GOODBYE BLUFFING!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!

[tlouiselle]

We have had a WONDERFUL breakthough!!! I am sooo happy. Since 4 weeks old Sky was my sweet and loving baby. I was heartbroken when at around 4 months he developed a slight additude problem...which only seemed to get worse. He began to scream, bite, battle with us, launch himself from any place to get away from us, HATED humans and any breathing thing. He would scream and attack his toys...I had bleeding fingers and fat lips from this evil creature. This was not my bird!

For Christmas we had to board him for 9 days because we had to go out of town. I was thinking of telling the people that if they know someone who loves IRNs who would want him, that they could have him. I had talked to plenty of other experienced people who told me that this is just how the species is and he may never change. This bird was downright EVIL.

Leaving the place where we were boarding him, I was in tears. He was so scared and I felt like I was abandoning him. He had spent every waking moment with me since he was 4 weeks old and was NEVER in his cage unless we were gone or sleeping. I kept hoping that some time away would do him some good.

When we picked him up he was scared at first when we were talking to him. Once he realized who we were he was so happy and started chirping while tearing around the cage until I let him out. Since that day over 2 weeks ago my loving baby has been back. He kisses (no chomping...though I hold my breath waiting for a nasty bite each time I kiss him still). He calls for me when I leave, follows me around the house, wants to eat my food, jumps in the shower with me, and lets me cuddle/kiss/hug/love on him all I want.

To those of you who are questioning your little devils who are in the hormonal stage IT WILL END. Just be patient. It is worth the wait. There were so many times that I was thinking I could not make him happy and considering rehoming him. I am so glad that I didn't. He is getting sweeter and sweeter each day

[Sixty Fiver]

So nice to hear this.

I spent a month away from home and my housemate was tending to the birds and the entire time I was gone my female was in a foul mood, was picking on her boyfriend (who was moulting) and was completely anti social.

My male is the friendliest bird and nothing phazes him and even during his moult he was sociable and friendly.

When I got home the change in my female was immediate and she has been her usual self... she always defends her cage when I am outside it but as soon as I open the door and reach in she jumps to my hand and if I let her, she runs up to my shoulder to perch.

If I block her she tries to climb around or head butts my hand and she has been more accepting of being handled bodily now that I have adopted a new bath strategy which involves misting and toweling her.

[tlouiselle]

Awww. That is so cute. I used to let Sky on my shoulder but he started attacking my ears. So he has lost his shoulder privileges. He LOVES baths too. I put him on the top of the shower door on a towel. Every time he is up there he wants to come in, snuggle under my chin, and get soaked. LOL. I hope he will get friendlier with other people though. He has decided to only be sweet with me and is still his mean self to my boyfriend. That is the next obstacle to work on.

[Sharon G]

So there is light at the end of the very long, dark tunnel??? Gosh, I hope so

We have the most adorable baby named Lucky. Have had him since just before Christmas and he'd be the same age as Sky. And yes....he's most certainly crossed to the "dark side"!!!!

In actual fact he belongs to my son (13) and that poor boy is at a loss as to what's going on with his beloved bird. All of a sudden he can't touch Lucky and even if he walks past the cage, the bird lunges towards him with all intent to bite him...through the cage!!! He bites him repeatedly and just yesterday Isaac copped a nasty bite on his cheek (just under his eye) that had the skin removed and bled for the longest time His little hands are scarred and covered in bite marks and I honestly think he's all but lost interest. He's genuinely scared of the bird now, and I think that the bird knows this very well and has completely put it over Isaac.

Isaac is absolutely devastated because he just wants his baby back. My neighbour seems to think that the bird has bonded with me. I hope this isn't the case as we've tried to socialise him with all members in our family.

During the evenings, Lucky is content to sit on Isaac's tummy and let him hug, kiss and scratch him for the longest time. But in the mornings.....it's a whole different story and the evil, vicious Lucky is back!!

We've tried rewarding good behaviour with Isaac being the only person to deliver his favourite treats. I've completely detached myself from the bird so that Isaac is the only person who interacts with him. But it just doesn't seem to be doing any good. Isaac actually thinks that the bird is cranky because he's missing me! I'm certainly missing my time with him....I love him to bits! This has been going on for quite some weeks now and we to have considered not keeping him This breaks my heart but we can't have him to do nothing but sit in the cage for the rest of his life.

If someone could shed some light and help us a little....we would be extremely grateful!

[Endlessaley]

that's so good to hear. I'm glad you got through it and got your baby back! How old is he now?

[ellieelectrons]

Hi Sharon

Is your bird's wings clipped? If they're not and you're not averse to having them done, that could help the bad behaviour.

I also recommend you check out these posts on foraging. With my guys introducing foraging has gone a long way to improving behaviour. They're not perfect but way, way, way better:
http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... 01&p=69400
http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... =4&t=13466

Another idea for you - one of our birds is prone to face biting, not regularly, but nonetheless, it makes you scared to have her on your shoulder. As a result we don't allow her on our shoulder at all... however, she can be quite determined and can out-fox us and get there herself any way. When this happens I take her back to her gym and get her to step off using a treat (this doesn't always work, but usually it does). It took a while (probably a couple of months) but now she rarely climbs to the shoulder (even though we let our other bird do it). In fact, the last couple of times she's jumped to the shoulder, I think she did it because she wanted to go back to her gym... so I'm seeing it as a really good means for her to communicate with me now. Bites are one way in which our bird wants to communicate with us and if we can find alternate ways to communicate that makes it better.

I hope your son is able to persevere... poor fellow... you definitely need to keep the bird away from all faces. My husband has had a few nasty gashes to his face from our bird too... but none recently (touch wood) and I've had some nasty ear bites.

Good luck and best wishes.

Ellie.

[Sharon G]

Hi Ellie,

Thanks so much for all the information!! I will get to work with Isaac and build Lucky some foraging toys immediately!

Yes....his wing is clipped and surprisingly enough, he flies extremely well!!
His routine is one of calm and complete willingness to be held, kissed, cuddled and scratched by Isaac in the evenings. Last night he even nursed and scratched him to sleep! It was beautiful to see. However, this morning (and most every morning) when Isaac went to let him out of the cage, he was greeted with a nasty bite on the hand! It's all becoming a bit disappointing. Like I said, the bird is fine with me (mostly) but I'm not the one who's being repeatedly bitten.

I've read your article on foraging...and wow!! I didn't think something so simple could make so much difference. I suppose we've really noticed an increase with the bad behaviour since the kids have returned to school and I to work. He now has to spend the days in the cage until we arrive home in the afternoons. So this could be a solution!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!

I'll be sure to let you know how we go!

You have a wonderful day!

[ellieelectrons]

Hi Sharon

Kris Porter has free eBooks to download at her website:
http://www.parrotenrichment.com/

They have a pile of ideas for parrot enrichment and foraging.

Please do let us know how you get along.

When your bird isn't used to foraging you do need to introduce it slowly (eg. wrap food in one layer of paper, not two, etc.) so that they get the hang of it. My guys love foraging a lot.

Ellie.

[Sharon G]

Thanks Ellie

I'll be sure to keep you in the loop. Lucky was very cranky this afternoon again when we arrived home. But once again allowed us to cuddle, scratch and nurse him off sleep tonight. He just doesn't seem to remember the wonderful bonding time of the night before one morning. We are persevering though and won't.be beaten!! We love him far too much Many thanks again.