Hi everyone

Shrek is a very cuddly bird, but every so often something happens to cause him to go into attack mode. He's only 6 months old, and I've had him for about one of those.

If I have a stranger in the house, he'll bite me - he never draws blood... but it's an attack. I reckon he's trying to get me away from the danger?

I can have him on my shoulder, and do something, and all of a sudden he'll bite me... I try and work out, what happened just before, but sometimes I can't.

Is this normal quaker behaviour? He never draws blood, and I put him in his cage for about 2 minutes before I take him out again.

Thanks for your feedback.

If i hurts it is not normal. The bird will condider it normal if he continues to do it. Sometimes quakers go througy phases where they bite more than other times. Moniter your bird. Maybe he is still settling in .

Be prepared for the strangest things to set him off, and learn what the attack signs are to avoid the bite.
Poppy became protective of his food dishes. He is not cage aggressive, but setting a dish down- I know if I am not quick I am going to get bit.
Maddie is cage aggressive so she will bite if I reach in her cage.
You will get to know the warning signs and what triggers the attack. Myself, I have just accepted their protectiveness of food and cage, and use caution.

I am certainly no expert but, if it is possible, you may want to contact the previous owners and find out if he had any bad experiences that may help to explain his current behavior. He may, too, be settling in. We moved at the beginning of this year and mine, who I've had about a year now, took time to adjust to his new surroundings. Perhaps the combination of strangers/strange surroundings could be to blame.

It sounds to me like Shrek is just protecting his mate, you, from this stranger...And yes, that is normal quaker behaviour....In other words, he has bonded with you and doesn't want anyone to come between you and him...

I remember Harley use to be in attack mode when he was younger...He is almost 4 years old now and when someone comes in he laughs and laughs at them...If I pick him up and hand him off to the stranger (which to him is a stranger) he will go to them and start making friends with them....Hope Shrek will outgrow this....Try to be patient.......

Yes, I know what you mean. There is one person in particular in our house that Casey HATES usually because she can get the biggest reaction from them... But if I am holding Casey when they walk past she will bite me to warn me of the potential danger, I think she's trying to "protect" me. I have just learned to be careful and prepared that she may do something. She never draws blood either, just opens her beak and pecks down as her warning. I always tell her 'No Bite' she kind of laughs and goes back to kissing me once they walk by.

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to put him in his cage for a time out. The cage should be his "house", somewhere fun and enjoyable, not used for punishment. I think if you want some sort of punishment, set them somewhere, ie top of cage, playstand, somewhere where they are aren't getting your attention... because that's what they want most, attention from you. JMO.

So overall, yes it's normal Quaker behaviour, Shrek loves you!

They can start that as early as six months old? I don't mean to sound like I am questioning you; I am trying to learn. Mine is just at a year old and I am just now learning about all the special things hormones and love can make birds do.

Yep, Casey started "loving" and "protecting" me when she around 5-6 months.

Oh I didn't think you were questioning me at all....and yes they can start that young; at least Harley did....And it sounds like Shrek is also....

So again, quaker behavior-----They don't leave any stone unturned.....

And they love to explore....I know---for the simple fact that I thought I could leave my bird on the top of his cage while I made a doctor's visit and he would be there when I got home; wow was I wrong....I came home and found him in the middle of my dining room table where I sew and had gotten into my artificial fruit bowl and was having a blast chewing up plastic grapes and I looked over at my pin cushion and he had literally taken every pin out of it....So be on the lookout for anything from a sweet tweet like a quaker....They keep ya guessing....

Stewie never bit me over anybody but he bites my husband every chance he gets! He has never gone to the extent of flying after him or anything like that but if William walks to close to his cage and Stewie can reach then he's fair game!

Thanks everyone

I have now learned (after 2 months with Shrek) that even though he's the most affectionate bird out there, not to put my hand up, when he's on my shoulder, to give him a scritch, when I have people over he doesn't know, or doing something he hasn't seen before.

He'll step up from anywhere, and I haven't had any problems for a while. He's out everyday for a few hours. Get lots of cuddles, and lots of playtime by himself, but next to me, on his playgym.