An update on Murphy. Yesterday he was regurging to me, today trying to attack me.

 

I always replace his floor papers before opening his cage and today he came down and grabbed my hair. I didn't know it til I tried to stand up. Then when I tried to remove his water from outside the cage he struck me. I had to use a stick to close the bowl door because he wouldn't back down. And this went on the entire time I was in the room.

 

He got his birdie butt locked up for the day.

 

This is the type of attitude that shows before he flies at me to attack. I will not risk that and it won't hurt him to stay in the cage today. He likes his cage and sits in it sometimes even when the door is open.

It's not punishment for him, just self preservation for me.

Annie

Annie, it's no help to you but Charlie is acting just the same.  He growls every time I walk past his cage and if I should be so bad as to look at him....he lunges at me.  I'm being brave/stupid and still letting him out knowing I have to go put him back in, so far I have survived by dropping him a treat in his dish which distracts him, he then lands on my arm walks up a bit growls then walks down right into his cage.  I expect to get bitten sometime  

Ekkie

Annie, I've never had a bird act like Murphy is acting.  If I did, they would have to spend time in their cage.  Such a change from being loving to being hostile!  Kathy

I know why she bit you. Same as my birds. Because they can.

Annie

That's what I was going to write!  ha ha

 

Or your arm just looked tasty!  But I think Annie had the best answer!

 

Indy 

Harley is acting the same way, although, thankfully not quite as extreme,  He's normally very good about letting me remove his food dish if he's sitting on it, I just say "step dish" (his version of "step off your dish") and he steps right off.  Now, if I am doing anything with his dish he attacks my hand 

 

And now, for some unknown reason (or according to Too's theory, hormones) he has a new enemy, in a small white measuring scoop I use for seed.  He'll come running down the side of his cage, or even lunge off the edge, and attack, if that white scoop is anywhere in his sight.

I hate the fact that some of you guys are having the biting problems with certain members of your flock but it certainly goes along with the problems I am having with my GW Hollywood. ( long sigh). Just this week when I was cleaning cages ( and it wasn't even his cage I was cleaning at the time)  he actually half jumped and half flew from his play stand over onto my head and attacked my hair. I didn't want to lose any fingers by pulling him off or lose an ear by  not doing anything  so I just hit the ground and he jumped off and ran back up his play stand.  ( another sigh). Hmmm!!! Maybe I should become a red head and see if that makes a difference to this big red stinker!!!

 

Marti

No no no, don't do the redhead with a red bird. They can't take it.  Rio, my scarlet, ripped me up every time I wore red.

Smart move to drop. I'd have lost a finger because I am too stiff to drop down.

 

It's just hormones. I wish I could neuter that bad boy.

He was good this afternoon when I switched out his veggie bowl. I could see the difference when I walked into their room. He looked calm.

Annie

I've heard that you can neuter the males, has anyone ever heard of or know anything about this procedure on fids? Just curious!!

 

Marti

 

A spay can certainly be done on females but I wouldn't risk it unless she was in danger of egg binding or had already been egg bound. Males I am not sure about but it would mean general anesthesia and for a bird it wouldn't be worth the risk to me except in the case of serious need.

I was teasing about neutering him and should have winked.

Annie

No problem Annie!!! I just googled "bird neutering" and it says that breeding can be controlled by a contraceptive in the drinking water. I would never put any of my guys thru an unneccesary surgery, not even my big red stinker!!! We are trying one last thing with him.. He will be going upstairs away from the rest of the flock. Rosco ( the rehomed macaw) will be out of quarantine in a few weeks and I plan on adding him to the flock in the birdroom and Hollywood will be upstairs where he will spend alot of one on one time with hubby. He likes him better any how so I'm hoping it's a win-win situation!!

 

Marti

Hi all well it really must be somethng in the air because Sprout just flew in from the kitchen and nicley landed on my hand then proceeded in biting my lip as hard as he could thank God his beak is not fully grown back or I wouldn't have a lip left it hurt I didn't think he could bite down that hard yet. the little booger  Pat

Ow ow ow. I have never gotten a lip bite but even with birds that seem very calm I put my finger in their beak before kissing the top of the beak. Fingers are tougher than lips.

These guys sure get cranky during hormone time.

 

Hope the lip heals quickly. Don't smile!!

Annie

Ooooohh man that hurts and I bet your eyes teared up!  Dang it....made me laugh and my lips are chapped and now there's a stinging crack....had to go find some chap stick!  I sure hope you heal fast.