What to do with bullying parrot

[dkanin]

I took on a small parrot (parrotlet) which someone couldn't look after and it is a complete bully. I've tried to look after it and been so patient for 2 years but I can't cope with her. She's vicious, really hurts when she bites and acts in a psychotic way. When she's out of her cage minding her own business she will suddenly go up to my dog and attack it. I have been so patient with this bird, but she way she just attacked Ddog (who's too nice to stand up for herself) is the final straw. They can live for 25 years and she's about 3 so I can't cope with this bird for potentially 20 years)

I don't know what to do - I can't give it away to anyone I know (who'd want her) and I feel worried about what will happen to the parrot even though she's vile.

Does anyone have any ideas or know what the right thing to do is when you can't cope with a pet any more?

(Obviously I mean after the lockdown has ended and everyone can do normal things again)

Maybe try these guys? www.lincswildlife.com/the-sanctuary/charity/

Find someone with an aviary and re-home. Are you caging her? She might be going crazy and need far more freedom. I can’t stand the thought of caged birds. It’s like a parallel world, people going nuts despite having several rooms, poor bird has one ‘room’ and is allowed to fly round sometimes.

Rehome it, i’m sure there’s some experienced parrot keepers who’d happily take it.

Rehome. There is something very depressing about the sight of a caged bird.

I've had blue and gold and scarlet macaws in the past and all I can say is why on Earth are you letting a bird near your dog?! That's literally the first rule. Zero cross species interaction! It's dangerous for both. Not just for injuries to the animals but for cross species infections . My first b and g was a diamond on his own and would happily walk the floors and help pair up socks from my clean washing but would bully my 45 kg rotty given the chance. So they weren't allowed in the same space. That fixed that. If you can't cope with the bird then you need to rehome. They are very complex creatures, in many ways more than dogs and often benefit from flocks

I would get rid of it but it’s only because I can’t stand birds, I always think they have a nasty gleam in their eyes, and one that actually has the cheek to repeat words and speak back to me, well, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have time for it. I’m not really a “pet person” so don’t understand people’s obsessions with their animals like pet owners do, so can appreciate it could be hard to simply “get rid of it” like I advised. Could you possibly carry on feeding it, letting it out of its cage to fly around either inside or outside, whatever it’s daily routine is for now, and giving it away on Gumtree or Facebook to some local bird sanctuary or a family that is looking for a pet bird at a later time?

Re home it.

"I would get rid of it but it’s only because I can’t stand birds, I always think they have a nasty gleam in their eyes, and one that actually has the cheek to repeat words and speak back to me, well, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have time for it"

what

I am not a bird person but I’m wondering if she is bored and acting out? My friend has a bird and does lots of things to keep him busy. I know she has lots of toys and some kind of thing that she puts little bits of food in for him to investigate and work out how to obtain the treats..

Oh yes, I am not crazy about him as he tries to sit on my head and pluck my hair. She adores him though and spends lots of time with him.

Maybe it is time to find someone with lots of bird experience. I feel bad for you dog, too.

The bird isn't really caged, the cage just contains the food and water and is where she goes to eat or sleep. She roams around as she pleases otherwise and I've ended up sitting in my bedroom with the door shut so she doesn't swoop at me and bite. I've made sure she's out as much as possible in the hope of getting the aggression under control but she will fly around to find me then jump onto me and bite me. I've still got scars from previous bites and it's infuriating as I took this bird in out of pity for it, not because I was desperate to have her.

Does anyone have any idea how to go about re homing responsibly? I'm not putting up with this any longer, it's not fair on my dog to not be able to walk around her home and I'm sick of being bitten and having bandaged fingers.

Birds like this are why people think they're all vicious. I've met budgies who are incredibly friendly and don't bite people.

@Ellmau thank you so so much for the recommendation - that looks like the right kind of place for her to go to, if far rather she went somewhere like that than to a stranger on gumtree who'd take her in thinking she looks cute and then god knows what would happen to her when they keep getting beak sized holes in their fingers

I’ll second Lincolnshire wildlife. It used to be called the parrot sanctuary. Really well treated

If you don't mind, I have some rehomed parrot levity to add to the thread. Hopefully it will make you feel better.

One of my mum's young students complained to her that the 30+ year old parrot they had at home, Bubba, was poorly treated and asked if my mum would take him. My parents had the space and time for him, so they took him in. They cared for Bubba and treated him well for many years until he died of old age, and he was so shy I only ever witnessed any of this via videos.

Bubba didn't do much talking, was terribly shy around anyone but my parents, was terrified of brooms which is awful, had clearly been locked in a cage that was too small, and over-plucked himself for some time before he settled in with my mum.

