Sudden Agression

[Shyloh]

So I've had my GCC Mika since July of last year, and she just turned 1 at the beginning of the month. Since getting her she's kind of become my best friend and has been very helpful with my depression.

For the last three days she's been completely awful towards me, and only me. Normally she's a velcro bird with me but now all she wants to do is bite me. Mom touches her, she's fine. Dad? She's fine. Just me.

There haven't been any changes, no haircuts, no new clothes, no nothing. Just full on attack mode if I go near her. It doesn't matter if she's on the couch, on the floor, on the kitchen counter, she just puffs up and attacks. If she's on me she has to land on me, I can't pick her up because she won't let me and then if I go to touch her head or to put my hands in my pocket she's chasing me and trying to eat me.

Normally it's my pearly I have to worry about, now he's being all cuddly and she just wants to latch on and not let go.

Does anyone have any suggestions of what is going on or what I can do? I'm just at a loss, and it may seem stupid but I'm ready to just cry over it.

 

[Flboy]

Can be hormones!
Do a search on 'MonicaMc+hormones' leave off the'

Also,
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

It's likely hormones and since you got her last July, this is the first "spring" you've had her. It's mating season (roughly Feb-May) and its also molting season too. While birds molt year round, they tend to shed more between winter/spring and fall/winter, just like dogs.

But its likely hormones. I'd bet money on that.

 

[Flboy]

Does anyone have any suggestions of what is going on or what I can do? I'm just at a loss, and it may seem stupid but I'm ready to just cry over it.

Nothing stupid about it! Just think of what your baby is going through! For you, you are able to talk this out with us and reason it out, but for your baby she does not have this outlet for her frustration! Remember, you always hurt the one you love! True even for birds!
The important thing is to not let this become a learned behavior and permanently change your relationship! You basically just need to continue to love as you've always been doing, but from a slight distance for now! Their first hormonal wave tends to be the hardest.
Make sure she is getting enough sleep, do not keep the lights on too long, and there are dietary things that you should be observing to help control the hormonal flow.

 

[SailBoat]

Great suggestions from those above!

Hormones are possible, but I'm with David - it a bit too early based on your Parrot being one year old. If your Parrot was nearer to two or older its more likely. I am not total dismissing Hormones, but taking a wider view of the change in relationship between just you and your Parrot!

I am guessing that you are the only one that is activity hugging your Parrot. Some parrots love this most are not overly crazy about it. At about one year, your Parrot 'could' be pushing back, looking for more independence.

That is a pure guessing on my part. I have a very specific way of looking at issues that just occur! Its a change in the vantage point that Humans need to take to determine what the Human is doing wrong!

The Vantage Point: It is NEVER the fault of the Parrot! It is ALWAYS the fault of the Human! Viewing this relationship change or any interaction change from this Vantage Point, allows the Human to see what they are doing wrong and correct it!

 

[EllenD]

I agree that it is likely not hormonal behavior, as your Green Cheek is too young for that quite yet. Not totally out of the question, but not likely.

You mentioned that you have another bird, Luna. How long have you had Luna in relation to how long you've had Mika? What is the living situation of your two birds? Do they both have their cages in the same room, can they see and hear each other? How do they get along with each other? How do they interact with each other? How often do you interact with Luna, handle Luna, and do you do it in front of Mika? Do you know the sex of both your birds, meaning have you had them DNA sexed?

It's quite possible that Mika's sudden aggressive behavior towards you has to do with Luna's arrival, Luna's sex in relation to Mika's sex, etc. I need a bit more information before coming to a conclusion about that.

No matter what the cause, for now I agree that you need to stay consistent in your treatment and direct interaction with Mika. Try your best not to change the way you interact with your bird, I know it's difficult when Mika is attacking you and I know it's nearly impossible to not take this personally and be very upset about it, but you do not want this behavior to become permanent. You have to try to remind yourself what Sailboat has already told you, that Mika's sudden behavior change is not his/her fault at all, the behavior is being caused by something, we just need to figure out what! You don't want Mika to think that this is how it's going to be from now on, and you really don't want Mika to be in control, and right now that's what is going on. Try to keep things status quo and give us as much information about Luna as you can in the meantime.





"Dance like nobody's watching..."

 

[ZephyrFly]

I've been under the impression for a while that green cheek Conures/ small conures in​ General mature between 1-2 years?

 

[Shyloh]

So sorry for not responding sooner everyone, I've been without access to the computer. Mika is very attached to everyone, usually cuddles with everyone. She's gotten a little better since I'd posted this.

We've had Luna since November, Mika since July. They both get along great and have separate cages, and they both get equal time with me. Mika is female, Luna is male.