Stressed

[Tropical]

I'm very bummed out. Rascal is going to end up KILLING Coconut or Coconut is going to end up with a broken neck.

Rascal is 4 yrs old now and ever since I got Coconut (which was about 3 months ago) he has started to go more and more into panic flights during the daytime! It's getting worse and worse. Now he's started to go into REAL full blown panic attacks SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK during the daytime. He NEVER did this until I got Coconut. This 100% has to do with me getting a second tiel.

There is something WRONG with Rascal. This isn't normal behavior... it's basically a night fright but happens during the day time and far too often!! Imagine how scary a nightfright is but is happening during the day time.

In the beginning when he was doing it... it was not REAL panic frights... but now he's genuinely going to full blown panic! So its gotten worse.... something about having another tiel around is triggering this in him.

I'm EXTREMELY against clipping for a myriad of reasons but I have no choice but to clip Rascal so he cannot fly anymore or Coconut is going break his neck... plain and simple. I have no doubt about it!

... so I am taking Rascal to get him clipped... and HOPE this helps and won't set Coconut off since only Coconut will be able to fly but Rascal won't. I can't imagine living like this permanently though (Rascal has NEVER been clipped and he's flown his entire life with NO issues).... it's a very stressful situation and it feels horrible and it's VERY MUCH making me REGRET ever getting a second tiel even though I do love Coconut

PS: Coconut was injuring himself constantly when he as clipped... even when he could glide! I've had tiels my whole life and never had any of these problems before that I'm experiencing with Rascal.

 

[Ximichi]

Does this happen when he is in a separate room?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tropical]

Does this happen when he is in a separate room?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, it doesn't. Something about having another tiel's presence triggers him off. It's extremely bizarre... but it's definitely getting worse!

PS: Rascal is a SUPER experienced flyer but the reality is... when he's in a full blown panic... even his safety is in jeopardy because he's not thinking when he's in a panic and did hit the ceiling hard several times. I must emphasize that he NEVER EVER did this not even ONCE in the past 4 years until I got Coconut... and now it's happening several times a week! It's horrible and all I am now is STRESSED all the time.

 

[Ximichi]

That's strange... Maybe it would be best if you kept them in separate rooms and only had them together for a few hours? One of my new adopted birds hs never lived with birds but he doesn't act that way, he just hissed at all the other birds


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Terry57]

I agree about trying to keep them in separate rooms. It really doesn't seem fair to Rascal for him to be clipped and have to watch Coconut fly. Multiple birds can definitely be a challenge.

 

[Tropical]

That's strange... Maybe it would be best if you kept them in separate rooms and only had them together for a few hours? One of my new adopted birds hs never lived with birds but he doesn't act that way, he just hissed at all the other birds

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That arrangement permanently would be a problem for several reasons. I would much rather clip BOTH of them before I would ever do that. This is a disaster. Never in a million years did I ever think getting a second tiel would start triggering Rascal to go into full blown panic attacks... they don't slepp together.

Rascal sleeps in a fish tank in my bedroom with a very bright light on in the room because he has chronic night frights and almost died... literally. So Rascal does have issues.

 

[Tropical]

I agree about trying to keep them in separate rooms. It really doesn't seem fair to Rascal for him to be clipped and have to watch Coconut fly. Multiple birds can definitely be a challenge.

Rascal is very very lazy... I always have to make him fly. He never flys on his own. Coconut loves to fly and is far more active than Rascal.

This would be a temporary clip on Rascal for the time being... and HOPING eventually I can have him flighted again.

 

[Ximichi]

That's strange... Maybe it would be best if you kept them in separate rooms and only had them together for a few hours? One of my new adopted birds hs never lived with birds but he doesn't act that way, he just hissed at all the other birds



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That arrangement permanently would be a problem for several reasons. I would much rather clip BOTH of them before I would ever do that. This is a disaster. Never in a million years did I ever think getting a second tiel would start triggering Rascal to go into full blown panic attacks... they don't slepp together.



