My parrot cries when I hold him, but flies back. Does he hate me?

A sudden change in behavior can sometimes indicate pain or illness, so a good first step is to have Mithu examined by your vet to rule out any health issues. If he checks out healthy, boredom or understimulation could be a potential cause. Spending more time together, offering a variety of toys that can be played with, chewed on, or torn apart, or even adding a playpen to his cage to let him stretch and be active may help.

It could just be Mango is excited and trying to get your attention, or is bored and acting out as a way to entertain himself. Providing some extra enrichment such as puzzle toys to keep him occupied, treats, things to chew on, etc as well as letting him stretch his wings on something such as an outside of the cage playpen may help channel his energy a bit better. If he seems to have night frights at night even when covered, placing a nightlight nearby may help him settle and relax overnight.

Kiki may be bored, stressed or ill. Provide more interaction and attention if possible. Birds are flock animals and although some are fine alone, others may need "company". This extra attention could be from human or avian companionship. Rearrange the cage to provide enrichment. Switch out old toys for new toys, provide different sized perches and offer a variety of foods for him to forage. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, loose droppings or sitting quietly with eyes closed and feathers puffed out. These can be signs of illness requiring an exam with an experienced avian veterinarian.

By your description, it does not seem to be abnormal behavior. It may simply be something he does for attention. You can monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, loose droppings or perched low with feathers fluffed. These are typical signs of illness.

If he continues to act abnormally, I would be concerned about an injury and recommend he visit his vet. A loud scream definitely doesn't mean he hurt himself, but sustained lack of interest in play would make me very concerned. I hope he continues to return to normal.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Tittu. This is very common in many species of parrots and is a means of communication. The question is what are they trying to say. This could be just trying to get attention for socialization, but also distress. Parrots are very social animals and very intelligent, so need contact and mental stimulation. Good luck.