Hi everyone, I posted on here a while back about my Quaker parrot being vicious and biting us.
Last April hubby and I went to Jamaica, for our wedding and vacation, when we got back, my Quaker parrot Kiwi, became very territorial of his cage, was very vicious, and would lunge at us and bite. He talks a lot, and seems friendly when you stand beside the cage, but try to touch him or his cage, he is in attack mode. I have continued to talk to him, and hand feed him, but have not been able to take him out of the cage or hold him. He was hand tamed as a baby and was always friendly. My grandson used to hold him and he never bit anyone. I spoke to a few people at the pet store and have been trying to get him back, but had no luck. I felt really bad for him, because he is alone in the cage, and I feel like I'm neglecting him and not giving the time he needs. Yesterday I went grocery shopping at a store in my new neighbourhood, and there was a PetValu in the plaza, I went in and in the store was a Cockatiel in a cage, I went up to the cage and started to pet his head. The young man behind the cash counter said "oh be careful, he's known to bite". He was friendly with me, and let me pet his head. I laughed and told the man I'm used to that, I have a Sid Vicious at home, and asked him if he had any experience with birds, and biting or aggressive behaviour. He said he knew a little, but that the lady in the back has a Quaker, and she has lots of experience with birds. He got her to talk to me, and she gave me great tips on how to retame Kiwi. She showed me how to clip his flight wings, by showing me with the bird in the store, it's very easy to clip the wings. Then she told me I had to take a towel and take him out of the cage, she said to place him on the bathroom floor, and that he would want me to rescue him. Taking him out of his cage, makes him non territorial, and he wants you rescue him. It totally worked, I was able to pet his head, touch his back, and hold him with the towel for the first time in a long time. I thought it would take a lot more time and patience to be able to get to this point, but am so happy I'm able to interact with him again. It's going to take some time to get him to step up on my hand again, he still tries to bite me if I put my hand in front and say step up, or if I try to pick him up. I had to use the towel, but it is a big step, and a start.
Last April hubby and I went to Jamaica, for our wedding and vacation, when we got back, my Quaker parrot Kiwi, became very territorial of his cage, was very vicious, and would lunge at us and bite. He talks a lot, and seems friendly when you stand beside the cage, but try to touch him or his cage, he is in attack mode. I have continued to talk to him, and hand feed him, but have not been able to take him out of the cage or hold him. He was hand tamed as a baby and was always friendly. My grandson used to hold him and he never bit anyone. I spoke to a few people at the pet store and have been trying to get him back, but had no luck. I felt really bad for him, because he is alone in the cage, and I feel like I'm neglecting him and not giving the time he needs. Yesterday I went grocery shopping at a store in my new neighbourhood, and there was a PetValu in the plaza, I went in and in the store was a Cockatiel in a cage, I went up to the cage and started to pet his head. The young man behind the cash counter said "oh be careful, he's known to bite". He was friendly with me, and let me pet his head. I laughed and told the man I'm used to that, I have a Sid Vicious at home, and asked him if he had any experience with birds, and biting or aggressive behaviour. He said he knew a little, but that the lady in the back has a Quaker, and she has lots of experience with birds. He got her to talk to me, and she gave me great tips on how to retame Kiwi. She showed me how to clip his flight wings, by showing me with the bird in the store, it's very easy to clip the wings. Then she told me I had to take a towel and take him out of the cage, she said to place him on the bathroom floor, and that he would want me to rescue him. Taking him out of his cage, makes him non territorial, and he wants you rescue him. It totally worked, I was able to pet his head, touch his back, and hold him with the towel for the first time in a long time. I thought it would take a lot more time and patience to be able to get to this point, but am so happy I'm able to interact with him again. It's going to take some time to get him to step up on my hand again, he still tries to bite me if I put my hand in front and say step up, or if I try to pick him up. I had to use the towel, but it is a big step, and a start.
