Behavior change

[KAYREX]

My gcc, Tucker seems to have had a severe attitude change over the last few days and I'm wondering if an encounter with someone pushing his limits too far could have sparked it. Tucker is 3 and I'm his 3rd home. He's made HUGE progress in the last 8 months, but there are still things I know he's uncomfortable with. My friends uncle who is also a conure owner came over to see him and instantly started to treat Tucker the way he would his own bird. He grabbed him and flipped him upside down and was touching him everywhere. I was screaming inside, but because Tucker wasn't biting or struggling I kept quiet. Tucker's wing has been hurt previously and I can't even touch his feet, these are all things were working on. Slowly!! Before the visit ended Tucker had bit my friends uncle AND wife drawing blood. He also drew blood the next day when my other roommate went up to him. He hasn't bit that hard in so so long... And now when he steps up he shakes and watches his cage because he just wants to go back. He doesn't squawk while on my shoulder and I feel like he's terrified of me all over again. I'm so sad. his appetite and movements are normal. He's still playing and being 'Tucker' with his best bud One Bite (budgie), so I don't think he's sick... Any suggestions? Could that visit be the reason he's regressing? Or am I connecting dots that aren't there?

 

[SilverSage]

It sounds to me like an issue of broken trust, just like you are thinking. He was learning to trust humans, but one scared him again. He is most likely biting out of fear. Keep in mind that birds naturally fly away rather than fighting, but when they can't fly because they are clipped, the fight can come out awfully fast. I suggest starting at the beginning with him, you may have to take longer this time because the trust violation is recent. Also, I hate to say it, but you need to be a "mamma bear" here. No one touches the bird without permission, and they have to respect your boundaries. If they cross the line, bring the hammer down (not physically of course). Do whatever you have to to communicate that this is YOUR bird and YOU decide what is good for him, and if they can't respect that they cannot touch him, talk to him, whatever. You have to protect your bird because he can't protect himself any way except biting, and you don't want it to come to that. This uncle seriously crossed a line. Just because he owns a certain kind of pet does not give him the right to man-handle yours. I had an experience with my puppy that put me in a similar situation. When my dog, Ranger, was a pup, one of my husband's friends came over. Ranger loved people, but one of the friends was treating him like he did his own dogs - grabbing him, flipping him upside down and vigorously rubbing his belly, grabbing his snout and wiggling it back and forth, and even attempting to toss him into the air and catch him!! He said his dogs loved it, but Ranger was scared out of his mind. I told him to stop, he kept doing it (I had been in a different room when it began). I had to actually yell. I hate yelling at people, especially people who are well over a foot taller than I am! But I did it - no way was I letting him terrorize my pet, no matter how good his intentions. Next time, bring out the mamma bear (even if you are a guy). It is well worth it. I am sorry he has had a set back, please be patient with him and understand that he is afraid for good reason. Best of luck!