Why is my adopted African Grey parrot suddenly biting and aggressive?

If Tootoo was otherwise happy and calm around family, but recently began to bite there are a few possibilities. One can be pain or underlying illness, which may cause behavioral changes such as sudden aggression as a way to hide illness. A vet checkup to rule out any health issues is always best. Being startled or scared by something may also cause a bird to lash out or become more aggressive, such as if a new family member or pet was introduced, new items, or even loud or strange noises. Giving Tootoo some time to relax and settle down, and then gradually regaining trust with treats and toys may help decrease aggressive behavior. Birds that want to mate may become aggressive toward family they see as "competition" to a mate (or someone they consider a mate, such as a family member). Discouraging this behavior by stopping contact when he becomes aggressive, not giving attention to perceived mating behaviors, or using toys and treats to discourage and distract from bad behaviors may help.

Coco might be a bit stressed out still since you just acquired him. Giving him a few days to relax and get used to his new surroundings before interacting too much may help him settle in without trying to bite you. From there, you can start to offer him some favorite treats every time you visit/interact to help gain his trust. If he becomes too nervous or bites, giving him a break to calm down and relax before trying again is best.

Thanks for reaching out and including photos. Training birds can be difficult, especially as they reach sexual maturity. Continue with the training process and establish a dominance hierarchy with you primary. A book titled "A Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot" is a good start. Good luck.

He may be going through a hormonal phase. At 2 years of age, he's going through his "teenage" years on his way to adulthood between 3-5 years. His behavior may be temporary and will require patience on your part. Some cage aggression may also be responsible as well. Have someone else remove him from the cage and take him to another room when you have to clean his cage or refill bowls. Speak softly and move slowly around him. Offer small treats and rewards. Do not force him step up onto your hand or interact with you. This will lead to a bite. Make sure he has a variety of toys and adequate attention from other to keep him engaged. The preferences with people will change over his lifetime. Cockatoos are quite lovable and he should eventually come back around to you as long as you are there for him.

Thanks for reaching out about Jango. Parrots should not be allowed on the shoulder, because then they perceive you as co-dominant. Allowing to perch on your wrist and keeping the wrist below the shoulder height is recommended. She will want to climb up your arm to your shoulder, but must be prevented. If misbehaving, a short time out is recommended. As she behaves (including stepping up on command) a positive reinforcement should be given. It takes time and consistency. Good luck.

I'm sorry to hear Minty isn't doing well. It is possible that there is an underlying issue such as pain or injury causing the aggression, especially if it came on rapidly or is a complete reversal of their usual behavior. Other issues such as sexual maturity, being startled by something, etc may also cause a bird to become fearful or aggressive. Removing any nesting material, providing some fun toys to interact with and spending time bonding/offering treats when Minty is calm and relaxed, rather than nervous or aggressive may help. If the behavior continues or worsens, or you see signs of illness, seeking a vet exam is always best to rule out any potential issues that could be causing the change.

Thanks for reaching out about Sky. Despite what many people may think, birds are not supposed to bite readily. They come to learn to bite when the other forms of their body language are not seen/listened to by others, including owners (and veterinarians!). I would recommend looking at Sky's body language and your actions in situations - both before she tries to bite and when she is trying to bite. You may see that Sky tries to move away, or leans away, prior to trying to bite. It may be that Sky has not had any good or non-frightening experiences with humans yet so she doesn't know how friendly you are trying to be. I would recommend moving very slowly, and using food items that Sky likes to eat to help start to form a bond with her. When you start to move towards Sky, and there are no signs of avoidance (see above), then she gets a treat that she really likes. If she shows any signs of avoidance, then you just move away - you leaving may be her reward, and that is okay because you haven't pushed her so much that she feels like she needs to be desperate enough to bite. For training, you may want to start by asking her to step up using a stick or wooden dowel instead of your finger. This will be more safe for you, and may be more comfortable for Sky initially as well. There are videos online that give training tips as well - I would recommend searching for positive reinforcement videos as these tend to be very successful for birds. I hope this gives you a place to start, and good luck with Sky!