Sudden Behavioral Change

My 3-year-old 'tiel has suddenly been acting very aggressive towards me.

We've always had a very good relationship. We play this game where we "blow kisses" to each other. Essentially, he just mimics a kissing sound and I would do it back or vice versa. In fact, just last night he was blowing me kisses while I scratched his neck haha...

Today I blew him a kiss, and he hissed and bit my finger so hard that it eventually bled. I put him in his cage for time-out.

He stayed there for a while until he started making his playful sounds. I thought it would be good to reward his positive behavior by taking him out of his cage. And for a while that was great. He loves being outside of his cage. He was dancing on my shoulder and I scratched his neck and he blew me a kiss, so I did it right back and I guess that triggered him... He hissed at me and bit the finger on my other hand.

So now, he's back inside his cage for another time-out... and I'm just wondering if there's something I'm doing wrong or if this sudden behavioral change indicates that my cockatiel is somehow ill?
But it's a direct reaction to the kissing sounds and nothing else.

I don't understand... I'm at a loss. I love my bird and it's terribly painful to stick him in a cage and listen to the poor little guy cry for me to take him out.

Please, please help :/

If it were me I stop making the kissy sound and see if the behavior stops. Maybe instead say "thank you for the kiss" or "mmm good kisses" without the sound effects or gesturing or blowing in his direction.
It would seem to me to be a clear message that some aspect of that interchange isn't ok with him.

Good luck.

GraciesMom said:

If it were me I stop making the kissy sound and see if the behavior stops. Maybe instead say "thank you for the kiss" or "mmm good kisses" without the sound effects or gesturing or blowing in his direction.
It would seem to me to be a clear message that some aspect of that interchange isn't ok with him.

Good luck.

Click to expand...

I can stop, and I pretty much have, but it has been fine with him for nearly over two years.
That's why this is a sudden behavioral change.

I must have misunderstood your post you had stated that he was biting you due to what you thought was the kissing game as the trigger which was leading you to putting him in time out which you want to avoid. That all being said it would seem to me that avoiding that interaction would resolve that issue and end the time outs.

sometimes we like things and then something happens or changes and we no longer feel the same about that activity. I'd imagine it is no different for a parrot. Hissing and biting is a pretty clear sign that regardless of how he felt before he isn't digging it now

Personally if I find my bird dislikes an activity or interaction and it's possible to eliminate that stresser then that's what I do. I don't necessarily think I'm being fair punishing her for her reaction if I'm engaging her in an activity that I know is most likely gonna to instigate the undesired response.
Not saying that's what's happening here just pointing out a different perspective.

I hope you find the answers your looking for so kisses can resume bite free

GraciesMom said:

I must have misunderstood your post you had stated that he was biting you due to what you thought was the kissing game as the trigger which was leading you to putting him in time out which you want to avoid. That all being said it would seem to me that avoiding that interaction would resolve that issue and end the time outs.

sometimes we like things and then something happens or changes and we no longer feel the same about that activity. I'd imagine it is no different for a parrot. Hissing and biting is a pretty clear sign that regardless of how he felt before he isn't digging it now

Personally if I find my bird dislikes an activity or interaction and it's possible to eliminate that stresser then that's what I do. I don't necessarily think I'm being fair punishing her for her reaction if I'm engaging her in an activity that I know is most likely gonna to instigate the undesired response.
Not saying that's what's happening here just pointing out a different perspective.

I hope you find the answers your looking for so kisses can resume bite free

Click to expand...

I'm more concerned as to whether or not this could possibly indicate poor health. If not, that's fine. But his reaction did change over the course of several hours. Hopefully tomorrow morning he'll either be in a better mood or at least not respond aggressively towards anything new...
I know that it can be hard to tell when birds are sick, sometimes. So something little like this worries me.

I do feel like I need to punish that kind of biting. He usually hisses when something bothers him, and that's enough for us to understand he needs to be away from whatever stressor.
In this case, he hissed and immediately went in to bite. And not even just a frustrated nip... it was a really strong bite that caused me to bleed.

Keep and eye on him for few days and make sure that he is eating normally, there are no changes in poop, not drinking more than usual or more sleepy etc as you are worried that this is an indicator of something changing in your bird's health. Any concerns please take to your AV.

It is very difficult to explain changes in our birds because we do not see what they do and something in your game doesn't sit right now so develop something new ie peek a boo?

I have read and reread your posts here regarding the change in your tiels behaviour and one thing is sticking out a mile at me anf that is your gut instinct that something might be wrong and okay your gut instinct might be wrong and hopefully you are and that all is well with your tiel and that he would just prefer not have you blow kisses at him anymore, but becsuse you have that nagginh feeling thst something might be wrong I would make an appointment at your Av to have him checked as its always better be safe than sorry. If all is well at the vet then I wonder if your blowing kisses might sound to him like a hiss and now that he is mature he is not accepting that you hiss at him anymore...hissing to a cockatiel is a sign of aggression so if the kiss sounds like a hiss to him then perhaps thsts why he is hissing back and biting. Hope alls well with him and that you get to the bottom of his recent sudden change of behaviour.