Baby Cockatiel Behaviour Problem. Is there such a thing like being aggressive in a particular season?

Question

Hi all,

I have already raised a similar question and I now wonder if baby cockatiel usually does that or just one of the seasons that they tended to be a little aggressive.  

I have a 4-month old cockatiel for a month and I know she likes nibbling and pecking but I think she did that more often these few days and seemed to be a little more aggressive than she used to be.

Although she's very sweet and still like to 'hang out' with me in general, once I did something that she dislikes then she started threatening me by pretending to bite (she didnt).  Even she's sitting quietly she be looking for my fingers to bite like nibbling at first then started to bite a little harder and if I moved my finger away she started to bite aggressively (although it never draws blood, it hurts enough and it looked like she was going to eat my finger).  Also, she started to bite my skin while she's sitting on my arm or somewhere on me.  And when she's sitting on my shoulder and I gave her my hand then she used to sit on it but now she started to bite or hiss.

Having said all these, I dont think she hates me but looks like something not quite right about her, I'd say.  I actually was a little scared of her today when she's sitting on me and I dont really know what to do.  I know some of you already suggested me to put her back in the cage if she's not behaving but she did that pretty often lately, and I dont really want to put her back in 100 times in an hour.  I wonder if there's any more suggestion or if you guys believe that it's only one of these seasons and it gonna be over some time?

P.S. She's very heathly, she eats and plays as usual and she whistles (or sings) more often today than she used to.  I still believe that she's a friendly, cuddly and a loving bird.

Birdman · Accepted Answer

It sounds like she's just testing you. She is approaching an age where she wants to see exactly where she fits in in the flock. Parrots do this when they start growing-kind of like the "terrible twos". Be thankful she's a small bird. :-)
This will eventually pass as she and you sort things out. Be patient.
BTW she sounds more like a he, are you sure of the gender?

? · Answer

When my 6 1/2 month daughter wakes up crying (which happens infrequently) I try to not pick her up right away. I offer her the pacifier, which sometimes will put her right back down. If that doesn't work, I will pick her up and rock with her then put her back in her crib once she's sleeping. If she wakes up a 2nd time, I consider the night a goner and take her to bed with me. That only happened a couple times when she was sick. The pacifier thing came from trial & error, and worked the first time I tried it. I didn't want her to get used to me picking her up to rock if she cried in the night, so I gave her the pacifier and patted her chest until she fell back asleep. (I can hear the co-sleeping moms hollering already!)

Anonymous · Answer

Some cockatiels may be more aggressive in the spring due to breeding season, hormones, and increased daylight.  You might want to try putting your cockatiel to bed earlier and cover its cage to decrease the amount of daylight it receives.

Debra D · Answer

She is a baby and trying to find her place with you..her limits and such..
You will have this throughout her growing and when she gets older her Hormones are going to go crazy and she will do this again and again...keep her supplied with toys..food ..and give her attention and everything will work out
Just remember that you sit your limits and you are the flock leader..and do not give up

Baby Cockatiel Behaviour Problem. Is there such a thing like being aggressive in a particular season?

4 Answers