I feel terrible

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

Linus does not know what to do with himself. He is so on edge. He can't sit still for a moment and has trouble settling down after I put him to bed and I sometimes hear him walking around in his cage at night. I don't know what I can do to soothe him.

He came after me again last night. He gave me a bite that didn't look bad but turned out to be the most painful bite I've ever received. There was more pressure applied than usual I think. He tried to kick me out of the house last night with repeated ground assaults. I eventually I did walk outside figuring he'd follow and the change of environment might throw him off guard. NOPE. He stood in the doorway and wouldn't let me back into the house. Well, long story short I wound up grabbing him by the back of the head with him shrieking as I ran to his cage. Now Theo thinks I'm a monster too.

I moved Theo's cage out of the corner and put a desk mat down so they won't chew on the carpet. Linus had a meltdown about the mat. The worst part of this is I've already got him in his cage for the night because after 6pm is when he wants me dead. He wants to come out but I can't let him. I'll cover him in a couple of hours. This is so hard.

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

ohmygod Patty how terrible...I dont know what to say to you....big hugs dear..he'll come around...he will.....maybe he is hormonal or something....awww I know you feel badly right now..HUGSSSSSSSSSSS

[Dot]

Fergie (Scarlet Macaw) wants the floor and my feet. She is bruising me instead of biting me, so that is an improvement. I don't know why they become so possessive of the floor.

In the past, I have distracted Fergie with water. I would go to the kitchen sink and if Fergie came in there, I would cup some water in my hands and drop it "at" her. Even if it didn't hit her, it distracted her and I could pick her up like a normal bird. I don't believe in using water to punish. This was just distraction. I think she started trying to figure out where the wet came from and forgot she was after me.

Good luck and I share your pain.

[birdie]

Patty, sounds like you and I are both in the same boat right now, but yours seems much worse! Stella has been comming after me for the last few days, and is spending more time in her cage then normal. I sympathize with you & hope they both settle down soon. :hgz:
Have you tried comming up from behind Linus and putting one hand around the base of his tail {don't squeeze just place there for guidence} and the other under his feet and scooping him up? That's how I get Stella. It changes the thought direction long enough for me to get her to her cage.

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Hi Patty,

Been there - done that.

You must take several corrective measures.

1. Minimize the bad encounters.

2. Maximize the good encounters.

What I mean by that is... when he is wound up - get him in the cage as best you can and leave him alone.

When he is "normal" then be with him or near him - even if he is in his cage at the time. You must re-establish the good relationship. As soon as he gets wound up - leave... and I don't mean leave him when he is loose out of his cage. If the is out - then get him in his cage and leave the area.

You will find times during the day when he is calm (usually in the morning) and you will find times during the day when he is on edge (usually in the evening). Maximize your being with him - near him and interacting with him (talking or reading) during his "normal" behavior.

Additionally...

1. Always wear shoes and socks when he is out of his cage. The shoes should be leather with closed toes. Also wear socks. This will give him something to bite into instead of you.

2. Keep a towel handy (right at hand) when he is out. Be prepared to drop the towel over him and grab him in such a manner that you have complete control over him and he cannot get his beak at you. Then put him in his cage. Putting him in his cage is not for punishment or a little time out - it is for your protection and avoiding the bite. He might have to be in his cage for extended periods of time... but you can still positively interact with him while he is in his cage.

3. Ya gotta keep your birds off the floor. In the wild - the aggressive bird will attack the feet and head of the other birds. So - he might also do flying attacks at your head (face). Also there are way too many dangers on the floor that birds can get into. Playstands with toys can help - but don't expect an Umbie to stay on it for too long.

4. If his wings are not clipped - then get him clipped. This is the best attitude adjustment you can give him. Get a towel - scoop him up and stuff him in a carrier and take him to a groomer or your vet. Umbies should be clipped - 5 outer flight feathers on each wing. Any other clip is not proper.

5. Cut down on his protien intake.

We often times cannot back-track to determine what started the aggression, but sometimes when it starts... it escalates into what you have now. It could have been the introduction of Theo - or it could have been many things. It is not important as to what started this whole mess. We have to deal with the present.

Getting back on track is going to take a lot of hard work and plenty of tears. The worst part about all this is you lost your buddy and your feelings are hurt more than anything. You are confused by his behavior and I am sure you blame yourself. You first have to work through your emotions and put them aside. Only in this way are you able to help him work through this.

Go to your room and have a good cry -- I know I did. Never cry or show weakness in front of him. Be calm and in control.

You have my number - call me whenever you need to.

Oh yeah... put some soft music on for him to listen to.

Lar

[FoxersArtist]

Hi Patty.
I felt aweful just reading your post so I can't imagine how you must be feeling. They are small animals but they sure do have a lot of power - in their beaks and in the motivation - especially when they are stalking something.

Louie, one of our U2 fosters has been acting a lot like Linus only I can't get him to step up at all. I have to towel him (which he has mostly come to accept) but I still feel like a big bad guy. He doesn't seem afraid of me because of it, but he sure isn't happy about it either. I hold my arm up by my face and away from myself some when I am near him and he is loose because he has made a special habit of flying at my head at least once per out session. I don't think any bird could ever make me hate it outright, but if any bird came close, Louie wins the metal. He is a wonderful bird for some person, but it's irritating to have to be so cautious with him. I know we could have lots of fun if he would just settle down and realize that I'm not his lunch.