Rascal sleeps in a fish tank in my bedroom with a very bright light on in the room because he has chronic night frights and almost died... literally. So Rascal does have issues.

Have you talked to a vet about it? His lead levels are normal and everything, right? (Sorry I work with wild birds so a lot of odd actions derive from lead poisoning)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tropical]

That's strange... Maybe it would be best if you kept them in separate rooms and only had them together for a few hours? One of my new adopted birds hs never lived with birds but he doesn't act that way, he just hissed at all the other birds



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That arrangement permanently would be a problem for several reasons. I would much rather clip BOTH of them before I would ever do that. This is a disaster. Never in a million years did I ever think getting a second tiel would start triggering Rascal to go into full blown panic attacks... they don't slepp together.



Rascal sleeps in a fish tank in my bedroom with a very bright light on in the room because he has chronic night frights and almost died... literally. So Rascal does have issues.

Have you talked to a vet about it? His lead levels are normal and everything, right? (Sorry I work with wild birds so a lot of odd actions derive from lead poisoning)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rascal is in perfect health. He's also not exposed to any lead anywhere. He's always been "spook" prone.... but ONLY at night.... and ever since he has been sleeping next to me all night in a fish tank he hasn't had a single night fright in 2 yrs whereas before it was constant NO matter what I tried and I tried everything... trust me! He will be sleeping in the fish tank for rest of his life... he loves it and so do I. He is very relaxed being able to see me all night. He now loves night time whereas before it was TERRIBLE.

This is not related to any health issues... it's 100% being trigger by having a new second tiel around. It's awful. I've had 2 tiesl before (as well as 4 tiels) NEVER ever have I experienced anything like this before.

 

[Scott]

Sorry to hear of these difficulties. I wonder if Rascal is getting enough sleep with the bright light? Definitely agree with your wanting to prevent the night-frights, but possibly his daytime panics are an unintended consequence? Do you observe him sleeping well during the night?

Haven't had tiels for a very long while, grasping at straws to figure this out??

 

[Tropical]

I also feel like my dream of having a GCC one day has been completely SQUASHED after dealing with what I am right now.

I can only imagine the problem would be even worse then since I will have 3 birds instead of just 2? Would a GCC also freak out when Rascal has a panic episode... or since GCCs are a different species it wouldn't affect a GCC in the same way it does another tiel?

 

[Tropical]

Sorry to hear of these difficulties. I wonder if Rascal is getting enough sleep with the bright light? Definitely agree with your wanting to prevent the night-frights, but possibly his daytime panics are an unintended consequence? Do you observe him sleeping well during the night?

Haven't had tiels for a very long while, grasping at straws to figure this out??

Sorry I shouldn't have said "bright light". I was going to edit that post after I posted it... the light is bright but it's one of those cold running tiny LED lights and I have it turned into the corner facing downwards... so the room is not bright at all. Night lights are not light enough unfortunately. This makes it just a little lighter. He's definitely getting plenty of sleep and the room looks like it's night time.... half the fish tank is also covered with towel. He's had this sleeping arrangement for 2 solid yrs... and only after I got Coconut has he started having panic attacks in broad daylight.

It is the most bizarre thing I have ever dealt with. I don't understand it but it's really stressing me out.

Today when it happened I was talking on the phone in broad daylight and he was sitting on my thigh where is ALWAYS sits and whaaam!!!!! It happened... for NO reason.... full blown panic attack flying slamming into the ceiling several times it was scary.... back and forth he flew in panic as I held my breath. Thanks goodness Coconut was locked inside the cage... which was about 5 feet away.

 

[Ximichi]

Maybe he gets flustered when it's too noisy? That could explain it (you talking and bird chirping)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tropical]

Maybe he gets flustered when it's too noisy? That could explain it (you talking and bird chirping)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Coconut was taking a nap.. he wasn't singing at all. It happens even when there is no noise. Once it happened because he heard a garbage truck outside... but he has heard that many times before and never had any reaction until I got Coconut.

