Brooklyn the bully-suggestions needed!

[ziggybird]

I have 2 Meyers parrots- both are about 6 years old.

Last night Brooklyn (male- a rescue we've had for a little over a year) jumped on Tukki's (female- I've had for 5 years) cage and bit her in the leg. There was some blood- we stopped the bleeding and got her to the emergency vet. Thankfully she's alright and seems to be ok this morning (favoring one leg but able to use/put weight on/ grip things with the other). She's on antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and pain meds. I have a follow up call with my vet this evening to check in- so everything health wise is being cared for.

My concern is about what happens now.

Brooklyn can be a bit of a bully to her. Sometimes they get along... or rather are ok being on their giant bird tree together (always supervised). But sometimes he likes to kick her off of the tree and he loves to hop on her cage and chase her off.

We've so far not been able to find a way to curb that behavior. Over the last week or so it's been worse- he's been hopping on her cage more and more- but this is the first time he's actually attacked her.

We've re-arranged the apartment so that his cage is further away now making it much tougher for him to get to her and will no longer have them on the tree at the same time.

His wings are clipped- though admittedly he's a bit overdue for a trim. We're taking him in today and hoping that helps with the aggression.

Any suggestions on how to curb Brooklyn's bullying of her? IS there anything we can do? I don't need them to be best friends/ be able to hang out on the tree or anything- but I don't want him to keep trying to get her. I don't want Tukki to live in stress.

Thanks so much.

 

[itzjbean]

One way to combat this with everyone safe would be to take turns with each bird having out of cage time. I know it's not exactly what you want to hear, but if you want to keep your other bird from attacking the one, he should be caged so she can be safe while outside the cage. Unfortunately some birds just can't be trusted in an open room with another bird, but maybe over time it will improve his attitude. Sort of like a time-out.

 

[ziggybird]

Thank you <3

 

[MonicaMc]

I would recommend station training him, and teaching him *other* desirable behaviors that he can be rewarded for. In time, he may learn to ignore Tukki simply because there's no reward in going after her but there is reward for doing what you want him to do.