Senegal attacking

[Racha31]

I'm new here sorry! but I need answers! please help!

I'll try to give all the information that I think will help. I've owned my senegal parrot for 4 or 5 years now, he is approx 7 years old, and assumed to be male but not proven. When I first got him, it took us awhile to develop a strong/trusting relationship. Ever since then he has been my best friend, he eats with me, showers with me, eta..

He has NEVER viciously or aggressively bit or went after me, once in a blue moon if I'm ignoring his "I want to be left alone" look and will bite me on my finger that I offer him to step up on, but never hard and it never draws blood. Then after being left alone he will come around and be his usual snuggle self, begging for itching and attention.

The past 3 weeks he has changed, something is wrong. He will fly at my FACE and bite me, and will NOT let go, drawing blood and leaving scars. He flys on the top of my head and aggressively bites my hair (which I can't feel) just like he did when he bit my face. Just this morning he was on his usual spot, the back of the couch, where he jumped down and bit my neck SO hard and would not let go, drawing blood. Then I put him in his cage and ignored him, and after awhile I took him back out where he was walking around on the floor and walked next to my foot and then bit it, and would again, not let go, drawing blood.

Please help me I let it go in the beginning, hoping it was a fluke, but now I know something is wrong.

[GreenWing]

Yikes, this isn't good. I'm sorry you're having these issues. My own sennie, Tiki, has drawn blood ONCE but it was because I was using my cell phone while she was with me, and she HATES my cell phone (she actually has sought it out and attacked it, lol). She hates that phone with a passion, so I don't use it around her. She has bitten my husband once, too, but didn't draw blood. After some observation, she is nippy when she is hungry or jealous for some reason.

Are there any recent changes that could have caused your sennie's aggression? Do you have a partner around or use an item that makes him jealous? Is he getting enough sleep? Could he be sick? It may be worth it to take him to the avian vet to get him checked out.

[Racha31]

Thanks for your reply GreenWing, now that I think about it, my brother and his fiance had to move into my apt and since then the energy has changed, maybe he's picking up on the chaotic energy? but if they aren't working, they normally stay in their bedroom. And they moved in about the time it all started happening. It's all starting to make sense now!

He is HYPER sensitive to a change in energy, before it was just him, a dog, and I (always very quiet, very calm). And now it's two more dogs and two more people!

I would bring him to a vet but the only avian vet near me, I worked for as a vet tech. And he knows about avian medicine, but no more than I would know, esp not well rehearsed in avian behavior. However he would be able to test his feces for anything unusual? There are very few DVM that will take on parrots.

What do you suggest I do?

[Eurycerus]

This sounds terrible! Seems like you figured out the trigger. He's probably jealous, and angry with the new additions in his life. :/ i have had my Senegal for a very short time but have had some serious problems to get through and still haven't dealt with all of then. Nika can get extremely jealous and will take it out on me if the object of her aggression isn't close enough. She has attracted my boyfriend and but him angrily in the face. So be careful with your guests. Although it could be medical to me out sounds like you're Senegal is really jealous and angry with you. You're his mate and he's territorial.

Maybe you could do some basic training just to teach him to do certain things for treats and then, with him in the cage, work on introducing your guests to him in a positive manner. Hell probably be really aggressive for a while but will eventually learn that your guests are equated with treats and therefore his. I've been doing that with my boyfriend and it shows promise.

Good luck!

[GreenWing]

Yes, it sounds like it's a environmental issue rather than a medical one. These are changes that's affecting your bird's home environment... more people AND animals will certainly stress him out. Humans lash out when stressed, so I'd wager this explains your bird's aggression.

I like Eury's idea of introducing your sennie to the new additions to the "flock."

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Michael]

now that I think about it, my brother and his fiance had to move into my apt and since then the energy has changed, maybe he's picking up on the chaotic energy? but if they aren't working, they normally stay in their bedroom. And they moved in about the time it all started happening. It's all starting to make sense now!

Well duh. He's pissed that you let strangers move in and didn't even consult him. Also an issue of insufficient socialization. Some training with you and socialization with the newcomers will help in the long run but not much you can do in the short term.