FlockMomma
Moving in
- Joined
- 7/15/23
- Messages
- 12
Hoping I post this in the right place. Long time reader, finally created an account to post. Warning, long.
My 8yr old female tiel is tearing my house apart, while teaching my new 4mo old possibly male her behaviors. I have 20 years of parrot hobbyist experience and I've never encountered such a trifle as this.
Sunshine is a tiel I took in almost five years ago as a rehome under the impression she wasn't getting proper time and care. It became immediately obvious she had trauma of being left alone, hands, certain rooms, environments, new items, everything was dangerous and out to get her, including me. She couldn't fly due to butchered wings, hated being active, and always screamed the moment I left her sight. She was also the first parrot I ever owned in a household that also had a dog and required having a set schedule and not constantly being out with me as she would fly to the kennel and the dog wants to eat her. Four years later she was a different bird, actively playing, better diet, healthier and her Avian always said I did so wonderful, snuggling, hanging out to play while I was on the computer, we've moved across the US since then together, and will move again soon.
I had curbed her constant screaming by using a combined method of 30second-3min covering method with zero contact or verbal attention, and rewarding her being quiet by giving her a treat w/praise, I taught her to whistle with me while I was cleaning and would come in every so often for more praise and a treat, taking breaks to play with her and keep her included. I also provided a variety of enrichment, cartoons, music, toys, time outside in her carrier to walk or go to parks, etc. She could go several hours with minimal panicked episodes screaming. She has a set routine for times out to play about 5-6hrs a day, and a cage full of toys and fun things to do, set diet of small seeds, pellets, I provide chop with fruits, veggies, berries, and some seeds, toys and enrichment both in and out to play with as well as anything of mine thats safe she enjoys, plenty of light from indoors and the window, along with going outside, allowed to be as vocal as she wants if it isn't screaming as I'm in an apartment and do have sensory issues, time outdoors to go to parks or sit on the porch, or take a walk, you name it. Due to being in a small apartment with a dog who I crate when she is out, I keep her in the bird room which I also have my computer in for playtime, she is also allowed in the master bedroom, bathroom, and outside in the carrier. If she wants to be with me while I'm cleaning I will bring her in her carrier to my location to have snacks while I'm busy and she can see what's up.
Suddenly, everything came to a crashing halt. She no longer wants to play, forage, try new things, follow our schedule. She wants to constantly scream, it doesn't matter if I'm in the room on my computer, trying to play with her, sitting in a chair idle, or even going to a restroom. She wants to be the center of attention at all times and out of her cage, which she must share times in the cage so my dog can get enrichment from me as well, she also cannot be around the home without the carrier as she flies to provoke the dog and rile him up to where he would snatch her from his crate if she was close. She won't earn treats either or try new ones, won't move to different bowls for food and only finishes one bowl then would rather starve, won't sift through a bowl of goodies to find food or new treats, won't shred boxes or straws or anything filled with food even if I show her what I am doing and give her a cheating way into the item like a large hole, won't take her chop just wants to bathe in it and stuff it in her feathers to not eat, won't try new toys or foraging shredders, hates bathing, screams in the carrier to go outside, won't sit in the carrier for chores, won't let me play music or a show without screaming, won't let me use a computer or my phone, or even get some water. It's like suddenly I just brought her home again.
These behaviors started six months ago, and have ramped up in the last two to where I have increased her sleep cycle to 14hrs and end up having to cover her to get a lunch or do some yoga, I can't even be in the room or she keeps going. She recently became lethargic, stopped hopping around or flying a bit, straining to poo, tail bobbing to breathe, shakes, obsessively cleans her beak and shakes her head, keeps the same weight at all times but doesn't want much food or water, constantly screams, wobbles and struggles to hold balance sometimes, prefers flat surfaces or warm surfaces, sometimes she has cloacal breathing as well. It's never constant, it's always episodic. She can play, eat, drink, scream, climb, perch strong, alert at all times, clear eyes, clear nostrils, no sneezing discharge, no signs of eggs or being bound, etc. It's always episodic halfway through the day. Yesterday I thought I was going to lose her, she plummeted to the worse case.
