Newbie Scaly Owner

[stephb]

Hi Guys,
My name is Steph and I've recently gotten a Scaly Breasted Lorikeet. Eugene is female and the sweetest little thing, to me anyway. I got her off an older lady that handraised her and was being moved to a nursing home where she wasnt allowed to bring her beloved pet and her daughter wasnt in a position to keep her. Eugene is 3 years old and is very loving towards myself but if my grandparents, mother or boyfriend even attempt to touch me or even interact she goes mental! Screaming, trying to bite the other person and if I talk back or even gesture, I cop it! I guess shes getting angry at me for interacting with them as well.

Futhermore, I can't put her away back into her cage without her giving off this screech that is honestly almost heartbreaking. Putting her to bed at 5:30 is the most painful part of my day. She's fed dailt on her dry mix and fresh fruit and veg. A huge cage came with her, its full of toys and colourful doo-dads

I love her dearly, but is her behaviour ever going to change or is she always going to be a one person bird?

[avinet]

Hi Steph and welcome to the Forum

Lorikeets are full of personality but they also have their issues when kept as pets, and your experience with your Scaly is not unusual. They often become very closely bonded to one person, and can give painful bites to others they perceive as competitors for that person's attention, and perversely at times, give a painful bite to the one they love.

My old web site for my shop (now closed) Mooloolaba Auqarium & Aviary Centre had a great article on it about Lorikeet biting and aggression. While that web site is no longer available, the article can still be seen at the web archives, so have a look at tinyurl.com/858vtab - it is essential reading for any pet lorikeet owner.

cheers,

Mike

[stephb]

Thanks Mike!

It helped a whole lot!