Tucey unfriended me

[Dom]

So as the title states my little guy is Tucey. My wife and I got him shortly after we had our eldest son 6 years ago. He’s roughly 6.5-7 years old at this given point in time. For the first 4-5 years he was an absolute sweetheart, we could put him in our hands, cuddle, play, he would lay on his back in the palm of our hands and be totally at ease. The last few years though have been disastrous. I’ve been in the military roughly 5 years now, he has had his moments of anger at us probably from lack of well deserved attention after having our second child who is just about to be 3 now. However me and my wife were overcoming this and my oldest was getting better at being gentle with him versus when he was a toddler and almost ran the poor little guy over with his big wheel (I promise I was supervising and he wasn’t in danger but I could see what my kid was thinking). Fast forward.. we were reacquainting him with the family getting him all loved up and then I deployed. Now don’t blame my wife please as she had two kids and was all alone as a military wife so I’m assuming he didn’t get much free time. I assume this because well... when I came back he had destroyed the ends of hundreds of his feathers on his back. I think it’s hundreds, can’t really tell. I’ve read around and basically came to the conclusion that he was depressed by the situation and took it out on himself. Fast forward even further. I’ve been back now for roughly 5 months.. and he is behaving like an absolute demon. He will literally try to attack my hand anywhere in the house we are, whether it’s his cage or the living room or the top of his cage which is a play area ect. He doesn’t just nip, I’m a grown man with pretty rough hands from work and he draws blood 50% of the time. I’ve yet to cut his wings int he last year and a half and am debating if I should to take away some of his “confidence” so he stops flying to my 3 year old to attack him and get himself hurt. I’m sure some people will say give him up but being that I plan to get out of the military and it’s just empire art at this point I really just want my cuddly bird back who isn’t biting and making my 3 year old run in terror when he’s outside his cage.

Oh gotta add it’s not just hands.. if he’s on my shoulder he try’s to attack my ears, lips, anything he can get a hold of. Pretty painful as you can imagine so I’ll be honest I’m a little hesitant to try now.
Sorry for the lack of organization in this post. Typing on the phone at 11 with two babies in my arms.

 

[Scott]

Welcome aboard and thanks for your service!

I believe you have excellent instincts and analyzed the situation to perfection. Birds can pluck and regress when bored or perceived to be ignored. They often turn the emotions inward and pluck feathers. In extreme situations, the follicles are destroyed and the affected area is permanently bald.

Wing clipping, though controversial, often reduces aggression. I would restrict him from flying towards your child and access to the neck. A conure is capable of doing facial damage until shoulder privileges are earned as result of good behavior.

You may attempt a "reset" of sorts in effort to socialize Tucey. While I doubt he mistrusts you, some techniques here are helpful: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
Bite pressure training may be helpful: http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html
Clicker/Target training when Tucey becomes more manageable: http://www.parrotforums.com/training/60435-clicker-target-training.html

Plucking is one of the most difficult behaviors to manage. Explanation and tips: http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/52217-plucking-search-answers.html

Good luck, let us know how things progress!

 

[fiddlejen]

I would encourage you to Go Ahead with getting the wings clipped. Maybe not yet though -- make sure you can get him to an Avian Vet to get it done properly, and also so he doesn't associate you with actually doing the clipping. IF you can't Currently get him to an Avian Vet or at least a highly reliable professional ((ie there is a petstore in Derry NH that I would trust unquestionably for wing clips)), then wait for return-to-normalcy and then get it done.

The wings will grow back. There are lots of resources all over this website and elsewhere for helping remedy his issues. Getting him clipped (as soon as can be done safely & well & not-by-you) will help deal with safety issues with your kids. This is important all by itself, but also it will relieve a little of your & your family's stress toward the bird, which will help in some part to relieve his stress as well. Getting him clipped will give you a period of time to implement various strategies and work with him with a little-bit-less-stress about him.

If he can't fly for a while -- it's okay, his feathers will grow back. He will fly Again, and he will forgive you.

 

[Laurasea]

You can over come this!
My GCC has gone through this several times, yep always my fault.

A few years ago I tried to harness train and I did everything worng! I stuffed her in the harness....
Well I turned her into an biter, a flu to me to bite me , fearful of hands...... Sad days will actually months.....I didn't understand behavior shaping then . So it took me six months if going slow, if feeding safflower seeds by hand , to get my sweet baby back.

Then about two years ago, I added a rescue Quaker and they had fights. I would put my hand between them to stop fights, and I used my hand to make a shoo away motions. Well then Ta-dah became fearful of hands again , if she saw a hand she would bite it. This time only took m a week to get back my sweetheart.

For you , I could suggest a complete re do. Move the cage to a slightly different spot, even a few feet over. Re arrange everything in the cage, the perches, the toys. Add a bunch of easy to destroy stuff, DIY toys. My safe bird store sells a bunch of great stuff cheap! They ship quickly!

Then I would apologize to the bird. Some how some way, something gets through to them on this! I swear!

Then I would start over you like you just brought him home as a new bird. Only coming to the cage from the front, say the same thing each time, like hello Tucey. Then out a safflower seed in a treat dish, abd walk away. Repeat a bunch. Sit by the cage and talk out loud to him, or read to him .
Basically start over.

This is great article! I don't care for clickers, I shape behavior and say good bird and give treat rather than mess with a clicker.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

Also I gave advice to a Quaker owner before, same stuff will work for you. Go the the link and read the thread.
http://www.parrotforums.com/quakers/83780-help-needed-new-quaker.html

 

[wrench13]

Also to consider is that for some reason this seems to be a particularly potent mating season all over the US. Crazy behavior goes hand in hand with that. Aside from preventing any nesting spots or materials, scratching only the head and neck and keeping a 12 on 12 off sleep cycle theres not much you can do about it, except to ride it out.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Hello, and welcome!
What wonderful support and advice you're getting!
I encourage you to think about all these ideas and let them mesh and mix with your own obvious good will and intelligence. I really enjoyed sharing your story. I hope Tucey reconsiders your merit as a friend.
I have known a couple of interesting roosters in my life named Tucey. Now I know another!
Thank you for your service, and again, welcome!