IndianRingNeck.com

I guess curious if anyone has any thoughts...

Austin (my IRN) is a great addition to the family, he's calm, relaxed, will go to anyone and be friendly so no complaints...

But... when we put him in his cage at night or if we don't want to leave him unsupervised he really attacks his toy with the bell.. but I mean really attacks it. Like a growl and a lunge at the bell continuously, and he gets even more aggravated when it swings back at him from the force he hit it with - it's funny to watch but obviously would prefer if it didn't happen.

Is this because he's unhappy about being returned inside his cage. It only happens when we close the cage door. On rare occasions, if I'm sitting in the dark watching TV he will go into the cage and attack - rarely in the dark, so it rarely happens but the only times it's dark is bed time...

I guess, is this a bad thing or it's okay to release his anger on the toy, is there any way of stopping him from doing this or just let him be...

Thanks, Fred

Hi,
My conure does the same thing! It is hilarious at times. I sometimes make it ring just to get her in his cage. She will try her best to take the middle piece out of the bell. On some bells she has accomplised this. It is a toy that will keep your bird occupied for a good while. From what you are describing, your bird could be saying hey I am mad, I don't want to go to bed, I want to stay up. My conure has another chew toy that she grabs and pulls at it when she is upset with me. I just talk with her and she quits. I don't see how you can stop this behavior. Your bird can hear that you are up and doesn't want to go to bed like a little kid crys when they are sent to bed. The only thing I think would help you out is if you cover it's cage up with a cover or put it to bed when you go to bed. Hope this helps!

my male IRN does exactly the same thing as yours fred! when he wants my attention and i ignore him and just walk past his cage he makes this really ugly sound and LUNGES at his bell. That is exactly the right word, lunges, with his eyes pinned, and whacks the bell.

i think its just an attention seeking/ anger releasing thing, like a toddler having a tantrum.