Jovie: not a fun update.

[Azure Hanyo]

I am thinking it may be in Jovie's best interest to find a different home for her and here is why: I knew it was going to be time consuming to even take her on as a foster, but I was not expecting Galileo to constantly be on seek-and-destroy mode. I have to go so far as to turn off the lights and cover Jovie's cage (she is in a separate room) and shut the door to get Galileo out of crazy-eyed kill-mode. This isn't good and isn't healthy for either bird. At first it was OK and she tolerated the noise. But then I started working with Jovie more and more and Gal just went bonkers. She will attack me if I try to play with her after I play with Jovie, no matter how much time I had spent with Galileo beforehand. Gal doesn't try this with Archimedes or Cloud; as a matter of fact, she watches me play with them and is fine with it. But for some reason Jovie sets her off.

Any advice or is this a definitely doomed relationship? I just don't have the time to deal with such a massive issue and I am afraid Jovie is going to end up seriously injured one day. I knew taking her on it would be hard, and wanted to keep her because I love her even though I took her on initially as a foster. At the very least she is out of a situation where she was not being properly handled. What would you guys/gals do???

[pchela]

Awww... I'm sorry things aren't going well. Caiques are known to be aggressive towards other birds and it sounds like Galileo is living up to the stereotype. It could be that you've given the new bird extra attention because of her special needs and Galileo is jealous or it could be any number of other things. You can try to always interact with Gal first and give her some special treatment that Jovie doesn't receive but it sounds like that might not work since you play with Gal first and she still gets upset after you play with Jovie. It may turn out that the best thing for Jovie is for you to find her a good, steady home. If you have to do that, just make sure to really interview people and find her a permanent home... poor little thing has been through enough already! And don't be hard on yourself. Sometimes things just don't work out.

[Kathleen]

Sounds like a case of territorial/jealousy aggression. This most likely requires a combination of a lot of socialization training in a neutral territory, taking birds into a separate room for training sessions, and giving preferential treatment to the "top"/first bird, the caique. Another thing that would help this situation is if all the birds involved are flighted (sorry but I can't remember if the meyer's rehomed is flighted or not).

There are many members on this forum and in the parrot community in general that encounter aggression between their multiple birds. The problem is that pet birds are generally socialized to become companions for their human owners, and not to be the companions of other birds.

[Mona]

Hi Azure:

I hope that you do work this out. You may have to rehome but I just have to say, Meyers are incredible companion birds. One of the best...and there are not enough of them available as pets. If you do have to rehome, I hope that you find somebody who will really appreciate Jovie.

Thanks!

Mona

[entrancedbymyGCC]

AH, I feel for you. Scooter is in a similar mode following my latest work trip and I can't imagine what I'd do if he was like this all the time. As far as I can tell, it's purely emotional/behavioral and there's not much room to improve things with training, he appears too wound up to think. I suppose you could try moving Jovie to another part of the house and keeping a lot of physical space between them, then maybe a gradual reintroduction after a several months? The only experience I have that is relevant is that I've seen the fluffed up, evil eyed attack-bird in my sweet little bird, and I know how much that can tear you up.

[ptuga72]

I'm sorry that things are going rough. I would try what Entranced said, maybe even going as far as a second quarantine period then trying a very gradual re-introduction. That is what we have to do with Jake and our foster cherry-heads. If you do end up rehoming her at least you know that you tried your hardest and sometimes your home isn't the best fit. I know you love Jovie and will do what is best for her, good luck!