Flipped a switch

[JKTango]

Our GCC has suddenly 'flipped a switch' and will no longer go to my boyfriend without biting him, like really biting. This has just started in the last month or so. We've had him for almost a year now and before this, the two of them have always been best friends. He still comes to me and hangs out just fine (unless I'm doing something with my hands, like getting pills out of a bottle, but that's another story). Is it normal for this to happen? How can we get him back to being friends with my boyfriend? It makes me sad that they aren't getting along! Thanks in advance!

 

[PickleMeDickles]

You have to make your boyfriend the fountain of all things good and wonderful. When boyfriend is home it is time for special seeds, play time and anything else the bird enjoys. Then you just need to work it until all is good. Really easy to say, not so easy to do, but worth it. You may need to almost ignore Tango until the boyfriend is his main squeeze, then dole out different amounts of treats and attention. You may find, after all is said and done, that Tango just prefers you. He just must learn that we don't chew up boyfriends!

 

[T00tsyd]

It may be that he has decided now he's becoming adolescent that you are the object of his love and therefore your boyfriend is the competitor. Do you cuddle more or generally fuss him more? All the things we girls tend to do so well.

You may have to back off so as not to encourage him - treat him like a small tantrum throwing toddler for a while while you ae both the parents. Interesting times!

 

[clark_conure]

I curious how the bird does if your not around. Like if you went for a walk and left him wit him. Would his aggression go away while your not present? Might be easier for your boyfreind to re-bond without the bird trying to compete for your attention.

 

[JKTango]

Thanks all! He does it when I'm not home too. We're trying the treats and extra loving right now. I also read some things about making him 'work' when he's doing something we don't want him to do (step up, up, up, up, etc). Hopefully the combination of suggestions and some extra work will get him back to the friendly little bird we know

 

[clark_conure]

Go with the lovey thing for now, but if it doesn't improve try putting him on the floor and making him walk back to you. If he learns that biting only gets him removed from the social group it might sink in. He has to think about why he is on the floor the entire walk back. It's how I got my bird to stop when he was a baby.

Also in a situation like this I wouldn't use and physical force like the earthquake method or beak grabbing or anything like that. (in fact I don't recommend those anyways) but in this case it basically would reinforce his combative stance of fighting for you.

Learning that a bite means a long slow shameful walk back to you both will reinforce that yes he can be there with both of you, but biting is not allowed.

 

[LordTriggs]

sounds to me like the hormones have hit and you're his mate.

Essentially what is happening is he's like a horny teenager who's not sure what's going on with himself making him frustrated. He's also decided you would be good to make babies with but your boyfriend is trying to get in his way so the boyfriend clearly has to go in his mind. Theh ormones should subside in a couple weeks but this is something they go through, although the first time is often the worst. What I would suggest is make it that your boyfriend is the only person to offer his favourite treat even if just through the bars. If possible try moving him into a different room with your boyfriend so they're on neutral ground, they can be more compliant outside of their area

good luck

 

[DerTier]

I have the opppsite issue... mine won't stop flying to my bf when he is miffed with something i did (like get a step up and he's moody).

My bf isn't really a bird person but he's not getting bit like i am atm so he's handled it well

 

[clark_conure]

DerTier your bird might be a girl.....you might have to fight for your baby daddy.....Birds can tell our sexes a lot easier than we can tell theirs...

My first bird was a girl cockatiel and liked my dad...my second cockatiel liked to perch and rub on mom.....


Just a thought....