Angry ringneck

[920102]

Hey everyone ,

We have two ringnecks, a 4.5 year old lutino female named Levi (thought she was a boy!) and a nearly 12 month old grey lacewing male named Wash (for any Levi jeans/Firefly fans). Levi has been increasingly aggressive towards us, attacking the cage as we walk past, when we try to get her food/water containers, give her treats etc. She's even started flying at us occasionally if she's in a really vile mood. When she was younger she was very affectionate, you could rub her all over and she'd cluck and whistle until the cows came home, though she seems to be a completely different bird over the passed 12-18 months or so. She displays a lot of male like behaviours like dancing and wing arching, especially when Wash is around. She has also been very aggressive towards him too.

Recently we've noticed that Wash has picked up a lot if her nasty behaviours and has started biting too. Levi was the only bird for over 4 years and we're thinking it has something to do with that as well. She carries on a lot when she's brought inside and has been digging enormous holes in the yard during the day (their cages have access to the lawn underneath). We've began a training program with the two of them to try and socialise with them more, entertain them and get closer to them but Levi is still a very angry bird.

Very concerned that she's uncomfortable about something and she's getting increasing hard to deal with physically.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated, we're completely in the dark.

Thanks,
Hannah

[morpheus]

Hello Hannah, first let me say I am newly interested in IRN's and fairly new with birds in general, but I am an avid reader/researcher on the topic and found this
"...They have a really funny phase called "Bluffing" where they get very aggressive and you really can't handle them during this time. It can last for a few weeks or a whole month. It usually happens suddenly after the bird has been weaned...."
on the Bird Channel...

http://www.birdchannel.com/ReportAbuse. ... d=12156521

I suppose it's possible that would be what you're experiencing. Hope so and hope it passes soon..........Tom

[InTheAir]

Hey Hannah,

Is this a seasonal phase? Hens especially can be very territorial over breeding season.

Ellieelectrons may have tips, you could try sending her a private message on here.

Regards,
Claire

[ellieelectrons]

Hi Hannah

I'm a Firefly fan!

I'm also a Jane Austen fan. Our birds Janey and Charlie were named after Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley in Pride and Prejudice

My guess would be that you've got a female existing nesting behaviour. It can come as a rude shock. Which hemisphere are you in? Should it be nesting season for your guys? My girl is currently existing nesting behaviour and I live in Australia.

Please check out this thread and see if you think this could be what is happening to you:
http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=14905

Also my longest post in this thread may help too. I've summarised some info about breeding behaviours and what to do about them:
http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=19463

Best wishes.

Ellie.