Vasa Head Hunting

Been thinking about this all day, one thing has changed. I've cut back on his protien, maybe I cut back to much. It would depend on what triggers the vasa hunting. If it is a lack of protien than giving him some more should stop the problem. Unlike a raptor, (i am assuming) would be triggered to hunt by hunger and movement. A vasa's hunting instinct may be triggered by their body lacking in protien. Would make sense since lack of protien can cause aggression in them. In the wild they would forage as other parrots do as well as occasional hunt when needed. I also came across an article where lesser vasa's need animal protien in order to raise proper sized chicks. When not given this the babies are stunted. Now I know greaters and lesser are not even the same species but they share many commonalities. SO now I think one of two things is going on, either a lack of protien is triggering the need to hunt, or it is a natural part of vasa development. two very different things with two very different answers! I also put an email into Dr. Ekstrom, he's the ornithologist that did the 3 year study on vasa's. So I am waiting to hear back from him on the matter. I try some egg for the next couple of days and see if the behavior stops. See all the things us vasa owners have to look forward to! I wish I knew someone with a male that was Eve age or older to see if their vasa head hunts.

Kimba:

I know of a woman -- I think she is in Long Island? She has a 10 year old female Vasa. I will see if I can get her to join the forum and this discussion! It would be interesting to know if protein is a factor here, or if this is something we should all expect.

Do you think it's separate from the sleep deprived attacks, coincidence? Related?

What's even curiouser is that Eve would dive bomb you, his provider...

I definitely think is not related to the sleep deprived head hunts. It's odd, he only head hunts, when preparing or carrying food, not while you are eating it? Once in a blue moon he will fly by and kinda bounce off your head in a fake head hunt, but it's more of a play thing than.

Have you paid attention to which foods? Maybe he is hoping he'll startle you and you'll drop it? Maybe it's a ploy to get what you have vs. behavior?

Maybe you should train him the way falconers train their birds... with scraps of meat instead of real prey, of course. Then he could get it out of his system, have plenty of meat, and a fun new activity... Of course, then he'd get really good at it!

SO today eve had an entire egg, he's still eating it as we speak, I'll have to wait to see if this affects the head hunting tomorrow, because before the egg, he got my head 3 times! But not as ruff as yesterday, thank god. He is also trying to get at the cats food. Eve NEVER goes on the floor. Now I caught him on the floor in between the cats and their dishes trying decide who was the safer cat in which to steal it's food. Eve doesn't do this with the dry cat food, only the wet. Again a meat product. This is also new behavior. So I am hoping that this is all related to protien and I don't have to train him to hunt properly.

I'm going to think about this. I just found a cue or two for my bird. Totally random, but makes sense.

Must ponder. Don't hold breath. Sherlock Holmes I am not!

Soooooooo. this morning one day after eating some eggs, Eve is completely different! No head hunting or cat hunting , or going on the floor after the cats wet food. No flying around like a lunatic, nothing! Completely normal calm Eve, now I don't know if this is just the day or not so If I continue on the protien and it stays the same, I would say so. But if he sill head hunts after a few days of more protien I think I'll have my answer.

y not make a balloon head full of treats,that would be funny

Day 2... more protien, calmer vasa. This morning Eve patiently waited on the step ladder, his spot, for me to make his breakfast. But he did head hunt my roommate yesterday, but it was more of the mock hunt, just a genital fly by bounce off your head.