Indian Ringneck Started Biting

[Intarsiabox]

I've had my IR for 2 1/2 years now and he has never bitten anyone, sometimes threatens people he doesn't like but that's it. He has always been hand tame and would jump up on your hand anytime you put it in front of him. Now for the last two weeks he has taken to biting people fairly often, he actually jumps up at people to attack their hands when you try to pick him up. It's not just a warning, he bites hard enough to draw blood. I believe it's because he doesn't like being in his cage anymore but he is destructive if not supervised so when we're at work and at night he must be caged. He never had a problem with his cage before but now he won't even go in it when bribing him with a peanut. Any ideas? I have two kids in the house so this behaviour can't go on.

 

[SilverSage]

The first step with a major behavioral change like that is to head to the vet for gram stains and blood work to rule out illness. Sometimes it’s as simple as an $8 bottle of antibiotics to solve the problem.


Also, did you get your bird as a baby or as an adult?


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[Intarsiabox]

I got him as a baby. I'll check with my bird store owner about a vet

 

[SilverSage]

I got him as a baby. I'll check with my bird store owner about a vet

In that case your bird is hitting sexual maturity. You should take steps to limit the environmental stimuli. Here is my article on hormone control in pet birds
http://www.silversageaviaries.com/handlinghormones/


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[Intarsiabox]

Thanks for the reply and link. It all seemed to start when he got a hold of an empty medicine cup and became obsessed with throwing it around the floor for hours on end. I'll keep his toys on the floor put away for awhile to see if it helps. The behaviour in the article sounds a lot like Raffi right now, I got some ideas now about what to do!