What to do about aggression and/or biting?

[TortoiseLady17]

We have had Maui for a couple months now. He is a 7 year old male U2, we are his third owners. The last couple of weeks he has started biting, and not just warning bites. Tonight he put a good size gash in my finger, last week he left two huge bruises on my arm. Most nights he comes out and does not want on me right a way. After a few minutes he will climb down and come to me. When he gets to me he will either bite right away or let me pet him a couple times then bite. It's like he is mad because he had to come to me, but when I tried to pick him up he didn't want to come. After he bites he then will start saying step up and try to do so. Most nights I ignore the bites but tonight I couldn't as I had to go stop the bleeding. I am not mad at him or scared of him, just trying to figure out what I am doing wrong and how to fix it. This happens about every 3-4 days. When ever he bites the next day he is super lovey, like he knows he hurt me. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[lene1949]

I work 12 hour shifts, and when I come home from a dayshift, I'll not get Max out... He's basically already asleep, and will attack, if I try to interact with him... It's winter here in Australia... Max is an alexandrine and pretty easy to read...

 

[Mare Miller]

Is Maui bonded up with someone else in your home? That would make it more difficult for you to be close to him. When we first brought Amigo home, he bonded with our youngest son, who was 16yrs. old at the time. No one else could get too close at that time. After my son graduated high school and left for college, Amigo took right to me.

Amigo does prefer women now and loves attention from most women but men are NOT allowed to pick him up without heavy padding!

When my husband had to deal with Amigo, if I was gone, he would wrap a few bath towels around his hand and arm which Amigo could still give a good bite through but wouldn't draw too much blood. I got Amigo use to being handled like this, before my husband started using that method. My husband finally ended up buying falconer gloves, which Amigo bit through! Now he puts the gloves on AND towel wraps!

I'm sorry to hear of him doing this to you. I guess just being able to read his mood will help avoid some of the bites. I know how damaging those bites can be.

 

[TortoiseLady17]

Is Maui bonded up with someone else in your home? That would make it more difficult for you to be close to him. When we first brought Amigo home, he bonded with our youngest son, who was 16yrs. old at the time. No one else could get too close at that time. After my son graduated high school and left for college, Amigo took right to me.

Amigo does prefer women now and loves attention from most women but men are NOT allowed to pick him up without heavy padding!

When my husband had to deal with Amigo, if I was gone, he would wrap a few bath towels around his hand and arm which Amigo could still give a good bite through but wouldn't draw too much blood. I got Amigo use to being handled like this, before my husband started using that method. My husband finally ended up buying falconer gloves, which Amigo bit through! Now he puts the gloves on AND towel wraps!

I'm sorry to hear of him doing this to you. I guess just being able to read his mood will help avoid some of the bites. I know how damaging those bites can be.

Maui likes us both but prefers me, that is one reason I am so confused by this. I am hoping it is just a phase we will work through. I am trying very hard to read his body language. It is hard sometimes since he is missing a foot and uses his beak a lot to move around, sometimes I am not sure if he is just trying to step up or bite. When this happens I don't pull away, I just hope its stepping up and not biting. I will not let the biting deter me, just hoping to figure out why its happening so I can make any adjustments necessary to make sure he is happy.

 

[Mare Miller]

One thing I've learned, since being a cockatoo parent, is that they feel your fear. Amigo could rip me apart at any moment, if he chose to...but he doesn't, I have to trust him.

This afternoon, after I got home from town, I decided, not to let Sassy's nippy-ness deter me from picking her up, when 'I' want to. She actually seemed to respect me more for it. I started to handle her, like I do Amigo, with no fear. It worked for us, but still...I know how aggressive these creatures can be.

The biting of an umbrella cockatoo is serious business and my advice would be, protect yourself until you know that you can trust him.

 

[TortoiseLady17]

One thing I've learned, since being a cockatoo parent, is that they feel your fear. Amigo could rip me apart at any moment, if he chose to...but he doesn't, I have to trust him.

This afternoon, after I got home from town, I decided, not to let Sassy's nippy-ness deter me from picking her up, when 'I' want to. She actually seemed to respect me more for it. I started to handle her, like I do Amigo, with no fear. It worked for us, but still...I know how aggressive these creatures can be.

The biting of an umbrella cockatoo is serious business and my advice would be, protect yourself until you know that you can trust him.

