Hissy fits???

[mabdewn]

I've noticed sometimes that my grey will get into a frenzy. He will act as if he is scared of something and yell and then fly hysterically about until he at some point decides to crash into a window or land on the floor. I am not sure what triggers this. There is no sudden movements, noise to provoke this and I am generally near him when he does this. Or he is sitting undisturbed on my shoulder.

 

Is this normal behaviour? or is it just one of my bird's idiosyncrasies? or should I perhaps call an exorcist?

[rbpittman]

Dixie will be playing with one of her toys and all is fine with the world and then all H*LL breaks loose! She will scream and attack the toy as if it's the worst thing on the earth. Just her being a grey!

[daveyj]

Is he moulting his flight feathers Alfie my grey used to do this when he was casting old feathers or the new ones were coming through if it is the flight feathers dont worry it will pass after they pop through

[mabdewn]

One feather did fall off yesterday. But if that's contingent with his fits, I am not sure.

However, he did express similar behaviour, when a friend of mine gently touched his tail. He hates that and usually grunts, but has accepted that I do it. But my friend was hissed at, then he screamed and flew off.

The behaviour is very random. So not sure what's causing it, or if the bird is just a nutter which I don't mind :laugh:

[daveyj]

Flight feathers & tail feathers are painfull when new ones are coming through its like you having an ingrowing toenail so when touched or knocked they hurt the feathers wont all come at once so it will take time so if this is the problem try not to touch the wings or tail and keep an eye on any old feathers if they appear then i think this is whats going on

[mabdewn]

Will have an eye open and be more mindful when I touch him.

Cheers!

[daveyj]

A bath / shower / misting at least once a week will help;)

[danmcq]

Many Greys do this crazy pterodactyl style going nuts, flying and screaming.

 

Mine does this at least once, if not more everyday. :-)

 

Now as Davey said, reaction to touching a sore spot is also a definite possible trigger.

[mabdewn]

I grew up with a grey in the house. He's an older gentleman of 32 years, and he doesn't do anything like this. If he did it when he was a chick, I don't know.

The first time I experienced it he was flying over my head screaming big time. I was confused as to what he was scared of.

[pearllyn]

Hehe, yes Alfie has hissy fits regularly, although not as frequently as she used to! It's the funniest of things to watch - I was quite alarmed the first time I saw it though, and posted the subject on here to see if it was normal!! Apparantly it is!!:laugh:

See "poplular posts" below - there are some funny stories!<br><br>Post edited by: pearllyn, at: 2010/02/03 20:20

[Luvparrots]

Don't we wish that we could read our grey's mind so we could understand the crazy little things they do! But I supposed they do the same with us, when we do things that they don't understand!!!! :ohmy: :blink: