Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 4/6/2008

Question
My 4-year-old, hand-disliking male cockatiel seems to have lost trust in me since a couple of weeks... actually, since I came back from a 1-week trip to Europe and then have bought him to the avian vet (who told me my bird was in fantastic shape) for the first time, 3 weeks ago. It is not the first time I leave him, and when I am away he is boarded at my mum's, a place where it has already lived for a year as a baby. The thing is, this time, he does not seem to stop sulking, and he has started to act aggressive, biting me and turning his back on me all the time. He's also started to charge from his cage to bite people. He will respond more calmly and even accept being petted with my nose or cheek when not in sight from his cage (although less easily than before), but will automatically fly back to his cage when seeing it. I'm squeezing my brain to find what I did or am doing to encourage this behavior and can't find out. (help!!)
thanks a lot
Daphne (and Shantak)

Answer
Hi, Daphne,

You have an interesting situation going on!  I think what might be happening is a combination of things:  (1) this bird is very bonded to you.  You went away for a week.  A week is a long time for a bird, especially when he misses you.  (2) you took him to the vet!  Shame on you :)!  (3) you boarded him away from home (even though he spent time there as a baby, it was a long time ago).  (4) it might be breeding season where you live (hormone overload) and/or the bird could be molting??

As a result of the above events, your bird is not very happy with you right now, has been/still is under much stress, and as a result of much stress, your bird is protecting the one familiar item to him through all of this, his cage, his safety/secure zone, his home, the only place in the world he can call his own.  He's being very territorial (protective) of his cage because of this.  This is backed up by the statement you made that he's calmer when he can't see his cage/is away from his cage.  This tells me he's still "nervous" that you might leave him again or might take him back to that nasty bird vet, etc., so he has to protect his cage just in case.  This is where he feels safe and secure and, when he's out, he's scared, doesn't want to lose sight of his safety zone.  He may be lunging at other people as a way of protecting you and/or his cage from what he perceives as "threats" to you and/or the relationship your bird has with you.  

I recommend you give your bird some time to settle down and relax and get past his stress.  Don't force him to do anything right now.  If he wants to stay in his cage, let him.  Don't ignore him, but don't "press the issue" either.  Just go as far with him as he will allow.  Your bird needs time to know that you aren't going away, that he won't have to ride in that scary car again, etc.  As birds get older, they get more set in their ways, and when their routine is upset, it can stress them out.  Moving is another major stress issue with most birds, even if it's only temporary.  Perhaps your mom could come to your home next time you go away instead of moving the bird.  When you go away, leave a tape recording of your voice and have your birdsitter play it so the bird thinks you're still in the house.  Get your bird gradually used to changes in his routine so when his routine has to change, it isn't such a stressful event for him.  Take him in the car occasionally in a travel cage so he can get used to having to travel.  Some birds will actually go into shock when traveling in a car and die (from the stress), so this is important.  With time I think your bird will come around.  If his hormones are running rampant as during breeding season, just let him behave badly for the time he must because you aren't going to change it!  If he's molting, this is also stressful for him, so keep him calm during this time.

Chrys