99% of the time it happens for no reason... when there are no noises happening... it's a sudden panic attack for no reason at all. Horrible.

I will clip Rascal.... see what happens. If that doesn't work then I will clip Coconut... which means Coconut will NEVER be able to become an experienced flyer like Rascal is.... and clipped birds are as prone to injury as non-clipped birds I have seen it myself and experienced it.... but at least then Coconut can't fly into the wall and break his neck when Rascal goes into a panic and sets Coconut off??

This is so upsetting to me this whole thing is.

 

[RavensGryf]

Of course I'm not there, so the situation and particulars may be different, but about a year ago Griffin went from a handfed cuddly baby who I could touch everywhere, to developing a somewhat rare phobic disorder, which made him literally a wild bird who acted as if he had never seen a human before in his life. During this point in his life, when he would freak out (and I mean freak out like you wouldn't believe) he would make a sound I'd never heard from a Poicephalus before or since, but I called it the "screech of death" like a sound he would reserve for if he was just about to be eaten by a predator in the wild. He was clipped and would skim around the floor running all crazy in a strange crouched position desperate for his life as he'd do the awful noise.

Long story which I won't tell because this isn't about my bird, but I'm telling you this to let you know that what stopped these episodes and made it possible for me to begin rehabbing and training him, was to let his wings grow out. From there, he was able to slowly regain self confidence when he knew he had wings and could escape a perceived threat. Griffin will never be cuddly again I know, but we've come a long way. I empathize with your situation. I know that Rascal is flighted now, but I'm guessing there is a chance that clipping will make him worse, or take away what confidence he has right now. Since you have to keep Coconut safe, the only solution I see is putting them in different rooms or have it in shifts like I do. I partially cover Robin's cage so he won't take anyone's toenails off again if they should land on his cage when my back is turned.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Rascal has had just you for a considerable time, developed a routine and a relationship with you. Then little 'nut comes into the house, young, full of life. I was wondering if Rascal has been given a fright by 'something' and because of this now spooks easily, on alert most of the time, so it takes the slightest thing to set him off. Please give him the one on one he is used to and if it is possible another room to hang out away from little Coconut in the hope that he is able to calm down again and become the Rascal you know and love once more?

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

So sorry to hear you are having these problems with Rascal...poor Rascal hope he comes out of this phase soon...one thought I had is shadows...Rascal is not accustomed to moving shadows as he flys and it could be that the motion of Coconut creates a shadow that spooks Rascal and causes these panic flights...Rascal has not been used of these type of shadows coming at him in the past so perhaps thats whats causing it...I really dont know but I would also check as Scott said about his sleeping and see if maybe something is disturbing his sleep...also look at diet any changes there in the past few months or even in a short period prior to the past few months. I really think though that the problem may be shadows as Coconut is only recently flighted and this movement and the shadows it creates are a whole new thing for Rascal to get used of and he may not have as yet learned that these shadow monsters are not going to hurt him. Personally if I had Rascal I wouldnt clip him but I would harness him for a while and help him get used of all the new moving shadows in the house until he learns that they are nothing to be scared of. I would also allow him to exercise his wings for a while every day flying without the harness in a room where Cocnut wasnt present...a half hour or even 20 mins should do if you keep him interested in flying (so he retains his independence and keeps his muscles toned)he will also keep up muscletone while in the harness during the day when you have him out with Coconut because he has still the ability to stretch his wings and fly a little on the harness too. Interaction with Coconut will be a little limited for Rascal while he is on the harness but keeping him close to you on a harness will mean you prevent panic flights that could cause injury and perhaps it will also give Rascal the oppertunity to get over his fear of whatever it is thats scaring him so.
Hope you get to the bottom of what is actually causing this and can remedy things so Rascal doesnt get these attacks anymore. I do know that tiels are very prone to panic flight attacks so the least change and difference can cause them to spook...it is also possible that this has nothing at all to do with Coconut even though it coincides with his arrival and flying ability...for it is possible that a tree growing outside is casting a different shadow in your home to what it did a few months ago or even last year...the landscape of your home is embedded into Rascals brain and differences in that landscape that Rascal perceives even though you may not notice them much can become a trigger sometimes for getting spooked and flying into things especially if a change is sudden. I hope Rascal gets over his fear of whatever it is that is spooking him into these panic attacks. Another thing I would have checked just in case next time you go to your vet is Rascals eyes...sight or rather slight loss of sight can also cause a bird to panic.

