Extremely aggressive biting...

[Kari]

A little background, I got Blue when she was very young. I had her a few weeks and she injured her leg and I had to take her to the vet. She was never trained before that, although did enjoy our company out of the cage. She is my only bird and she has been moulting for a really long time it seems, several weeks.

I posted a few weeks back how she adored my daughter and niece. Well since then she has turned into a complete different budgie :( Let me say beforehand that she has not been harrassed at all, I'm very strict with making sure nobody bothers her and stuff like that. She is SO mean now. I mean very very mean. I will put my hand in her cage so I can give her foods and she literally jumps on my hand and viciously attacks me. I've heard that they typically don't break the skin but she has come close and leaves indents in my skin that stay for a long time. She's like a vicious dog but tiny, no exaggeration.

The other day I opened up her cage, she flew onto my daughter and bit her lip twice really hard before I could get there. :(

I really need some advice. She has not been trained pretty much. She used to sit on us, my daughters head and stuff like that but never stepped up or anything.

Has anyone had experience with this kind of aggressiveness before? Not just biting, it's really so much more than just biting, it's real bad.

[Cdog]

Have you changed anything in the room she is in or moved her to a different location? Sometimes new things can be very upsetting to a budgie and can become aggressive? Sometimes even a certain color shirt can make them nervous. I am sure others will have some good ideas as well. I'm kind of stumped as well.

[Kari]

Nope I haven't moved her anywhere different, I know they can get scared that way. Ever since this has started I've been constantly thinking of something that was maybe done differently but can't think of anything.

I really feel like it started when she started moulting but it's gotten so much worse the last few weeks, I'm not sure if that's related either. :(

[rachelle83]

I would be concerned that it is related to a sickness. Extremely heavy long molts can be a sign of sickness as well as a drastic temperament change. Maybe a check up at the Vet's is in order, if only to ease your mind.

[Kari]

The last couple of days have gotten a lot better :D She has been in a MUCH better mood! She hasn't bitten hard and is making much happier sounds. :budgie:

I really wonder if this had to do with her molt? I hope she doesn't get that grouchy during each one :eek:

[BuBu&Chik]

could be a heavy molt, they do tend to get more sensitive and moody as molting can be very uncomfortable for them and their pin feathers are all super itchy etc. maybe offer her a bath or mist her with some warm water?

also, maybe could be hormones/ breeding mode? dont know hold old she is... but let me warm you when she does go into "dark crusty brown cere" mode, watch out! lol... my lil girl is so vicious when shes in breeding mode...:p

[bugster23]

...thats good to hear.. when shes settled in and calm again.. why dont you indeed try with a vet just to rule out sickness.. and if blue is a moody budgie im sure youll learn to read her moods, next time you feel shes getting into that "rabbid dog syndrome" just leave her alone for a while and give her things to destroy till shes cool again.. and try to maybe start training, with that maybe you can teach her what is nice and what is not nice :)

[Pitchii☆]

I'm glad to hear she is behaving better now. I also have a female budgie who bites aggressively, without triggers (except perhaps the computer, she likes to be the centre of attention :rolleyes:). her bites are so bad people thought I had some allergy on my hand. Pitchii molts for long periods of time and she is in breeding mode so with time and a little training (clicker) I hope I can stop this habit. It's so unlike her. I can totally understand how confused you must've felt when she turned evil ;) overnight.

Female budgies are more aggressive than males unfortunately and like us human females are affected by raging hormones, so give her a little space and understanding :D

I have a thread on clicker training Pitchii to stop biting so if your Blue keeps biting keep an eye on my thread and you may be inspired to start clicker training yourself. I have yet to receive my clicker (should come today!) so I haven't started but I already have some *great* advice and I'll be updating as the training goes along.

All the best to you too. and my sympathies :D

[Kari]

Pitchii is way too adorable to be naughty :loveeyes: I've been meaning to do the clicker training as well but have been side tracked with stuff. I'm going to pick me up a clicker soon though and get started. :)

Blue was born or hatched, however you say it :laughing2: on August 4th of last year, so she's just turned 5 months or so. About what age does the dreadful breeding mode begin? She's been so sweet these last few days, I hope she'll stay that way at least for a few weeks :laughing2: