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The Finster Log
Help With A Territorial Bird
Posted on: 10/25/08, 11:00:39
Edited to add Klara's comments.
The other day Klara left me a message, asking for advice on what she can do to keep her very territorial Pacific Parrotlet from being such a terror. Here's part of what she said:
But from what I've heard and read about other parrotlets, Peanut's behavior was atypical. Most of these tiny Masters of the Universe are feisty and more than capable of drawing blood. Don't laugh, many owners of big parrots dread bites from small birds — they're tiny but pernicious.
So if any of you readers have first-hand experience in handling tiny territorial tyrants (suggestions, good web sites, etc.), can you please leave a comment for Klara? Thanks!
The other day Klara left me a message, asking for advice on what she can do to keep her very territorial Pacific Parrotlet from being such a terror. Here's part of what she said:
I myself have a three year old male Pacific Parrotlet and he is SO, SO territorial! It's not just a seasonal thing, either, it's year round. He gets 12 hours of sleep every night, but that doesn't seem to help change his behavior.I couldn't really help her, since Peanut was always very gentle. Neither Bruce nor I can even remember more than a handful of times he tried to bite us (once was when I was trying to type on his keyboard when he was using the computer — really, what was I thinking!?!).
Was Peanut ever cage territorial? I tried giving my bird one whole room at one point, thinking maybe he was just territorial over small spaces, but then he got territorial over the WHOLE room... just wondering if you have any tips for me and whether there's a way I can get around this. It's not fun to hang around him when he's being all bitey and nippy. And when he bites, he will hang on and not let go... when he finally does, he will grab another part of my hand or toes or whatever, repeat.
In fact, I've gotten too scared of him lately and haven't been handling him much - I just let him out to do his own thing, never really getting into contact with him.
But from what I've heard and read about other parrotlets, Peanut's behavior was atypical. Most of these tiny Masters of the Universe are feisty and more than capable of drawing blood. Don't laugh, many owners of big parrots dread bites from small birds — they're tiny but pernicious.
So if any of you readers have first-hand experience in handling tiny territorial tyrants (suggestions, good web sites, etc.), can you please leave a comment for Klara? Thanks!
Comments
10/27/08, 13:22:20
It's very nice to see a new picture of Peanut. Parrots do love computers.
10/27/08, 16:12:42
Klara, I think only about four people read my blog regularly. Grin. But some of them know birds, so hopefully someone will have an idea for you.
Mommybird, you're right. It's always nice to see a picture of Peanut!
Mommybird, you're right. It's always nice to see a picture of Peanut!
10/27/08, 22:39:14
Regular reader with bird here. No real help to offer (though the request is rather vague). Bug has her own aggression issues. Concur on Peanut cuteness.
10/29/08, 16:39:14
Jen, I've brought Klara's comments to the front, in case they give you ideas. How is Bug aggressive? Don't you give her enough snacks? Grin.
10/31/08, 21:05:43
I have a cage territorial parrotlet.
I dont know if i can help. I never put my hand in his cage, I let him come out on his own terms and then hes ok. If i dont give him enough attention he can also be a biter. He will bite just like your bird then give a good pinch and hold on for dear life and not let go till hes good and ready.
I dont know if i can help. I never put my hand in his cage, I let him come out on his own terms and then hes ok. If i dont give him enough attention he can also be a biter. He will bite just like your bird then give a good pinch and hold on for dear life and not let go till hes good and ready.
12/02/08, 20:18:03
Gimli can get territorial. One thing I do is let him yell and scream, then wait 'til he gets calm, then talk to him and then take him out. If he lunges, I pop him back on his perch (position your hand behind and above the perch, then gently but firmly pull your hand back towards yourself, so that he's essentially got to step onto the perch or be knocked off. Gimli has never accepted the "KNOCKED OFF" option. Over time, he's learned that if he's not calm, he doesn't come out.
Over time, particularly if I've got a crunchy schedule that doesn't give him much out-of-cage time, he does get resistant & nothing works. Then I rearrange his cage. This throws him off enough that he's more open to infringement of his space... 'cause it's not the space he's used to. And if he's still aggressive, then at least the new arrangement gives me a little more time to get out of harm's way, 'cause he doesn't have his attack route down pat yet!
Hope this helps.
Over time, particularly if I've got a crunchy schedule that doesn't give him much out-of-cage time, he does get resistant & nothing works. Then I rearrange his cage. This throws him off enough that he's more open to infringement of his space... 'cause it's not the space he's used to. And if he's still aggressive, then at least the new arrangement gives me a little more time to get out of harm's way, 'cause he doesn't have his attack route down pat yet!
Hope this helps.
Peanut looks very adorable there. Thank you for posting this so the public might be able to come to my rescue!