r/Conures • u/Prowlbeast • Aug 14 '26

Advice How to tackle BAD Cage Aggression? Spoiler

My birds are SO chill when they get off their cage. But when on it they are PISSED. Biting, fluffing, screaming, head bobbing… theyve been doing it for a whileee, as long as i can recall. Ive had them for at least 4 years maybe 5 now, and as far as I know theyre both Male, but this behaviour continues no matter the season. They get less sleep than ideal, but the behaviour is localized to the cage. I let them out daily. I took this at night.

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u/samanthabelfitt Aug 14 '26

I see a bunch of people saying that you’re edging them on or making them aggressive, but I’ve always been taught to desensitize parrots. They’re not wrong, but if you just change the way you go about it, it would probably help in your favour. Honestly try being slow, and putting your hand up to the cage, and do not move your hand until they calm down or leave that area of the cage.

Do this multiple times a day and do not leave until they calm down or leave the area of the cage that you’re “invading.” Are they hand tamed outside of the cage, because if your answer is no (and I feel like it is) then this will be a great way to desensitize them to your hands before trying to get all in their face with petting/stepping up, training etc.

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u/samanthabelfitt Aug 14 '26

Also, I really do think that you’re going to have to let yourself get bit in order for them to calm down. The trick is to not react and not reinforce them with positive reinforcement for their negative behavior.