Some help with my parent's Blue and Gold

[DooinMeCleanin]

He was hand reared and is now 11. Recently he started plucking out his feathers. We assumed this was because he was bored, so he was built an artificial tree and his cage was removed completely. This has helped slightly with the feather plucking issue, but it has not totally stopped. He has toys, ropes and barks to entertain him.

My main issue, however, is his sudden aggression towards me. Well, towards people in general. If you approach him or try to touch him bites. I am sole charge of him at the moment as my parents are away. Knowing how clever they are and how easily bored they become I have been visiting him several times a day (for 15 to 30 minutes) and have been spending at least two hours every evening with him.

Last night he put his foot out as though he wanted to step up onto me, when I allowed this he began attacking me. He bit hard enough to rip through my clothes and bruise my wrist, although I am aware he is capable of far more damage than this if he wanted to hurt me.

I don't know when this started, as I say he is not my bird. I used to live with him and he was very sociable and affectionate. I don't know if he is getting the attention he used to get when he was younger, but this is something I am going to make sure changes. How much attention do they need? How do I regain his trust?

Also I noted that his diet is mainly seed and Google has led me to believe that seed based diets are not the best and he should be getting pellets supplemented with fruit and veg. Seeds and nuts should be reserved for treats? Could his bad diet be effecting his behaviour? Are all pellets equal or are there particular brands I should be avoiding/looking out for?

Sorry for the mammoth post. I am clueless but very much want to help this bird become part of the family again.

Thanks.

 

[RescueMe]

Thank you for taking an interest, especially since this is not your bird. Many things contribute to difficult or aggressive behavior, diet included. It may be very difficult to interact with him at this point as you are no longer experienced in reading his moods and dealing well with his behavior.

For now I would suggest a less hands on approach and allow him to dictate the level of contact he is willing to allow. He may also be feeling a bit insecure without his cage. A great stand is wonderful, but allows for very little security for the bird if that is his only option. I would start off quietly feeding treats and talking to him without any contact. Good luck with him.

 

[DooinMeCleanin]

Thank you.

He did eat banana out of my hand yesterday evening, but he did seem unsure and jumpy. I'll take it slow with him.

He is acting like he wants to be touched and held but is unsure whether it's safe. Although I could be completely wrong. I haven't spent a lot of time with him years now. Dogs are my thing. If he was canine I would know exactly what I was doing

 

[MacawGuy]

Food i have my macaw is on zupreem. Which is good food. People say have your birds out 2 hours a day bit I would do more if you can. Nuts are good treats. I would stay away from sun flower seeds.

 

[DooinMeCleanin]

Thanks I will look for Zupreem. His diet is mainly sunflowers seeds at the moment.

 

[MacawGuy]

Another is Higgins. I think that's what it is called. But stay away from sum flower seeds not good

 

[SweetPeasFriend]

I grew up with a mitred conure who ate a lot of seeds. Sunflower can make them fat, at least for a conure. She started plucking after we had her for about 20 years or so? I think. I was about 14 when we got her. I think it was emotional issues (my mother being sick and our mitred couldn't follow her around the house to help with housework and hang out on her all day anymore) and a case of arthritis, but I also read that seeds diets can lead to plucking.

I also read, don't change over suddenly to different food. That can be hard for their systems.

I was the one who taught her about cuddling and was the first who she allowed to pet and hold. When I went away to college, she waited in front of my bedroom door for hours each day for about two months. When I returned she chased me around the house and drew blood when she bit. I was never able to hold her again, but we talked. She did behave herself around me if my parent's were away or I had spaghetti. We could play then some, but I would rarely be able to handle her.

She insisted throughout her life that my dad kept his hand on her back for hours at night while they watched television, so she still was cuddly. I think she just got ticked off at me leaving, and she HATED change. If someone sat in a place in the living room that they normally didn't sit in, she would chase and attack, drawing blood if given the chance. Feet, hands, face, ears, anything she could chomp on until people sat where they were supposed to.

It's hard to say why they pluck. She lived for another 8, almost 9 years after that.

Our baby blue crown was weened to zupreem, so hopefully, things will go better with him. My parents are nearly 70 now, though. My husband and I often take him for the weekend when my parents go away, and play with him a lot while he visits.. like 6 to 10 hours each day during these weekends. I am hoping that if my parents can't take care of him one day, that the adjustment to us will go smoother for him. My dad is the only one that can pet him. He goes to my hubby and cuddles in his hair. He threatens to bite me usually, but likes my company otherwise if I don't touchie.

Basically, our mitred was fine when she got attention about 10 hours a day. When it went to a few minutes throughout the day, and 4 hours at night, she plucked.

The blue crown is 2 and half years old. He loves his huge cage and adores toys. They keep him busy all day to the point that he really doesn't want to come out unless there are more toys outside. He gets about 6 hours of attention each day, but most of that is playing with him and his toys and talking with him or playing the "tapping" game where he likes to tap on things and you tap back. He will play that all day if you keep at it.

Can you keep him in a place where he can see you all day and talk whenever he wants to? Can you talk with him if you aren't in the room with him? If you are home, can he "help" you with your chores? Our mitred loved that. Our blue crown will "help" with the dishes, loves it!

 

[TakRail]

Sounds like he is not getting the interaction with people that he once was.

Also, how long has your parents been away and you caring for him? Part of his aggression towards you, and others, may just very well be that he is pissed off that his primary care givers, you parents, are not around, and did not take him with them.

What you may try is the next time you take him out of his cage when your there is to let him come out on his terms. Meaning, just open the door and offer treats but do not pick him up to bring him out, let him come out to get the treat on his own.