Conure has horrible biting/screaming issues after moving in with my sister.

Hi!
I've had Jojo, the Jenday Conure, for about 3 years. He was always such a sweetheart- Cooing at me, letting me hold him on his back, and all that.

For the first 2 years of his life I lived with my mom and sister. Then, a year ago, I moved in with my boyfriend. Everything seemed fine. He liked my boyfriend. He slowly grew some slight behavioral issues, like biting at random times occasionally (not enough to draw blood) and not letting me handle him as much-- but nothing severe.

4 months ago I moved out of my boyfriend's house into my dad and sister's home. He grew a liking to my dad at first, but quickly grew an insane attachment to my sister. If she's anywhere in the house he will fly to her quickly and shun everyone else.

The REAL problem is that he's become a nightmare to be around if she's anywhere nearby. He will fly from her to me, just in order to bite me. I'll shoo him away, because he will literally be chomping down on any flesh he can find, as hard and long as he can. But when I shoo him away, he fly's back to do it again. I have to actually run away and out of the room. This is extremely out of the ordinary, as he has NEVER bitten me hard enough to draw blood before I moved back home. As we speak, I have red marks from bleeding on two of my fingers, the back of my neck, and my ribcage. Its gotten so bad that I'm actually scared to be around him if he's in the same room as her. When he flies to me, instead of being all "Hi, Jojo!" like I used to be, I duck into the same stance a student does in an earth quake drill, in order to protect my face. I'm sure me ducking and saying "GET HIM OFF ME!" doesn't make it any better. I'm working on not reacting so much, but its like seeing a flying banshee make a run for you!!

He has also developed a serious screaming problem. He's been screaming so much that I have a hearing test scheduled this week.

Sorry for the rant, yall, but I'm at my wits end. He's a sweetheart when we're alone, but an absolute devil any other time. What should I do?

Following. I am sorry you are going through this. Have you tried One on one clicker training? Obviously without your sister around.

My take on this, and in no way is meant to criticize you, is that he has emotional scars and is acting out on them with you. Parrots are capable of a lot of different emotions and they are not much different then ours. The causes may be different, but they can feel joy, sadness, fright and resentment and others (this is not empirically proven, but long time parrot owners will attest to this). Just about the only thing you can do is try to reset the clock with him, as if he is a new parrot (with a lot of baggage ) and go from there. SOme species do this better than others, amazons in example, but I think that's how you should proceed. Be aware this can take a long time, weeks, months or even years at the outside, but with patience it can be done.

wrench13 said:

My take on this, and in no way is meant to criticize you, is that he has emotional scars and is acting out on them with you. Parrots are capable of a lot of different emotions and they are not much different then ours. The causes may be different, but they can feel joy, sadness, fright and resentment and others (this is not empirically proven, but long time parrot owners will attest to this). Just about the only thing you can do is try to reset the clock with him, as if he is a new parrot (with a lot of baggage ) and go from there. SOme species do this better than others, amazons in example, but I think that's how you should proceed. Be aware this can take a long time, weeks, months or even years at the outside, but with patience it can be done.

Click to expand...

This comment made me realize I'm not being very understanding of my dear Jojo. I've been dealing with a lot of stress in recent months from a new job, new people, and a new environment, and I'm sure that he's probably going through the same sort of thing. He went from a very quiet home to a very bustling one with cats, a dog, and new people. He can probably feel my stress, too.

I'll take your advice, and try to reset the clock with him. Thank you so much! I'll update yall whenever possible.

Its possible he has now chosen your sister as his mate.

It is also hormonal season which can increase vocalization.

I will find a couple of links to articles I like sbd share.

A screaming parrot is an unhappy frustrated parrot. I have taken 2 screamers on by choice , and been able to help them. And my medical fosters were usually screamers to. It really is the basics, increasing out of cage time, fir parrots empire behavior issues aim for 6 hours out of cage time..Greet them in the morning, greet and say good bye when coming and going,this gives them the feeling of some control and predictability. a good diet, eating those veggies, foraging, short 5 min trying session something simple and fun. All of tge environmental changes sbd enrichment decrease screamers by 80%, and then you tweak reward quiet behavior, reward whistle or talking, patterning, rituals. Prevrnt screaming from starting if yiu know tge predictable times its likely yo hspoen. Tgrn do a short training session, or hide treats under paper or simple things and play sbd hunt together. Then encourage a bath by splashing in a large wide sturdy fish I use brownie glass baking dish. Or spritz up do falls down on burd. This helps reset and prevent a screaming session. Over time as you are meeting their needs, and setting new routines the screaming will dissappear. Csn take a couple of month's

If you ask me 90% of screaming is a bird not getting out of the cage enough hours during the day.

https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

It can be extremely beneficial to mood to spend time outdoors, secure the bottom grate sbd all doors and roll the cage outside into light shade, you must stay with them ! I have had a stray cat suddenly appear, or snake, or the sun can shifted cause heat stroke. When weather permits. They get so much enjoyment from this, and mine are always are calmer abd quieter after getting outside. Or a bird safe travel cage ho fir acwslk ir bike ride together.

