Turtle's sudden aversion to the husband

Hi all! I would be delighted if anyone might be able to shed some light on a sudden behavioural change in my not-yet-1-year-old short billed Corella, Turtle, and perhaps give me some ideas on his rehabilitation. Every story has a bit of history, so here is Turtle's:

We bought Turtle Christmas eve last year from a trusted breeder of birds, through my local pet store. He was 12 weeks at that stage, and calculating from the date of purchase, husband and I guessed his hatching was sometime in October, making him currently about 9 months old.

Turtle was hand reared and so completely comfortable with being handled. He was fearless and walked up on anyone who happened to be nearby. He was also described as incredibly affectionate, which proved to be more than true, burrowing his head into your neck, down your top, up your sleeve, resting on your arm, and nuzzling like there's no tomorrow. He has started enunciating his name and our greetings to him, tapping on the floor with his beak, bobbing up and down, doing that funny little jump. He exhibited no preference between us and would happily jump between our shoulders, and definitely did not mind being passed from one to the other.

Saturday just been started like any other weekend - husband let all the birds out (we also have 2 cockatiels), made his breakfast (porridge this time), shared his breakfast with the birds, then went outside to soak up some sun (it's winter time here, and whatever sun we can get, we get!) As Turtle has his wings clipped, he took him outside too and the two of them sat happily basking.

Come the late afternoon and into evening, however, it became apparent Turtle was shying away from the husband. He backed away whenever he was approached, even trying to take flight in order to not be near him, and swapping shoulders on me when I sat next to the husband so as not to be in his eye line. When Turtle is in his cage and the husband crouches down to talk with him, Turtle backs himself into a corner as far away as he can, climbing down to the cage floor sometimes. He won't respond to the husband's calls, or to his hand. Me, on the flip side, is business as usual - he dos not hesitate in climbing on me if I offer my hand, he bends his head for scratched, he lets me touch every part of him - belly, feet, back, head. His behaviour to me has not changed in any way except for perhaps becoming a little clingy.

Now, both of us realise that birds can take offence to small things, but the both of us absolutely cannot figure out what the husband has done that would result in this reaction from Turtle - he positively cowers. I have done far more physical things in disciplining him in the past, with absolutely no repercussions. While we accept that there is something Turtle has taken offence to, what I want to try and achieve is the restoration of Turtle's relationship with the husband. Does anyone have any pointers? Is it a case of slow persistence? Does it sound like we will have to build the relationship from scratch or is Turtle going to miraculously remember the husband is a friend again? Is it hormones? Is this a little Corella being stroppy and showing preference for gender?

What baffles us is how quickly his behaviour changed - absolutely normal in the morning and then this complete aversion in the afternoon. I cannot fathom what happened, but it also makes me incredibly sad because between the both of us, husband is the more animal minded. Animals come to him like he's covered in their favourite food - I spent 2 weeks sitting by the cage talking to our first cockatiel to get him used to my voice and presence but he would still hiss at any movement of my hands; along comes the husband to change his seed one day, however, and the little blighter happily jumps on him and climbs onto his shoulder, completely ignoring my efforts! What I'm trying to say is: the husband is brilliant with animals, a real natural handler. To see Turtle like this makes me quite distressed!

So friends, do you think their friendship can be restored? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Cindy

Yes, absolutely. Slowly, and hubby will have to be persistent.
My inlaws adopted an older sulfur crested cockatoo. Initially, him and I hit it off. He'd do near anything for me, and called out at me over the fence. (We're neighbours).
I left one day, business as usual.
The next, he hated me. He was out to get me. He lunged at me whenever I got close, and if he was on the floor he'd race to the exit to block me from leaving. He'd even call me over to his cage by saying 'hello darling' ever so sweetly, just to have a go.
I did get a little anxious, but would like to think he didn't see it. I was bird sitting for the next few days or so, so I had to suck it up. I wore gumboots and thick long sleeves. We barely spoke, but I did his food, water, and cage. After four or so days, he was over it and I was his friend again.
To this day I have no idea what I did wrong.
But I'm forgiven.
So quiet, slow persistence worked for our situation. But different kind of too, and it was aggression over avoidance.
Best of luck!

itchyfeet, thank you so much for your thoughts. Even though I imagine every bird owner has experienced sudden behaviour changes in their own charges, it is still a relief to actually hear about them and put things into perspective. These feather babies are literally our children right now, so to be confronted with such behaviour is such a kick in the gut.

Right, persistence it shall be!

I hear ya! Again, different situation, but yeah.

I wonder if he's chosen you as his mate? Just chucking it out there / hypothesising - do you stroke him the whole way down his back? I *think* (cockatoo's aren't my speciality) that's considered sexual behaviour - and given his age maybe it's a hormonal response to that?

Just like kids really, guessing the triggers for behaviours!

Admittedly I have been stroking him down the back since we first got him, mainly to make sure he maintains being ok with being handled everywhere. And I always forget how quickly birds become sexually active; I was faux upset when our two cockatiels started because it obviously meant they had reached maturity. I am hoping Turtle is just hormones; the husband certainly thinks it could be. Oh, and thank you for your private message; I haven't posted enough to be able to message you back, but I send my thanks here instead!

No worries.
If hubby's on board, it'll work out