Demon Mode (How do I handle it emotionally?)

[Remy]

Every now and then Puck goes into what I call "demon mode" for lack of a better term. I've learned to identify it (the hard way) by his body language. He'll hunch over, and start walking reeaaallllyyyy slowly, like a cat hunting prey. His back feathers will stick up. He gets puffy all over his body, especially on his back. When he's like this he'll act like he wants me to come over to him, and then he will LAUNCH HIMSELF AT ME and bite!! When he bites, he will LATCH ON and HOLD ON! I generally panic because it hurts so much and have to shake him off (close to the ground). If he's out of the cage (which he usually is) I chase him with a towel back into his cage and shut him in. He generally goes crazy in there, shaking toys, doing upside down pushups, banging his beak on the bars, and trying to lure me over so he can bite more.

Basically, it appears as if he is possessed by a demon. After a few minutes he's back to normal. This whole ordeal generally takes 5-10 minutes at the very most, often less.

This happened a few days ago and he removed quite a bit of skin from my thumb. I feel bad because I haven't wanted to play with him as much, even though he's been acting perfectly sweet again. I feel a traumatized, I guess. It's been a couple days and I'm still nervous handling him. It's happened before, but not as bad as the last time.

Does anyone know why this happens? How do I deal with my own feelings?

 

[Tammy]

How long has he been doing this? Is it only during mating season? Is it same time of day? My OWA used to pick up one foot like he wanted to step up, then wait until my mother's hand was close enough so he could nail her hand. During mating season though he crouches down on whatever he's perched on, bobs his head, vibrates his wings & says "Hurt! Hurt!" then launches an aerial attack on whomever he sees (besides me)

 

[Remy]

That sounds a lot like what Puck does. He also bobs his head and vibrates. I bet he would say "Hurt!" if he was a talker! Is he just trying to secure a nest area or something?

I've only had him a few months (this summer), so I can't tell you his history, but he's been doing it more the last couple months. He does it any time of day.

Oh man, he's doing it again right now. He is seriously trying to trick me over there. He's making kissy noises and stuff, but his body language says I will not get kisses if I go over there. I keep trying to take a good picture of it, but he moves I get close with the camera. I just chased him into the cage with a towel so I can feel safe walking by the cage. :-(

 

[Tammy]

I'm sorry but that is too funny. (that he's making kissy noises but body language says it won't be kisses you get) And at least he is consistent. Mr. Precious is laughing along with me. I would often make fun of my mother for falling for his trick every time! Reminds me of Charlie Brown trying to kick the football & trusting Lucy to hold it! At least you can read his body language. I wouldn't recommend chasing him though. I would think that would increase his fear of you & increase his aggression. I read my OWA's body language & go accordingly.

 

[Remy]

When he's not like this he's perfectly tame, but if he's being stubborn and I am on a time schedule, I show him the towel and he does what I want. Unless he's in demon mode, in which case I have to chase him because he definitely doesn't want to cooperate. He doesn't appear afraid, just very mean! D:

Now he's acting like an angel again.

 

[Pedro]

Remy don't take it personal he really does love you, just needs to vent his frustrations. Usually it's the one they love the most. Just give him time out when he gets to out of hand. My male Amazon will do the same so when i am not sure of his intentions i just talk to him & let him be. Sometimes even our parrots need time out on their own & don't want to hang out with us. Respect that.

 

[QuackQuack]

Maybe it's like when I squawk at my husband, and I really love him very much? Kitty has tantrums where she screams and nothing makes her happy and you just have to cover her and walk away. It makes me a little sad. I guess as bird owners we just have to not take it personally *shrugs*

 

[Auggie's Dad]

I've learned to read Auggie's "moods" too - we go through the exact same thing.

One thing that I used to do is give him a key chain. He would thrash it around violently for a minute or two, then he'd be happy.

Other times, I've seen him getting ready to attack and I'll preemptively yell at him. He'll take a few steps back, groom or something else, then come back content and happy.

 

[Remy]

It's good to know that I'm not the only person with this problem...