She had a clean bill of health in March, zero cause for concern. Last week I made her a vet appointment for the 24th and asked to run labs, fecal, ultrasound, whatever must be done. They said they were concerned about her heart, they also want to take another look at her to see if it's possible she is older than what we presume. With how bad she was last night I began calling around and the only place I can take her in my area is the urgent care on Monday to which she is absolutely going in early. I also scheduled the 4mo old to go in as well and said to please run any necessary tests to make sure everyone is healthy and whole.
Since her symptoms developed I have lowered her cage setup, added more ramps and shelves to get around, made sure the room is nice and warm, run the humidifier at all times, very good diet, exercise, longer night cycles, calming formula for anxiety, everything I can think of to help until Monday.
Two weeks ago I was offered to visit a 4mo old baby presumably female to which I believe might be male. She bonded to them instantly when I took her with me to visit them, after bringing her home she would not eat or drink, and she sat sadly cuddling me while watching a companion video on repeat. I knew immediately she needed me to bring that baby home as we were reaching 20hrs with these worrisome behaviors, it was a surprise as I expected she would not have a want for a companion at this age. Once we brought the baby home she became completely maternal over it, it isn't tame yet but let's me give scritches in her presence if it can lean against her for safety, has learned all her chirps, kisses, vocal sounds, already gotten off full seed and moved to pellets without taking chop yet, very active and playful, she has become so full of life around the baby but at the same time she is starting to be aggressive and nip at them if they preen her or want to snuggle. I had wondered male and older than 4mo as they began being hormonal to give her songs, heart wings, bits of masturbating, so I put them both on the 12hr/14hr sleep cycle and immediately saw the hormonal behavior cease to be. However the baby is now skeptical to interact with her due to being bullied and is still scared of me but tries so very hard to do as much schedule as it can because it replicates her every move. The more she acted ill the more protective the baby became in standing over her cage to keep guard or becoming vocal and wanting me away from her in worry but ultimately let's me come in as mom and take care of her. The baby hasn't even had it's first molt yet, and I can see the sadness in wanting to be her best friend but she is refusing. The more she screams and panics to be difficult the more the baby wants to be just like her and it's hard to battle both of them while helping her out but she's also replicating the baby shouldn't trust foraging or fun activities, just be as awful as she is. They are in separate cages side by side, the baby shares everything she gets in schedule too, it won't step up but does come play and bond and then when I say it's cage time they promptly return to their cage for me and await the close up so the dog comes out. The baby will watch cartoons, eat, play, run around, and behave so well! However she makes sure at some point its riled up and isn't wanting to behave and gets in the same position as her. Baby Phoenix is so sweet and trying so hard and Sunshine is hurting us all.
I've tried everything with talking to her, explaining, new tactics, research, training, changes to cages, diet, health, routines, schedule, everything under the sun. Months and months of research. When it's bad I sing her lullaby to her and cry...She won't even learn new sounds to sing or talk she just has the same scream
Again, her behavior started way before the baby, and has increased since. The urgent care visit will happen Monday well before the vet visits that are scheduled but I am at my wits end...I used to play all day with my parrots, exercise, clean house, play on my computer, and had a full active life. Now I end up being near crying all day, prisoned to sitting in a chair or staying outdoors with making her take naps to stop screaming, I'm barely sleeping with lots of migraines and heart problems I need to see a doctor for. Very stressed and emotional and exhausted trying to make the best life for my babies and get through this together. I am fearful that once her health is sorted she won't stop being so awful. Please help me, I don't want to sit on the floor bawling anymore feeling so helpless. I don't have anything left to give. I made artichoke skewers yesterday and downsized them to be less scary for playtime and was met with screaming violence and fits until I took it away and left...These are my forever babies, please help me fix it. Sorry that was so long and messy, if I can copy it anywhere else helpful I surely will. Please help me. My fiance is trying to be strong but crying between being worried about her health and also being so tired because if he isn't at work he's by her screaming, my dog won't even hang out with me due to the noise. Please help me.
My 8yr old female tiel is tearing my house apart, while teaching my new 4mo old possibly male her behaviors. I have 20 years of parrot hobbyist experience and I've never encountered such a trifle as this.
