What Do You Think Of This "Stop Biting" Water Additive?

[JennKerry]

Hi everyone, Im new this board, but not to birds. I have always had them since I was a kid. SO...Im pretty experienced, but not to this additive stuff I found at a local bird store in NJ. Im not exactly sure of what its called but, what you do is administer it via water and APPARENTLY it calms your bird/s and makes them behave, stop biting and screaming.

NOW...the only reason I even stopped to look at this stuff was because I have an extremly aggressive Jenday Conure that would take on the world if he could. Im sure that stuff is too good to be true but when you have a problem child, you want to believe anything to correct it!

Has anyone heard of this stuff and does it work? For a small bottle, they wanted $23 for it! Alot of money for something that could be potentially harmful or not work at all. Basically, at this point, he needs the "Bird Whisperer" cause the aggression is out of control. What would you do?

[Cindy215]

No sorry I dont believe in any substances to control behavior. They act the way they do for a number of reasons. Usually first it's always being on a bad schedule and not enough sleep. I'd follow a strict natural daylight schedule, sleeping dusk to dawn and take it from there.

Diet too, too much protein or calcium deficiency causes hyperactivity and aggression (if you want to call it that). But usually the bird is having a physical problem that the caretaker doesnt realize, IME. And because they are wild animals undomesticated they really aren't planning to do aggressive things their bodies are out of control and they cant help it. Sadly just one thing like sleep, out of cage time, enrichment, flying etc could fix it, (or other things) but it takes time to adjust everything.

What is the name of the stuff? (and please dont use it lol)

[jimpierce7]

only thing I have heard of people actually using has been chamomile tea. Quite a few questions like this though.

[Mammabird]

I have heard of people using "Rescue Remedy" for a variety of bird issues. It's by Bach Flower Essense. I've used it with my dogs, cats, myself, husband and kids also. I've never used it on my birds. Some people say it's the alcohol (27%) in it but usually for the cats I rub it on their ears rather then try to get it under the tongue and they spit it out. When my baby had a terrible time teething I rubbed some on his ears also and a little on the gum and he settled down. I use it on all the animals before 4th of July, in a cup of chamomile tea if I can't sleep.

[JennKerry]

I read the responses from my other post, and I can absolutly see how all of that would play a huge part in bird behaviour. All of my birds, except my Cockatoo are free roaming in the spare bedroom. Always have been. Now its not what you think, they cant get into anything or get hurt because this room is THERES, so everything is bird proofed. All 5 of them (2 Cockatiels, 1 Parakeet, Jenday and Cockatoo) live in this room and get attention, not too much, not too little, well balanced.

They have cages which they sleep in and go in and out of during to day to eat and drink. I attached a picture so you can see that they have all natural sunlight, which does shine in on them in the morning. They are def on a strict morning/bedtime schedule. They are up no later then 7:30 am and its a strict 8:00 bedtime in the summer, earlier in winter. I believe this is why 4 out of the 5 are very well behaved, disapline.

Nico loves to eat his greens, and basically every fruit and veggi offered. Its the tiels that turn their noses up at healthy food. We just started adding a vit suppliment to the water just in case. I look at some other bird owners and compared to us, we are the crazy bird people! LOL! Our birds are our kids, we give them everything and then-some! So, this is why Im so distraught.
They get all the food they could desire, have 100% freedom whenever they want, stare outside and yell out the window to the outdoor birds, have human interaction. Even for the parakeet, HE HAS GOT THE LIFE!!! And to boot, they stay put on there playsets, no wandering, no problems. Except for Nico, problem child. I dont know, maybe I'll make him an appt at the vet. Somethings gotta give!
Here are some pics of there room and our tiel Baby, looking out the window.
[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[jimpierce7]

thats an awesome set up. From what I have read the glass of the windows blocks the important part of the sun light, UV-A and UV-B. I really don't know a lot about this other then what I have read on these boards but I do wonder as birds are wonderfully intelligent creatures with various independent personalities, isn't it possible that even with perfect living conditions one could be a butt head?

[JennKerry]

Thats what Im thinkin! My friend and I were talking this morning and I said "Well, there are people who are a pain in the butt with their attitude, so why cant animals be the same?"

[tielmama]

I have a grumpy cockatiel named Snoopy. He has been that way from the start. I never try to hold him. I just talk nice to him and let him hang out with his friends. He's even grumpy with the birds, but not so aggresive that he is a problem. "Butt head". That's funny.
Look at his picture. You can tell by looking that he's a grouch.

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by tielmama

I have a grumpy cockatiel named Snoopy. He has been that way from the start. I never try to hold him. I just talk nice to him and let him hang out with his friends. He's even grumpy with the birds, but not so aggresive that he is a problem. "Butt head". That's funny.
Look at his picture. You can tell by looking that he's a grouch.

LOL yep but so cute.

[Cindy215]

JennKerry, I'd guess that little Nico is looking for a more parrot type friend. You're really all he has, IMO,IME Tiels stick together and love their flock. Budgies are really boring for a conure, so he's essentially the loner with nobody to party with in his parrot type way. That's just one guess.

Your setup is very nice and no offense but I think it's more for the small guys? Does he actually play on it and have stuff to chew etc? I've never had a parrot just entertain themselves on one play area. Mine fly from room to room investigating stuff. Like sitting on tops of armoires, ceiling fans, boings hanging from the ceiling,etc.

I dont think it's a natural behavior to sit on the play area all the time for a parrot they want to fly around and do other stuff. But in his case I'd def take him for a vet visit, review his diet especially how he's getting calcium and maybe try and give him a routine that he can depend on. Like a complicated breakfast that he can fool around with, then after breakfast he gets to bathe, then rest about 11, , then play, then eat 2-4, etc etc...the same every day like you're doing with the sleeping.

Thank you for caring about him and trying to figure out what's going on. It's tricky sometimes but hopefully it'll come together.