Birdie Pets

good news / bad news

Question:

: My Green Cheek did exactly the same thing, she/ended up a He, was hand fed, : very tame and loveable, use to live on my shoulder, well not anymore, that : is one bird from HELL let me tell you.  It lives to attack or try to when I : get near the cage to change food etc.  Don’t know what happened, figured it : was just maturity that changed the bird. Hi Everyone!  I have only been lurking here a while.  I have to add to this thread, though as the story was so familiar! We have a green cheek, Reno, that changes personality about every 18 months. He (my husband calls him "he", I think it’s a "she") is about 5 now, and the current personality allows me to tickle his head a little, and only while he perches on the "doorstep" of the cage.  He sometimes flies to see me, but we limit the visit to about a minute, and he will ONLY step up to go from shoulder immediately to cage.  I don’t really trust him on the shoulder.  He bites my husband viciously every chance he gets now, which is terrible, because this is supposedly "daddy’s" bird. He used to be such a sweet, cuddly baby.  He was hand raised, and always treated kindly, used to let you roll him upside down in your palm for tickles.  We think it may be my husband’s beard that has him freaked, but who knows. When we added Zina the sun conure to our home 3 years ago, he got a little jealous and started hating me.  It started gradually, but got pretty bad at times – he bit me in the face once, didn’t break skin, but that’s why I don’t trust him now.  This hating me went on (off and on) for about 18 months, then he changed to the current odd personality.  The only change in his life then was the beard I mentioned.  We’re basically working with him gently with the time that we have, but also have to pay attention to the Sun also.  They both have good healthy color and feathering, no plucking or excessive screaming, so we think we are pretty good bird parents.  We never let the 2 birds out to play at the same time as we’re afraid they’d hurt each other. Reno’s got a razor-sharp beak, and I have a lot of respect for that little bird.  He has always tried to bite anyone that is not the husband who tried to change the food or water – ironically, that’s the only thing he lets Daddy do, isn’t that odd.  And this is about the only consistent behavior this bird has maintained.  Well, that and the "budging off".  The bird backs into a corner formed by a food dish, sticks the tail in the air and squeaks for a minute or so.  We avert our eyes  I don’t know that much actually anything!  about green cheek sexual behavior, but that makes me think it’s a female.  Any help from the more-knowledgeable here? Thanks, you guys! -Bobbie Bird fair here is next weekend – yea!

Response:

