Need help on strange bird behavior

[Kimbill]

I have a 6 year old male indian ringneck parakeet. Over the past 2 weeks he has been acting strange, nibbling then biting hands and feet, chasing everyone around the house in order to 'nibble' on them. It appears maybe he is trying to mate?? He will sit on our hands or feet and 'shake' and refuse to leave our hands/feet- even after an hour of doing this. If we try to 'shoo' him away, he bites and wants to continue whatever he is doing! We need help. My husband is ready to get rid of him because of the biting. He was previously a loving, gentle bird.

Thanks for any help! We are desparate!

 

[Peta]

Hi and welcome to Parrot Forums, I hope that you enjoy your stay with us.

It sounds like a mating ritual to me, I had a ringneck a few years back and he would nibble my ear whilst letting out a very loud screech

IRN can become sexually mature at about 18 months but most get to that stage by about 3 years, I know how frustrating it can be and painful, but it is just as frustrating for your bird, all he knows is that its mating season, and you are his mates. As you have tried taking him off your feet I would try putting him either in cage or playstand for a time out,

You say you try to "Shoo him away" I think by doing this he is getting a little confused, he can't understand whats going on. Why don't his mates want him.

I have to run now, but I'll try to remember some of the other distracting methods I used with our IRN.

 

[TexDot33]

Welcome to Parrot Forums!!

I am just throwing this out there, and I am not passing judgement or anything so please do not get offended.

Is it possible that he's not getting enough attention, and this is a game that he is playing? I mean Ham will sit on my should and bite on my neck/ear until I pay attention to him as a way of getting my attention and he's out of his cage when ever we are home.

The only reason I ask this is becasue you said this change is recent (over the last 2 weeks) I would think that if it were sexually related you would have seen it before, espically if IRN become sexually mature at 18 months like Peta said.

I would suggest that you ignore the behavior as much as possible and do not reward it. The "shooing" away that could just be the stimulation that your little fella is looking for ...

 

[Kimbill]

Thanks to both of you that offerred advice and support. I have since learned that Indian ring necks go through this mating ritual when they reach maturity and that it lasts for about 2 months EVERY year.

Gee nobody ever told us that! He is part of our family so we will not get rid of him but if I would have known this 6 or 7 years ago, I think I would have opted for a hamster haha.

 

[TexDot33]

Yeap, hind sight is always 20-20

 

[Peta]

Thanks to both of you that offerred advice and support. I have since learned that Indian ring necks go through this mating ritual when they reach maturity and that it lasts for about 2 months EVERY year.

Gee nobody ever told us that! He is part of our family so we will not get rid of him but if I would have known this 6 or 7 years ago, I think I would have opted for a hamster haha.

Strange how nobody tells you this kind of stuff isn't it. At least you know what to expect now, and when you think a couple of months really isn't that long.

 

[jendaymumma]

I really don't comprehend why no one seems to talk about the mating season. It's biological, natural, normal for all living creatures. my understanding is that it happens twicw a year. However the spring fling (February/March) usually lasts longer than the fall (October'ish').

 

[MikeyTN]

The mating season been discussed many times throughout the years if you go back to old postings. I even mentioned it a few times in my old post. For my bigger birds it's usually once a year they go through that but my smaller ones would do it all year if you let them.