Really Upset

[lemonkiss143]

Ok... Im incredibly upset... i dont know wht to do.. i've had my parrotlet for a week now..he's 8 weeks.. and the first few days.. though he was timid, he was still adjusting well. However, in the last 2 days.. he's turned into a maniac!!! He keeps ludging at me and my family as in attacking us!! He literally LUDGES at us with his beak wide open.. I dont kno why it got so bad. At first whenever he bit anyone, we'd all say NO BITE really angerily, but then.. everything went downhill.. now he just doesnt listen. and he HATES coming out of his cage. i have to drag him out!!! and then once he's out, all he wants to do is go bak in! He doesnt play with his toys.. and he doesnt seem to like me very much at all. I dont kno wht to do and am feeling incredibly hopeless. How can I make this situation better? O yes and if its of any use... I play with him for 10 min before I leave for skool, when changing his food and then mid afternoon soemone takes him out for 5-10 min usually n he gets to be around ppl.. and at night. i take him for about half hour or so and just play with him and practice step ups.
Another question, all he eats are his seeds, i've tried giving him carrots, rice, tomatoes, peas but he doesnt touch any of the other stuff.. even if i put it in with his seeds, or nearby. What should I do?

[Deone]

First of all 1 week is not a enough time for the adjustment period. I would work with inside the cage doing your step ups and such. That way when you do take him out maybe the cage won't be such a refuge for him. I've only had mine for 2 wks. and he is still adjusting. I does he's step ups and I can get him to walk around alittle bit. Also, I would feed him seeds by hand in his cage and that seemed to help build his confidents. He also will not eat anything beside his safflower seeds. I've quit trying for now on giving him veggies and fruits. He doesn't interact with his toys either. Just put a couple in there and let them be. the biggest thing is just be patient. I wouldn't have to many people working with him either, to start with anyway. These are just a few of my thoughts about it. I know it's hard, I'm still trying to figure things out. Deone

[Berrys]

Lemon,

I'm sorry to hear your frustrations. Deone is right about the adjustment period, but now that you've started to get your little baby out, keep up your routine. Yes, unfortunately it means you have to endure a few bites when you need to get him to come out. An alternative might be to bring a little washcloth with you. If you bird refuses to step up, then gently scoop him up with a towel. Once in the towel, offer your hand to step up. It's almost as if you are rescuing the bird from the towel. Eventually the little one will begin to recognize your finger as no threat.

When you take your parrotlet from his cage, make sure you take him to a location in which his cage is not available. This will remove him from his comfort zone, which is important when you are trying to train and bond with your baby. My wife and I have found that they read facial expressions VERY well. When you say NO to the bird, don't yell it, but say it firmly, and give a stern look. And of course reward a step-up with positive reinforcement.

Also, make sure your parrotlet's cage is in a location where there is not a lot of traffic, such as people walking by. Merry and Pippin, our green and blue brothers, were hand-fed by a breeder who had a home with an extremely hyper dog that had a habit of jumping up on tables and at cages, and as a result they have ALWAYS been skittish (We've had them for 2 years now). So make sure your baby is in a stress-free location for now. Eventually he'll be able to adjust. It is good, however to have him in a location where he can get used to the "flock" (the family's daily routines).

Remember, though these birds are very intelligent, they are very fiesty. After a year, our American Yellow still tries to challenge our dominance when we go to get her out of her cage. I hope this information helps. Parrotlets a lot of work, but they are worth it. They are definately the terriers of the bird world!

Paul

[Petey McSweetie]

Yes Paul is right, from what I've heard P'lets can be cage territorial, so can most birds so you might want to consider stick training. You use a dowel of some sort to make him step up while in his cage, then take him to a room where he cannot see his cage. Work on step up on your finger. When he does a step up praise him. If he goes to bite, make him do several laddering step ups. Praise him each time. Since he is still adjusting to you and your family, he views his cage as his haven, his place of safety and he is protecting it. By stick training a bird you enable anyone else to be able to retrieve the bird from his cage. It's really a good all around practice. At first they will run from the stick but eventually they will know what the stick is for.

[RGL]

Using a perch is the only way I can get Cosmo out of his cage. If I put my big hand in the cage he bites at me and runs all around the cage. With the perch he steps up and comes out of the cage with no problem. Just move slow.

[memmey]

Lemon, everyone has given you good advice and I know when your little bird is new to you it's hard to know what to do and you always want to do the right thing. Patience will be your best skill. You know sorta like the horse whisperer. I hope everyone will agree with this approach. If you watch T.V. or read put your birds cage close, sit close to the cage, everyday sit for while close, talk, sing a little tune and lay your hand on the cage.Put your finger through the bars if you can and just sit and visit and gradually you will bond gently. It won't take too long.... patience... let your little bird be curious about you...they are so smart. You will be so proud when that bird is bonded to you with love . It won't happen in a day and maybe not in a week. When they are hand fed babies they are used to humans and some of us have birds that were not and had to learn to trust us. The idea that you even bothered to ask questions means that you are gonna be a good owner. Your bird maybe overwhelmed and need to sorta get his bearings. Everyone wants to hold their bird first thing, give it some time. Patience, with good care they live a long time. Congratulations on your new bird...aren't they cute their little faces are so sweet. Best regards, Mem

[Deone]

Hi Lemonkiss,
It's been about 3 weeks since my post to you. Was wondering how your
p'let is doing now. Ernie has really blossomed in the last week. He has gotten so brave. His favorite place to be is on his play pen on the coffee table in the livingroom. He gets down off his play pen and messes with toys I have there for him on the table. Than I get him on me and walks all around on me. So, it's just been a month since I brought him home. I still can't get him to eat veggies and fruit. He will eat a little pasta thou.
Keep trying that's all you can do. deone

[Ms_F]

Have you tried a little "Playground"? They sell them at most pet stores, and have purches, latters, swings, etc. on them. Place it on a table with a spray of millet cliped to one of the perches. Then leave him alone. He will want the millet (of course) and will eventually start to explore the playground. Also, I do not give millet in the cage. Only on the playground. My 2 see me hold the playground up to the front of the cage and they run up and hop on it now.

[North]

Mr F... i jsut bought a little "playground" and she likes it. Never thought of the millet thing. Gonna have to try that

[lemonkiss143]

well.. it did take a couple of weeks but the lunging has stopped.. he's still terrotorial of his cage but once in a while he'll let me put in my hand and stroke him. Otherwise i just use a stick. He has gotten SOOO much better.. now he doesnt even want to go back into his cage :rolleyes: thank you all so much for your great advice :)

- Zahra

[cdholmes]

Another thing you might want to do is to change things around in his cage every month or so. Rotate out toys and change where the perches are. It may help keep him less aggressive when he's in his cage.

[Berrys]

Very glad to hear the good news Lemon!! enjoy your little baby!!