bare eyed cockatoo behavioral problems

[chadwick]

well, I spoke some time ago about some behavioral issues I was having from my bare eyed too...well things subsided for a bit and now they have escalated to a point where I do not know if I can keep him anymore...i'm his third home and I had no intention of placing him in another home however he has attacked my partners twice one time landing him in hospital with 22 stiches....I can't open his cage anymore without being attacked so he stays in the cage a great deal and if I leave him out of cage he tries to get other birds and furthermore he will not step up to put him back in....I took him to vet for blood work everything was fine, however, the vet herself had to turn the light off to be able to get him for the bloodwork....if I get him out he can be sweet but getting him out can be the real problem....the vet is suggesting valium 0.5 milligram....what is your suggestions on this...has anyone used valium for aggressive issues thank you chad

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I wish I could give you a good answer on this .I just took in a Goffin that was flying and attacking the family [minus the stitches ] .He was mad because he didn't have set times out and there was a big change in the family. They didn't want to deal with him anymore . I thought I would try because I was worried about the fate of this bird. At my house hes not doing that at all . But I was ready to keep trying different things.

 

[MonicaMc]

Have you tried going to a behaviorist or trainer??? Such as Lara Joseph or Barbara Heidenreich?

 

[chadwick]

well I've made the hard decision but I am going to go through with placing my cockatoo on valium....I got another severe bite...and I have no other choice.....hope he does ok. on it...

 

[Featheredsamurai]

have you ever considered trick training with a clicker? Basic things like touch training, as well as foraging toys? I've seen these methods used with great success with aggressive birds.

So sad to hear about the bites, being bitten badly must be a scary experience.

 

[chadwick]

Well, Most of the time I can't get near him which makes anytime of training hard...today he stepped up for me but then out of no where bit me hard on the hand took a while to stop bleeding....the vet has to turn the lights out to get him in order to do tests and to do grooming.....

 

[Mare Miller]

I'm so sorry to hear this, so sad for not only you but the bird. This bird must have had a previously hellish life, to not trust anyone. . I can't really give any advice, I have a demon Goffin's but I think she's normal, sometimes.

 

[MikeyTN]

Long time no see chadwick!!!

I know exactly how you feel with your Cockatoo, I recently had to give up on Java the U2 to a new home. They have him in a large flight aviary now. He became so dangerous it was hard to get him back in his cage. He would start biting for no apparent reason. And he does the fly attack towards my partner as well. That's something I was afraid of since he can fly and he's super territorial if he gets on the floor. I had to place a stick between him and I to keep him from attacking my feet. It was absolutely no use to clicker train him or any training cause I've tried them all with him. He won't even accept his favorite treats if he hears or sees the clicker. He wants to kill the clicker. He would drop his treat and go for the clicker. Have you thought about clipping his wings so he won't be flying to your partner to attack??

 

[chadwick]

Mickey Ty for comments I'm glad I'm not the only one with this type of experience.....his wings are clipped but he manages to jump enough to still get you....I had those perch type bowls where I had to open door and get in to feed him now I use crocks I can feed from outside...I definitely don't want him to be in his cage 24/7 I'm still taking him out when he will step up but it usually always end up with a bite when things are through....I do not want to rehome because h has been rehomed several times before and I dont personally feel nor am convinced it would help...at one point when I first got him he would snuggle right up to my face.....I know it's controversial and I don't necessarily like this option but I might try medication suggested by the vet but will monitor him closely and if I don't like his reaction to it take him off of it immediately....and the vet I go to is.board certified avian vet...let you all know if have any updates..thank you all for comments?laso I bought some frasier toys for him which have bolts and screws he can take pay with they are indestructible metal toys some with foraging aspect he's been playing with them non stop...so glad about that

 

[chadwick]

Please Keep Rodney in your prayers.....he went for my face today and I turned and put my hands up and he ended up on the floor....he was in shock for 10 mins and now is very lethargic...he went to the vet and she said everything looks ok......she suggested Lupron therapy which is very expensive 300 dollars a month....or Prozac....right now i'm trying some herbal medicine..praying he's ok.

 

[U2gal]

Perhaps you should rehome him? It'll probably be better for all three of you guys.

If he is going to bite and go for your face and your blocking him has him ended up lethargic for 10 minutes you really need to consider a new home for him and possibly re-evaluate yourself and how you deal with biting and aggression.

 

[chadwick]

He has been rehomed more times than I can count...Do you want me to just pass the problem along....Also, I do not appreciate your comment about re-evaluating myself on how I deal with aggression...Do you want me to just let him bite me in the face?

 

[U2gal]

No, I think you should learn his body language to prevent a bite.

If he was lethargic for 10minutes, you must have hit him hard. A bird less than a pound. I've had U2s try and attack my face. But once you can read body language you can prevent it.

I just think this cockatoo needs a professional. So you and your man are not hurt and so the cockatoo isn't hurt.

I recommend Barbara Heidenreichs Parrot Problem Solver. It has really belped me understand aggression.

 

[MikeyTN]

Chadwick,

I completely understand where your coming from! You must protect your face first over anything else cause they can put you in great deal on trauma just from the bite alone. My worst bite came from a goffin that bit my finger to the bone with a deep gash. They can be very nasty!!!!! Its probably best if you keep him at a distance anywhere near your face for now. I would really try to train him to step up to the perch for good so no more biting.

 

[U2gal]

I think when it comes to cockatoos, even a step up perch doesn't prevent them from flying at your face

What an extremely scary situation.

Chadwich, have you tried clicker training? Target training?

 

[chadwick]

First off, I did not hit the bird I put my hands up to prevent him from getting my face....As far as reading the body language......he comes across as being just fine and he stepped up just fine today...and once I had him he went for my face this is after having him out for sometime.....there are many times he does not come out b/c of his body language...i'm not giving up on the bird...the vet suggested several techniques to try which I am going to do....

 

[chadwick]

Mikey,

I"ve been trying the perch thing but he just grabs it with his beak and tries to throw it pull it out of my hand... I have not been able to get him to step up on it as of yet

 

[MikeyTN]

U2gal,

I don't disagree with you on reading body language but some times it is out of the blue with no sign or body language shown! I can read my birds pretty good but Java the U2 was a hard case as he turns 360 from being a sweet baby sleeping in my lap to waking up and wanting to come up to my face and when I told him no and blocked him with my arm he went into town attacking me multiple times while I was trying to be calm to put him back in the cage while he kept going. That took a split second from the time he woke up and started coming up then the attacks. He show no body language!!! By the end I ended up with multiple wounds and my arm drinching with blood. Imagine what would happen if he would of been by my face. All my customers asked me what happened to my arm cause it looked horrible.

 

[MikeyTN]

Mikey,

I"ve been trying the perch thing but he just grabs it with his beak and tries to throw it pull it out of my hand... I have not been able to get him to step up on it as of yet

Do a firm grip on the perch! Push it against their chest, use another perch to go from behind if you must. Then use two perches and rotate back and fourth for stepping up practices. He wi get it!

 

[chadwick]

Unfortunately, Though, sticking a perch in there seems to just exasperate his aggressive symptoms.....He gets all worked up attacking the perch......and believe me he can jump over the perch and be on my arm attacking it within seconds