Introducing New People to your Conure?

Hello! I hope everyone and their wards are happy and well. As always, I come seeking advice. I may, in the near future, introduce a new human to Boomer's life. I am not talking about the odd visitor here and there so I want to make sure I do the right steps to ensure a smooth introduction.

Boomer is a possessive 2.5 year old sun conure. He tolerates my brothers, mom and female friend to where he would not bite them. He rarely sees these people yet he is accepting of them. On the contrast, he hates my ex with a passion. He would fly and attack him relentlessly, leaving bloody bite marks. It's odd considering the ex helped raised him for the first 6 months of his life. That's where my concern lies. Do you think whether a bird likes or dislikes a new human depends entirely on the bird's impression of them? Can the bird's opinion be swayed or is it set in stone? How did you introduce new people to your birds?

All that said, Boomer's welfare comes before my own. So he gets to have the final say hahaha!

Hm, I wonder... I've even had birds (when "I" am the owner) and they're not particularly crazy about me. Raven is an example. I mean he thinks I'm fine, but I'm not his favorite, and will definitely have less patience with me. "Why" Raven doesn't just think I'm the greatest, who knows. I know I'm not too weird or creepy because my Poicephalus parrots love me

I think it's just some people click with each other but not with others. Same is true with animals/humans. Good luck!

Depending on how bonded you and Boomer are he could also be picking up on your feelings about other people. For example if you really hate your ex that could be why Boomer does too. Or Boomer can just not like him.

I had a Quaker that I got as a freshly weaned baby and it loved me for a while, then got more and more attached to my dad until the bird was no longer mine, but my dad's. When I went to college the bird stayed with my dad. Eventually the bird hated me so much that if the bird was on my dad's shoulder and I walked past, the bird would rush at me and hiss. I never knew what I did to make that bird hate me so much. It didn't like anybody else in my family, just my dad. Does anyone think that birds prefer people of the opposite sex? I have a dove that I have had for years and she has always loved me, but when I got married and my husband spent more time with her it seems she now prefers him! She still likes me (usually), but if he's around it's him she goes to. If she's on eggs she's much more likely to get mad at me but not at him. She never got mad at me before she lived with him. Maybe I'm crazy, maybe I'm not, but I have a suspicion that birds bond to people of the opposite sex more easily than people of the same sex. If that is true, it would be hard to introduce a new man friend to a male bird who has bonded to you. I've always wondered about this...

I think it's a myth that birds bond with the opposite sex. I mean, afterall we're vastly different species!
My male Pionus really clicked with my husband, and clearly did not choose me as his favorite person. I've had female birds in the past who loved me. Many people here have same sex birds who love them

I don't think they have a preferance either way. Just some animals like some people better than others. Four years ago I got two cockatiels at once Halloween and Hallows Eve. Halloween was a female Hallows Eve was a male I was able to start bonding with Halloween within the first week. I never bonded with Hallows Eve and eventually decided to rehome him as after a year he still would try attacking my hands when I'd give them food and water. He never bonded with Halloween either. In that entire year not once did they preen each other or play with each other and they were caged together. It's really just like any other animal they are going to pick the people they like the most for whatever reason.

I think the first impression, good or bad, can be swayed. Even if he at first dislikes the newcomer he can be acclimated to at least tolerate, if not like him. He might like him right away....he might hate him right away, and learn to like him later......or (and be prepared for this) he may end up "falling in love" with the newcomer....so much that he switches loyalties, like he did with chris. But in any case, he can be properly socialized and learn to behave. Kumar DESPISED my partner for over 6 months. But he's mellowed now, and actually seems to like him, especially if I'm not around. Good luck

Hmmm...good question. I don't know the answer. Cisco favors me, however, he will fly and land on hubby (especially if he's eating). He also flies to my oldest son when he visits. BUT, my youngest son was here the other day and I told him that Cisco might fly to him because he does to my other son. He said he "doesn't like birds on him"...I said no big deal, if he lands on him I will get him and Cisco won't hurt him so....(I really have to stop saying that..lol). Well, of course Cisco flew to him...BIT his ear making it bleed...and flew back to me. I think he knew my son doesn't like birds..lol.

Birds are like people...they like who they like.

Iris likes me the best. Phlox is in love with my daughter and wants to play Legos with her. Archer loves everyone who will touch him, same with Spirit. Mischka puts up with me, but loves Spirit. Finn knows she's a bird and is not interested in people AT ALL.

I wonder if Boomer could sense the growing tension between you and your ex and that's why he started attacking him. Animals are generally better at sensing that stuff than we are. As far as the bonding with the opposite gender I guess I could kind of see both sides to that. Just like some human girls don't like other girls and get along better with guys or vice versa. We can't expect them to like every human they come into contact with. H!@# we don't even like every human we come into contact with. Ducati is definitely more bonded to me than my husband, but I'm around him more and do more with him. I can't do anything without Ducati on my head. If I do then I get an earful the whole time. His favorite is chewing me out when I get home from work. As soon as he hears that key go in the lock he starts yelling at me. I would say if you're going to start introducing a "special someone" to Boomer start out like they're a friend just coming over to hang out and see what that's like. Don't act too nervous about it or Boomer might pick up on that and act in a way you don't want him to. Look at it as introducing them to your kids if you were a single mother. How would you handle that? I imagine it would kind of be the same with a bird since are like little kids.