Sweet bird gone nasty?

[roastedpeppers]

I've had my parakeet for 3 years now. I got her from a petstore when she was a baby. It took almost a year to get her to trust me. She was really sweet at first. She'd let me pet her and loved being with me. But ever since this year she's been nasty. We let her out everyday but she mostly stays in her cage even if we have the door open. She bites and is very territorial of her cage. Sometimes her old self shows through but it's very seldom. I've been wondering why she became this way. It was a gradual change that occured over time. I was wondering if this happens with females? Is there any way to change her behavior or is she just a diva?

[LovelySydney]

Is she maybe becoming hormonal? ALthough I dont know why that would take 3 years for her behavior to change, but it IS possible. How long has this been going on? Has it been on and off? She might just be going through some sort of nesting stage and her behavior will fluctuate while this is happening. Has anything changed in the household? Has someone moved out or moved in? Youd be surprised what little changes can trigger a different mood in a bird.

[roastedpeppers]

I thought it was hormonal too. She has never had any nesting behavior or anything but ever since her cere (i think it's called) changed to brown she was crankier. She did move but the move is after her personailty change.

[RXK]

the brown cere is an indication that she wants to mate, so she's just being hormonal. also, you mentioned that she's being territorial, so this is another indication that she's getting hormonal and showing nesting behaviours. to curb this behaviour as much as possible, take anything in her cage that could be used as a nest out. then, move around her toys, perches, etc. in the cage. do this all of the time. and, even consider moving the cage around everyday. also, decrease the amount of daylight she gets everyday: allow her to sleep in complete darkness for 14 hours instead of 12 lets say. lastly, don't give her warm moist foods such as mashes, etc. give her pellets and of course keep the veg and fruits.

hope this helps! but, if it doesn't, all you can do is just bear it for a few weeks/months until she's back to her old self.

Good luck and please let us know how it goes!

[roastedpeppers]

Thanks I'll try it. I hope it goes away she has been this nasty for almost a year. is it possible to get stuck in this nesting mode?

[Angelsmum]

A post somewhere else suggested having artificial bed times, not going with the normal dusk and dawn time fluctuations through the seasons could be a reason why some are hormonal for so long. Eg the bird goes to bed at 8pm year round instead of eg 5pm winter, 9pm summer or whatever your times are.

[Johnni Gade]

Hormonal nesting behaviour 101 :) Can't really see any other option.

[Tinker]

Just wondering.. is there anyone else living there who might be treating her badly or just teasing her a bit more when you're not there?

[RXK]

Originally Posted by Angelsmum

A post somewhere else suggested having artificial bed times, not going with the normal dusk and dawn time fluctuations through the seasons could be a reason why some are hormonal for so long. Eg the bird goes to bed at 8pm year round instead of eg 5pm winter, 9pm summer or whatever your times are.

good point! always try to put them to bed and wake them up according to the current dusk and dawn times. it's just the most natural for them. and, to curb the nesting behaviour, just put them to bed earlier -like an hour or two earlier.

[roastedpeppers]

I don't think anyones harrasing her there are all adults in the house. I've been putting her to bed earlier and it seems to be working! Thanks guys :)