Mean To Kids

FreedomAndForgiven

New member
May 9, 2013
197
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Lucy (B&G Macaw), Phoenix (Camilla Macaw), Gizmo (Goffin Cockatoo),
Rita (Military Macaw),
Mango (Goffin Cockatoo),
I don't know if this is an issue anyone else has had, but one I need help with. Lucy our B&G is a sweet heart. When we first saw her she would snuggle up on anyone. Even my 8 year old, and 13 year old son. Love on anyone even after we brought her home. Now that she has gotten comfortable we have an issue. She has become very nippy to kids since she got adjusted to our house. Even our 13 year old son, and it's not just our kids. It's their friends also. This is just an out of the blue thing also. One day she was fine the next she wasn't. Our breeder said one thing is to have our sons interact with her some while wearing heavy gloves so if she does bite it doesn't hurt them, and that she is trying to take control. We are also having our breeder make a custom stand that is shorter so she has to look up at our sons when she is out (which she is most of the time). Any ideas why she would all of a sudden become so testy like that, and additional ideas to help nip this in the bud before it becomes habit.
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
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2
43
Parrots
Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
It could be that Lucy doesn't like the energy of your kids? Some birds *love* kids, others could care less and yet others, well, kids may frighten them with their energy and quick movements!

I think it would be a good idea for your kids to give Lucy treats. Maybe instead of giving them by hand, you could have a designated 'treat cup' (s) in her cage or on a stand that the kids can drop treats in! Or, you could look into using a measuring cup/spoon or other object that they could hold in their hands to give Lucy treats out of while kind of keeping their fingers safe?


Can't say I've had that issue, mainly because I don't have kids! I do have a nephew (28 months old), but my birds don't like him! They tend to go on alert when he's around, and sometimes he startles them with the way he moves. Charlie mostly ignores him, but isn't a fan either (then again, he doesn't trust anyone who hasn't taken the time to gain his trust - except my sister, since she looks like me! But he doesn't fully trust her, either, since she's not quite me!) and tends to try and avoid him if he gets too close.

If anything, I've had the opposite! I've had birds since I was 12 years old, and with the exception of Casey, my mother couldn't handle any of the birds! It didn't really help that she didn't *try* interacting with most of them anyway except on rare occasions... and wonders why they don't take to her more... (just because they see you every day doesn't mean they are going to like you if you don't try interacting with them! :rolleyes: )
 
OP
FreedomAndForgiven

FreedomAndForgiven

New member
May 9, 2013
197
Media
2
0
Parrots
Lucy (B&G Macaw), Phoenix (Camilla Macaw), Gizmo (Goffin Cockatoo),
Rita (Military Macaw),
Mango (Goffin Cockatoo),
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That's the odd thing she has always been fine with them. AT the store when we brought her home, and she was in her temp. cage, when she got her forever cage for the first couple weeks. Then she had any issue with kids, and it's not a fast bite. She does it real slow. Leans forward real slow, and opens her beak. The breeder was shocked, and couldn't believe it. He thinks it's cause she is comfortable she now she is going to try and take over the boys. I was also reading somewhere that they will try and take dominance over a child or new person if they're always higher then them on their perches. She used to climb all over my sons, and play with kids. Then it was literally the next day she decided she didn't want kids around her so I am not sure what happened.
 

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