Why is my cockatiel pacing and suddenly aggressive? How can I help?

Losing a mate or part of the flock can be traumatic. Try to gradually reacclimate him to you. Begin by simply sitting by his cage for ever increasing periods of time. Speak softly and move slowly around him. End each visit with a small treat. Once he is fine with that, place your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. He may squawk and flap and move away at first. That's fine. Do not attempt to touch or pet him. Once he settles down, you can coax him closer to you using treats. It will take time and patience, but eventually you should be able to win him over and get him to per h on your finger.

Behavioral changes and sitting fluffed up/lethargic on the bottom of the cage can both indicate there is something going on that is making George feel unwell. As these are very vague signs of illness, it would be best to try and bring him to a vet ASAP for care. Illness, injury, disease, parasites, malnutrition, etc can all cause these symptoms, so having an exam to rule out more serious problems and get George started on treatment is best. If he is untame/wild and can't be handled, you can try tossing a towel or bird net over him gently to be able to catch him and place him in a travel carrier to get to the vet. Keeping the carrier covered with a towel or sheet can also help reduce stress and keep him calm on the journey.

Thanks for reaching out. Providing multiple food bowls around the cage could decrease aggression over food. Biting now can be due to the stress of re-locating to a new home, and time could be the cure. Try to offer treats to win his side. If the lighting is too intense, that is stressful also and can lead to the sudden attempts to fly. Try to lessen external stimuli and have patterns of daily routine to be consistent. 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.

Cockatiels are extremely vocal birds, so it may just be that Cici is excited and very "talkative". Giving him some fun things to do such as adding in an enriching toy that requires concentration to open or play with, playing soothing music, or even moving him to a quieter location free of other pets and people may help him to settle down some. If he is housed with another bird, there could be competition over perches, food and water dishes which is causing stress, so adding extra in and making sure there is enough room for both birds may help. If he does continue screaming, or seems ill or painful in addition, a vet visit is always a good idea to rule out any pain or underlying health issues.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Keke. It appears as if he might be hormonal, searching for a nesting site, becoming territorial. Monitor for appetite. If becomes lethargic or eating less, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.