Preening

I have read that when a bird starts preening you that it can be a sign that they view you as a mate, and Bob has recently started preening me. I have also read that birds can become agressive twords those they don't view as their mates. Currently my roommate is out of town, but he will be returning soon, and I would like Bob to be friendly with people in general (currently he is). Do I need to worry about this?

Our female cockatiel is totally in love with my husband, she likes me enough to tollerate me and is never mean to me, our other cockatiel treats us both the same and our little conure is great with both of us but is definitely showing a little more favoritism toward me.

My husband leaves town on business sometimes a couple times a month, and sometimes for a week at a time. His Mother passed away and lived in Alaska, he was gone for 3 weeks during that ordeal.

Meanwhile, I was home and every day I spend a lot of time with our birds. They preen me and sit on my shoulder and I feed them treats. I clean their cages, feed them and keep their water clean.

Birds are very smart and when he comes home after spell away, they treat him no different then if he'd never have left. If Chiquita had eye lashes she'd be fluttering them for him just hearing is voice when he greets us walking in the door.

Yes, some birds will become agressive towards people they aren't particularly attached or bonded to, I had a male cockatiel who loved me to pieces, I could do anything with him, but he would fly and attack my kids, completely unprovoked. They could be just walking into the kitchen to get something to eat and he'd fly at them with the intent to hurt them.

I had to keep spray bottles filled with water and on the stream mode so that if Chaco went after them, they could firmly tell him NO and spray him with the water.

I think if your roommate had any sort of relationship with your Bob before leaving things will probably be okay, as Bob should remember him.

The other thing I do, and I'm not sure if this helps or not, but when my husband is away, I make sure to have at least 1 of my kids and or their friends handle each bird at least a few times while my husband is gone, that way I'm not the ONLY one handling them. i try to keep our birds well socialized to many different people.

Maybe if you have a friend or neighbor willing to come visit you and is not afraid of birds, you might want to have them about a time or two while your room mate is out of town, that way your Bob will stay accepting of other people around you.

Oh and also, when my husband is home, he'll often make it a point to get our birds out while I'm cooking dinner or out with the horses so he gets some one on one time with them without me around. I think that really helps too.

Good Luck, Bob sounds like a wonderful tiel.

Toni