AuggiesDad - Sometimes I'll hold a toy for him to thrash, but if my skin is anywhere nearby, he'll go for that instead! He'll even climb onto the toy to get to me!

Now he's behaving perfectly well... lol


I've decided to start turning his light off early in the evening, and see if that helps.

 

[Lacey]

Wow! Thanks for sharing! My aunt came to me the other night and explained the same behavior with her caique. She just adopted him. I thought she was exaggerating so shook it off. He hasn't tried attacking her (yet) but this post will definitely be useful!

Unfortunately I have no advice to give

Please keep us updated!

 

[BHCowner]

I am having the same problem with my bird right now. apart from over the past week it has become a regular and he seems to be angry at me constantly.

Not sure what to do as its not just misbehaviour it is out and out aggression. As you say their bites really do hurt.

Caiques are strange birds!

 

[nofearengineer]

My experience with caiques is that they do tend to kind of "flake out" sometimes. Their seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm can be a bit intense if it's not channeled right (TOYS!!)

They seem kind of like a domesticated kia.

 

[Remy]

Lacey - I don't think she was exaggerating! LOL

BHCowner - He's gone through phases like that too. This is different. When he's angry though, he's usually better after spending an hour or so playing outside!

nofearengineer - He has a huge cage and lots of toys! He didn't play with them a lot at first, but now he plays with them more. Sometimes he just plays too rough, or gets angry, but sometimes he is just possessed. LOL

 

[kitt]

OMG, this behavior sounds so much like my Leroy....he just got through his fall hormones so maybe that could be the problem with your bird.
As I have mentioned before, Leroy's nickname is Lucifer....he can turn into the devil himself sometimes....he will actually ask to "step up" or he will say "come here, step up" and be all sweet and the minute you get close enough he ruffles all up, pins his eyes and goes for it. ...it's kinda funny now that I am use to him being like that...well, funny and not so funny. I hate that he gets himself so worked up...but now that I have really learned to read him, I have avoided bites 98% of the time.He can be that way one morning and fine that evening...he really is an interesting little critter....his behavior has changed a lot since I have really limited his seed intake.
You have to find a way to not take it personally....good luck and know that you are not alone....

 

[Remy]

I think that I should update! I figured it out!

I had just installed a new light a few days before I made this post. He loooves the light, but I was keeping it on too late! I think his body thought it was summer. Now I turn it off earlier, even if he doesn't go to bed yet, and the attacks have pretty much stopped!

 

[Priscilla26]

Remy.. priscilla does this too.. scares me. im honestly afraid to handle her most of the time.. i just had her out a few min ago on her cage.. she made her way to my floor and ran over and tried to attack my feet. had to pick her up with a tshirt and put her back into her cage. i dont know what to do about it. i feel horrible. i want to spend time with her, but shes the devil. sweet one second then she just snaps. i have 2 very nice scars on my thumb from her.. i personally dont wanna add to the collection. i even went to the hardware store and bought leather gardening gloves and as soooooooooooon as she sees the gloves she attacks them.

 

[pinacolada]

I am glad I read all this posts. My yellow naped amazon I got 5 month ago has this kind of aggression behavior. It started 3 weeks ago. She jumped on me when I got close to her and bit my thumb. The wounds are healing but part of it is still numb. I was literally afraid of him and had to lock her. I do not want to towel her not to scare her and I lure her in the cage with her favorite treat, an almond. I show it to her and throw it in her food bowl. She will go for it and I lock her. It took me a few days till I had the courage to pick her up again. Yesterday happened again. I turned my back on her and she jumped on me. I shaken her off. Fortunately she did not bit me. Today she is all good and sweet. Now before I go close to her, I watch her to see if she starts pining her eyes and ruffle her feathers. If I see her doing this I do not go close to the cage. My other blue fronted amazon I have for 6 years never displayed this kind of behavior. I guess they are all different.

 

[Remy]

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble. Amazons have big beaks! Maybe she needs to be left alone for a while. =\

I have to towel Puck on occasion. Usually though, all I have to do is show him the towel, and he'll listen to what I'm telling him. I don't think it's scary as long as you're gentle, but they don't necessarily like it.