Green Cheek Aggression issues

Hello!
I have a Green Cheek Conure, Ivan with a terrible aggression problem. He's 7 years old, and I have had him since he was 3 months old. He's always been gregarious and territorial, but the trouble really started when I got married. Ivan as it turns out, HATES my husband. I'm talking feather-flying, screaming rages when my hubby entered the room.
That was 3 years ago, but within the last few months his behavior has gotten out of control. I never keep my birds locked up, so he has complete freedom of the house. He's taken the couch as 'his' territory, and will bite my husbands feet, my feet, chase the rabbit, and screech bloody murder.
Recently, he's turned his rage to one of our parakeets and bit her toenail clean off! I don't want to keep him locked up all day, since we both work, but I'm at a total loss right now. I feel like a terrible bird mom. What can I do? How do I curb his aggression?
Any advice is SO appreciated.

Hello savannah

I’m so sorry you’re experiencing such trouble. I know how heartbreaking stressful it is for you.

Let’s start with this: what have you tried so far to attempt to fix this?

Good question. We've tried ignoring his bad behavior and leaving the room when he bites us. That lasted for a couple of weeks and he seemed to improve a bit, but I will admit we weren't terribly consistent. I bought him new perches and toys, and sometimes we'd put him in our bedroom with just my husband in an effort for them to bond. Unfortunately, he gets panicked when he's not in 'his' territory and wanted nothing to do with my husband. I think he gets a lot of pleasure out of biting us, like a game.
Now that he's started going after our parakeet, I don't know if I should separate them or keep them together?

Definitely need to take steps to keep your budgie out of (further!) harm’s way. As my bird vet is fond of saying, budgies are like that pesky little brother who annoys you and doesn’t know when to quit, and this can often get them into trouble. My lorikeet Lilly has already landed my budgie Val at the vet and Lilly is half Val’s size! A green cheek that has been pestered enough may lash out at a much smaller bird with fatal consequences.

Lamanuka is absolutely right, separate the animals.

Ignoring the behavior is a start. But simply trying to teach him what NOT to do is insufficient. You have to teach it what TO do. And it’s quite possible this is being compounded by hormones. Tis the season, but will pass.

If you’re husband is gone or otherwise nowhere in sight, how does you bird behave with you?

Good idea. I'll put her in a separate cage.
With just me he'll be playful, want attention and want to be preened. He loves when I make him blanket forts to play under.
Occasionally he'll run under the couch and nip at my feet or hands but nowhere near as hard as my husband's.

Sounds like typical one person bird syndrome. Extremely common in conures.

It takes training but it can be undone, or at least make it so he won’t bite, though may still prefer you.

Regarding ignoring, you had it backwards: if he bites, HE gets put away in isolation somewhere other than his cage, not you. What you’ve done: the couch is his territory, he bites and the object of his objection disappears. YAY!!

I’m having a Charmed moment -

let the object of objection
become but a dream
as I cause the seen
to be unseen

What I want you to do is go to YouTube and watch videos by BirdTricks of their masterclasses and one day miracles. We can try to explain what to do, but it’s better for you to see it, and their videos show it in spades.

It comes down to this: start clicker training, then target training your bird. Training isn’t about tricks, it’s about building common language you both speak: bird does x, bird gets a treat. You can use targeting to get the bird to move closer to objects he’s fearful of, such as your husbands hand. You start doing it,

Husband also starts feeding the bird and giving the bird treats exclusively. He who controls food controls the bird. It’s a START, not a solution.

As you go through this, WHATEVER YOU DO, REMEMBER IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TEACHING THE BIRD THAT CALM BEHAVIOR IS REWARDED, AND YOUR HUSBAND REPRESENTS NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS HAPPENING.

Also remember to read your birds body language, which often is where people go wrong. For example, your husband comes around trying to get the bird to step up. Bird is giving clear “BACK OFF” signals, but warning signals, and your husband ignores and keeps trying to get bird to step up. He gets bit because he didn’t read the birds language.

Same vein: you as the favored person who can handle without fear, shouldn’t force interactions. If the bird won’t step up for you, read it’s language. it’s clearly saying “I don’t want to” for whatever reason. Don’t peel toes off the perch. Get a treat and convince the bird to step up for a treat, because people don’t realize STEP UP IS A TRICK.

Go watch the videos, and have your husband watch them with you. What I’ve given you is what you should keep in mind going through the training. The videos demonstrate the methods you’ll use, relying heavily on target training.

It may also pay you to not play with him in those blanket forts any more. It sounds to me like your bird has selected you not merely as his preferred person, but also as his “mate” which will be further exacerbated by playing with him in those dark secluded places that he perceives as a nesting site. Also if he has anything resembling those “happy hut” snuggle tent type things that needs to go for the same reason. You should also look into his diet and try to remove any very high energy foods like sunflower seeds which will further fuel this kind of high-octane aggression.

I have a similar issue with my lorikeet, last breeding season (which for her is 6 months long!) where she sees me as her “significant other” and likes to lay eggs for me - insert roll of eyes here!

Welcome to the forum. We have lots of people dealing with bites, and lots of ways people find success in dealing with theses issues. You've gotten great advice, and I will try and add my take to, for trying to help.

