Why is Gizmo behaving like this..is he unwell...?

[Amjaid]

Hi All,

I just feel so upset, 3 days ago im playing with gizmo usual location, usual time nothing different aprt from two new guests in the same room but Gizmo didnt seem to bothered andhe carrie don playing but suddenly he just started nippling an dbiting my hand really hard non stop...so i put him down a stern no and evil eyes and he got the message. I picked him up again and he wen nuts again so this time I put him in his gage and a starn no and ended our play session early.

The following morning I can see he was a bit hesitent and so was I as I didnt know what to expect, didnt sleep most of the night thinking about Gizmo. Anyway he came onto my hand but shot straight up onto my shoulders and he knows thats a no go area, so I forced him down and he was not happy and put him back down. Anyway I could feel he wasnt happy and I wanst happy so I started talking to him softly and asking him whats wrong? he started cooing and whimpering so I picked him up and gave him kisses and he started being fine again.

The following day, he was on his perch outside the gage and me in front of him and it looked like he was being sick or summat water staretd coming out of his mouth and then he spat a seed out and went high up onto the perch staretd started doing a left to right funny dance, and then somem funny sounds which I never heard him make, like he was talking....anyway we finished our seesion and then I put him to sleep.....This morning when i took him out he was taking treats from my hand, he'll take one but then second one he will just drop...normally this time in the morning he likes ot sit in my lap and munch away but he wasnt ineterested....and when he doesn take food from my hand its almst like he wants to snatch it off and alomost takes my finger with it....

I dont know whats wrong with him but he's acting so different......I know its not bluffing as he passed that whne he was about 3 months old...gizmo is not just over 6 months old.....any advice will be helpfull

[ellieelectrons]

Hi Amjaid

I would say that Gizmo is testing his boundaries.

You will also find that their personalities grow and change over time and sometimes things that they put up with when they were younger they realise that they didn't like it after all and if he feels confident with you, he may start to let you know it.

The following day, he was on his perch outside the gage and me in front of him and it looked like he was being sick or summat water staretd coming out of his mouth and then he spat a seed out and went high up onto the perch staretd started doing a left to right funny dance,

He was probably regurgitating his food? This is normal bird behaviour... but you don't want him to do it to you as it can be quite gross... but this can be a problem with single birds, they don't have another bird to regurgitate to? Our friend's bird started regurgitating to one of her toys.

he'll take one but then second one he will just drop

With our two, Charlie will rarely turn down food... but it is quite normal for Janey to do so... quite often she is happy to have her reward as spending time with us and having us pat her. I try to keep food that she really loves reserved for when I want her to go back into her cage... which sometimes works!

and when he doesn take food from my hand its almst like he wants to snatch it off and alomost takes my finger with it....

Janey went through this stage. I now usually only give her food when she gives me the signal that she wants it - which seems to be a wave. This behaviour seems to have settled down quite a bit with her... but it took quite a while. I think part of it involves her getting to know and trust us... and whilst she has had us around for a long time and for most of her life... I think this grows stronger and stronger with time.

We had an incident today. My husband and I were sitting on office chairs and I leaned down to pick something off the floor at the same time that he did... and Peter's face must have been coming towards Janey rather quickly.... When something she is unsure of happens, she bites first and asks questions later. She lunged out and wrenched Peter's glasses from his face. I'm glad it was the glasses and not his face that took the impact. We used to find these things happened all the time, now they are quite rare.

The other thing I've learnt with Janey is to try to be fearless and not take biting personally. For birds, biting is a method of communication, it's not about being mean. I'm not saying you should welcome it, but try your best not to be fearful of your bird with your next interaction (which I know can be difficult) and don't hold onto the feelings associated with the biting.

You may find hormones are kicking in which are changing his behaviour a little.

I think if you continue to be firm, consistent, loving and patient, you will get through it ok and Gizmo's behaviour will change over time. Just don't give up.

I know what it's like going through that though, and it can be quite upsetting.

BTW - do you know if Gizmo is a boy or a girl. Sounds like Gizmo may be exhibiting female behaviour?

Best wishes!

Ellie.

[Amjaid]

Hi Ellie,

Thanks for your advice, I read about al these behaviour changes and really thought i'd be ready for it but I just cant help it. We had the best month together with excellent progress but now its slowed down. Im just going to give him some space and let him relax and chill. Ithink it could be me in the sense that everytime I let him out I spend the entire time with him and dont give him much time on his own so i guess he wants to explore himself.

Im not sure girl or boy but I thought the behvaiour more boy then girl as it seemed like he was doing the male love dance with shoulders up like a bow and moving left to right and making these funny noises, I thought only the male do this dance....

[ellieelectrons]

Hi Amjaid

If you've observed him doing the love dance, then you're probably right... I don't consider myself an expert on such things!

Good luck weathering the storm. I'm sure it will come out stronger at the other end!

Ellie.

[Amjaid]

Thanks Ellie, I HOPE SO!

[ellieelectrons]

Hi Amjaid

Was just thinking... the running up the arm to your shoulder may have been because of the "two new guests in the room" that you mentioned in your message. Being on your shoulder makes them feel more secure.

Ellie.

[Amjaid]

Hi Ellie,

You are right, he only went up the hsoulder as he feels safe, it makes sense everytime this has happened was because wither new guests were tring to communitae with him or strangers. I know on shoulders shouldnt be allowed but I just feel so sad and want him to to be happy....should I just let him sit on my shoulder....

what do you think?

[ellieelectrons]

Hi Amjaid

Before we brought Janey home, I'd read all of the books that said don't allow them on your shoulder... and we didn't want to do it.... but then we spoke to our local petstore guy and he didn't see a problem with it... and in the end we relented. There are downsides to allowing it though... you have far less control over the bird - so it can be difficult to get them off once they're up there.... and IRNs can be prone to biting ears. Janey rarely does this now (it seemed to take a while to train this out of her)... but Charlie still bites ears - I think, when he is bored. Luckily, Charlie doesn't bite hard. The plus side is that you can carry them around with you as you do your daily chores - you have your hands free to do other things.

I think it's got to be a personal decision... I think there are just as many people who do allow them on their shoulder as those that don't. Some people even let their birds on their head. We don't allow that, shoulder is as high as they go.

Good luck with your decision.

Ellie.

[jimmyjack]

amjaid,
my female went through these similar things. i thought it was a male because of signalling, and hadnt developed his (her) ring yet. however, turns out it is a female, has started signalling in a very female way and alot of the behaviour is female. she runs back and forth along her perch too, with wings out, usually when she gets quite excited - sometimes from other birds outside etc. other times she just seems to do it for no observable reason!
something that ive noticed is a considerably variable behaviour in their boundaries, even daily. one minute shes fine to be stroked and petted and will be quite approachable, half an hour later she'll freak out and wont let you near her. also makes some very odd little 'half-talk' noises.
what youve described is similar to what ive seen with our girl. just keep an open mind, remember that they are living creatures, and have a considerable level of intelligence. there will be variety in their behaviour and they do have moods and temperaments just like us. i wouldnt be too worried

[ellieelectrons]

Hi jimmyjack

I'd agree with what you said there and you articulated it very nicely. Thanks for your contribution!

Ellie.