Just a bad day...

[Sarahtheumbrella]

So we just got Sarah back from the boarders a few days ago. The day we got her we just let her adjust and then the next day we were back to our normal cuddle on sofa or in kitchen and a new location for 30 mins a day. We were contining introduing her to the formal dining so we can evetually get a table perch so she could see my dad work, but first we had to get her used to SCARY CHAIRS and SCARY CALCULATORS (lol). She usually never bites to a serious extent, but that day she bit my dad real hard on the arm while he tried to pick her up.

So we moved on, next day she was louder than usual and when my dad tried to cuddle her she bit his arm again, and was really getting beaky (grabbing at clothes through cage bars and attempted to grab my blanket off of me). When she got in her cage she put her foot out and like everyday I gave her my finger, next thing I know she bites it, not to bad. so my dad comes over to tell her good night after closing his laptop today and she bites him real hard on his finger. Then I realized I forgot to change one of her food bowls that she had just flung the contents of to the floor. She bit me while I was trying to undo the little thing.

Is this hormonial changes or just an bird with a few bad days?
Sarah is a sweet bird and really doesn't bite unless she feels uncomfortable with the interaction (which we know what does and deosnt make her comfortable)

 

[Molcan2]

Shouldn't be hormonal, breeding season (if your in US) is from Nov.-March. Its probably more from just being boarded. Toos don't typically take to change very well, they really like their routines. I would give her a week or two to settle back into the house. I'd give her a little space and not expect a lot from her or ask her to do much. Once she gets comfortable in her routine she should go back to her easier self. Until then I would be careful around her, bites from Toos are not fun. Its easy for us to think that she was only gone for a little and is back in her normal environment so she should be normal, unfortunately with Toos its not that easy. If their not happy, they will most definitely let you know.

 

[Molcan2]

Also with the recent change from the boarding, coupled with introducing her to new 'scary' things may be overloading her a bit and putting extra stress on her.

 

[Mare Miller]

How old is Sarah? Mi amigo hasn't bitten me, I suppose I need to add, yet. He is thirteen years old and I've had him a little over four years. When he first moved in with us, he bonded instantly to my 16yr. old son, he's our youngest boy. My son 20 yrs. old now and home from school for the summer still had a good relationship with Amigo, until today. I was away from home today and got back to my son having a bad bite on his hand, we are both, really bummed.

The only thing I can tell you about these birds, from my experience, is, if they like you and you are bonded to them, which Amigo is to me now, you have to trust them and be comfortable around them. Although Amigo still allowed my son to handle him, my son was feeling uneasy about it, birds know these things.

When you add hormones to the mix, with me and Amigo, anyways, he still has never bit me. Everybody else better beware!

If she is a young bird just starting to mature, I have no experience with that except from what I've heard about a personality change. Wishing you the best!

 

[kc_y0]

It sounds like she may be grumpy with you for boarding her. When I went away for a few days a few months back, I came home to a grumpy, biting bird. It took her a while to "forgive me" for leaving her lol. Hope she is back to herself soon!

 

[Sarahtheumbrella]

Thanks guys!

I was really hoping it was just a bad day.

Maremiller- I sooo understand what you mean about having to be comfortable with Sarah that is why my dad has a great bond with her. He is very easy around her. As for me I am there the whole day, and she understands that I will talk to her, pet her, but I will not pick her up yet. However Sarah is 9, so I think most of her growing is done
Although, NO bites??WOW amazing job . Sarah is a bit hyperactive and so you know, bites come easy.

Molucan2- I agree. I think maybe we should stop the introducing to new things until a week passes. It may be a bit too much.

kyco- I think it may just be a passing stage...my baby bird is mad at me

I still wake up somedays and have to remind myself Sarah is not a real baby. Athough she does have a scedule, a time for feeding, sits with family for dinner, have a mumbled up vocab of a one year old , gets mad and throws temper tantrums, screams when I leave, and is talked to like a baby. She is a bird. Or she just a child trapped in a bird???

 

[kc_y0]

I would say a child trapped in a birds body haha, well that's how I feel about my baby girl!

 

[wenz2712]

You will probably find that she will get back to normal in a few days time! She is mad at you right now for leaving her! As we say here in the UK.. A Child throwing their Toys out of their Pram LOL

 

[Sarahtheumbrella]

Lol. Yeah Sarah has been a little sweetheart today...naping in peace when I finally come home from school like usual.

 

[melissasparrots]

How long was she at the boarder? Some birds will just do like they would in the wild. Assume you died and move on. Then you show up again it throws them all out of whack.

I would back off again for a few more days. Hand her treats through the cage bars but make sure your giving them to her in such a way that she can't bite you instead of taking the treat. Slightly larger treats where you can hold one end and she can grab the other and not get you would be good. Stop and talk to her often. Take a serious look at her body language while your talking to her. If she's calm, her eyes have a soft look to them, and she's right up against the bars, you might be able to sneak in a quick beak or crest rub without her head snaping up and getting you. Keep it short, and if your not sure if your in a position to do it without getting bit, just don't do it.

She's bitten someone way to many times this day. If the pattern isn't changed, then you will have a behavioral issue you'll need to work on for a while. Maybe look around at breeders or behaviorists in your area that have a lot of large parrot handling experience. Maybe you can get some pointers from them. It sounds to me like you guys are just inexperienced and don't know how to handle a bird in such a way not to get bit. If your giving her that many chances to bite you and she's taking them, then your already in a bad pattern that you need to get yourself out of.

Honestly, it sounds way easier than it is, but look at what happens right before the bite, and situations that your in(hand postion in relation to her body etc) and don't get in those positions. Every single time you get bit, you should learn from that and set up the next interaction differently so she can't get you. If she bites when you change food bowls, then do something so she can't. Give her a treat that will keep her occupied on the other side of the cage while you run over and get the bowls. Do something so she can't do what she did before. Take a look at her eye shape, how she's standing, if her feathers are fluffy or slicked back. Find the pattern. It never hurts to talk to her first before sticking your hand in her face. It allows you to assess her mood and intentions at the time. If after 30 seconds or so of talking to her, you notice her eyes are a little more squinty just like they were one time when she bit you, then its probably best not to offer your hand right then. Check back in an hour or so and see if her eyes and body language resemble times in the past when you've handled her without getting bit.