Stacey1990
New member
- Mar 13, 2025
- 1
- 0
- Parrots
- Black Capped Lory (Lorisus lory)
Hi All, I own a Black Capped Lory (Male). I have had him since he was 4 months old, purchased from a hand-reared breeder. He used to be very friendly with everyone but as he got older, he began to show aggression towards people he wasnt familiar with, where only I could handle him. When he was introduced to my partner, he would bite him. He continued biting him until after a few weeks of this, he became familiar and stopped.
To clarify - he would usually spend 80% of his day outside his cage and was only in his cage for either bed, or if I was at work.
Fast forward. He is now nearly 3 years old. A few months ago, I went away for a field trip for my university class and was away for 5 days. Upon returning, when I greeted him, he proceeded to bite my face.
He since then started to bite more frequently, at random times. He would run up to me on the couch and start playing, would be rolling onto his back and play fighting, and then would out of nowhere, lunge for a bite.
He would still climb up onto my shoulder and preen my hair and hang out there for a bit, but would get startled by a noise outside or me sneezing or my phone going off, and would lunge to bite my face. I have since stopped allowing him onto my shoulders.
It has gotten to the point now where I cannot actually touch him. I can be around him, but I cannot let him on me or too close near my hands or face. He will actively climb up my shoulder just to bite my face or hands.
When he is not on me, he shows no aggressive signs. But as soon as he climbs on me, he puts all his feathers up on his head and his pupils start dilating so I know I'm usually in for a bite.
The breeder advised putting on a leather glove and holding him, and doing so until he stops biting and squirming and submits, so he knows he is not in charge. This worked for the first few times but since then, he has learned the difference between my gloved hand and un-gloved hand and so now, he bites even worse if he sees the gloves.
He has also become extremely aggressive about his cage. I cannot put my hands in there to change his food or water anymore, as he attacks. If he is not in his cage and he sees me go towards his cage, he will actively chase me and try to defend it.
I would like to note, that my partner does not have these issues, and is now the only one who can touch him or his cage.
My bird was sexed as a male, so I would think the behavioural pattern of aggression would be more towards other males.
Does anyone know if this is a hormonal issue? Or is this just how he is now. When he bites, he dosent just lunge and nip, he will release and immediately re-bite and of he gets a good mouthful, he locks his jaw closed around it. He draws blood and takes skin off, its quite painful. He was expensive and I put alot of time and love into our relationship and training him, and its sad to see that I cant even touch him now.
Attached is a picture from today. He jumped from the couch to my pants and climbed to my hand, began dilating his pupils and then attacked. I had to shake him off and get the gloves to put him back in his cage. Though he didnt manage to draw blood this time, he was particularly angry and bit 3 seperate times.
To clarify - he would usually spend 80% of his day outside his cage and was only in his cage for either bed, or if I was at work.
Fast forward. He is now nearly 3 years old. A few months ago, I went away for a field trip for my university class and was away for 5 days. Upon returning, when I greeted him, he proceeded to bite my face.
He since then started to bite more frequently, at random times. He would run up to me on the couch and start playing, would be rolling onto his back and play fighting, and then would out of nowhere, lunge for a bite.
He would still climb up onto my shoulder and preen my hair and hang out there for a bit, but would get startled by a noise outside or me sneezing or my phone going off, and would lunge to bite my face. I have since stopped allowing him onto my shoulders.
It has gotten to the point now where I cannot actually touch him. I can be around him, but I cannot let him on me or too close near my hands or face. He will actively climb up my shoulder just to bite my face or hands.
When he is not on me, he shows no aggressive signs. But as soon as he climbs on me, he puts all his feathers up on his head and his pupils start dilating so I know I'm usually in for a bite.
The breeder advised putting on a leather glove and holding him, and doing so until he stops biting and squirming and submits, so he knows he is not in charge. This worked for the first few times but since then, he has learned the difference between my gloved hand and un-gloved hand and so now, he bites even worse if he sees the gloves.
He has also become extremely aggressive about his cage. I cannot put my hands in there to change his food or water anymore, as he attacks. If he is not in his cage and he sees me go towards his cage, he will actively chase me and try to defend it.
I would like to note, that my partner does not have these issues, and is now the only one who can touch him or his cage.
My bird was sexed as a male, so I would think the behavioural pattern of aggression would be more towards other males.
Does anyone know if this is a hormonal issue? Or is this just how he is now. When he bites, he dosent just lunge and nip, he will release and immediately re-bite and of he gets a good mouthful, he locks his jaw closed around it. He draws blood and takes skin off, its quite painful. He was expensive and I put alot of time and love into our relationship and training him, and its sad to see that I cant even touch him now.
Attached is a picture from today. He jumped from the couch to my pants and climbed to my hand, began dilating his pupils and then attacked. I had to shake him off and get the gloves to put him back in his cage. Though he didnt manage to draw blood this time, he was particularly angry and bit 3 seperate times.
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