Thanks for your interesting post. You may be onto something re the nail polish. At the Bronx Zoo, we used volunteer “crane walkers” to exercise hatchling White-Napped and other cranes that were being hand-reared (cranes suffer leg deformities and weakness if they do not move about a great deal). Walkers would paint their toenails in bright colors and the cranes would follow them everywhere; not sure if they ever tried unpainted nails.

Sexual maturity may also be involved (with cranes, it was more food-oriented); he may chase small balls, toys and other objects moved about before him as well. You may find that the bird will change its behavior as hormone levels rise and fall; very difficult to predict; as you know, they are quite social and readily transfer sexual/social behaviors onto people.

Yes…re “I love you”; toddlers are good at that as well, I’ve found!

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your interest in our blog and the post; you raise a very important and not uncommon point. Parrots of all types often change behavior over time…in many cases, it is a response to hormonal changes within the bird as it matures, or as the seasons change and breeding behavior sets in. Birds kept in pairs often ignore and attack owners at this time. Interesting that you mentioned “in love”..in a sense this is what happens; a bird may see one owner as a mate, and the owner’s partner as a rival. I had a hand raised Great Horned Owl that tried to feed me in spring, and would attack other owls…captivity changes everything, unfortunately. So while the behavior seems random, it really has a basis in the bird’s biology. Some parrots also seem to gravitate to one sex or 1 person over time, independently of season/age.

The behavior may change in time. Unfortunately, despite what you may read on the some websites, parrots do not respond to punishment; they may quiet down if covered, but long-term lessons do not take hold and change their behavior; concepts useful with dogs and other mammals only make the situation worse for parrots. We have to keep in mind that they are not domesticated in the same way as a dog or cat, and, unfortunately, we must work around their physiology to a great degree. Treats etc offered by you may help, or time may change the bird, but you’ll likely have to accept being on the outs with the bird for now.

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

My wife and I have had a rainbow lorikeet for about 3 and bit years now, in this time we have moved him up to a larger cage and he responded well to this.

It is just rescently he has become ver agressive towards me. at first he is my friend he will allow me to give him pats and rubs but with in about 10 seconds he will turn nast and start attacking. we do punish him as much as you can punish a bird by covering him up and not giving him any attention.

Other day he is my best friend he will be let out of his cage and will spend hours with me on my shoulder flying around the house always coming back will sit there for minutes just to get pats and rubs and the very next day he wants to kill me.

My wife on other hands is always in his good books i am comvinced that he is in love with her, never laid a scratch on her in the 3 years.

I have got to the point now where i would never get rid of him as he is part of family but i just dont want to go near him anymore.

I feel his attacks are unprovoked, and out of come out of no where, yes he has bitten at breakfast and dinner times but that has food involved. other times i think he feels it is a game for him.

Thanks for your interest in our blog.

Lorikeets are very individualistic in their personalities, perhaps more so that other parrot, so each must be approached differently. It is sometimes a bit harder to work with 2 birds, but in the long run it is better for the birds to have 2 rather than 1.

As a general rule, they are very food oriented and this can be used to your advantage…determine their favorite and use that to lure them near. T is always better to have them approach you rather than to thrust your hand towards them. This takes a great deal of patience on your part, but scaring them by coming on too strong will set back the process.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your interest in our blog.

Beak grinding is usually an aggressive sound, while a clicking noise, usually involving the tongue, is a sign of contentment…they are not easy to distinguish, so context – how your bird is behaving otherwise – is important. Please see my article on Parrot Vocalizations for additional information.

The droppings should absolutely not be touched by your children, even if dry. Samonella and other micro-organisms do not always show up on fecal exams, or may establish themselves after the last exam was run, and most species can live on dry surfaces for a surprisingly long time. Your children should wash well after handling the bird or food dishes, etc. also, even if these appear clean to the eye. I always suggest that folks speak with their doctors regarding proper hygiene, especially where children are involved.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for feedback…good to hear all is working out. I hope it continues to go well.

Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.