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....
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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.
Megan. This is an angry bird, and perhaps a hormonal bird. I would not have him out and about all day. Just during parts of the day where he can be well supervised. He sounds like he is very irritated. Regarding the diet...I assume you are not feeding colored pellets or anything containing spirulina? I would check all commercial food products as they may contain items which are not recommended for eclectus parrots. Such as man made vitamin A...this can cause irritation. Also, you might make sure he gets a really good shower every 2 or 3 days...that should help too. I am commenting as a person who has worked with many eclectus parrots for over 30 years and I try to provide information to pet owners so they can enjoy their birds and so that their birds are also happy in their environments. I saw your post on the Eclectus Parrots facebook page and that is why I am commenting.
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for your response Laurella! He does not get coloured pellets let alone any pellets at this time. When he does it's Harrison's Lifetime but it's been a while since he's had any. I feed Viggo much like Stefanja feeds her flock. Sprouts, raw veggies. There's no commercial and he does not get people food or warm cooked food. I've adapted sleep hours, lighting, changed his cage around. He's flighted and I've been trying to get him to burn off the energy and distract with clicker training but he wants nothing to do with anything right now...he's got a one track mind and he's not being nice about it. I have only been letting him out when my family is out of the house or locked in their rooms lately. Sounds bad for all of us and him but otherwise he goes after them. So he's presently not getting time out as he normally would.
ReplyDeleteHi,I haven't seen any recent posts and am wondering how Viggo is doing. I have really enjoyed your stories and information you share Thank You.
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