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Saturday 9 PM ET Hosted Bird Chat

Posted by MUM on August 08, 2002 at 16:27:40:

Hi Sue,
I hope you have had help for this by now. How is it going with your pionus currently? Still having aggresion problems? My first thought is that he may be maturing sexually, and your posting was at that time of the year. If that is the case, then you need to act normal in your treatment of him, try to ignore and work around the attacks. I would not flip him to the floor, but try wearing long sleeves, like sweat shirts, keeping the cuff down a bit over the top of you hand. Also, watch the body language and the eyes closely. For some birds this is a seasonal thing, and you just have to remember it each year. Another thing that can make birds irritable, is a heavy molt. Then you mentioned switching his food. Did you just take away the old type he was eating, replacing it with the new? When introducing new food to a bird, it is good to slowly mix it in with the old as most birds will not convert over night. It needs to be a slow conversion, and do not take away the old all at once, as a bird will starve itself before trying somehting new. Hunger can make him aggressive. I usually slowly introduce new things to my birds. Except for a few that are more adventurous, the others are more sensitive to change. This includes new toys, new cages, new decorations in the room, besides food. If I plan to hang a picture on a wall, I first place it on the floor, or something as far away from the birds as I can, then every day, move it a little closer to them, or to where it will hang.
If this is still going on, I would suggest checking with you avian vet. Please let us know how it is going and I hope it is all OK now. Often birds will just have a bad day, like any human, then let it be and it will get over it.

MUM
Posted by Sue on April 23, 2002 at 23:46:08:

My two year old bronze wing pionous has always been extremely good natured, outgoing, playful, and calm. For the last few days I have noticed that he has been talking much more and fluttering his wings (body somewhat hunched). I went to take him out of his cage last night and he jumped off my hand and onto the back of the couch (normal). When I put my finger to him and commanded up he literally attacked me. He jumped onto my shoulder, bit through my ear (ouch!) and when I grabbed him to remove him from attacking my head he bit my finger (flesh wound). I immediately flicked him to the floor where the attacking started again. He was hissing,breathing very heavy and would lunge at my finger and the perches I put in front of him as I tried to command him up. It was only after I placed a towel over him that I was able to get him back in the cage. I am obviously terribly distressed as he has been my best and most constant companion.

Note following:

I picked up some seed that was sunflower based rather than safflower based. I have had him off of sunflower seeds for quite a while because of the tendency of pionous to get overweight. He was four days into this food when attack began.
He also has been taking this food and putting it into his water bowl.

I moved his cage about three weeks ago where he could see out the window but away from direct sunlight.

There has been a wee bit more activity here lately, however he has always thrived on that.

In the last week or so every once in a while he'll let out a "scream" that sends me running to check on him. He has never made this noise before that last week or nine days and when I go in there he is usually satisfied when he hears me talk to him.\

Help me solve this problem please...I know this may end up being a long process but I'm in it for the long haul.

P.S. I took him out early today and he was fine (I kept him chest high and against me and rubbed his neck and cuddled him).
I took him out this afternoon and he again tried to attack, not nearly as aggressive but I was also prepared and able to take the towel and put him back in his cage. I have not scolded him verbally or (obviously) physically. I just give him a real dirty look than walk away.

Sue

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