Why is my parrot suddenly aggressive and won't let me touch it?

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 your question about Sunny. I am glad that you asked your question, because abrupt behavior changes are a cause for concern. Often these are related to illness, and this could be occurring even if Sunny doesn’t look sick to you. I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian to see if they find any reasons for the aggression. They may recommend diagnostic testing depending on what they find, or they may prescribe some medications as well. Please don’t give Sunny any human medications at home, as many of these are harmful to our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

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.

If you've been working with him a lot on taming it could just be that he is finally getting used to you (this is good!) However, if you are concerned by his sudden behavioral change, or you are seeing any signs of illness, scheduling a vet checkup to rule out any health issues is always good.

What you can do really depends on what the cause is, so trying to find the cause is best. If you suspect illness, seeking out a vet appointment is a good first step to rule out any health issues or pain that can cause behavioral changes. Sometimes, aggression can be caused by boredom, stress or even an urge to mate. Adding in enriching toys or allowing Coco to explore his environment may help with boredom and keep him happier and occupied. Moving his cage to someplace quieter or without harassment by other pets and people can help reduce stress in addition to adding some fun toys or treats to play with. If he is trying to mate, sometimes changing the daylight hours and decrease protein amount in the diet can help, as well as distraction with interactive toys/ignoring/avoiding the behavior. If he does seem stressed and lash out, giving him a chance to calm down and relax before interacting again may also help.

It's possible Mithoo is very bored and is acting out as a form of attention. Adding in some enriching toys that she can play with, chew on, or that she has to work on to get a treat from may help her get out some of this extra energy. Some parrots don't ever speak or mimic sound, and may instead be more interested in other activities such as puzzle toys or learning tricks. Finding other ways to enrich her environment may help. You can also help bond by offering a favorite treat every time you approach her cage so she stats to associate you with positive things, instead of trying to bite you. Birds are like toddlers, so if she is trying to get out, she is likely excited and wanting to explore her surroundings more. If she does like to explore, hiding treats or favorite food items in the area she plays in may encourage her to explore and get out some energy- just make sure the room she is in is safe for her to fly around. If extra activity doesn't help, or she shows any signs of illness, scheduling a vet check up to rule out any health issues that may be causing pain or stress is always a good idea.