Extreme Cage Aggression - Lunging at anyone who passes by

[marcham93]

Hi everyone,

I am having trouble with my Quaker parrot Charlie. He (or she, we really don't know) has become extremely cage aggressive. Not only can I not enter his cage, but he lunges and tries to attack through the bars when anyone walks by.

I really don't know what to do, as walking past his cage and having him lunge at me all day long is quite bothersome. I can't really handle him unless he comes out on his own, and even then, he can be a bit aggressive.

Charlie was always super sweet, so it is difficult to see what has happened. He has been like this for almost a year now and I am worried that I don't have the time to re-teach a parrot with strong behavioral issues. I am not going to lie, I have considered giving him up for adoption, so I can focus on the other pet members of the house hold when I get home from work.

Any advice? I want to be able to keep and love Charlie again, but lately it has become extremely difficult. Can this just be his personality (wants to be left alone) or is there a fix?

Thanks guys.

 

[adellelauren]

My mother in law's Quaker is the same way. Got him as a baby hand fed and everything. One day he just switched. She has his cage in the family room and leaves it open all day unless she leaves or when it is bed time. He's content with her talking to him and having her in there at television time. Rest of the time he talks up a storm and does what he wants.

 

[marcham93]

Interesting to hear. I'm a big animal lover, please believe, but I have a few guys and there is this disconnect with my Quaker due to the fact that he just seems down right nasty.

Am I wrong if that bothers me and I want to possibly give him up for adoption? I do feel a connection slightly when I think back to how he was younger, but if he is going to be like this for the next 10 years... I can't even imagine how I would handle it.

 

[MonicaMc]

You need to figure out why he's lunging. This might be of some help.


Putting Behaviors on Cue?Knowingly or Unknowingly | Lara Joseph

 

[Mare Miller]

My Goffin's use to be terribly cage aggressive. I'm not completely sure why but she got over it, to an extent. In my mind, I think that they must need their own space, their own space to call their own, and you've got to respect that. My Sassy Goffin's knows that she has more than that, now, and is more relaxed about this.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Maybe it's just hormones. I'd wait and see if he calms down. Just ignore the bad behavior, and when he is being good reward that behavior. When cleaning or changing food and water, move him to another area, do what you need to do and then put him back.

I had a Myers once, upon reaching maturity, he too became aggressive towards me. I raised him, hand fed him. I was devistated. I ended up rehoming my Myers and regretted it ever since. I now have another member of the poi family, a Senegal. I'm sure she too will have her moments. But this time, I am going to see it through and not make the same mistake I did with my Myers.

 

[marcham93]

This is such a hard decision, sigh. I will have to think it over for a bit, seriously considering rehousing at this point. I feel as if I've already worked with Charlie for months and gotten nowhere.

 

[getwozzy]

What's his attitude like when he's not around his cage? (as in- in a completely different room and can't see his cage)

 

[marcham93]

What's his attitude like when he's not around his cage? (as in- in a completely different room and can't see his cage)

He does better, but still is aggressive and does not like to be cuddled too much. He prefers to just do his own thing and go on his own.

You can tell that he wants to get back to his cage though.

 

[getwozzy]

I really liked the article Monica posted- have you read it yet? Seems like it might help your situation.

Also, maybe if his cage is next to a doorway or high-traffic area it may be causing him anxiety and stress. You could try moving his cage to a different part of the room and see what happens.

 

[Tangie]

Hmn...I would suggest that it would be hormones, but if it has been going on year round, I think it would be unlikely. I have a Cockatiel named Kiko and he came from a very bad situation. He was left in his cage for yeeears, and when I finally got him and he had every aggressive behavior I can think of. I would sit by his cage every chance I got and would talk to him and eat in front of him. I even took naps next to him! Parrots do not eat or sleep with strangers or predators. Kiko got better, but he is still very much cage aggressive. It takes time. Maybe you could move his cage to a different area? Because it will change his surroundings a bit, and he won't think of it as his 'territory' anymore. Is he friendly outside of his cage? What do you feed him?

 

[MonicaMc]

As per this article -> Working with Fearful Parrots: A Study in Videos | Learning Parrots - sometimes sitting next to the bird isn't always the best idea! It may result in more stress and fear rather than less. Each situation needs to be evaluated and changed accordingly to what the bird needs or doesn't need.

Ignoring a lunging bird isn't always the best idea because the trigger to lunging is you walking by the cage. The reward for lunging? You walking away! You have now just taught the bird that every time you walk by the cage, it must lunge at you! In order to change the behavior, you need to figure out the cause of it. Are you walking too fast? Too slow? Is it the angle at which you approach the cage? What is it specifically that causes the lunging? What can you change to reduce the lunging behavior?



So, if I may ask.... can you outline what you have done to try and reduce the aggressive behavior?

 

[JoeR]

In my opinion, most Quakers are cage aggressive by nature. In nature they build large, elaborate nests, and defend them actively. Our quaker is the sweetest little bird once he is out of the cage, but when he is in there he lunges and chatters at most everyone that passes...especially me. In order to handle him easily, we call him to a perch by the door and offer a hand. Usually a gloved hand if he is still feeling feisty. Once clear of his cage door he doesn't act or bite aggressively. I imagine we could train him out of it, but I don't care about putting in the effort. I understand the behavior and can deal with it easily, without stressing the bird.
In the end though, Charlie is your bird, and you are going to have to enjoy his company as much as he is enjoying yours. To offer some encouragement, maybe try not seeing it as aggressive behavior. It's probably more of a casual act of defense.

Joe