Angry Bird is Angry!

[KaylaD8528]

I'm getting very confused! I need a little behavior and care guidance here.

I've had my parrotlet, Chicklet, since early August. When I got her, she seemed nervous but happy. She has always been skittish of hands, but would happily ride around on my shoulder anywhere I would go, not to mention putting some nice holes in my shirts. Needless to say we got along great.

Two weeks ago, I started college. I'm not around every day, all day anymore, but I am around 18+ hours a day on the four days I do go to school. All my classes start and 1pm and end before 4pm. However, since I've started college, I've had a very very angry parrotlet on my hands. Or, I precise her behavior as angry.

If I talk to her, she takes an attack stance/crouches and puffs her feathers and clucks incessantly, scampering back and forth on her perch and attacking the nearest toy. Same if I touch her food/water/toys/cage, stand up to leave the room, come back into a room, or.. Really do anything besides sit quietly.

When I do leave a room, my bird with not cease her flock calls until she can see some part of my body again.

My main question here really is: Just WHAT is my bird trying to tell me?

[LovelySydney]

I think that your bird senses there is change around the house and change within your relationship so she's trying to tell you she isn't happy about that! = ) No worries, she will adjust, its just going to take some time for her to understand that her parront isnt going to be around as much, but loves her just the same!!


Since you are going to school and Im sure you are getting busier with your time, just spend as much time with her as you can. Try & get into a routine that wont change too much. I get up in the morning and wake my birds up and make them breakfast. I then sit with them and talk to them while they eat and I eat. This gives us some time together in the morning. When I go off to work I say my goodbyes and then come back at lunch and repeat the same process as I do in the morning. Even if I had no time to spend with them in the evening, I know I have spent 2 good hours with them. Of course, I DO spend time with them in the evening, roughly 5-6 hours.


I found it best to be in a routine with my birds. That way they know what to expect and anticipate and things dont get too complicated with their behaviors. Your relationship with your bird will go back to normal, its just going to take some adjustment is all!! Good luck & keep us posted, I know things will be fine.

[hollyhawkz]

Yup, I totally agree!

[Amaranita]

She also might be starting to be hormonal. That will not help. She will, for a short period of time, become highly irrational and attack basically anything that gets her attention. This will pass (until next year again). Good luck. Treat her with plenty of patience and love and it will be returned.

[skthurley]

How often do you change the layout of her cage?

Parrotlets can be prone to territorial behaviour. I personally do a small change to Jack's cage every week, and once a week, completely change things around. I've had him a year (in a week) and have had no issues with territorial behaviour