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Part 2
DEALING WITH THE FEAR BITER
For obvious reasons, caretakers should not deal with a frightened parrot in the same manner as with a headstrong, obstinate parrot. If Lilly’s owners responded to her fear-based aggression with frowns and laddering, they would only frighten her more, and possibly seriously damage their relationship.
Humans can be quite obtuse regarding communication that doesn’t include words, often missing important body language in our own kind. Body language of different parrot species is quite complex, and understanding it - even to a limited degree - is a daunting task that none of us have fully overcome, experienced or not. This is a difficult component of parrot ownership, and there is no shortcut; at times, parrots are not easy companions. However, parrot people can learn a great deal if they pay attention.
With many psittacine species, a frightened bird tends to get exceptionally skinny, with all feathers slicked down tight to the body. A parrot that responds to that fear with aggression might blow out its feathers to make it look much bigger than it actually is. In both cases, the parrot’s eyes will show its fear.
Lilly’s person needs to reassure her that she is safe. Introducing her to other people in neutral territory with patience and love, could teach Lilly that new people are fun and interesting. Initially, she should only expect Lilly to step onto the outsider’s hand politely, and then step right back onto her trusted caretaker’s hand. Lilly’s good manners are then rewarded lavishly with smiles and praise. Each time that Lilly does this successfully, she is learning that positive things happen when she is compliant with new people.
Food treats can be useful in this situation. Owners need first identify if a parrot has a particular food that it adores, then withhold that treat from her food bowl. When Lilly responds positively to handling by new people, then the new person might offer that treat. If she is hesitant to take food from this new person (a reasonable response for a shy bird), the owner can reward with this special treat.
Sally Blanchard’s warm potato game is extremely useful for introducing new people to a parrot and maintaining a friendly relationship over time. Involving all of the people that wish to interact with the parrot, they gather with the bird in neutral territory. Sitting in a circle, the bird is passed slowly from one person to the next with the up command. On his/her turn, each person interacts positively with the bird (i.e., praising enthusiastically, playing, talking with animation, etc.), and then passes it to the next circle member. The process is repeated several times. Through this exercise, parrots learn that each person in the circle is to be accorded the proper respect. If repeated every couple of weeks for the rest of the parrot’s life, such positive relationships can be maintained.
With a shy bird like Lilly, the owner should start with one other person and get her comfortable with that. Other people can be added gradually, as Lilly learns that new people are not a threat. Needless to say, those wishing interaction with a parrot need instruction in handling protocols, so consistency is maintained. All people involved should maintain the same rules of handling the owner has established and not, for example, allow a parrot to shoulder if the owner does not wish it. When working with a shy parrot, new people must also understand to talk quietly and move slowly and smoothly.
DEALING WITH THE HORMONAL PARROT
When living with a sexually intact animal, hormonal behaviors are a fact of life. Once sexually mature, most parrots go through hormonal or nesting behaviors at least once a year. Also called spring behavior, nesting behaviors do not always occur during the spring season. My 40+ year old Blue and gold macaw hen still cycles with her wild counterparts, coming into nesting season November-January, which is the summer season south of the equator. Nesting behaviors are a normal rhythm of nature, and there is nothing you or your parrot can do except wait it out. You can be aware, understanding, and alert to the possible changes, in hopes of minimizing the negative side effects wherever possible.
An abrupt behavior change in a mature parrot (that is not evidence of a medical problem) can generally be classed as hormonal behavior. Hormone levels are not under voluntary control in any animal, so parrots cannot keep it in check, any more than humans can. Since parrots are genetically wild animals, rising hormone levels start dictating what they should be doing in the savannahs of Africa or the rainforests of South America … not what they should be doing in our living rooms. Instincts tell them to find a mate and establish territory. If they think they already have a mate in their favorite person, they might begin to defend that mate from any competition, thereby attacking their favorite person’s significant other. They may start trying to make a nest by finding a dark corner in which to shred various materials, which is what my macaw does in the cereal cabinet if I am not vigilant.
All these responses are normal and natural, but can create serious problems for companion parrots and their people. Inexperienced caretakers are upset at how differently their hormonal parrot might act. In worse case scenarios, they might interpret their parrots’ sudden aggression as being proof their psittacine no longer loves them, or that they must give their bird to a breeder since it obviously wants to raise young.
This is communication breakdown is tremendously sad, especially for the parrots. They are the ones who end up losing their homes. Nesting behavior is a fact of life when people share their homes with parrots, and it is not the end of the world. Most parrots show an obvious change in body language when they become hormonal, and experienced caretakers know to leave them alone during those times. This is what my husband has learned to do with me when I’m hormonal, and that technique works nicely with other species as well.
When Perky the Maximilian is hormonal, he flares his tail like a peacock. His neck feathers rise and he holds his wings a little bit away from his body. His eyes flash wildly and he stomps back and forth. Pionus display behavior looks very similar to the displays of many other species of male psittacine. His caretaker understands this body language means that her loving little parrot is awash in testosterone, and wisely does not pick him up on her hand until he settles down. In addition to “up” training, Perky is also trained to step onto a handheld perch so she can move him as needed without getting bitten. Perch training is an old technique that all parrot people should do with their birds, aggressive or not.
Parrots in the throes of hormones are not always aggressive. I have known several psittacines who become more loving while in nesting season, some of whom are not into cuddling the rest of the year. One of my clients has an Orange-winged Amazon that is so adorable when she is hormonal that her doting owners refuse to go out of town during this time.
DEALING WITH THE SICK PARROT
Obviously, the sick parrot is biting because it feels bad, and this is a separate issue from the “normal” problem behavior of biting. As previously mentioned, abrupt personality changes can be a hallmark of a parrot becoming sick, and any such change necessitates a visit to the avian veterinarian. When feeling ill, aggressive parrots may also get more loving than usual. Consequently, the concerned owner should invest in diagnostic testing.
Lucy’s anxious owners had her checked by her avian veterinarian, and testing reveled a bacterial infection. Shortly after treatment was begun, Lucy began to feel better and returned to her normal gentle and amiable self.
Consequently, when a parrot is biting, caretakers must identify why, before deciding how to deal with the problem. Will the techniques explained in this article resolve the problems with every companion parrot? Absolutely not. However, if parrot people think through what their biting parrots are trying to tell them, they might find that the problem is easily resolved.
This article was first printed in the November 2001 issue of Bird Talk, Vol 19 No 11
Liz Wilson, Certified Veterinary Technician, has been assisting pet bird owners with parrot behavior problems for over a decade through lectures, phone consultations, and house calls in the Greater Philadelphia area
Copyright Elizabeth H. Wilson, 2003.
All rights reserved. Parts or whole may be reprinted, but not distributed without express written permission of the author.
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