 

[Tropical]

Thanks for all the replies... unfortunately it's definitely not Coconut's shadow causing this because Rascal and Coconut are NEVER outside of the cage at the same time anymore. I only let them out one at a time... I can't have them both out of cage because otherwise Coconut will be at serious jeopardy because of Rascal (Coconut suffered serious head injury a month ago... he can't handle such situations in his inexperience). I don't have any trees outside that are spooking Rascal. Rascal would do this even when Coconut was on my shoulder far away from him... there were NO such shadows.

Rascal sleeps like a baby... his sleep has't changed at all... so that's not it either.

The only thing that has changed is that I got Coconut. Rascal gets the same amount of attention he always has and I also make him fly around the house to get exercise several times a day... just like I've been doing for the past 4 years....

I laid awake last night thinking and thinking about this... it doesn't make any sense!!

The ONE time he did have nigthfright in the fish tank (this was in the first week when I first started having him sleep in the tank 2 yrs ago) it happened for NO reason. No reason at all... I was laying there in bed still as a rock and whaaaamm!!! He had nightfright! He seems to fright for NO reason at all... it's totally random thing with NO trigger at all. Maybe there is something "off" with him mentally?

Are night frights... and now I should add "day frights" ALWAYS triggered by something such as a sight or sound??? Or can it happen for NO reason without any such triggers???

My flightsuit doesn't have long enough leash for him to fly... but if I keep him tied to my shorts and he sits on my shoulder... can the flightsuit injure him if he takes off in a panic at full speed?

EDIT: I do think MAYBE Rascal is indeed more on "alert" ever since I got Coconut (I simply cannot think of anything else as the culprit... he was seen by vet when Coconut was seen... by 2 vets actually)... I don't know if this will EVER change!

 

[Anansi]

...The only thing that has changed is that I got Coconut.

Dangerous perspective, that, when investigating the cause of a problem. You want to think, rather, that the only thing that has changed that you know of is that you got Coconut. I'm not nit-picking, here. It's just that keeping that open mind is important. You have to force yourself to continue to consider every possible cause.

That said, let's focus on what seems to be the most likely possibility. That Coconut is somehow the trigger. Here's the thing. Cockatiels are flock animals. With all the characteristics that implies. One of the advantages of being in a flock is having eyes everywhere. There is always another bird watching their backs. But this works so well due, in part, to the hypersensitivity of birds to the body language of their flock-mates. See where I'm going with this?

A strong possibility (though not the only one) is that Rascal is indeed reacting to Coconut, as you've surmised. Specifically, he is reacting to Coconut's reaction to something in the environment that is spooking him. This being the case, clipping Rascal's wings does nothing to address the cause of the issue. And as you've mentioned, clipped birds can injure themselves, too.

Now, before this turns into a debate of degree of harm at given speeds or differences in the probability of said harm occurring, let me just say that the best approach is to seek out the cause of Coconut's discomfort and address that. And in the meantime, you can take one of Ximichi's earlier suggestions and give them their out times in separate rooms. Just as a temporary measure until you discover what freaks Coconut out.

Whether or not to clip Rascal's wings is of course entirely your decision, but I personally wouldn't since it does nothing to eliminate the root of the problem. And uncovering the source of Coconut's distress will also be good for Coconut's overall health. You know? Stress is never a good thing for a bird.