I know that Linus is your baby, so how much more heartbreaking it must be for you to experience such an act against you. I wish I could just make it all go away. Sometimes it's hard for me not to think that owning an umbie is like watching a trainwreck in motion and your heart is sitting in the middle of the tracks. They are such fantastic, wonderful, amazing creatures capable of so much. But then their hormones get out of control they just lose themselves and we tend to go down with them.

I really think that keeping Theo and Linus in seperate areas where they cannot see each other might help as well as not allowing them to interact so much. They may not be totally in love but Linus' hormones are raging with a female around and you are stuck in the cross fire. I imagine Linus is not feeling too great himself with all of the stressed behavior he seems to be showing. It sounds like he wants nothing more than to go hide in some dark hole or to be with his sweety.

Please let me know if there is anything at all that I can do to help, even if it's only a listening ear.
-Anna

[iti hoa's mom]

Linus does not know what to do with himself. He is so on edge. He can't sit still for a moment and has trouble settling down after I put him to bed and I sometimes hear him walking around in his cage at night. I don't know what I can do to soothe him.

He came after me again last night. He gave me a bite that didn't look bad but turned out to be the most painful bite I've ever received. There was more pressure applied than usual I think. He tried to kick me out of the house last night with repeated ground assaults. I eventually I did walk outside figuring he'd follow and the change of environment might throw him off guard. NOPE. He stood in the doorway and wouldn't let me back into the house. Well, long story short I wound up grabbing him by the back of the head with him shrieking as I ran to his cage. Now Theo thinks I'm a monster too.

I moved Theo's cage out of the corner and put a desk mat down so they won't chew on the carpet. Linus had a meltdown about the mat. The worst part of this is I've already got him in his cage for the night because after 6pm is when he wants me dead. He wants to come out but I can't let him. I'll cover him in a couple of hours. This is so hard.


Too much. Let's go back and keep it simple. It is your house and not his. Get a couple of brooms. If he chases you use the bristle part as a barrier between you and him. Lightly bounce the broom and work him back towards the cage. He will bite the bristles and not you.

Out time. Short...short....and short. Smaller and more frequent out times is better than only 1 or 2 extended out times. Have a favorite treat, tell him he is a good boy.

Come up with a few fun foraging activities. He will come to look forward to this. Have a cardboard box with a bunch of things dumped in it. Let him see you putting some things in so he wouldn't be afraid. YOU play with the stuff where your birds can watch. Next, take him out and keep the box out of site. Talked to him, fuss a bit then get the box and put it on the floor of the cage and let him back in his cage. short time again. Once he loves his box take it away (it doesn't stay in forever). Then let that be his fun thing early evening, dim lights then bed. Box does come out and readied for the next day.

[Larry, Baby and Me]

"Get a couple of brooms. If he chases you use the bristle part as a barrier between you and him. Lightly bounce the broom and work him back towards the cage. He will bite the bristles and not you."

Peggy - is that like playing birdie hockey??? :rofl:

I tried that with Baby and she took the broom away from me and beat me with it. :exct:

I had to lighten things up a bit. :hihihi:

On the serious side - thanks Peggy... I was trying to say keep the out time brief.

Anna - You have had many experiences with many species and I think you hit the nail on the head when you said...

"Sometimes it's hard for me not to think that owning an umbie is like watching a trainwreck in motion and your heart is sitting in the middle of the tracks. They are such fantastic, wonderful, amazing creatures capable of so much. But then their hormones get out of control they just lose themselves and we tend to go down with them."

Do you think it is hormonal or it is just the way Umbies are at times? I think that of any species the Umbies get in a snit and can go way over the top. Any one who has an Umbie can attest to this.

I could never imagine that a 1-1/4 pound ball of white fluffy feathers could become so violent... especially when she was so sweet and wonderful all the years previous. It took a lot of finissing on my part and tons of patience to get back on track with Baby. She does get territorial with me but I have learned what sets her off and I avoid those situations with her. In the evening she usually gets a snit on and I give her the space she needs.

It seems like Umbies go in for the kill where other species give full warning or do a lot of bluffing.

Lar

[birdie]

Peggy - is that like playing birdie hockey??? :rofl:

I tried that with Baby and she took the broom away from me and beat me with it. :exct:

Lar

OMG! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :sealed::sealed::woah: SSshhh I'm gonna wake the fids

[iti hoa's mom]

"Get a couple of brooms. If he chases you use the bristle part as a barrier between you and him. Lightly bounce the broom and work him back towards the cage. He will bite the bristles and not you."

Peggy - is that like playing birdie hockey??? :rofl:

I tried that with Baby and she took the broom away from me and beat me with it. :exct:

I had to lighten things up a bit. :hihihi:

On the serious side - thanks Peggy... I was trying to say keep the out time brief.

Anna - You have had many experiences with many species and I think you hit the nail on the head when you said...