Well sadly I have to say Marco that I don’t even trust Gizmo enough to let her be on my shoulder.  She has gone for the face and well once was enough so that took care of that.  And being small in size, that beak really delivers a wallop that I prefer to just stay away from.  It’s been bad enough that my CAG has been biting the crap out of my hand once in a while and for what reason??????? now he really opens the skin.  I don’t even want to imgagine a Macaw bite and the damage they can do. Sounds Like Spanky should have a name change to *Spunky* >G< — Karen Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Karen, > I’ve noticed that as time goes by, Spanky becomes a lot more independent. > ‘Independent’ meaning that he doesn’t care for snuggling or extended petting > session. He’s more than content just perching on my head and watch tv with me > (his favorite!)… and once in a while he decides there’s a hair out of place > and he must do away with it (ouch). He gets extra cranky sometimes and doesn’t > want to come out of his cage. Other times he’s all for a good ‘rough-housing’ on > the couch. It depends on his moods. These lil’ green cheeks have such > personalities! But one thing is for sure, what they lack in size, they more than > make up in guts. Spanky has been known to try to attack the other birds, > regardless of size, shape, coloration or beak size. Luckily for Spanky, Hoppy > (U2) is terrified of him and will crest up and run away in terror everytime > Spanky puffs up. <g> > Marco, Gizmo was hatched 2/2/91 so that makes him (I still want to call him > her, so if I slip, don’t shoot me ok?LOL,  ) 9 years old and has been nasty > for at least 2 years, could be more, time goes by so fast.  Once in a while > I can get a scratch in on his head, but it’s quick and short.  This bird is > so bad I have to take him in to clip him, but he is sweet as pie after a > clipping (just due to being scared and nothing else) In fact last time I did > this and we got home, that bird would let me pet it, etc and had him out for > about 2 hours, but no sooner  that I had to leave, popped the bird in the > cage and returned in about 15 minutes, back to be Mr. Ornery once again. It > was too good to be true! > — > Karen > Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 > http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html > > Hey Karen, > > How old is your green cheek? I ask because when our green cheek, Spanky, > was > > about 2, 2.5 yrs he too turned into one mean, biting machine. He was > handraised > > and we’ve had him since he was 3 months old. He was so sweet and cuddly > then. > > Then he turned into a monster, but, luckily, he’s calmed down. Right now > he’s > > about 5 and a half yrs old, he still gets cranky once in a while, but in a > very > > non aggresive way. He’ll play with us *if* and *when* he wants to. Yours > might > > get over this stage with in time. > > > My Green Cheek did exactly the same thing, she/ended up a He, was hand > fed, > > > very tame and loveable, use to live on my shoulder, well not anymore, > that > > > is one bird from HELL let me tell you.  It lives to attack or try to > when I > > > get near the cage to change food etc.  Don’t know what happened, figured > it > > > was just maturity that changed the bird.  The bird was well loved with > lots > > > of attention. Still have him, although at times I threaten to get rid of > > > him, I have been saying that for about 2 years now, Gizmo is still here > and > > > tolerated.  Always hopeful that something will spark in that darn bird > and > > > will do the same thing, do a quick change back to sweet.  Wishful > thinking > > > though. > > > — > > > Karen > > > Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. > > > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 > > > http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html > > > > > Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger. > > > > Exactly like Dakota.  Ued to be such a sweet bird til he met puberty. > Now > > > > he is a sex drived jealous piece of c%^p.  All he does is swear at me > and > > > > bite me, ESPECIALLY when Sweet Pea is in the area (Yfandes’ mate). =( > > — > > Marco > > ~~~~~ > > -"Girls, we’ve come to face that age-old dilemma… Style Vs. Substance." > >   Miss Vida Boheme > > Pet Birds > > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62680 > > PSP Graphics Page > > www.geocities.com/marcosartgallery > — > Marco > ~~~~~ > -"Girls, we’ve come to face that age-old dilemma… Style Vs. Substance." >   Miss Vida Boheme > Pet Birds > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62680 > PSP Graphics Page > www.geocities.com/marcosartgallery

Response:

Marco, Gizmo was hatched 2/2/91 so that makes him (I still want to call him her, so if I slip, don’t shoot me ok?LOL,  ) 9 years old and has been nasty for at least 2 years, could be more, time goes by so fast.  Once in a while I can get a scratch in on his head, but it’s quick and short.  This bird is so bad I have to take him in to clip him, but he is sweet as pie after a clipping (just due to being scared and nothing else) In fact last time I did this and we got home, that bird would let me pet it, etc and had him out for about 2 hours, but no sooner  that I had to leave, popped the bird in the cage and returned in about 15 minutes, back to be Mr. Ornery once again.  It was too good to be true! — Karen Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey Karen, > How old is your green cheek? I ask because when our green cheek, Spanky, was > about 2, 2.5 yrs he too turned into one mean, biting machine. He was handraised > and we’ve had him since he was 3 months old. He was so sweet and cuddly then. > Then he turned into a monster, but, luckily, he’s calmed down. Right now he’s > about 5 and a half yrs old, he still gets cranky once in a while, but in a very > non aggresive way. He’ll play with us *if* and *when* he wants to. Yours might > get over this stage with in time. > My Green Cheek did exactly the same thing, she/ended up a He, was hand fed, > very tame and loveable, use to live on my shoulder, well not anymore, that > is one bird from HELL let me tell you.  It lives to attack or try to when I > get near the cage to change food etc.  Don’t know what happened, figured it > was just maturity that changed the bird.  The bird was well loved with lots > of attention. Still have him, although at times I threaten to get rid of > him, I have been saying that for about 2 years now, Gizmo is still here and > tolerated.  Always hopeful that something will spark in that darn bird and > will do the same thing, do a quick change back to sweet.  Wishful thinking > though. > — > Karen > Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 > http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html > > > Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger. > > Exactly like Dakota.  Ued to be such a sweet bird til he met puberty. Now > > he is a sex drived jealous piece of c%^p.  All he does is swear at me and > > bite me, ESPECIALLY when Sweet Pea is in the area (Yfandes’ mate).  =( > — > Marco > ~~~~~ > -"Girls, we’ve come to face that age-old dilemma… Style Vs. Substance." >   Miss Vida Boheme > Pet Birds > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62680 > PSP Graphics Page > www.geocities.com/marcosartgallery

