Agressive one day, skittish the next...

[Dakota]

I had aggression/biting problems with Tica about two weeks ago. It lasted for about a week, and now the aggression is gone and she's completely terrified of my hands.

I've never had this problem in the past. She usually loves my fingers and my hands. She'll crawl all over them, perch on my fingers and nibble every single one. Now she squawks in indignation when I put a finger up to her and flies away in an explosion of feathers. The only time I'm able to handle her is when I place my hands palm-up. Only then will she hop on, usually avoiding everything she can and sprinting to my shoulder as if my hands would turn around and eat her.

She's even too scared to get her scritches from me. I can't take her entire body in one hand like I did before. This is very, very unconvenient, because she'll fly away from me but constantly wants to be out of her cage. It's now a complete hassle to return her to the cage, and it's also very distressing because she is one of my favorites. :(

When she was agressive I didn't "discipline" her. I just picked her up (while she was biting) and put her back. It's like she became scared overnight.

I attention-starved her for about thirty six hours to see if she would revert back to normal. It didn't work. She's still afraid of my hands, but keeps trying to come out of her cage.

Is this just a phase? Perhaps a permanent personality change? Tica's about a year and 3 months old.

[michael]

I had aggression/biting problems with Tica about two weeks ago. It lasted for about a week, and now the aggression is gone and she's completely terrified of my hands.

When she was agressive I didn't "discipline" her. I just picked her up (while she was biting) and put her back........

I attention-starved her for about thirty six hours to see if she would revert back to normal. It didn't work........

Is this just a phase? Perhaps a permanent personality change? Tica's about a year and 3 months old.

Actually, for a young female, or male, all this behavior sounds quite normal. ..What may have initially started as an aggressive/defensive stance, has hopefully transgressed into a more casual approach towards things to come. ...While I cannot say for sure, I think your lack of discipline has really began to pay off. ..That being, although she no longer permits being held or scritched, she no longer feels fearful enough having to bite your hand. .. This sort of trade off, is really what sets the stage for a healthy human parrot relationship. ... Is this just a phase? .. It might be better to say its just part of the learning process. ..Perhaps a permanent change? ..If need be, thats something we must all accept regardless of the outcome. ..Chances are though, as long as you continue to be patient, and maybe try one or two different methods, you and her, carefully said, might once again enjoy those early times you once shared.

You know, it also sounds like she's exercizing her independence. ..And why shouldn't she? .. Afterall, this is what parrots "naturally" do. .. Let me add, your choice NOT to enlist "discipline" (or in another view.."punishment"), is what sets the standard towards good fidparronting. Excellent deal!

So. ..Have you checked to see if maybe she's getting a bit territorial/hormonal? ... Hens who have a new interest in breeding, can get a bit skiddish. ..And of course, hands, with their shiney fingernail beak like anatomy, will often appear to be a threat. ... Maybe hide those fingernails? (might explain palms up), or, try using a stick. .. Even though she always wants out, have you tried working with her cage out of sight? .. How certain are you of her gender? .. How bout a (last resort) wing clip? ... The reason "starved" attention does not work is two fold. One, because there is no way your parrot can revert back to behavior it only knew as a juvenile. Two, when lacking attention (as in cases of Fischers who may need it more often), parrots are more inclined to revert back towards wild behavior than that for which was influenced by humans.

Hope some others can share their input.............:)