parakeet

Question
My parakeet, Jasper, has been showing signs that he is now territorial.I got him from a pet store about 8 months ago so he is probably around a year old. He is very tame-I could kiss his back, pet his back, have him on my shoulder,...-when I take him out of his cage but this has become a harder task as time has passed. I want to know what I can do to stop this behavior. I have tried to move his cage around but it does not seem to help. Buying a play ground thing would still be a problem because I would have to put him in his cage and take him out of it everyday which, as I explained, is an issue. If there is anything you could say to help I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi, Kaylie.  I really need more information, but I'll try to help as best I can with the information you've provided.  I'm a bit confused as to whether the problem is that your bird doesn't want to come out/go back in his cage or whether you are having difficulty all of a sudden petting him, kissing his back, and having him on your shoulder once he's out of his cage (or all of the above).

I'm assuming your bird's territorialness is when he's inside his cage or near/on his cage?  If so, it's because his cage is his personal territory, his safety zone, it's all he has on this earth to call his own.  Therefore, he's going to "protect" it as best he can.  This means he probably doesn't want you to stick your hand/fingers inside his cage!  You should allow him to come outside his cage on his own, then interact with him.  When it comes time for him to go inside his cage, try to persuade him to go in but, if he won't, then you'll need to have him step up on your finger and put him inside (or use a perch).  When you need to service his cage, you'll need to let him come out, then do what you need to do inside his cage.  It may also be that when you place your hand/finger in the cage, he feels cornered, and no animal likes to be cornered.  Once birds are outside their cages, most do not want to go back inside their cages...they love the freedom...so this is the answer as to why you have problems putting him back in his cage.  

Is he with another bird?  If so, perhaps they have become bonded.  Since birds prefer other birds to humans, he's going to act territorial.

This time of year, a lot of birds are molting.  Molting results in stress for a bird.  Perhaps your bird just wants to be left alone sometimes because he's stressed due to the molt.  They molt twice until they are 1 year old, then they molt once a year thereafter, usually before 1 Oct, but some molt into the month of October.

Has anything happened recently that would cause Jasper to be afraid of you?  Sometimes a bird's behavior will change if something has occurred that frightens them of their human.  Are there other animals in the home, such as cats/dogs?  Your bird could be afraid to come out because of other animals (they feel more vulnerable outside their cages and act differently outside than when inside).  Other people in the home that may have caused Jasper's behavior to change?  Moving his cage around could cause him stress because he's not used to being in different parts of the home.  Birds are creatures of habit and don't take very well to changes in their routines, etc.

Have you changed the frequency with which you interact with your bird?  If your bird is used to coming out of his cage every day at a certain time(s) and this changes, this could result in stress to your bird.  When birds are stressed, their behavior changes.  My parrots know when it's time for dinner (like they wear birdie watches or something) and throw fits until they are fed.

Your bird could be testing you to see what you'll allow him to get away with and what you won't.  I know it can be painful, but you need to insist that your bird do what you ask of him, i.e., be insistent that he step up on your finger when you want him to...press your finger against his chest and give the "up" command until he steps up even though he might peck your finger.  All birds go through this stage, but usually at a younger age than 1 in the case of keets.  

Here's my website with lots of information about birds that hopefully will help if the above information isn't useful.  http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html.  There's just so many reasons for behavioral changes, it's really difficult for an outsider to help much except to provide as much information as possible and allow the bird's human, who knows the bird best, to sort it out.  Be sure to keep control of your bird...you don't want him to get the upper hand.  Always reward positive behavior and never reward negative behavior...this is more explained on my website.

Chrys