Response:

Karen, I’ve noticed that as time goes by, Spanky becomes a lot more independent. ‘Independent’ meaning that he doesn’t care for snuggling or extended petting session. He’s more than content just perching on my head and watch tv with me (his favorite!)… and once in a while he decides there’s a hair out of place and he must do away with it (ouch). He gets extra cranky sometimes and doesn’t want to come out of his cage. Other times he’s all for a good ‘rough-housing’ on the couch. It depends on his moods. These lil’ green cheeks have such personalities! But one thing is for sure, what they lack in size, they more than make up in guts. Spanky has been known to try to attack the other birds, regardless of size, shape, coloration or beak size. Luckily for Spanky, Hoppy (U2) is terrified of him and will crest up and run away in terror everytime Spanky puffs up. <g> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Marco, Gizmo was hatched 2/2/91 so that makes him (I still want to call him > her, so if I slip, don’t shoot me ok?LOL,  ) 9 years old and has been nasty > for at least 2 years, could be more, time goes by so fast.  Once in a while > I can get a scratch in on his head, but it’s quick and short.  This bird is > so bad I have to take him in to clip him, but he is sweet as pie after a > clipping (just due to being scared and nothing else) In fact last time I did > this and we got home, that bird would let me pet it, etc and had him out for > about 2 hours, but no sooner  that I had to leave, popped the bird in the > cage and returned in about 15 minutes, back to be Mr. Ornery once again.  It > was too good to be true! > — > Karen > Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 > http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html > Hey Karen, > How old is your green cheek? I ask because when our green cheek, Spanky, > was > about 2, 2.5 yrs he too turned into one mean, biting machine. He was > handraised > and we’ve had him since he was 3 months old. He was so sweet and cuddly > then. > Then he turned into a monster, but, luckily, he’s calmed down. Right now > he’s > about 5 and a half yrs old, he still gets cranky once in a while, but in a > very > non aggresive way. He’ll play with us *if* and *when* he wants to. Yours > might > get over this stage with in time. > > My Green Cheek did exactly the same thing, she/ended up a He, was hand > fed, > > very tame and loveable, use to live on my shoulder, well not anymore, > that > > is one bird from HELL let me tell you.  It lives to attack or try to > when I > > get near the cage to change food etc.  Don’t know what happened, figured > it > > was just maturity that changed the bird.  The bird was well loved with > lots > > of attention. Still have him, although at times I threaten to get rid of > > him, I have been saying that for about 2 years now, Gizmo is still here > and > > tolerated.  Always hopeful that something will spark in that darn bird > and > > will do the same thing, do a quick change back to sweet.  Wishful > thinking > > though. > > — > > Karen > > Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. > > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 > > http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html > > > > Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger. > > > Exactly like Dakota.  Ued to be such a sweet bird til he met puberty. > Now > > > he is a sex drived jealous piece of c%^p.  All he does is swear at me > and > > > bite me, ESPECIALLY when Sweet Pea is in the area (Yfandes’ mate).  =( > — > Marco > ~~~~~ > -"Girls, we’ve come to face that age-old dilemma… Style Vs. Substance." >   Miss Vida Boheme > Pet Birds > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62680 > PSP Graphics Page > www.geocities.com/marcosartgallery

– Marco ~~~~~ -"Girls, we’ve come to face that age-old dilemma… Style Vs. Substance."   Miss Vida Boheme Pet Birds http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62680 PSP Graphics Page www.geocities.com/marcosartgallery

Response:

I don’t know what type of birds are being talked about here, but Henry, my Parakeet has managed to stay sweet his whole life and I know he must have reached sexual maturity by now, he is about 8 years old.  My worst problem is he won’t leave my hands alone.  Normally I would just put him back in the cage when he started, but last time every time he started to try to mate I just stuck him on my shoulder and for some reason, he finally stayed there. I’m hoping the new Parrotlet will stay as sweet as Henry has.  Sharon

