Bird gone aggressive...

[g11d]

Hello,

I have a bit of an issue. My lovebird, AVI, has always been a bit - "bitey". My wife and I can handle him, he likes to chew on hands and fingers and stuff, but really was gentle with the two of us, and not so gentle with others. Recently he has become extremely agressive. Very little has changed in the environment, we haven't changed his food, he's still being fed regularly, water changes daily, etc, all the normal stuff. We had been used to taking him out of his cage once or twice a day for "cuddle" time, but as of right now any sort of attempt to scratch him or touch him results in aggressive squaks, using his beak to push your fingers/hands away and very aggressive biting. So much so that we can't get him out of his cage.

If anyone has any insight as to why a bird could flip and this is pretty much an overnight change, please we need some help.

g11d

[linda040899]

Hi and welcome to our community!
You refer to your lovebird as "him." Are you sure? The sudden change in behavior sounds like you may have a hormonal hen on your hands! When hormones kick in, the behavior of a female can change just that drastically, at least for the time that hormones are in control of behavior....

[BarbieH]

Sounds like henny behavior to me, too. At least, it sounds hormonal. There is nothing abnormal about it, but you will want to stop trying to handle your bird while this is going on, for the safety of your own hands.

Have you trained your bird to step up onto a dowel or cage perch? It's a good way to move her around, and get her in and out of the cage, while she's in her present nippy mood.

Best wishes,

[mjm8321]

I agree with the other two responses....hormones! How old is Avi? Is Avi shredding paper or chewing up wooden toys and perches, aggressively banging toys and feed dishes? Crazy pacing in the bottom of the cage?

[Mummieeva]

Could your bird be molting? If so it could hurt him to be touched right now. Does he have a place to bathe during the day?



Steph

[Janie]

I don't have a hen but it sure sounds like hen behavior from what I've read here. I have three males and even when they are molting they are not in the least bit aggressive and I don't ever see any changes in their personalities. If you're positive Avi is a male and this behavior is really different for the norm, I would take him to his/her avian vet to rule out a medical problem.

[g11d]

Unfortunately I am not sure of Avi's gender. Not even sure how to tell so researching that on the board now :). Likewise he/she... it :( is shredding its hanging perches... we have this really cool 3 rope/hoop job that Avi has shredded and it now hangs by two ropes, barely the third.

Thank you so much for the responses, I had a friend also offer up the fact that we are packing, boxes, a lot of movement in the apartment now, and that may be setting Avi off... thought I'd add that as well.

Thanks again, any further insights would be appreciated

g11d

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Like the others, I think you've got a hen on your hands. The shredding and the attacking of fingers that enter the cage, is typical hen behavior. Congratulations, it's a girl! :)

Welcome to the world of hormonal hens. First order of business, how to handle a hen who is in her cage: Don't! :lol Seriously, many hens are very territorial when in or near their cages. Let her come to you, and your chances of being bitten should decrease. Like Barb said, training her to step up on a dowel will help you get her out of the cage when she's in a mood.

When my little hen is hormonal, she is very short-tempered. I make sure that I am paying very close attention to her body language when I'm handling her or I will be bitten for sure.

It's entirely possible that all of the recent activity in your house is adding to it, but my first guess would be hormones. :)

[butterfly1061]

Unfortunately I am not sure of Avi's gender. Not even sure how to tell so researching that on the board now :). Thanks again, any further insights would be appreciated
The only way to know for sure the gender of your lovebird is to have a DNA test done. Sometimes you can tell by behavior patterns, but the best choice is DNA. You can order kits, do it yourself and send it to the DNA companies or your avian vet can do one.

[Cakepro]

Of course, if she lays an egg, you'll know. :D That's what my bird of unknown gender did, much to our enormous surprise!