Help please - dealing with dominance?

Janf

New member
Dec 16, 2010
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Yellowknife, NT
Parrots
Kiwi, a Senegal parrot born around march 2009.
Hi all,

I posted a thread a while back about how our Senegal changes behaviour when my husband goes away. This pattern is still happening - when he leaves town, I'm her best friend - we snuggle, hang out lots, "talk" to each other etc. When he's in town (even if he's out at work), she's aggressive toward me and the kids - biting etc.

My husband and I believe it is a dominance thing. If she was fear-biting, she should still be afraid when he goes away. Since she can turn it on and off, it seems to be attitude.

I don't actually know if she's female. She's about 2 years old, we've had her for 1.5 years.

I know that I probably don't always respond well. When I'm well-rested and up to the challenge, I ignore her bites and do whatever I was trying to do (move her to a different location or whatever). When I'm tired or other things are bothering me, being bitten by her is sometimes just too discouraging on top of being painful because I really want a good relationship with her. Then I put her on her cage and walk away.

I would really appreciate any advice people can give me for the best way to assert dominance over her without hurting her or causing trust issues. Maybe there's a certain way I should approach her or hold her or feed her?

I read some posts that say to put a bird in its cage and ignore it for a while when it misbehaves. I'm going to try that as a start. We currently only confine her to her cage for sleeping at night, otherwise she has a fair bit of freedom; her wings are clipped, but not too short because we don't like her thudding to the ground when she jumps off the cage to find us.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jan
 

Pedro

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Dec 15, 2010
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Australia
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2 Budgies, 3 Cockatiels, 6 GCC'S, 2 Crimson Bellie Conures, 9 Sun Conures, 2 Major Mitchells, 12 Eclectus parrots of various ages, 2 BF Amazons, 2 Hahn's Macaw's, 1 Red Tail Black Too
Janf for one thing there is no dominance in the parrot world, that is something us humans have cooked up to explain a behavior.

I am not familar with Senegal Parrots but i am with the Hahan's Macaw. I have a pair.

I would say that your bird has chosen your hubby as his/her prefered person. The little guy feels most comfortable with him around. What a clever little parrot knowing when your husband is home. When he isn't around the next best person will do. I think he probably feels that your uptight. I try not to handle my birds when my anxiety levels are to high, you can bet i get a good bite if i don't have my wits about me.

http://www.parrots.org/pdfs/all_abo...tal_enrichment/The Struggle for Dominance.pdf

RP - Biting

A couple of links that nay interest you.
 

suebee

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Jan 13, 2011
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sounds like my nut!! lol and from how your bird behaves i'm gonna say yes your sene's a she :)

basically i am 2nd best to my hubs along with my son :(

remedy?? i just let her be, dont let her bite you! but more importantly, dont put yourself in the position to be bitten

its not dominance, she's just miffed her fav person isn't about, so while feeling miffed when you ask her to step up etc she's gonna be rude and bite

my nut is flighted, and her lastest annoy mum tactic is taking the curtains down :20:, i told her off to which she promptly flew onto my finger an bit my thumb!! :11: popped her into her cage an boy did she tantrum! head jerks, full body postures, hissing etc, she stayed in till she calmed down!
result i am gettin more curtain hooks, but she is not intent on bringing them down that much now? weather cos she is bored with it, or just hatching another cunning ploy!!!!;)

she rarely comes to me, she still shares my bath every now an again, if i take one mid day. and i do treasure that time, why mid day, cos hubs is not in!

my son is her fav bite toy, why?? cos he will not read her subtle *i don't want to body signals,
i keep saying when she turns (even if its just her head) she is politely saying NO, walking away is a firmer NO, she don't do the crouch an hiss with my son lol she just gives him the 2 warnings, and zap!! :mad:

as soon as she turns i say ok nut, an walk away, sometimes she will fly onto my shoulder as i go, or i will just go to her cage, she has a rope perch that i can reach on the outside, an just give her a quick head rub, and if she's up for a longer one, then she gets a longer one, mostly its on her terms :cool:

also i've been told 2/5 is their teenage yrs

*would really appreciate any advice people can give me for the best way to assert dominance over her without hurting her or causing trust issues. Maybe there's a certain way I should approach her or hold her or feed her?

do not force her to do anything!! as you go near her watch what her body does, if she turns stop going to her! best thing would be eat a plate of fruit with her :) let her come to you! take a bit off your plate for her! if she want's to take it back to her cage let her be, this way she knows she can always come to you, and your not the scary woman that keeps forcing things on her!

head rubs are nuts fav, and at times she will demand one!! where she juts top of her head out to me lol so if she lets you rub her head continue doing so, but just give head/neck rubs. i rub against the feathers and at times when she's really doing her eye thing, i'll scratch very gently with my nail the downy feathers, and stroke from the nostrils down her neck and back up, or rub feathers between thumb an fore finger but as always i watch her body signals, as sometimes she is luring me into these rubs so she can get a crafty nip in lol so i rub her head quickly and move away

also if she is definately a she, she might have been feeling a little in season, nut was on season when we got her, and she was a nigthmare! all beak!! but she has really calmed down now like the breeder said she would!
 
