How do you combat jealousy from your bird towards its humans?

[Supercinoman]

I have a beautiful, lovely 10-month old Green Wing Macaw. My partner is the bird person, while I'm tentative but getting braver by the day. As he has spent more time with her (He began visiting her at the breeder at 6 weeks, I began visiting at 4 months. After we brought her home my partner was out of work until very recently), she's naturally bonded more closely to him-which is both fine and expected. But, since we brought her home back in July-and in my previous interactions-she's always liked me too.
But, this week, she started showing some major jealously towards me when I interact with my partner. Like, I came home from work and gave him a hug while she was next to him and she leaned and struck at my lip. Last night I handed him a drink and she flew to me and then proceeded to scratch my face and neck and bite at, and aggressivley squak in, my ear. I'm fine, but a little sad, I really love this bird and I feel like I'm losing her
We kinda view her as our daughter (yes, we're "those people") and bring her out with us often. She obviously trusts me, as she'll fly to me outside and such but when we're home she not only prefers my partner but shows actual aggression towards me.
In order to combat this, I'm now going to be the "treat guy." Giving her the positive fun stuff. We're hoping this allows her to see me in a more positive light. Although, I took her out of her cage tonight (positive!) and she stepped up just fine (positive!) and then proceeded to bite my arm (ouch!)
I did share some fruit with her though, and that went well.
I've seen that Green Wings, generally, can bond with multiple humans and we do have a bond, but this aggression needs to stop.
Suggestions would be great!

 

[WharfRat]

One of my GWs can get pretty onery with my wife at times, Deb has gotten to where she stands her ground and tells Miri "No, you be nice" to her. Miri is finally listening to her and knows Deb ain't afraid of her. I'd suggest a "time-out" in the cage when this starts, also grabbing the beak works for me as well. Miri is fully aware I will not take any "BS" with her behavior and she gets an "earful" when she misbehaves, and she knows what I'm telling her. Mine are just over a year old, train her now while she's still learning. JMHO

 

[JJones1719]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Congrats on your baby GW.

I also have a male 5 year old GW named Neleno. Once he hatched on April fools day, I drove from MD to VA every weekend to visit him and watch him grow. It took many months before I was able to hold and pet him, he was not a bird who liked to be touched very much at first. After my breeder and I were hands on, he became more and more used to it. He is a complete cuddle bug now.

I brought him home at 9 months, after the first couple of days, he was great he would go to both me and my partner with no issues. He would also allow strangers to pet him. After the first week, he started to regress and I had to take him back to his Breeder to be tube fed, he stopped eating. After 2 weeks, he started to wean again and ready for me to bring him home.

Once I arrived with him, he allowed me to handle and pet him as normal. He wanted nothing to do with my partner and my partner did not do as much as he could have to get close to Neleno.

The only people Neleno will allow to hold or touch him is my Vet and I.

I have been working with him now for the last few months to see my partner as no threat. I stopped giving the treats, cleaning the cage, giving food and water, and baths.

My partner now cleans the cage, baths, feedings, water for Neleno and now will allow my partner to hold him. Neleno will not allow him to be pet but this is a start. Neleno now sees my partner as the care giver and I believe this is helping their relationship.

Don't get wrong, I am the one that Neleno wants and I don't think this will change.

GW can be a one person bird but they can learn not to bite or attack you. You really just have to work very hard with them.

Best of luck to you.
Joe