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Hi all! I've run into a situation with Dino I hadn't experienced with Luna. At night - about an hour before bedtime (he does get 12 hours +- ), he gets VERY snippy with anything within striking distance!! It might be my fingers, a toy, my lips or nose And it hurts!! he will attack wildly for a few seconds - maybe 5-10. I've been trying to ignore it, but that hasn't helped.

Any suggestions??

Jo

What about putting him to bed early??? I know that some tiels get cranky late at night cause its bedtime!

Sounds like he is letting you know that "bedtime" is an hour earlier then you think it is.

This has actually been a hard thing for me to key into too.

My Sunny has a wrap around porch - outside his door and then around the side of the cage.

I have FINALLY picked up that, each night about 8PM he comes out of his cage onto the "porch" and goes to the farthest point at the side of the cage and sits with his back to me. That's my cue.

When I go to put him in for the night, I lean down and talk very quietly to him. He'll "attack" my nose a bit (not too hard anymore) and then turn and walk into his cage.

Then, when I put his cover on, he'll perk up a bit and I'll hear him in there playing with his bell.

Sleepytime.

I figured it's the "I want to go to bed" clue - I just didn't expect him to be so... nasty about it! He'll be with me when this happens. We usually have cuddle, eating, and sitting on my shoulder time. He'll be sweet and quiet, then when I put something near him - ATTACK!!! OK - I get the picture! Luna would hiss AFTER I put her to bed - I used a sleep cage in a spare bedroom for Luna and now for Dino. If Luna nipped it was softer - more annoying then painful.

What are the chances of him outgrowing this? Is it possible to modify the behavior?

I appreciate the advice!!

Jo

If Rosie is tired before her bedtime (8 o'clock) she will get like that too.. She will even scream at us if we as much as talk to her, lol she will scream at us and stay looking at us with her mouth wide open like if shes gonna bite.. Since it seems to happen about an hour before you put Dino to bed every night i would try changing his bedtime to an hour earlier than usual..

Jo,

I know you sometimes work odd hours, but birds (any kind of bird) is not meant for night time or after dark activities. From sun up to sundown is only native to them, and anything beyond that is either learned or unusual. None of my kids is up after dark, with the exception of Cappy, who is sitting on the back of my chair right now. She is an extreme case, and since I have no idea what she used to do, I tollerate it, but I prefer that all of them go to sleep at dark, just like any wild bird. If His hours are not in sync with yours, don't force an issue.. they have physical needs as well as mental needs just like us. Of course, with all the kids I have, there's never a dull moment, or when someone doesn't need something, but I am so thankful that most go to sleep at dark.. Too bad the nights are getting shorter, and daylight getting longer Good luck, and hopefully the nipping will eventually subside.

Sam

Yup, Dino wants to go to bed. My male birds are more crankier than my girls. Whook will lunge at my nose for a bite when he is in a tired and pissy mood.

I forgot to mention that with Luna it was a struggle to get her to go to bed 99% of the time!! I'd put her in the cage and she'd come up with every imaginable thing she could to NOT go to bed - wanted to be with us - and it didn't matter what time it was, even if she was already sleeping.

Dino get 12-13 hours in a covered sleep cage - he came from a retail store and they closed the store at 9pm, by the time they clean and straighten things out they don't leave till 10 or so. His schedule isn't much different from that.

Jo