Hey everyone!!

My mom has a female quaker that's about 2 years old now. She doesn't get along with anyone only my mom and dad. About 2 weeks ago she started biting my mom every now and then to the point where my mom was scared to pick her up but still would. Today my mom told me that she can't even get close to her or she will attack her! Now keep in mind that this bird was in love with my mom always with her all day and following her around the house 24/7.

Why this sudden change when nothing else has changed in the house?? My mom can't even touch her own parrot when she loves her so much. We have a dog and a cat but they don't bother the quaker, they are actually scared of her lol. No cage change, no food change, no treatment change...don't know what could be turning her against my mom.

Any advice would be amazing!!!

Thanks,
Elenis

Try browsing some of the older posts on this site- many, many, many of us have had this happen at one time or another (or lots of times ) A couple of suggestions off the top of my head are to pay very close attention to everything about your mom and the environment. New jewelry, new hairdo/ hair color/ barrettes, new glasses, change in clothes (switched to bulky fall/ cooler weather clothing?), there are just so many things that we might not even notice but our quirky fids sure do.
If nothing seems to be different and you can't pinpoint anything physical, then maybe the little booger is just being ornery because she can! Have mom offer a special treat that no one else gives her. Play the rescue game (have someone else take the bird into a safe space (bathroom with toilet lid closed, or spare room/ hallway, etc) and set the bird down and walk out. Mom walks in a moment later and becomes the savior. If nothing else, Mom just needs to be patient and not take it personally or get her feelings hurt. Birdy will come around.

Isn't around 2 when quakers become sexually mature and go through their "hormonal teenager" stage? I've been reading back posts and this has come up a LOT with biters all about the same age...and quaker parrots are one of the only species of parrot that builds a permenant next site and will defend it to the death. They actually set "sentry" birds for the flock. If she's maturing and has decided her cage territory is HERS than it might have absolutly NOTHING to do with your Mom.

Has she been checked by a vet to make sure she's not hiding an injury of some kind (considering it's such a complete turn around in personality)? Even the sweetest little thing on the planet of any species will become a raving lunatic when in pain.

That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.... any of the breeders have a bit more information on maturing birds?

They are fickle little things and can swap their love about maybe she is loving your Dad now and biting your Mom to get away ..I really don`t know just a wild stab here..its hard to make out why the little guys do what they do some times , just tell your mum to be patient and offer her a favorite treat also if its just near the cage she bites maybe open the cage door and let her come out by herself first.... Good luck maybe someone else will have some ideas...

Thanks everyone! Its weird because she climbs on my moms shoulder by herself and a few minutes later she bites her...I'll tell her what you all said and see what happens. Thanks again!

I have read that you really shouldn't allow parrots to sit on your shoulder as that puts them in charge. I see that many do allow quakers on the shoulders on this site though. I found that when my first quaker became a "punk" and I do beleive that was around age 2, I no longer would allow him on my shoulder for the most part. That punk stage did go on for quite some time. He chose in the end to not like my husband...but, my husband brought that on by himself just by not thinking like a bird. I think eventually , he would of liked my husband, although, he really did just like me and 1 of my sons. Everybody else, he would try to bite if they came near his cage.

I have had my quaker for almost 10 yrs and he doesn''t like change.....red blouse, pink blouse, a NEW blouse, he goes beserk!

I think it is just because her name is Rita.

Inside joke. I am married to a sassy little Latina named Rita and I couldn't resist.

Where do I get more info like this?