"Sometimes it's hard for me not to think that owning an umbie is like watching a trainwreck in motion and your heart is sitting in the middle of the tracks. They are such fantastic, wonderful, amazing creatures capable of so much. But then their hormones get out of control they just lose themselves and we tend to go down with them."

Do you think it is hormonal or it is just the way Umbies are at times? I think that of any species the Umbies get in a snit and can go way over the top. Any one who has an Umbie can attest to this.

I could never imagine that a 1-1/4 pound ball of white fluffy feathers could become so violent... especially when she was so sweet and wonderful all the years previous. It took a lot of finissing on my part and tons of patience to get back on track with Baby. She does get territorial with me but I have learned what sets her off and I avoid those situations with her. In the evening she usually gets a snit on and I give her the space she needs.

It seems like Umbies go in for the kill where other species give full warning or do a lot of bluffing.

Lar

There are a few species you haven't met yet....hawk head comes to mind. CAG's can do this.

I think U2's need an outlet for all that pent up energy. We make life very comfortable for them. Food is perfect in an easy to reach dish. Toys are accommadating. Why not try hooking a brand to your bird's cage and stick a favorite treat at the end of a slightly thin branch. They have to figure it out.

I almost feel like they need a rubicks cube to keep their mind busy.

[Larry, Baby and Me]

I almost feel like they need a rubicks cube to keep their mind busy.

Peggy - boy I do agree with you. I think Umbies have such an active mind that they self-destruct when not constantly challenged. They also do not like to sit still for a second... they are quite the active ones. Maybe that is why they come unglued and also pluck.

It is difficult to keep ahead of them.

Great idea with the branch thing... I will try it on Baby and let you all know.

I have to outsmart that bird... I know I can do it if I put my mind to it... maybe? :rolleyes:

Lar

[iti hoa's mom]

Peggy - boy I do agree with you. I think Umbies have such an active mind that they self-destruct when not constantly challenged. They also do not like to sit still for a second... they are quite the active ones. Maybe that is why they come unglued and also pluck.

It is difficult to keep ahead of them.

Great idea with the branch thing... I will try it on Baby and let you all know.

I have to outsmart that bird... I know I can do it if I put my mind to it... maybe? :rolleyes:

Lar


Just let the challenge come from deep within ....... your nerd score says you can do it!!!!

(ya'll will be very sorry you let me out of the bag)

[too&me]

Too smart, Too much time for their little brain pans to plan and Too much energy to deal with. Trying to fly Harry for about 20 min. a day when there is time, in the house has helped him dump energy and he like the happy response he gets on recall. I just give him a bag or a box on the floor of his cage so he can play house during the day. when I come home in the afternoon 3:30 m-4:20 p.m. he goes into his outdoor cage on the patio for up to an hour or so and 60% of the time he gets a shower out there. He is just Too aggressive this time of year to do the usual things for long he gets Too wound up. I have used the broom to head him off when he goes after family members, he hates the broom. It is kind of like they have their desperate teenage years every spring-so don't let them have your car keys! Do you notice the theme here? Too! Too's are well named.

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

You guys are so much fun.
Just FYI, Linus has a thing about brooms. If he is out of his cage a broom will most certainly bring out aggression as will the evil towel. The floor has never been a problem. Does anyone have a too that stays perched? He won't stay on the playstand - he goes from one thing to another to another. It's never been a problem. Now when he gets out he goes immediately to a corner or someplace he doesn't want me to be, which is not a problem except now he won't let me pick him up off the floor. Then it turns into a battle of wills, which I win (with a little bloodshed.) Talk about winning the battle and losing the war though
I talked to Anna tonight. Poor thing listened to me rant, barely able to get a word in edgewise. She suggested a few things I could try to get to the root of what's eating at Linus. I have a friend here at the complex who has a good amount of bird experience that is going to take Theo for a little bit. Anna made a really good point that maybe this will relieve some of the pressure of feeling the responsibility to see that his species carries on. lol
I trust this guy with Theo. He adores her and will take good care of her and is only a few minutes away. I know she'll miss Linus, but the change of setting might help with that. We'll see what happens. Thanks, you guys, for all the help you give me.

[Larry, Baby and Me]

You guys are so much fun.
Just FYI, Linus has a thing about brooms. If he is out of his cage a broom will most certainly bring out aggression as will the evil towel.

Hey Patty,

I think Peggy thought I was joking when I said I tried a broom but Baby took it from me and beat me with it... I wasn't.

She also DETESTS brooms... so it's not a good idea to try to play birdie hockey with Baby.

I have not a clue why a broom or wisk broom sets her off. I have to keep her in her cage whenever I am cleaning up - otherwise she goes nutz on the attack. :yernutz:

[Larry, Baby and Me]

How did my buddy Linus do today???

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

Yeah. The broom fear is a mystery. Quirky little things aren't they? I wonder if there's an actual named broom phobia (like ocedarophobia?) - there is for everything else.

I haven't been bitten in a couple of days - woohoo. I'm waiting to hear back from the guy who's going to babysit Theo. I'm anxious to get this experiment underway (and scared).