Bad experience

My Kiwi has done really well being introduced to new people. She is only about 4 months old and is very trusting and doesn't bite me or new comers. So I was very upset one day when my friend and her 2 year old son came over and her son accidentally dropped the cage door on my poor Kiwi. It was only a second that I wasn't looking and her son did this. I was right there to rescue Kiwi. After me freaking out for a bit I realized Kiwi was fine. A couple days later my friend and her son came over to drop off my birthday present. I had Kiwi on my shoulder and she willing went over to my friend as usual, happy to see another person. Everything was fine until her 2 year old got close to her and Kiwi puffed all up and started biting my friend very hard. So I took Kiwi and told her NO (she knows what no means ) and she called down. So I handed Kiwi back to my friend and everything was fine. A little while later my hubby picks up my friends 2 year old to play/tickle him and they were close to Kiwi and my friend. Kiwi again puffed up and started biting my friend very hard. I know it was only two times but now I have a feeling my birds does not like that 2 year old because of that incident. (I don't blame her) but now I am afraid Kiwi will be like that with all small children. Does anyone have any experience with this happening or could it possibly just be a coincidence? ??

CLASSIC DISPLACEMENT BITING...

GET THAT KID AWAY FROM ME, HE HURT ME!!!

Anyone handling Kiwi in and around the kid, or if the kid even runs by or moves suddenly, is likely to get bit. And, he might even do it around EVERY little kid, so I would be less likely to trust him with strangers when there are little kids around.

A friend of mine and her 5 yr old son came by to look at Ducati last weekend. Ducati had been in one of his moods for a couple days before that. Everytime I went to grab him he'd bite, not hard at all though. But he'd fly to Cory's head and stay there for a little bit. Then Cory goes to try and get him to step up. I warned him that Ducati was biting and he'd probably bite, but he hasn't bitten me very hard. Just to be careful. Well Ducati bit the snot out of Cory's finger. No blood but you could tell it hurt. His poor little fingers were all red for a little bit. I think I'm going to chalk that one up to Ducati being in a bad mood for a couple of days. Unfortunately Cory is the only kid that comes around so I can't really judge that.

I would say it could just be that one incident. Is he ever around any other kids?

That 2 year old was the smallest kid she has been around. She has been around 8 and 10 year olds no problem. Kiwi was fine with him (the 2 year old) until that incident happened. Maybe when they come over I should put Kiwi away so she doesn't see him??? I dunno. I hope it's just with that kid and won't dislike all kids now.

kiwibird2014 said:

That 2 year old was the smallest kid she has been around. She has been around 8 and 10 year olds no problem. Kiwi was fine with him (the 2 year old) until that incident happened. Maybe when they come over I should put Kiwi away so she doesn't see him??? I dunno. I hope it's just with that kid and won't dislike all kids now.

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How is he with other kids right now, test that theory. See if there is training necessary. The way you break them of this is to take them to the park, where there are a million screaming brats running around all the time... after awhile it simply doesn't phase them anymore.

I did that as a matter of startle training and socializing with all my birds.