my husband says it's time to get rid of him so any help is welcome.Thanks

:
: One possibility is that he is becoming hormonal. This happened to my male when he was about Merlin's age, although he didn't become quite as aggressive as what you describe. But during the spring and fall, when his hormone level is up, he is always more aggressive and I have to handle him differently.

Ellen, I've been thinking about your challenge, and realized that I didn't give very useful information. Let me be more thorough. When Nyoni was about 3, he started being quite aggressive, and we could tell something was bothering him. At first, we thought that his legs hurt [naive on our part, in a way]. I took him to the avian vet, 3 times in 3 days. This vet was distracted. I knew something was wrong, but he kept insisting that nothing was, and that Nyoni had maybe been biting his legs, but it wasn't bad. Then, Nyoni self-mutilated, pretty seriously, with a lot of blood loss. So, I took him to another vet, with whom I have remained. After the surgery, which was required to put the poor guy together, and after the healing process, the vet recommended that we give him a bi-yearly shot for a couple of years, to calm his hormones. The vet speculated that his hormones had peaked, and possibly sent him over the edge [Nyoni was trying to mate with everything in sight]. He also got some kind of anti-anxiety shot. The shots seemed to work, and after a couple of years, I was able to stop getting any shots for him. I don't remember what the name of the medicine was, and I don't necessarily recommend them. What I would recommend, however, is getting as many opinions as possible.. You might be interested in taking Merlin for a physical, just to make sure that he's okay. I remember that it was very difficult trusting Nyoni for a while, because he bit me pretty hard [which he still does, from time to time]. The behavioralists I spoke to all said to be sure and not destroy his trust in me [even though he had destroyed my trust in him]. That was very hard, but we made it through. I think that this was solid advice. Three years old is a teenage period for parrots. Nyoni, at least, mellowed quite a bit after that. I still have to watch him carefully for clues about how I can handle him. If he's frowning, I have to be more vigilant. And, I've learned that I can't rub his feet. That somehow triggers him. But we made it through, mostly because I was determined to, and things are a lot more pleasant now [with occasional problems in March and September!] I trust him again, now that I can read his signs.

Follow Ups: Post a Followup: You must register before you can post. It is very quick and easy! Name: E-Mail: ( as registered) Subject: Message: : : : I have a 3 year old male cape, named Merlin.In the past 6 months he has become very aggressive. I don't trust him with anyone but my daughter and myself. He flew (his wings are clipped)at my sister and scratched her face.If he was tired he was always nippy but not like now.I'm wondering if my daughter moving out has affected him.When she comes home (often) he is excited to see her,gets right on her finger then bites.I think he's upset that she has moved because when he sees her car leave he makes a sound like crying. He has also started screaming and my husband says it's time to get rid of him so any help is welcome.Thanks : : : : One possibility is that he is becoming hormonal. This happened to my male when he was about Merlin's age, although he didn't become quite as aggressive as what you describe. But during the spring and fall, when his hormone level is up, he is always more aggressive and I have to handle him differently. : : Ellen, I've been thinking about your challenge, and realized that I didn't give very useful information. Let me be more thorough. When Nyoni was about 3, he started being quite aggressive, and we could tell something was bothering him. At first, we thought that his legs hurt [naive on our part, in a way]. I took him to the avian vet, 3 times in 3 days. This vet was distracted. I knew something was wrong, but he kept insisting that nothing was, and that Nyoni had maybe been biting his legs, but it wasn't bad. Then, Nyoni self-mutilated, pretty seriously, with a lot of blood loss. So, I took him to another vet, with whom I have remained. After the surgery, which was required to put the poor guy together, and after the healing process, the vet recommended that we give him a bi-yearly shot for a couple of years, to calm his hormones. The vet speculated that his hormones had peaked, and possibly sent him over the edge [Nyoni was trying to mate with everything in sight]. He also got some kind of anti-anxiety shot. The shots seemed to work, and after a couple of years, I was able to stop getting any shots for him. I don't remember what the name of the medicine was, and I don't necessarily recommend them. What I would recommend, however, is getting as many opinions as possible.. You might be interested in taking Merlin for a physical, just to make sure that he's okay. I remember that it was very difficult trusting Nyoni for a while, because he bit me pretty hard [which he still does, from time to time]. The behavioralists I spoke to all said to be sure and not destroy his trust in me [even though he had destroyed my trust in him]. That was very hard, but we made it through. I think that this was solid advice. Three years old is a teenage period for parrots. Nyoni, at least, mellowed quite a bit after that. I still have to watch him carefully for clues about how I can handle him. If he's frowning, I have to be more vigilant. And, I've learned that I can't rub his feet. That somehow triggers him. But we made it through, mostly because I was determined to, and things are a lot more pleasant now [with occasional problems in March and September!] I trust him again, now that I can read his signs. Optional Link ( default from registration) URL: Title: Optional Image Link ( default from registration) URL: This board is brought to you buy Thor's Cape Parrot Information Site.