Sunshine is a tiel I took in almost five years ago as a rehome under the impression she wasn't getting proper time and care. It became immediately obvious she had trauma of being left alone, hands, certain rooms, environments, new items, everything was dangerous and out to get her, including me. She couldn't fly due to butchered wings, hated being active, and always screamed the moment I left her sight. She was also the first parrot I ever owned in a household that also had a dog and required having a set schedule and not constantly being out with me as she would fly to the kennel and the dog wants to eat her. Four years later she was a different bird, actively playing, better diet, healthier and her Avian always said I did so wonderful, snuggling, hanging out to play while I was on the computer, we've moved across the US since then together, and will move again soon.
I had curbed her constant screaming by using a combined method of 30second-3min covering method with zero contact or verbal attention, and rewarding her being quiet by giving her a treat w/praise, I taught her to whistle with me while I was cleaning and would come in every so often for more praise and a treat, taking breaks to play with her and keep her included. I also provided a variety of enrichment, cartoons, music, toys, time outside in her carrier to walk or go to parks, etc. She could go several hours with minimal panicked episodes screaming. She has a set routine for times out to play about 5-6hrs a day, and a cage full of toys and fun things to do, set diet of small seeds, pellets, I provide chop with fruits, veggies, berries, and some seeds, toys and enrichment both in and out to play with as well as anything of mine thats safe she enjoys, plenty of light from indoors and the window, along with going outside, allowed to be as vocal as she wants if it isn't screaming as I'm in an apartment and do have sensory issues, time outdoors to go to parks or sit on the porch, or take a walk, you name it. Due to being in a small apartment with a dog who I crate when she is out, I keep her in the bird room which I also have my computer in for playtime, she is also allowed in the master bedroom, bathroom, and outside in the carrier. If she wants to be with me while I'm cleaning I will bring her in her carrier to my location to have snacks while I'm busy and she can see what's up.
Suddenly, everything came to a crashing halt. She no longer wants to play, forage, try new things, follow our schedule. She wants to constantly scream, it doesn't matter if I'm in the room on my computer, trying to play with her, sitting in a chair idle, or even going to a restroom. She wants to be the center of attention at all times and out of her cage, which she must share times in the cage so my dog can get enrichment from me as well, she also cannot be around the home without the carrier as she flies to provoke the dog and rile him up to where he would snatch her from his crate if she was close. She won't earn treats either or try new ones, won't move to different bowls for food and only finishes one bowl then would rather starve, won't sift through a bowl of goodies to find food or new treats, won't shred boxes or straws or anything filled with food even if I show her what I am doing and give her a cheating way into the item like a large hole, won't take her chop just wants to bathe in it and stuff it in her feathers to not eat, won't try new toys or foraging shredders, hates bathing, screams in the carrier to go outside, won't sit in the carrier for chores, won't let me play music or a show without screaming, won't let me use a computer or my phone, or even get some water. It's like suddenly I just brought her home again.
These behaviors started six months ago, and have ramped up in the last two to where I have increased her sleep cycle to 14hrs and end up having to cover her to get a lunch or do some yoga, I can't even be in the room or she keeps going. She recently became lethargic, stopped hopping around or flying a bit, straining to poo, tail bobbing to breathe, shakes, obsessively cleans her beak and shakes her head, keeps the same weight at all times but doesn't want much food or water, constantly screams, wobbles and struggles to hold balance sometimes, prefers flat surfaces or warm surfaces, sometimes she has cloacal breathing as well. It's never constant, it's always episodic. She can play, eat, drink, scream, climb, perch strong, alert at all times, clear eyes, clear nostrils, no sneezing discharge, no signs of eggs or being bound, etc. It's always episodic halfway through the day. Yesterday I thought I was going to lose her, she plummeted to the worse case.
She had a clean bill of health in March, zero cause for concern. Last week I made her a vet appointment for the 24th and asked to run labs, fecal, ultrasound, whatever must be done. They said they were concerned about her heart, they also want to take another look at her to see if it's possible she is older than what we presume. With how bad she was last night I began calling around and the only place I can take her in my area is the urgent care on Monday to which she is absolutely going in early. I also scheduled the 4mo old to go in as well and said to please run any necessary tests to make sure everyone is healthy and whole.
