jodeg
Meeting neighbors
(I also posted this on TalkParrotlets, but was so surprised at the change in my birds, I just HAD to post it here also!)
I have 3 P'lets: Kermit, a male; Angelina, a female; and Kiwi, a female.
Kiwi been plucking for about a year and a half now. I have tried everything to help her, but she still plucks. She was checked by the vet and is healthy. When she started pucking (she was my only bird then), I let her wing feathers grow out, thinking it might help. It didn't, but she loved to fly.
Recently she barbered her wing feathers so badly that she could no longer fly. I have also allowed Kermit and Angelina's wing feathers to grow back in. The have both been gradually getting more aggressive, but were still manageable. Once Kermit figured out that Kiwi couldn't fly, he started attcking her at every opportunity and became much more aggressive.
Last night was the last straw. I usually spend an hour with them every evening before they go to bed (they are housed in separate HQ cages). I opened their doors to take them out and Kermit immediately flew into Kiwi's cage and started attacking her. I put my hand in to stop it. Kiwi jumped out of her cage to get away and fell to the floor. Before I could rescue her, Kermit flew out and started attacking Angelina! I again put my hand between them to stop the fight. Kermit then flew onto my shoulder and bit the c--p out of my neck and flew off. All this happened in about 30 seconds. No one was hurt (except my neck!).
I managed to catch Kermit and put him back into his cage. Boy was he mad! I spent a peaceful hour with the other two, while Kermit raged in his cage, running up and down, here and there, wanting OUT!
I had read in one of my Parrotlet handbooks that they will sometimes get more aggressive once they figure out they can fly and you can't, which is what has happened. I was getting to the point that I didn't want to handle Kermit and Angelina because of the constant attacks. The book advised clipping their wings to help calm them down and help with the bonding process. They also had instructions on how to do it.
I decided this is what I had to do. I was sad about it, because they love to fly, but the four of us couldn't go on this way. Years ago, I had a Blue Front Amazon Parrot and I always took care of his beak, nails and wings, but he was much bigger. BUT I thought I'd give it a try.
Following the instructions and picture in the book made it very easy. Neither Kermit or Angelina struggled or tried to bite me, which surprised me. I clipped six primary feathers on each wing. That was enough for Angelina, but I needed to clip two more on each wing on Kermit to keep him from gettng too much "lift".
THE CHANGE IN THESE TWO BIRDS WAS IMMEDIATE!!! I expected it to take a day or two for them to calm down, but they immediately stopped biting and they perch calmly on my finger. I could take them out of their cages and put them back without any "I don't want to" drama. I could give little beaky kisses with no biting! IT WAS AMAZING!!!
As we all have said, this is a personal decision based on each bird's situation. I was sad to do this, but now I'm happy I did it. I think this will bond them to me better and they'll be much calmer to.
Sorry for the long post, but I was so amazed at this, I just had to share my experience!
I have 3 P'lets: Kermit, a male; Angelina, a female; and Kiwi, a female.
Kiwi been plucking for about a year and a half now. I have tried everything to help her, but she still plucks. She was checked by the vet and is healthy. When she started pucking (she was my only bird then), I let her wing feathers grow out, thinking it might help. It didn't, but she loved to fly.
Recently she barbered her wing feathers so badly that she could no longer fly. I have also allowed Kermit and Angelina's wing feathers to grow back in. The have both been gradually getting more aggressive, but were still manageable. Once Kermit figured out that Kiwi couldn't fly, he started attcking her at every opportunity and became much more aggressive.
Last night was the last straw. I usually spend an hour with them every evening before they go to bed (they are housed in separate HQ cages). I opened their doors to take them out and Kermit immediately flew into Kiwi's cage and started attacking her. I put my hand in to stop it. Kiwi jumped out of her cage to get away and fell to the floor. Before I could rescue her, Kermit flew out and started attacking Angelina! I again put my hand between them to stop the fight. Kermit then flew onto my shoulder and bit the c--p out of my neck and flew off. All this happened in about 30 seconds. No one was hurt (except my neck!).
I managed to catch Kermit and put him back into his cage. Boy was he mad! I spent a peaceful hour with the other two, while Kermit raged in his cage, running up and down, here and there, wanting OUT!
I had read in one of my Parrotlet handbooks that they will sometimes get more aggressive once they figure out they can fly and you can't, which is what has happened. I was getting to the point that I didn't want to handle Kermit and Angelina because of the constant attacks. The book advised clipping their wings to help calm them down and help with the bonding process. They also had instructions on how to do it.
I decided this is what I had to do. I was sad about it, because they love to fly, but the four of us couldn't go on this way. Years ago, I had a Blue Front Amazon Parrot and I always took care of his beak, nails and wings, but he was much bigger. BUT I thought I'd give it a try.
Following the instructions and picture in the book made it very easy. Neither Kermit or Angelina struggled or tried to bite me, which surprised me. I clipped six primary feathers on each wing. That was enough for Angelina, but I needed to clip two more on each wing on Kermit to keep him from gettng too much "lift".
THE CHANGE IN THESE TWO BIRDS WAS IMMEDIATE!!! I expected it to take a day or two for them to calm down, but they immediately stopped biting and they perch calmly on my finger. I could take them out of their cages and put them back without any "I don't want to" drama. I could give little beaky kisses with no biting! IT WAS AMAZING!!!
As we all have said, this is a personal decision based on each bird's situation. I was sad to do this, but now I'm happy I did it. I think this will bond them to me better and they'll be much calmer to.
Sorry for the long post, but I was so amazed at this, I just had to share my experience!
wont let me move or do a thing so im his during his waking hours , after all isnt this why i have a bird 
it's certainly much more peaceful around here! They are so much calmer! Right now, I'm in "their" room, and Kiwi and Kermit are playing around on top of two of the HQ cages, no fighting, no biting. Angelina is peacefully sitting on my shoulder, grinding her beak -- ahhhhh, it's great! They all seem so much more contented!
-- this is wonderful! 
