Strange Behavior (Black Lory - "Jax")

[Nafretiri]

So recently (and I mean about 5 months recently), I adopted a Black Lory from a pet store I was working at. I fell in love instantly with this little guy and had to have him.

That's the background of how I came to be a first time bird owner. And I love having this guy around. I came to find out that I am this bird's fourth owner in 4 years (that's how old I've been told he is). He has some strange behaviors I can't quite seem to work around, but other than that he is extremely lovable and clownish.

1)My first problem with him is that he is extremely terrified of my boyfriend, I don't know why, I only assume that one of his previous owners neglected him somehow. A terrible thought, but what else can explain it? Is there any hope that he will ever stop being afraid of him?

2)My second problem is that, through a bit of research I've found out that he may be in the heat of mating season. He's been humping and rubbing his butt on things, he dances in the mirror an awful lot at himself and recently (here's the part that has me baffled) he has been sitting at the bottom of his cage shredding the paper and just not wanting anyone to be near him.

3)I find that he really does not like getting his cage cleaned. He gets aggressive, noisy and completely uncontrollable. Which as you can imagine is very frustrating, even if you try to be extremely patient.

Is there anything I can do to help these problems, is there anything I should be concerned about?

[Lori~D]

1. Are you sure of his sex? Did a Dna test get done?
2. Get rid of the mirror for now and
3. Try to clean his cage when he is somewhere else. He/she is being prtective of the nest. This can also explain why he does not want "your other mate" around. Its all normal behavior.
4 The bottom of cage paper thing is nesting behavior - males and females will do it. Put the grate back in if you have one.

[Nafretiri]

Thanks for the tips. I will certainly do these things.

I'm only sure of his sex as far as what my pet store told me. He wears a serial tag on his leg, not sure if there's any way to track that. He rubs himself a lot on anything, and often, since I'm assuming it is mating season, and he wasn't like this for the first few months. Other than that he has other "behaviors" which I was told are male oriented. I never asked about a DNA test, but I assume he may have been tested before he was originally sent to the pet store he was originally bought from in Newfoundland.

I wish I could explain the extent of how this little guy acts when my boyfriend isn't around, and then, how he changes so suddenly, when he is. It's like night and day, honestly.

He is loud and does not like to be away from me for any length of time, but when my boyfriend is home he gets quiet and becomes shy to come out of his cage.

Something else strange I forgot to mention was his... hate of singing. Anytime I sing he gets extremely aggressive. I found myself on the wrong end of a hard nip one day and I don't sing with him anywhere near me anymore.

I wish I had started with a younger bird, that hadn't been introduced to conditions I was not informed about and will never have any idea about, since I neither know nor can contact the previous owners. And I wish I had done more research on the bird himself. But I love him to death anyways :P

Thanks again.

[Lori~D]

ONe other thing - How many hours of darkness is he getting?. As breeders do change the lighting to meet the seasons and this can affect each bird. If he is getting too many daylight hours (as in summer) he/she will stay in breeding mode. work him down to where he is getting to bed in a dark quiet room for upwards of 12- 14 hours of dark quiet sleep for the winter. Use a sleep cage or move his cage and use a playstand for the daytime depending on your schedule. Sounds like a male but a DNA test needs to be done and can be done at home for about $20. It will help you keep your new little one happier by knowing his or her needs and cancel out the possibility of the risk of egg binding. More sleep. no mirror and NO nesting material or hiding places. Do the increase in darkness over a period of a few weeks and I bet you will see a different bird. Your bird has chosen you as a mate and doesnt want your boyfriend around. As for the singing?? well....maybe he is saying "dont quit your day job" LMAO! Just kidding. Actually he might not hate it at all - Birds get loud together in the wild all at the same time. When you sing - he gets overly excited. Are you aware that a MAle bird in most species of Parrots will "DRIVE" the mate back to the nest for some hanky panky with aggressive behaviors like screaming and biting. esp at her feet and wings (or your hands and toes). They will also try to drive the mate away from percieved danger the same way. Hence the reaso you can get a good bite when your boyfrind walks into the room while your bird is on you. Because he loves you and wants to protect you from danger. Not because he hates something. You have to think outside the box with birds...most of the time the reaction they are having is totally opposite of what we might be thinking it is.

[Nafretiri]

thanks so much :D This helps me a great deal with handling him.