This is about hormones. But this is never the sole cause and shouldn't be used as sn excuse. It can be a compounding issue, and part of the problem. Birds tend to be more vocal during breeding season .
https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/2019/08/28/hormonal-behavior-in-parrots/

Y'all, its getting worse..and I think I'M the one making it worse.

He's out most of the day with my dad and sister when I'm at work and they said he only bites occasionally and DOES scream too much, but not an insane amount. When I get home from work, though, he goes crazy. Now he bites me even when my sister isn't around, and my frenzied anxieties about getting bit egg him on.

I feel like a terrible person for how I react to his presence now. I basically go into panic mode when he's around, and I'm visibly tense, on edge, and defensive. When he flies to me I assume he wants to hurt me and I shake him off. I hate that I get like that because I KNOW he feeds off of that negative anxious energy, but I can't control it. Its like a panic attack.

I don't know how to remedy these behavioral issues when I'm a scared, anxious mess when he's around.

I need to rebuild my relationship with him without the fear of getting hurt. Can I use bird gloves and perhaps a thick hat and jacket to avoid getting bit or would that just make the issue worse?

Get rid of any huts, tents or shadowy spaces, make sure no one is petting him anywhere other than the head or neck...do not wrap him in blankets, let him under furniture or clothing etc...no shadowy spaces. Adult parrots tend to seek these out as nesting behavior and it can really amplify and alter hormones, as well al behavior. Although this is not definite, they are all hormonal and humans tend to forget what is sexual for them and what drives them to do what they do.

10-12 hours of sleep nightly=essential for mood, hormones and immunity-- make sure he is getting solid/quiet sleep on a schedule, just like a kid with a bedtime and wake-up every day.

Parrots can and do shift preferences around new people- was he ever around other people when you guys got alone, or was it always just the 2 of you (where he never really had the option)? My bird bites me more at my parents' house too because she is obsessed with my dad. It took about a year for her to chill out around him. While she is still WILD about him, she doesn't get as aggressive with others when he is around now...HOWEVER- she also never was given any contact or attention from him when she bit others to get to him (he never took her after or during-- not even if the biting was really painful). You need to be sure that you are not rewarding this behavior inadvertently.

How long is he out each day?
How does your sister react when he goes for her?
How does she pet him when she does?


If you can get him off yourself, that is much more ideal. Your reactions are definitely making it worse because it's hurting your relationship/trust on top of everything-- you are also teaching him to use biting etc to manipulate you and get a little show out of the deal while he's at it. I also have a feeling that your sister probably is the one who removes him from you and that is pure gold for your bird because it gets him the attention and contact he wants from her, while eliminating you from the equation. If the attacks get really bad, you could consider a mild clip, but that is controversial and could upset him more (there are so many things outside of him that led to this). Parrots LOVE routine, notice super tiny changes, and stay with their mates for long periods--- you lost part of his flock, he has a whole new environment and routine....plus it is spring...and he has many new options for mates within this environment. The first year or so of his life, you wouldn't have seen as much of this behavior because they don't sexually mature until around 1 year. It is also possible, that if you were petting him in an inadvertently sexual way, that you frustrated him sexually, which can cause them to lash out at their "mate" (but again, there is so much going on here- not just hormones).



This sounds like it started with your boyfriend's house (which could have been due to jealousy, hormones, routine and environment change, living with more than one person all of the sudden, loss of trust etc)-- Then it sounds like the mood or even root cause carried on...again- it's really hard to know exactly, but studying and religiously following ABA, patiently rebuilding trust/not forcing contact (while allowing him out still), setting up a loose routine and using key phrases to narrate what you are doing, ensuring 10 hours SOLID sleep, removing hormones/triggers etc can likely make this situation livable again, but it will take time and all family members will need to be committed.



I know it sounds like you have had a lot going on, but it could just be that you are 2nd to your sister in your birds eyes. That may not last, but all of the moving around etc can absolutely be very hard on them and they can take it out on your if you are the one who keeps messing up their routine/good situation with changes . If you have ever known a person with autism (yes, it is a very very wide spectrum, so this does not apply to all) but parrots have a lot in common when it comes to certain tendencies (again, speaking in general)---love of routine, fixed/stubborn mindset about certain thing, attention to detail, fixed interests, sensory uniqueness, over-stimulation issues etc.


