My Little Corrella is aggressive towards other people!!!

[SkyCarr]

Hello, I am new to the forum, I have joined in hope of finding help. I rescued my little corrella, Buster, 6 months ago. I was told his owner had unexpectedly died and he had been passed to two other people before he was with the couple I took him off. The first people who rehomed him couldn't keep him because they became allergic to him, the next couple didn't have time and the next mans excuse was because he was lonely out in the aviary. He wasn't in an actual aviary, it was a shed amd he was in his cage. Anyway when we went to pick him up, the man had a big gash down his arm, I knew Buster had did it but the man denied it. We got home and settled Buster into his big cage, the cage he had come with. He really took to me, talked to me and let me stroke his head. But my boyfriend and his grandmother he lunges at everytime they're near his cage.
I let him out with just me in the mornings, he tends to sit with me and not go too far. I then put him back in and go to work. My boyfriends grandmother used to change his water and sometimes his food. You have to open his cage and reach in for his food and water dishes. He wouldnt bite her, or lunge and would even sometimes let her dtroke his head.
Recently over the last month she's not been able to do this. Buster will bite and lunge her so she cant get to his bowls. He let her fo it once the other day and again not since. Grandma always talks nicely to him and never shouts and trys not to react when he bites.
Its now getting to the point where i can't go away, not even for a weekend. I do not want to have to rehome him but Im afraid it will come to that.
He's 3 or 4 years old. But i have no paper work so i dont even know if he's a boy!
Any help or advice would be gratefully received!

 

[jm0]

Sounds like you're his/her primary person, and you know what kind of responsibility this position brings. A lot of people in here can't take a weekend off, because of the special needs that our beloved parrots require. Welcome to the club BTW However, we still manage to find ways around these obstacles. If no one else is allowed to stick their hands into Corella's territory, then it's up to you as the primary caretaker, i'm sure you know this already. You need to get used to this, it may take some time, try some socialization training. If you want to take the weekend off, then why not bring your parrot with you? You can't just leave a bird like that. When you come home he might hate you for a very long time. Don't give up on him, work the problems. It's not as big of a deal as you might think

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed. We have some very experienced cockatoo people on here. I'm sure they will chime in eventrually. But all parrots are creatures of patterning. You have a bird that is setting up his new owners to match what his pattern has been for years, a single caregiver and only hanging i his cage. THats what he is used to. Your familys job is to break that pattern and establish new , positive ones. It is a slow go most times. All the family members that want to interact with your parrot need to get on board with helping do this. You want to figure out his most favorite treat, the one he loves most of all. That now becomes your "bribe" to start the process. The ones he tends to bit and act aggressively are the ones who should offer this treat. All should be spending time, sitting quietly by his cage, as close as possible, with out ingendering his fear reaction. Move just a little closer each coule of days ( put a small piece of tape o the floor to know where the "line" is ).

Go to the Cockatoo section of the board, and read all the stickies on the top, and also use the SEARCH button above, it is a very powerful tool.

Good Luck!

 

[psychocircus91]

Agreed. Stick with the socialization. Sometimes it requires removing the bird from familiar territory, as well as removing yourself from the area while your boyfriend and grandmother interact with him.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums! The situation you describe is not unusual and can be overcome with time, love, and effort.

Your Little Corella has been through many "homes" and has learned not to trust. A few techniques to help other family members bond, or at least co-exist peacefully: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

The smaller cockatoos are generally highly social and respond well to training. A simple way to overcome difficulty accessing food/water bowls is to use new pieces with screw-on retainers. You can place them anywhere, even on the door if sufficiently large. Google search, first few rows may give you ideas. There are many others! https://www.google.com/search?q=bir...5bXAhUXS2MKHXYtC8wQ_AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=1094

 

[SkyCarr]

Thank you everyone. I will take your comments and work on them!

 

[Scott]

Please keep us updated, as questions as they arise! There is no overnight fix to these issues, you'll see some progress and occasional setbacks.

 

[Holly the U2]

Daisy (LSC2) was like that for the first couple of months, she bonded with me right away, took about 4 months til my son could handle her, about 10 months til my oldest grandson could handle her, be patient and let her make the decision as to who she will accept & when she's ready to accept that person.