Dennis Leary sang it best with his song, "I'm An Asshole" and it fits Viggo pretty well right now. Aside from having a female his life is pretty easy and he has things very well off. He's testing though and insistent on being you guessed it....
-Insert Special words here-
This post is maybe a bit much for a new parrot owner who's bird is still in the honeymoon phase or even younger years. It's possibly a red flag for those considering a parrot but you know what....good! With every animal there is good and bad....you take it when you take on the responsibility. It's much like a relationship or marriage. These 'bad' or trouble times are a lot like terrible twos of children and I will admit having already gone down that road and now have teenagers I'm not sure which can be more hormonal or testing or trying....
I have been absent from blogging for a while due to the insanity of life and trying to keep up. Busy times!
I am posting today because we are back to our own personal parrot hell. SCREAMING HORMONAL ASSH*LE! OMG!!
No matter what I do nothing seems to be working. I have done everything I did last year during this time. I have regulated the hours of light, as well as how many hours he gets for sleep, I have monitored his diet. He's getting exercise albeit under certain circumstances since he's being a terror to everyone!
Yup...once again he is back to flying at my daughters, pulling their hair, slamming his beak into their heads, trying to bite and screaming at them. I'm very seriously considering a wing clip. It's not just my oldest daughter getting the hormonal beast, it's now my youngest too! In fact he's being a bit of a jerk to me as well although I am not standing for it. Time outs, showers, covered cage, limited treats....I don't know what to do...I'm like that parent with the crazy toddler having a major temper tantrum in a store packed with people and I am stumped as to what to do.
At this point I am even debating boarding for him just for a change of scenery and a break from the screaming for all of us under the roof. That or I may introduce him to the BBQ...got sauce recipes? I'm totally kidding but this is ridiculous! I'm getting flack from my family now as it's really that crazy.
I feed him when I get up and he screams before the feed, when he gets it and after. Then he eats, then screams....
When he's out of the cage he's attacking or trying to have his way with myself. I wish he wasn't so stubborn and would take to a stuffed toy. Alas it's not so simple. The thought once again of getting a female has crossed my mind but again....that would be opening a new can of worms and issues that I really don't want to deal with or have time for.
I have increased his sleep hours, kept everyone and everything free of his sleep area to avoid disruption. I'm not quite sure where to go from here. I guess it's time to chat with other parrot owners and seek out some advice.
While there's the book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting" it gives a generalized idea of 'what to expect' but it's not the same for every woman....the same goes for our furred and feathered pets and there's no guarantee that what worked for one will work for another. I'll try anything at this point though.
Today he got the cold shoulder, door closed and no contact after growling, lunging and being a straight up grump. So I'm blogging...putting it out there...if you have gone through this SHARE your advice...tell me what worked for your hormonal beast. Please! Or share what didn't help! I look forward to your responses and comments.
Until next time, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year if I don't post before then.