I am going to post a bunch of stuff on ABA and it is extremely useful for parrots (although it is also used for children and adults). It stands for applied behavior analysis and it works for pretty much everything . I will post it separately after I find it.

Okay- here is a link where I already posted a bunch on ABA--- the first response was an example that I posted to the OP based on another situation (just because it gave a good overview) but--what you need to know is that all behavior happens out of the desire to get 1/4 things gratified--- ESCAPE, ATTENTION, SENSORY OR TANGIBLE ITEMS. So, after you read that first response to the OP, please see the links on my response following that one. Those tell more about ABA etc.

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/89020-conure-biting-sometimes.html


^ see above


This is the other really good link I wanted to post (I cant copy and paste old hyperlinks without breaking them) so I am posting the link to a thread that I already posted the links in--- see my responses to the OP and view my advice in the threads that are linked within the following (again, they all focus on ABA) --> http://www.parrotforums.com/training/86854-my-parrot-keepsbiting-me.html -------INSIDE that link you will find a bunch of other links (like this one: http://www.parrotforums.com/quakers/85621-casey-acting-increasingly-hostile-towards-fiance.html) --there are many others on that original "parrot keeps biting me" post as well.


Here is one I wrote on screaming in response to someone else --see my reply for info on biting and screaming http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/88684-biting-senegal-parrot.html (my reply is at the bottom of page 1)

Hi just chiming in with a few thoughts.

Keep in mind that (so far!) I have been blessed by my Sunnie's good nature, and also she is younger than yours, so this is just a little brainstorming here.

But one of the things that jumps-out at me, is your "shaking him off" response.

I feel that IF my Sunny were out of her cage enjoying flying around, and bit me, I would #1 Not Respond (that is, my own panic-response is to "Freeze," and I find this helpful in many situations such as biting), and, #2 RETURN BIRDIE TO CAGE. For a time-out.

The No-Biting Command, is "BE GENTLE." Sometimes preceded by a sharp "Hey!"-- this is because I have observed my budgies, if one nips at the other, along with moving away they will often give a sharp chirp-or-twitter. (That way, if the offense was Accidental, the other can learn from it.)

Feel free to tell your bird, "Be Gentle!" ANY TIME it is biting you or seems ready to do so. This is a Great Command because Not Only will the bird learn it, you are actually also reminding yourself to respond somewhat more gently than you might.

Your family members also need to be consistent whether you are around Or Not. IF the bird bites, when he is enjoying out-of-cage time, even if it's rarely for them, he needs returned to the cage for time-out. In a calm, non-punitive, time-limited manner. With as little kerfluffle as possible.

So from bird's point-of-view, whether it's you or someone else, he is having an exciting time, flying around, doing what he wants, etc - everything is exciting, UNTIL he bites someone. THEN immediately - his life gets BORING. His fun / excitement / access to Preferred Person AND access to preferred Victim - immediately (temporarily) ENDS.

IF this can be done consistently, along with making sure birdie gets enough sleep, good diet, removal of hormonal triggers, and lots-of-love when Not biting -- there is a good likelihood of solving the problem.

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Regarding covering-up. I have definitely read somewhere on this forum of someone -- or several someones? -- who felt it necessary to approach their bird pre-bandaged etc., and was able to build a relationship from there. The Problem with Covering UP - it Can heighten aggression, as you now appear differently than bird is used-to.

The BENEFIT, which in your case I think Very Important, it can Help YOU relax in the bird's presence, as you work to repair your relationship. This is Really Important, because birds are amazingly sensitive to Our Emotions, and right now I think you are caught in a feedback-loop. Covering-up could help break that loop, As Long As it allows YOU to relax around your bird.

So personally, I think a combination of covering-up (long sleeves, gloves -- maybe plastic food-prep gloves?, collar turned up & buttoned) could be a very good plan. I would try to avoid covering your face, but IF that is needed at first to help you Relax around him, well, then go all the way with covering.

I'm sorry you have extreme anxiety, fear, and stress. All this is created a negative feed back loop.

I'm not good at helping that. The general advice fir life forms, 10 hours of sleep, eliminating any caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, reduce sugars, increase fiber. Increase exercise, ..taking a 30 min walk in nature has been shown to stress reduction and benefits wuth sunlight exposure also a mood booster.


I will link my stress parrot article if I haven't already. Ok I see i linked it earlier. Did yiu get the chance to read it?

For human anxiety-- you might also look into a high quality CBD oil-- you can take it under your tongue(or in other ways) and it helps a lot of people with anxiety (but make sure it's real cbd oil) because there is a lot of misleading marketing out there).

I would honestly suggest a wing clip for your Jenday -- a bird who flies to attack and intentionally bite should not be allowed full flight in my opinion.

You may notice a BIG change in his behavior afterwards, aka can't get to you to bite means I can't have full flight again until I learn manners.