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Spiritbird

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I totally agree with what has been said. Two words that do not belong in the companion parrot world are dominance and punishment. That being said it is best to let our birds make their own decisions unless it is a safety issue. When your spouse is away I would simply let the bird come to me. If she does not then just go about life as normal and show the bird you can have fun without her. She may see that and want to join you.
 
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Janf

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Dec 16, 2010
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Yellowknife, NT
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Kiwi, a Senegal parrot born around march 2009.
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Thanks all!

I don't want to be forcing her to do anything and I generally try not to invade her space if she seems resistant. (When my husband is away, she won't stay out of my space - it's like having something attached to me with an elastic band, but it's a friendly something.)

I'm not comfortable just avoiding her when she is cranky. I think this will contribute to more of the "one-person bird" situation and, from what I've read, good socialization should reduce the severity of this.

I'm going to try doing some clicker training with her. It was always my intention to do so but I wasn't sure what to do with my dog when I'm training the bird because my dog was clicker trained. I also wasn't sure whether the approach is the same for birds and dogs (in terms of how you get started etc).

I did some online searches and found some good advice for approaching the clicker training. As for clicker training multiple pets in one home, other sites said to just separate them. Our house is quite an open layout and my rather old dog hates being isolated from people, so that's a challenge but I'll figure it out.

I did a session with Kiwi today to get things started. Jasmine (the dog) hung out with us so they both got pieces of sugar snap peas every time I clicked. I don't know why the dog considers peas a good thing, but whatever works. :)

We'll see how it goes...

Thanks again,

Jan
 

wildheart

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Mar 16, 2010
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I'm not comfortable just avoiding her when she is cranky. I think this will contribute to more of the "one-person bird" situation and, from what I've read, good socialization should reduce the severity of this.

You are thinking 100% correct! The more you avoid her the more aggressive she will get towards you and clearly you want to be a part of her life at all times.


Let your husband be away more often.:p

This is a subject that I've been reading up about a LOT! What does your husband do with her when he is home? Does he do the feeding, playing or something that she loves doing? The best advice that I was given was to swap roles with your hubby. He must only do the things she does not like and you do ONLY the fun stuff. This should easily be achieved in your home because both of you want to spend time with her. (I didnt catch her name.)


I read some posts that say to put a bird in its cage and ignore it for a while when it misbehaves
This ONLY works with some birds and in specific situations. I was given this wrong advice and we paid the price, it will not work in your situation.

She bites YOU and YOU cage her - this does not tell her to stop biting you, oh no, it tells her to dislike you even more! When the ignoring is done and anybody takes her out then she might want to take 'revenge' for separating her from your husband and any hand will be in danger of a bite.

If she bites YOU and your husband cage her then she also does not understand that it was because of the biting. In her mind she thinks that your husband is now choosing you above her and she really needs to get rid of you. When she comes out, she comes with a mission - get rid of everybody around hubby.

Clicker training can definitely work - everything fun must be associated with you.

Good luck and I am 100% sure for as long as what YOU give your side your problem can be solved. :D
 
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suebee

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Jan 13, 2011
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I don't want to be forcing her to do anything and I generally try not to invade her space if she seems resistant. (When my husband is away, she won't stay out of my space - it's like having something attached to me with an elastic band, but it's a friendly something.)

lmao awww same with the nut, so no worries there, she already knows she can come to you :D

don't worry about the one person bird situation, for now, as my nut is social with us all in her way, but with hubs being her fav person, it is hard to spend anytime with her when his home, an lately his not been out workin as much :mad: but lately she has kinda come to me, when his been about but upstairs, as his papering son's bedroom. so its a good start an also because i think she hasn't got raging hormones now, so is less intent on being with him

keep on with the clicker training and let us know how it goes, as i have thought of clicker training nut, but right now we are all kind in tune with each other.
but it would be good for when november comes about again, as thats when she started with her season, last yr and yr before
awww cute with dog joining in :) bet you'll be gettin your sene to roll over soon, as she'll get idea of commands from watching the dog :p

hee hee as i am typing this, nut has just landed on my shoulder!! briefly as hubs is up stairs for now :D stayed with me till i've given her a string bean from the fridge :32: maybe she has trained me??? as i give the majority treats/food/baths etc:09: also as i have not had my breakfast yet an she knows when i am home at this time, i have mine after my hubs and son lol
 

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
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11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
Sue is spot on with my observations of my Senegal. I would like to add here that from what I have read about Senegals, they are looked at as the Dr. Jykle & Mr. Hyde of the parrot world mainly due to their temperment & personality. My Sennie is no different. Tiki can be a sweet as sugar one minute and the next reach over and pinch you for no reason. She loves having her neck, face and beak rubbed and scratched and will almost demand it from me (ONLY). But even then, I will be rubbing his neck and BAM, he'll reach back and pinch my finger. I will ignore it and keep rubbing, but if it's a hard pinch, I scold him and stop rubbing.

Now Tiki tolerates my wife and will let her pick him up, but after a few minutes starts to pinch her fingers. No back rubbs coming from that camp.
 

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