Sassy going after hubby??

Hi! I have been doing very well (I think) with Sassy. I have her step up to take her out of her cage and to go back in, unless of course she decides to go in on her own. I can get her to step up even when she is in her "crazy bi polar" mode. I have had to climb the step stool to get her off the top of my cabinets several times to put her away, with no problem. I think alot of my problem was that I was afraid of her before, and now I'm not. Don't get me wrong, I am cautious and don't let her on my shoulder, but I'm not afraid of her biting me. I realize she will inevitably bite me again...but anyway...she knows I am not afraid of her.

Twice now while she has been out of her cage and on the cabinets, my hubby has walked in to get something and the first time he was walking back into the living room and she flew to the back of his neck and bit his ear and flew away. It wasn't hard and didn't leave a mark, but still. Then the other day, again she was on the cabinets and he was talking to her and then turned his back and she jumped on him and bit the back of his head...harder than the first time, and flew away. Didn't leave a mark but had she bit his ear this time, she would have left a mark and possibly blood. Last night he was walking through the room and she immediately flew to the top of her cage and "looked" like she was going to go after him but I immediately went out there and put her back in her cage. I immediately put her back in her cage the first two times also. I'm not sure what I should be doing or if putting her back in her cage is the appropriate action, but at the time it seemed like that is what I should do. I don't know why she is doing this unless it's jealousy?? Maybe she's bonded to me?? The other thought I had was that she associates men with her previous owner?? I don't know how he treated her but I know he didn't let her out because he couldn't get her back in and I know he didn't handle her. She is terrified of gloves and perches (outside of her cage, like when I would try to get her to step up to a perch) so I don't know what happened. Hubby takes it very personally..lol. He isn't hands on with the birds but he is always nice and talks to them all the time and gives them treats, probably more than he should, when he passes the cages. Chico will fly to him when we are hanging out in the living room and there's no problem with him, but I don't know what to make of Sassy's behavior. It seems to happen when he walks past or around her. If he's sitting still she is ok...at least so far.

So, any advice on what may be happening with her, or what I should do when this does happen, would be greatly appreciated by both my husband and I! Should I continue to put her back in her cage...should he just not walk around her...should I go in with him??? I just don't want it to get worse. It doesn't happen often but more often than we can allow.

Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions...Lea

There are a few options here. I have been dive bombed by birds before, and I duck whilst covering my eyes (for protection, everything else could heal). Even a good flyer will overshoot your head when you duck. It also knocks and overly confident bird down a notch when they miss they intended victim and distracts them as they try to reorient themselves. I have also heard of people keeping a towel around the back of their neck and pulling it up to divert the bird (the towel scares them enough to chase them off).

The other option is to clip and then work on socializing Sassy more so by the time her flight feathers grow back out, she is not going to be dive bombing anyone anymore. Of course clipping is controversial and it takes to for the feathers to grow back and is a lot more effort to socialize, but I *personally* feel with dive bombing birds, it's typically the best option for your safety and theirs until they learn better.

If they are behaving like that I clip them.

Sounds like some sort of territorial thing (i.e. Hubby get out!) but that's a bit of a wild guess, and it may be wrong.

Thanks for your responses. I don't understand why she is doing this all of a sudden. For the past few nights, if hubby needs to go around her at all, I walk with him and then she is fine?? I wonder too, if she maybe wants more attention from him?? Initially, shortly after we got her, we were both trying to get her back in her cage and she stepped up, for the first time, to HIM. That was the first and only time she has stepped up to him (the next time he tried to have her step up she bit him and drew blood). Now she dive bombs him when he has turned his back and is walking away from her. So, for the time being, if and when this happens, should I continue to put her back in her cage?

I have considered clipping her and if this behavior keeps up I will probably end up doing it. I would like to keep her flighted because she really LOVES flying and she is pretty independent. However, if it is for safety reasons, I will have it done.

Thanks again...we will try the ducking and the towel...and if all else fails, have her clipped.