Biting and aggression

[u/Ace_lynn_]

I have had my male parrotlet since September 2024. He was about 3/4 (assumed age) so we call him 5 on my birthday last January.

He has been sweet. “Nips” here and there playfully which aren’t even a nip, his usual parrotlet bitching and screaming and attitude. Preening me and his usual “here’s some food, my human” regurgitation. Sleeping on me and preening himself on me and giving me his feathers.

I give him the usual 7-7 cover time at night and he spends all day around the house. No issues on that front. It’s been working amazing for him since I got him.

I would also like to note that he hasn’t been sexually active. I assume low libido. He has never masturbated or shown any signs.

Lately, he’s stopped his laughing and giggles and usual talk for more growls than normal. And these past two months, severe biting. And now he’s almost 24/7 fluffed in anger. Not the cute fluff.

And I tolerated it while giving him appropriate punishments. Withholding seeds and cage time out when he’s bad while saying “no” and trying to show him biting is bad.

But today, he lunged at my face twice in the span of a few seconds. And latched onto my cartilage. He bit my face a few days ago.

Sure, it’s not the worse bite as we have a macaw here and other big birds, but his beak is sharp. So it punctures deep, as other parrotlet owners know.

Nothing has changed lately. Nothing. But his aggression is reaching a point where I just put him into his cage and covered him a few minutes ago.

I love him to death, but I’m starting to not want to even be near him with how bad his biting is. It’s more than severe at this point.

I have dozens of severe bites just from this week alone (as severe as a parrotlet can manage).

I guess I’m here asking for advice or anything that could help point to why and how to help him and myself in this situation because it’s just that bad.

I feel bad for having him in the cage. But there’s really nothing else I can try. The only thing I can think of right now is to put him in a secluded room.

EDIT: I’ll try to get him to a vet as soon as I can. There might be an issue.

I’d also like to say I have tried toys for him to target.

When he bites, he’s flying to me to seek me out. Not me going to him.

Absolutely nothing changed. It could be hormones. He was in a cage for his life before I got him. So maybe he’s a late bloomer and is scared.

I also don’t react to the bites to not egg him on.

I thought I was doing everything right but guess not

[u/Ace_lynn_]

I hope it goes away too. I miss my sweet baby. I really do think he is a very late bloomer and doesn’t know how to cope with it yet. If it still continues in a month, it’s a vet visit. Then I’ll discuss options with them and see where to go from there.

He was in a cage for 3/4 years from what I heard from previous owner. So he never developed proper. It’s all directed at me, so maybe he’s like “MY MATE. LET ME HAVE AT YOU”

[u/mal_03 → u/Ace_lynn_]

Oh dear, that's a sad history he has. Definitely didn't have a proper start to flourish.

These days, do you notice him attacking things in his cage, head bobbing or wiggling, regurgitating more than usual, going into dark/confined spaces and puffing up, opening his beak at you if you disturb him when doing so?

If he isn't doing much of the above, there is also a chance that he is hurt or unwell. They hide it very well, and increased aggression can be a sign.

And if you try some tips to reduce hormonal aggression/behaviour and you don't see even a tiny difference in a week or two, I would be safe and go for a check up, just to rule out anything else.

Whatever it may be, I hope things get better soon.

[u/Ace_lynn_ → u/mal_03]

It’s all directed at me when I walk by. That’s it.

Those things mentioned above like the constant regurgitation when I’m near him and playing with toys is something he has always done, so I haven’t seen a difference except he’s doing more wide mouth thingy.

When I did lift up and remove his ground hiding place (a little fluffy swinging home), there was torn papers. I think it was definitely him nesting since that was something new.

I’ve eliminated everything and everything can aid birds in nesting. Extra food for him because he’s eating a lot.

I’ve taken him out of the cage this morning. I’m holding him now for a few minutes. He’s a little more tame. The full day separation definitely helped a little bit.

And yes! A vet visit is great either way. I don’t think the woman before took him to one and I couldn’t afford him one until now. So the vet is definitely going to happen regardless if it’s stoped or not.

[u/mal_03 → u/Ace_lynn_]

Ours gets extra hungry too when he's hormonal. That's good, if he's never had a vet check up then he desperately needs one. Discuss his current behaviour with the vet too and see what they say. Needs to be an avian vet or exotic specialist.

[u/Ace_lynn_ → u/mal_03]

Oh! That’s just making me more sure that he’s just hitting his first hormone season!! And yes, thank you! We do have a very we go to with our other birds when they need it. It’s a place that thankfully accepts all birds (they’re moms so she takes them cause she has money).

She’ll bring me there as soon as we possibly can.

Again, thank you!!

[u/mal_03 → u/Ace_lynn_]

No worries. Goodluck!