Hawkhead

[ilikebirds]

I will post the pics later today, but I visited my friend yesterday who has a hawkhead. He was handfed, and used to be super sweet. When my friend tries to get him out of the cage, he freaks out, starts crying, and wildly tries to get away. He is acting cagebound. He didnt do this a year ago. I suggested maybe he take Pete to his room a few hours a day, and let him run around, maybe strenthening thier bond. But he cant get him out. Pete will get past him, and dive under furniture. When he finally gets Pete, he just freezes. He can then pet him and love him, but given a second, Pete takes off. I have read somewhere online, that hawkhead parents chase the young quite aggressively from the nest. Maybe Pete is playing off this instinct and thats why he runs? I think he is 3 years old. On another note, He will say hi to me, I can pet him in the cage. I used to be able to take him out and play with him, hed lay all over me, wrestle, and do hawkhead funny stuff. Now, if he comes out and sees me, he wants to kill me. I dont know how to react. If my meyer bites me, I give him the stink eye, tell him to be good, and he will start preening me, and is a good boy. But this bird is not biting because I told him no, or put my hand in the cage. When he has latched on, I do not react. He doesnt care and will keep biting, over and over. Tell him to be good and it gets worse. Put him in the cage for time out, he just stares, tail fanned, hawk half errect, plotting my death. When he comes out again, hes back at it. So what would be the appropriate response? My birds have never bit from aggression, and I still want to be his friend. You cant turn your back: at one point he went to the floor, started to climb my leg, and then just savegly attacked my pants. I want to be able to play with him when I visit. But I dont want to make it worse. He doesnt care where he bites, he will even run and jump at me from the other side of the room. Ive gotten used to putting my hand out so he doesnt bite me elsewhere. But I dont want to bleed anymore, and it makes me sad we are not buddies anymore.

[hollyhawkz]

I think I remember reading something about hawkheads changing. It might have been xafsmom....

[ilikebirds]

So here they are. I wish they were from outside the cage, but he is a different bird when he is out. I have some experience with aggressive birds. My lutino lovebird is extremely cage agro, easily solved by having her dowel trained. No more bitey. The Wagler's conure is slightly cage agro, and super bossy if she makes it to your shoulder, heaven forbid. But this too is solved with dowel training. My meyers does not like it when I tell him no, he'll get a tude, but the stink eye solves that. I was helping with rehab of neglected parrots. The worst case was a severe macaw. She was super cage aggressive, and hated people. Time broke her down after 6 months. This lady had her for 5 years and was ready to sell her as a breeder. She instead found a loving home. I would remove her from the cage, with a dowel, and take her around with me. I think that helped her to trust me. She turned into a very loving hands on bird, but never really liked men. Pete just confuses me. I know he is not my bird, but we were friends, and the owner is having such a hard time. The owner cant even pet him anymore. I dont think it is cage aggression, it doesnt seem to be a dominance thing, as he doesnt stop attacking. Maybe it is hormonal, but this has lasted way longer than a season. A year. If anyone has anything to say, even if its about a zon, or macaw, please share it with me.




















When we were pals...

[Winged_Victory]

Hi, Our HH's very seldom bite except when they are jealous of another bird, we keep them in a bird room with macaws. They do not like me playing with our blue and gold, any other bird seems to be OK. Every now and then I will get a nip from one of them and it is hard to tell what triggers it. They are very cautious of what you wear. I was wearing a ball cap the other day and all they did was want to flare their tail and his, once I took it off they were OK. The bird could be jealous of you talking to your friend or maybe you are dressing different. Gives those ideas some thought. How is the bird with everyone else.

gary