My parents gave Bubba free access to the house with them in the day, and he slept underneath their bed every night. He LOVED my mum and followed her around (or rode on her shoulder or head) all day being quite affectionate, and he would even hop into the shower with her when he caught her in there.

But Bubba had what seemed to be an ironically antagonistic relationship with my dad.

As I said, Bubba didn't talk much and would rarely even say "hi" to anyone, but he would outright mock my dad, and he geniunely sounded like he was teasing him! When my dad talked to him, he would mimic him back, but in a genuinely sarcastic tone! Bubba could speak quite clearly, but chose not to when he was teasing my dad. A lovingly patient "oh what's upsetting you?" from my dad would be met with "weh urmurmeh myeeh!" and a cheeky dance. He would play at biting my dad's feet when my dad was trying to get into the bed. If my dad was having a rare glass of wine at the bartop, Bubba would get up onto the bar, look my dad directly in the eyes, slowly pick up my dad's glass by the stem, and throw it onto the floor! He had to drink out of sturdy beaker.

Bubba never once hurt or properly threatened my dad, didn't really even make contact when he played at biting him, but he seemed to revel in the joy of antagonising him!

And I hope the story of that old, cheeky, rehomed little parrot makes somebody smile.

Oh do try and find someone who could rehome her, obviously a person who knows about parrot behaviour. Maybe the person who had the bird before you,didn't have the know how and patience to own a parrot.

I had a friend years ago,who decided to get a parrot, on a whim, he had no idea how to deal with a parrot. He just thought it would be fun,and tried to teach it swear words all the time..When out of the cage,it would attack people who came in the room, and kept ripping all the curtains at the window.

Someone else took the bird in the end, and after a great deal of care and some training, the parrot became a well behaved bird, was out of the cage a lot, and went all over the place with the new owner.

And I hope the story of that old, cheeky, rehomed little parrot makes somebody smile.

Me! Thank you for sharing

@jwrecks, I LOVE the story of Bubba! You have brightened up my night! Thank you for sharing

@JWrecks that's a really heartwarming story! I'm so glad Bubba had a good life with your parents, I wish that I could have given Perry a better life and formed a bond with her. It certainly wasn't for lack of trying. I don't know why she's like she is but I feel I've done everything I can and given her so much attention and patience I can't do any more and I want the best for her. She's vicious but she doesn't necessarily mean it out of malice.

I will contact the park in Lincolnshire and see if they'd be prepared to take her. I'd only be happy to let her go to people who know what they're doing and won't mistreat her

Contact your local animal sanctuary, they will be able to advice you and hopefully take the bird in. Please don’t give it to strangers. Animal sanctuaries do home checks and will find something suitable for Perry with an experienced owner

My favourite regimes Parrott Joke.

A woman goes into a pet shop looking for a parrot. The assistant shows her a beautiful African Grey parrot. "What about this one, Madam? A beautiful bird, I'm sure you'll agree, and it's an absolute steal at only £20." "Why is it that cheap?" the woman asks. "Well", replies the assistant, it used to live in a brothel and as a result its language is a touch fruity" "Oh, I don't mind that", said the woman, making her mind up, "I'm broad minded and it'll be a laugh having a profane parrot". So saying, she buys the parrot and takes him home.

Once safely in his new home, the parrot looks around and squawks at the woman "fuck me, a new brothel and a new madam" "I'm not a madam and this Isn't a brothel" says the woman indignantly. A little later the woman's two adult daughters arrive home. " Fuck me bandy, a new brothel, a new madam, and now new prostitutes" says the parrot when he sees the daughters. "Mum, tell your parrot to shut-up, we're not prostitutes" complained the girls, but they all see the funny side and have at laugh at their new pet.

A short while later, the woman's husband comes home from work. "Fucking hell Steve, good to see you again!'

I expect he's pining for the fjords.

Crying laughing over last 2 posts!

I have had a few birds in my time.

IMO not all birds do well with free-ranging. They can be quite territorial and this can cause obvious aggression issues.

A bit more structure to the day - breakfast, chat, out for an hour with all the other animals away. Quiet chats, no raised voices. Then back in their cage/aviary for a few hours - I have a budgie in a parrot cage and personally would only keep a parrot in an aviary. Limit mirrors and soft toys - if it's a male bird - especially if a teenage male bird. After lunch out for another hour, lots of handling, treats and quiet chats. Back in cage for a few more hours - we move our boy into the garden, then bring him in and allow him out for the last 2 hours of the day until he naturally roosts. we cover him at night (as soon as it's dark), so he gets enough sleep.

It takes work and consistent effort but my experience is that it's a bit like dog crating - the space becomes the animal's sanctuary. They need as much stimulation, exercise and attention as dogs IME.

Try Joan’s Parrot Rescue in Llandudno. There is a charity shop in the town raising money for this. At the very least you can get advice.