Since her symptoms developed I have lowered her cage setup, added more ramps and shelves to get around, made sure the room is nice and warm, run the humidifier at all times, very good diet, exercise, longer night cycles, calming formula for anxiety, everything I can think of to help until Monday.
Two weeks ago I was offered to visit a 4mo old baby presumably female to which I believe might be male. She bonded to them instantly when I took her with me to visit them, after bringing her home she would not eat or drink, and she sat sadly cuddling me while watching a companion video on repeat. I knew immediately she needed me to bring that baby home as we were reaching 20hrs with these worrisome behaviors, it was a surprise as I expected she would not have a want for a companion at this age. Once we brought the baby home she became completely maternal over it, it isn't tame yet but let's me give scritches in her presence if it can lean against her for safety, has learned all her chirps, kisses, vocal sounds, already gotten off full seed and moved to pellets without taking chop yet, very active and playful, she has become so full of life around the baby but at the same time she is starting to be aggressive and nip at them if they preen her or want to snuggle. I had wondered male and older than 4mo as they began being hormonal to give her songs, heart wings, bits of masturbating, so I put them both on the 12hr/14hr sleep cycle and immediately saw the hormonal behavior cease to be. However the baby is now skeptical to interact with her due to being bullied and is still scared of me but tries so very hard to do as much schedule as it can because it replicates her every move. The more she acted ill the more protective the baby became in standing over her cage to keep guard or becoming vocal and wanting me away from her in worry but ultimately let's me come in as mom and take care of her. The baby hasn't even had it's first molt yet, and I can see the sadness in wanting to be her best friend but she is refusing. The more she screams and panics to be difficult the more the baby wants to be just like her and it's hard to battle both of them while helping her out but she's also replicating the baby shouldn't trust foraging or fun activities, just be as awful as she is. They are in separate cages side by side, the baby shares everything she gets in schedule too, it won't step up but does come play and bond and then when I say it's cage time they promptly return to their cage for me and await the close up so the dog comes out. The baby will watch cartoons, eat, play, run around, and behave so well! However she makes sure at some point its riled up and isn't wanting to behave and gets in the same position as her. Baby Phoenix is so sweet and trying so hard and Sunshine is hurting us all.
I've tried everything with talking to her, explaining, new tactics, research, training, changes to cages, diet, health, routines, schedule, everything under the sun. Months and months of research. When it's bad I sing her lullaby to her and cry...She won't even learn new sounds to sing or talk she just has the same scream
Again, her behavior started way before the baby, and has increased since. The urgent care visit will happen Monday well before the vet visits that are scheduled but I am at my wits end...I used to play all day with my parrots, exercise, clean house, play on my computer, and had a full active life. Now I end up being near crying all day, prisoned to sitting in a chair or staying outdoors with making her take naps to stop screaming, I'm barely sleeping with lots of migraines and heart problems I need to see a doctor for. Very stressed and emotional and exhausted trying to make the best life for my babies and get through this together. I am fearful that once her health is sorted she won't stop being so awful. Please help me, I don't want to sit on the floor bawling anymore feeling so helpless. I don't have anything left to give. I made artichoke skewers yesterday and downsized them to be less scary for playtime and was met with screaming violence and fits until I took it away and left...These are my forever babies, please help me fix it. Sorry that was so long and messy, if I can copy it anywhere else helpful I surely will. Please help me. My fiance is trying to be strong but crying between being worried about her health and also being so tired because if he isn't at work he's by her screaming, my dog won't even hang out with me due to the noise. Please help me.
We will be visiting urgent care tomorrow. It's just not knowing and seeing so much progress become obsolete between she and I. I was all ready to train the baby who doesn't understand what's wrong, especially with her aggression which I attribute to being unwell. We ended up altering the office to have my fiancé in another room to be with the dog so I could close off the office to give them more freedom. Down the road I'd like to build a large standing flight cage and make things more appealing for everyone and more fair, but in the interim I am hoping to hear she just needs a little TLC and nothing more. I had actually been preparing myself to learn how to approach comm training and target training her and the baby.
Poor baby. Hope her regression in behavior stops once she is feeling better. Maybe she regressed from the stress of being ill. It would make sense to me since babies might revert back to wanting to be fed/comfort feedings. Maybe she regressed to her trauma response just like people with trauma can?