First take a deep breath, this took awhile to get to this point, and it's going to take some time to fix.

The first thing I would suggest, is doing observations. Objective observations, were you try to forget what you think is going on, and try to observe with new eyes. You might be surprised at what you observe. I did this when I had some agression going on in my flock, and I was suprised that my observation revealed different issue than I thought.

Second I think this conure had no home base. So there is insecurities, and trying to control the whole home environment. I would suggest going to Amazon and buying one of those large box style cages they have for around 100 bucks or so. Make sure it high off the floor, I got one by mistake that is much lower to floor than my other ones and the birds hate it. Set it up with a lot of short perches, and only one that goes the whole length of the cage. Set up so he can bounce from perch to perch around the cage. Make one high corner, that is shielded by toys, so he can retreat there out of sight. Then also attach many perches on the top of the cage, and if you like , use the vertical space above the cage , by useing a ceiling hook, and fishing line to hang a bungie or rope hoop, so it hanged just a couple of inches higher then the rope perche's you have on top of the cage. This is now his territory. Start keeping him caged during the day when you are away, and at night. If he is cage agressive, that's ok, it's his cage, just let him out before you mess with stuff. Still have him out when you are home. Do not let the budgie be free while he is caged, or the budgie will land in the cage and be injured. You can get clear arclic sheets at home Depot for around 20 bucks to out on top of the cage, to help protect the Budgie feet if he land in cage while the GCC is inside..

I think doing this will give your GCC a place to call his own, and make the rest of the house neutral.

I would also set up 3 areas in the house ( living room) that at his places to hang out. Pet supermarket and probably online or other stores sell tall metal stands that you can attach big rope hoops to. They are good because you can move them to places you want. One again you can use ceiling hook and fishing line to hang bungie Orr hoops in different locations. Try to hang at eye level. I have two over my breakfast bar, with cheap dollar store trays underneath. This gives your GCC places to fly to, and feel secure. Zip tie some treat sticks, millit and toys that are easy to shred to them. All my birds are flighted, and use these exclusively, instead if random places around the house or furniture. And will help with security for your GCC, places to feel safe.

Start over with your bird, as though it's the first day you brought him home. Spend time bonding to him. Hand feed treats everytime to you go to say hi. Take him on a tour of the places you set up for him. Praise him for useing those places. Reintroduce him to everyone in the house, abdvitget pets. Create morning rituals, everyone's says good morning to the bird when they get up. Everyone says goodbye when they leave the house, and everyone says hello when they return to the house. It allows the bird to feel part of the flock, and respected. It helps provide security on what to expect, things feel more controlled to the bird.

Set aside a time if the day , you think you can stuck to , that is just you and your bird. Try for a half-hour at least. Hopefully a place that is out of sight of your husband and other pets. Or maybe you get up a half hour early and it's just you and your bird. My GCC chose 830 pm as her mommy and me time. We snuggle, and she chats about her day, sometimes at first she stops around and sounds like she complaining about her life, then she is ready to cuddle. If she doesn't get this time she is one angry and mean bird!

Putva treat dish on top of the cage, and one inside. Your husband , and you, always place a " safflower seed" or treat in the dish when you come and say hi. Your husband should do this many times a day. Always use the same phrases like hello " name" . For sure always do this when you come home, and as you leave. Hopefully , go slow, your husband can work up to giving them by hand.

See if you and your husband and you can share meals with the bird. It's a great flock activity, and bonding.

I'm going to look for some links I have. That I think will be helpful. You can do this! I have had some bad times with my GCC and we have worked passed them.

This first link cover behaviors, statets at all the normal stuff , then talks about bites and scream and other problems. You probably have more than one thing leading to bites at this point.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/

This is a link on stress in the parrot, and I do think your GCC is stressed and there is stress in the household. Regardless I think it's a great article for everyone and I post it often. I really love this article, love the ideas for reducing stress, like rituals, soothing pattering to music, and more. I like the shaping behavior to, just not a fan of clicker training, I say good birdie as the bridge, then give treat.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

This one is also good.
https://petcentral.chewy.com/think-your-pet-bird-hates-you/

O hope you find all our suggestions helpful. That you share your journey, what works, your UPS and downs. We are a great support system here. And as birds are so good at reading us, you want to stay zen with your bird, then come here to gripe! Try and take any hurt feelings about bites, and let them go. This is a communication problem with your bird. And most of us take the approach that bites are our fault, and we need to figure out what we are doing wrong. Parrots always have a reason they are biting, or several reasons. Bribes, apologies, paying attention to body language, providing security, and predictability goes a long way to fixing.

There is so much info here in your thread and with the links we have shared. It might be good to print everything out and put in a notebook. So you don't miss anything, and can go through the info easier.

Also as an aside. Names have power, and Ivan the (terrible).... I know you don't call him the last part.... But maybe start calling him Van, or Steven, or slightly change his name as a new beginning....

Friends, I cannot thank you enough for your advice.
This has been the most helpful and welcoming community I've ever turned to. We're trying to get pregnant, and I have been in tears trying to figure out how to reconcile Ivan's behavior before he attempts to bite our baby. My husband has been at his wit's end, but I finally feel like we have a reasonable solution!
Thank you so much. <3
Here's to day 1!