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger. > Exactly like Dakota.  Ued to be such a sweet bird til he met puberty.  Now > he is a sex drived jealous piece of c%^p.  All he does is swear at me and > bite me, ESPECIALLY when Sweet Pea is in the area (Yfandes’ mate).  =(

Response:

Hey Karen, How old is your green cheek? I ask because when our green cheek, Spanky, was about 2, 2.5 yrs he too turned into one mean, biting machine. He was handraised and we’ve had him since he was 3 months old. He was so sweet and cuddly then. Then he turned into a monster, but, luckily, he’s calmed down. Right now he’s about 5 and a half yrs old, he still gets cranky once in a while, but in a very non aggresive way. He’ll play with us *if* and *when* he wants to. Yours might get over this stage with in time. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My Green Cheek did exactly the same thing, she/ended up a He, was hand fed, > very tame and loveable, use to live on my shoulder, well not anymore, that > is one bird from HELL let me tell you.  It lives to attack or try to when I > get near the cage to change food etc.  Don’t know what happened, figured it > was just maturity that changed the bird.  The bird was well loved with lots > of attention. Still have him, although at times I threaten to get rid of > him, I have been saying that for about 2 years now, Gizmo is still here and > tolerated.  Always hopeful that something will spark in that darn bird and > will do the same thing, do a quick change back to sweet.  Wishful thinking > though. > — > Karen > Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. > http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 > http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html > > Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger. > Exactly like Dakota.  Ued to be such a sweet bird til he met puberty.  Now > he is a sex drived jealous piece of c%^p.  All he does is swear at me and > bite me, ESPECIALLY when Sweet Pea is in the area (Yfandes’ mate).  =(

– Marco ~~~~~ -"Girls, we’ve come to face that age-old dilemma… Style Vs. Substance."   Miss Vida Boheme Pet Birds http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62680 PSP Graphics Page www.geocities.com/marcosartgallery

Response:

> I caught Oscar (BFA) chewing his way through an electrical cord. > It wasn’t plugged in.

One day Coral’s humidifier stopped working, and I discovered that someone had chewed through the cord.  It, too, had been unplugged, but I wondered if she was trying to turn it on, since she really liked it.  Or maybe she was just being a parrot.  I had hidden the cord and plugged it in behind some curtains, and it was several feet from her cage.  But… > Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger.

Oy!  I can relate.  Coral lucked out, too, because my first impulse was to fling her across the room.  Fortunately I did not because if she had clamped any harder she might have taken my thumb with her! — Kellie Final Portrait * A Novel by Kellie Sisson Snider Kass Arts Publicity  <http://kassarts.bizland.com>

Response:

> Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger.

Exactly like Dakota.  Ued to be such a sweet bird til he met puberty.  Now he is a sex drived jealous piece of c%^p.  All he does is swear at me and bite me, ESPECIALLY when Sweet Pea is in the area (Yfandes’ mate).  =(

Response:

My Green Cheek did exactly the same thing, she/ended up a He, was hand fed, very tame and loveable, use to live on my shoulder, well not anymore, that is one bird from HELL let me tell you.  It lives to attack or try to when I get near the cage to change food etc.  Don’t know what happened, figured it was just maturity that changed the bird.  The bird was well loved with lots of attention. Still have him, although at times I threaten to get rid of him, I have been saying that for about 2 years now, Gizmo is still here and tolerated.  Always hopeful that something will spark in that darn bird and will do the same thing, do a quick change back to sweet.  Wishful thinking though. — Karen Take a peek at my Baby Cockatiels and my other birds. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=580146 http://hometown.aol.com/kmo53153/bryce2.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger. > Exactly like Dakota.  Ued to be such a sweet bird til he met puberty.  Now > he is a sex drived jealous piece of c%^p.  All he does is swear at me and > bite me, ESPECIALLY when Sweet Pea is in the area (Yfandes’ mate).  =(

Response:

My love birds are still in love. She started laying eggs on the bottom of the cage days after I removed the nest box, so now I’ll have to separate the pair. I caught Oscar (BFA) chewing his way through an electrical cord. It wasn’t plugged in. Leroy (bcc) took a chunk out of my finger. **Mick** My photo album can be viewed at: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=29982

Response:

Filed under: Pet Bird Cage