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Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum. Two years ago I adopted four cockatiels from a rescue on the West Coast. Three of them are in good health and pretty good natured most of the time. The fourth is a bit crazy and has to be caged separately because he bites the other birds. They are terrified of him. When we first got Bilbo, he was shy and retiring - no signs of the crazy personality that was to emerge later. But as he got more comfortable with my husband and I, he started showing his true colors - biting humans and other birds, screeching, and lunging or pecking at things that aren't there. He also runs back and forth and turns in circles a lot, and has a great deal of manic energy. He is terrified of being left alone. He doesn't behave like the other birds and I suspect he's not sane. I also think he hallucinates (from the way he pecks at phantom objects).

I know only a little about his past history, before we adopted him. He is about 10 years old and was previously kept in a basement by a male owner who mostly neglected him. That would probably cause most animals to go insane if prolonged, so poor Bilbo comes by it honestly.

If Bilbo were a human, I would take him to a psychiatrist ASAP! But what to do for a mentally ill bird? Obviously, I want him to be happy, and I also want to calm the other birds down. Even though I don't let Bilbo interact with them, they don't like being in the same room with him (even in different cages). But Bilbo desperately wants to be around them and screeches if taken to a different room. What do I do to keep him and the other birds happy? Is there any kind of treatment for mentally ill birds?

Thanks for your suggestions.

If you'll PM me your email addy, I'll get some advice to you from someone with relevant experience. Thank you for caring for and about this bird.

This is a picture of Bilbo - as you can see he is quite angry! But also very cute.

They are living creatures and it sounds like he was abused & deprived social contact. Sad. Yes, he probably does have mental issues. There are alot of parrots that are in sanctuaries because of past abuses and can not not be pets not longer because they bite, scream, mutilate themselves (and cage mates) etc...
Maybe some one from the Bird Talk staff could help you

I wish I had an idea where to even begin with this situation. Thank you for taking him in with all his "baggage."

Please keep us updated on what you are trying and how it works.

Hi there,

He sounds like a little spit fire *smile* His personality changed quite a bit since he arrived. First step: has he had a veterinary check (by qualified *avain* vet preferably certified if possible) up since this personality change? Also what is his current diet? It may be that something isn't agreeing with him.

Biting is something that can most always (I would say always but I'm sure there might be one or two exceptions to the rule) be worked with. Biting could stem from several possible things and most often has some sort of fear base. Even territorial biting may be from a fear of an intruder entering one's space.

Your welcome to e-mail me if you would like. I have been involved with a parrot welfare org since 1999 and doing behavior consults. I also live with a Cockatoo that was burned with cigarettes and has seen occasional *monsters* although that seems to be way past him at this point. He's doing fine.

A few quick suggestions if you haven't tried them already. Does this guy have a mirror cube in his cage? If not he might really enjoy one. Also you might put up a barrier between his cage and the other birds such as a room divider or it could be as simple as a piece of cardboard. I would give him a peep hole so he can still see the others while the others may relax more with a divider up.

Steps to help the situation after physical health and diet problems are ruled out would be some trust building and perhaps some environmental enrichment. Kris Porter just recently put up her site and it contains several wonderful ideas. www.parrotenrichment.com

Shauna