And last thing. Yes, there has been a case of Rascal freaking out even when Coconut has been asleep. But that does not go against the hypothesis that most of his panicked flights stem from Coconut. It just means that Rascal can get spooked by other sources as well. You can't eliminate every possible stressor, of course, but your goal here is to take care of the most common ones. So check their view from windows, or regular sounds heard around the house. Anything that you may have become used to that they may not have.

 

[Tropical]

...The only thing that has changed is that I got Coconut.

Dangerous perspective, that, when investigating the cause of a problem. You want to think, rather, that the only thing that has changed that you know of is that you got Coconut. I'm not nit-picking, here. It's just that keeping that open mind is important. You have to force yourself to continue to consider every possible cause.

That said, let's focus on what seems to be the most likely possibility. That Coconut is somehow the trigger. Here's the thing. Cockatiels are flock animals. With all the characteristics that implies. One of the advantages of being in a flock is having eyes everywhere. There is always another bird watching their backs. But this works so well due, in part, to the hypersensitivity of birds to the body language of their flock-mates. See where I'm going with this?

A strong possibility (though not the only one) is that Rascal is indeed reacting to Coconut, as you've surmised. Specifically, he is reacting to Coconut's reaction to something in the environment that is spooking him. This being the case, clipping Rascal's wings does nothing to address the cause of the issue. And as you've mentioned, clipped birds can injure themselves, too.

Now, before this turns into a debate of degree of harm at given speeds or differences in the probability of said harm occurring, let me just say that the best approach is to seek out the cause of Coconut's discomfort and address that. And in the meantime, you can take one of Ximichi's earlier suggestions and give them their out times in separate rooms. Just as a temporary measure until you discover what freaks Coconut out.

Whether or not to clip Rascal's wings is of course entirely your decision, but I personally wouldn't since it does nothing to eliminate the root of the problem. And uncovering the source of Coconut's distress will also be good for Coconut's overall health. You know? Stress is never a good thing for a bird.

And last thing. Yes, there has been a case of Rascal freaking out even when Coconut has been asleep. But that does not go against the hypothesis that most of his panicked flights stem from Coconut. It just means that Rascal can get spooked by other sources as well. You can't eliminate every possible stressor, of course, but your goal here is to take care of the most common ones. So check their view from windows, or regular sounds heard around the house. Anything that you may have become used to that they may not have.

I don't know if it was a typo on your part but you kept mentioning Coconut is freaking out... Coconut is not the one freaking out at all... it is Rascal who keeps freaking out... not Coconut... and of course when Rascal takes off flying full speed in a full blown panic then Coconut is also going to freak out. This is unavoidable because when one tiel freaks out the rest will do same.

Even when Coconut is just taking a NAP... Rascal will suddenly go into a panic attack. Coconut is not and has NEVER freaked Rascal out.. Rascal is freaking HIMSELF out due to the presence of another bird. He is doing it to himself.

I know Rascal very well and I can say with absolute certainty that Coconut is triggering Rascal... WHY though??? I have no idea... this is what has me confused. I have thought of other possibilities but the reality is that this started happening right after I got Coconut and I've had Rascal for 4 years now.

If I had NEVER gotten Coconut we wouldn't even be having this conversation because this problem would not even exit. There are simply NO other sources that might trigger Rascal... NONE at all. I work from home all day on my lap top and am with Rascal all the time for past 4 yrs now... I feel he is hyper sensitive ever since I got Coconut.

In the 4 entire years I've had Rascal since he was 2 months old... he has NEVER ever not even ONCE had a panic during the day time... but ever since I got Coconut he is doing it several times a week. Coincidence? Noway.

I cannot emphasize enough... I am home all day long... there are NO other even remotely POSSIBLE sources that could trigger this in Rascal none... other than the fact he KNOWS there is another bird now living in the house. If I had known this would be how it is I would have NEVER gotten a second tiel. Sad and extremely bizarre situation I never even heard of in my life!.... I feel horrible. It went from fun and I really enjoyed having 2 tiels to a nightmare.