Thank you so much for your advice! Until now I could trust him, I am trying to not let that create any fear when working with him. Today went well, we sat and sang some jazz songs (just found out he likes jazz). After a little while he flew to the top of his cage to do some dancing.

I am trying to do some training with him but I have not found any treats that motivate him.

 

[TortoiseLady17]

I think I have figured out what is making Maui bite....he prefers my husband. The only interaction my husband has with him is when Maui is in his cage and an occasional head scratch when he is out. I am off for the summer and have had Maui out a little earlier in the day when my husband is not home. He would do wonderful, no biting, very affectionate and playful. When my husband gets home and I take him out he starts to bite me. He will also ignore me when I talk to him and try to get my husband's attention.

 

[Mare Miller]

I think I have figured out what is making Maui bite....he prefers my husband. The only interaction my husband has with him is when Maui is in his cage and an occasional head scratch when he is out. I am off for the summer and have had Maui out a little earlier in the day when my husband is not home. He would do wonderful, no biting, very affectionate and playful. When my husband gets home and I take him out he starts to bite me. He will also ignore me when I talk to him and try to get my husband's attention.

Yep,,,sounds familiar! I suppose all you can really do is steer clear when your husband is home. Amigo prefers me over anyone else but when I'm not around, he at least isn't in attack mode.

 

[melissasparrots]

Usually the easiest way to change aggression is to change the antecedant. Behaviorists call this the ABCs of behavior modification. A=antecedent, B=behavior, C=concequence. Its hard to do the concequence without getting into negative interactions and punishement. For me, typically changing what happens before the bite is effective. If your husband is actually the favorite, you will probably have to be careful of him in certain situations regardless, but you should be able to reduce the number of times you get a nasty bite.

I'd time him to see how long it generally takes him to come to you. Then, rather than letting him come to you I'd go to him. Also, keep interactions short and stop it before he decides to stop it himself with a bite. So if things are going really well, don't push your luck. Put him down before the bite happens. If your not sure if he's wanting to use your hand for stability or to bite, you can see if you can get him willing to hold onto a small stuffed toy or wadded paper towel or washcloth. He can use that for stability if you hold it in your other hand, or he can use it to bite. Eitherway, you have something between his beak and your flesh.
Also, look at the time of day. I'm a teacher and generally work during the day. My flock was not overly excited the first few days of summer when I started getting them out earlier. In fact my sulfur can be kind of aggressive first thing in the morning. So, I just leave them alone until haver 12pm at least.
Another thought, you could teach him a trick. Something simple like spin around or wave. Then when he comes to you, instead of letting him bite, preempt the bite with a command to do the trick a few times and have treats handy for a reward. That will get him in a more cooperative mood before the bite happens. All ways to change the antecedent.
Good luck,
Melissa

 

[TortoiseLady17]

Mare, that is what I am doing. I will go and talk with him and interact with him when my husband is home, when he is in the cage. Any holding, cuddling, training is done when he is not home.

Melissa, I am a special education teacher! I have tried using the ABC's, he will bite if he comes to me, he will bite if he flies to another room and I go get him, he will bite if I get him out of the cage. As long as my husband is home he will bite. He will even try to bite me through the cage, reaching as far as he can.

One cute thing he does is he will reach his foot (only has one) out to grab my husbands arm and say step up. He sounds like a kid talking with a mouthful of food since he is holding onto the bars. Haha. it cracks us up every time, and he has amazing long legs!

Even though his loyalty seems to have shifted, I still love the little guy so much!

 

[RescueMe]

I had this exact issue with my goffins, I could and did handle him when my ex wasn't home, but the second he came in the door I was going to bleed if I went near him. The problem was that my ex hated him and eventually threatened to kill him. The bird found a new home to protect him, and the ex found a new home soon after to protect me. I wish I had more understanding of bird behavior at that time, I had my feelings hurt and couldn't understand why it was happening. Kudos to you for realizing the situation. I hope that you are able to work out a happy medium and prevent any major injuries.

 

[TortoiseLady17]

I did have my feeling hurt at first, but I am starting to understand him better now. We are working it out. He is only 6 and we are his 3rd home, he lost his foot at his first home. He has been through a lot. He is here for good, I will just have to add kevlar to my wardrobe lol. :-D