Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/14/2006

Question
Hi Chrys,

Artemis is on a pellet diet with a little bit of mixed seed/dried fruit on top. We also occasionally give him fruits and veggies, he really likes carrots.

He is molting which I'm sure is driving him crazy, but he was always so gentle before that it seems so drastic. Someone told me that green cheeks reach their "terrible twos" and go through this stage?

We also have a parrotlet, they have always been in the same room. While they don't come into contact with each other, they do clearly have a competition going on between who can get the attention in the room and who can be highest whether it be cage, person or furniture. Or in some instances who can be the loudest.

We have changed the furniture around, which means people pass by his cage more than usual. But he seems to like the attention, as soon as you go by he puts his cheek up against the cage as if to say, hey you! rub my cheek if your passing by!

I've spent the same amount of time with him as usual. He's been my little buddy so in the morning he showers with me, gets ready with me while I get ready for work. When I come home he sits on my shoulder while I get ready for the next day, stands on the backrest of the couch while I watch TV or on me. We spend about 1/2 - 1 hour each day trying to learn to say "hello", he's sort of getting it, but I think he has ADHD. lol.

As of last night, I haven't been allowing him to sit on my shoulder, partly out of fear (and because my nose needs to heal first hehehe) partly because I was told it shows dominance. The thing is when he does bite I don't know how to teach him not too. I tried putting him on the floor and walking away (someone told me this) but he just likes it down there and doesn't seem to be bothered. I've tried just putting him back in his cage, but he really just doesn't seem to care about that either. How can I teach him not to bite?

Maybe I have spoiled him rotten. He seems to freak out when your rubbing his cheek and you haven't rubbed the exact area he wants you to, or if you won't rub his cheek at all. Or if he wants something and you won't give it to him. I think he thinks he's king of the house and what he wants is what he gets or else your gonna get it.

He's got me baffled. He's a real character and I'd love to keep his character sweet.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Artemis and Theresa.


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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I have a green cheek conure that has been such a wonderful sweet bird for a year now. Suddenly his entire personality has changed and he's crabby, biting like crazy. He'll be affectionate and sweet and then suddenly without any warning freek out and start biting you like crazy. Last night he bit me right on the nose and wouldn't let go.

I love this bird, but his behavior is getting worse and worse. I would like to know if there is anything I can do to bring back that sweet sweet bird I used to have.

Your help is greatly appreciated.
-----Answer-----
Hi, Theresa.  Thanks for posting!

Something has happened or is going on that is causing your bird to behave like this.  Tell me what type of diet you have your bird on.  When your bird's personality changed, were there any changes in your home, such as new furniture, new person in the home, someone move away, did you remodel, new cage, etc.)?  Any other birds or animals, children, in the home?  Did you change any way you are dealing with your bird, such as not allowing him/her out as often, did the amount of time you spend with this bird change, did your work hours change, etc.?  The more details you can provide, the better I can help you and your bird.

Thanks.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Theresa.

Based on all the information you've provided above, I think there are several things going on that are all resulting in stress for your bird.  This is most likely why he is biting you at times.

First of all, he's molting.  This is very stressful on a bird.  It takes much energy to replace all those feathers on the body!  He's also competing for your attention with the parrotlet.  Even though you still show him the same amount of attention, it's still a competition as far as the bird is concerned.  Whenever he sees you with the other bird, he's jealous.  Next is the furniture change.  While he may enjoy the increased activity, it's stressful for him.  

It is true that you should not allow a parrot to be above your eye level due to dominance issues.  However, most  birds love sitting on shoulders and as long as you aren't trying to work with your bird as in training, etc., at the time the bird is on your shoulder, I wouldn't worry much about it.  Just realize that he may not respond to you when he is above eye level due to the dominance thing.

Teaching a bird not to bite depends on what is causing the biting at that moment.  For example, if you're reaching into the cage trying to get the bird on your hand/finger, and the bird doesn't want to do this, and the bird is cornered in the cage, the bird is going to bite.  How to fix - don't corner bird in the cage.  When the bird does bite, tell him "No, bad bird" and put him in his cage for a time out.  Do this each and every time he bites.  When the bird does bite, don't pull away.  When bird owners pull their fingers/hands away when their parrot bites, they are actually reinforcing the bad behavior.  The bird wants you to pull back when it bites.  Therefore, when you do pull back, the bird is getting what it wants!  I know it can hurt to get biten, but you have to bear with it.  It won't take long for your bird to realize that biting doesn't work with you.  It's OK to pull back in order to avoid from being biten, but put that hand/finger right back.  It's like falling off a horse...you have to get right back on.  Don't allow the bird to know that biting might get him what he wants.  

Always reward your bird when it does what you want (or what you don't want in this case).  Never reward your bird for behaving badly.  A reward to a bird can be as simple as eye-to-eye contact.  When your bird misbehaves, ignore him completely.  When your bird behaves as you wish, give him his favorite treat or praise him.  Your parrot is like dealing with a 2 year old child and you need to react accordingly.

Right now, however, your bird is under a lot of stress, which is most likely the reason for his change in character.  Don't be too hard on him right now.  I might also recommend you offer more veggies, fruits, and other healthy human foods on a daily basis.  Diet can play a huge role in our parrots' behavior and how the bird feels on a daily basis.

Come back with any additional questions.

Chrys