Attack Bird

We recently adopted a 16 year old Senegal who had been with the same family from just months old. He was very friendly and talkative with them. He never really had a problem with the 4 members of his old family and so we were hopeful that the transition would be smooth.

At first the bird really took to my husband, and would yell at me if i went anywhere near him. He didn't seem to mind anyone else. He wont talk or whistle like he used to, but he was ok. We him into my daughter's room since she was to be his primary caregiver. He will fly over and land on her head, he still won't let her handle him, but is not aggressive with her and we know it will take time.

All of the sudden he has become very aggressive with me though. If he is out of his cage he flies over and attacks me. He bites me so hard that he draws blood. He will land on my head and try to attack my face and I am scarred up from him attacking my arms and hands. He bites so hard that it takes someone else to get him off of me. We are at a loss. I have tried not interacting with him at all, I have also tried giving him extra treats, etc. Nothing seems to work. If he even sees me he lunges at the bars of his cage and paces back and forth.

We are at a loss. I hate to keep him in his cage all the time, but he is so aggressive! He bit my face and neck the other day. Does anyone have any advice for us? My husband is ready to get rid of him, my daughter would be heartbroken.

It is going to be a slow retrain! Getting rid of him should not have to be an option!
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

Jonelly... I'm glad you're here...
This place will stick with you through thick and thin.
Lots of smart advice and sincere empathy.

Jonelly,

I'm sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with your Senegal. They can be very intense little birds. I have one that is out of a rescue situation. Between his original home and my adoption of him, he briefly stayed with two families and he lost both homes with behavior similar to what you described. Even though he has bonded pretty well with me I have been attacked with him latching on and I had to pry him off my finger more than once. He is a real Jeckell & Hyde bird. Currently he is perched on my chest contentedly grinding his beak being a sweet little thing.

One of the common theories about birds attacking one person but loving another is that they bond with the one and consider that person a "mate". The significant other (you) gets attacked because the bird regards you as a threat to their place with their chosen "mate". With a lot of birds, it is a little easier to work through the situation because their bites are not as bad. But Senegals just bite so dang fierce and hard. Difficult to be patient when you are bleeding.

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of good advice to give since I'm living alone and don't have to deal with my Sidney getting jealous of anyone other than my two Blue Crown Conures.

I will ask if you are willing to put the effort into retraining this bird. Flboy's link above contains a lot of good ideas and information. This problem can be solved with a good result. But it will take a real commitment and time to work through this.

Wish you all the best with this. Keep us updated.

Some people on the forum believe that it is NEVER the birds fault...
I am in general against clipping the wings but I would say it's something to think about. Feathers will grow back, you would have a hard time re-growing an eye, your safety should come first.
texsize

First of all, please don't rehome the Senegal yet! This is why you're having the problem that you are, he lost his home of 16 years (since being a baby), and then because this upset him 2 other homes got rid of him immediately without giving him time and training. Think about being 16 and suddenly your family is gone. The only people you know and love, and have loved since you can remember, are just gone! All of a sudden you are in a different house with strangers...how would you act? Then it happens again, new house and strangers...and now again... he's a traumatized little bird that is lost in the "bird foster system", just like a child. He needs someone to commit to him and to say "okay, I know you've been hurt and are confused, but I love you and I'm going to stick it out with you". There's a hump that no one has gotten over yet with him...I hope you're the person.

My best advice was already stated, and even though I'm typically against doing it, there are times it's necessary, and this is it. YOU NEED TO CLIP HIS WINGS!!! LIKE IMMEDIATELY! This does a few things, first off he can't attack you or anyone else, which is going to make you more relaxed around him, which will make him more relaxed. Second, it makes him need your help. I always clip a knew bird's wings when I get them, whether a baby or an adult (as long as the baby has fledged fully). Not only is it easier to train them because you're not chasing them everywhere (they know that basically they're stuck listening to you), but it makes them rely upon their people for help to move around. If he's on the floor and wants to be on his cage, and you're the only person there with him, he's going to resolve himself to come to you for help. If you first try to help him and he bites you, you say "oh no, you will not get my help if you bite", and you put him back on the floor...you apply this technique to all situations while he's clipped, and he will eventually realize that you aren't competition, you're one that he can trust...it has worked for me with every bird, young or old, that I've had any bite problems or trust problems with. If he can fly away from you or fly and attack you any time he wants to then he will, he has the upper hand right now.

Take him to either an avian vet or a bird shop/groomer and have them towel him and clip his wings (and toenails if needed while he's there), then you're not the bad guy, and as soon as you get home let him out onto the floor so he can see what his new situation is. They realize they can't fly very quickly, and you'll most likely see some of his aggression disappear quickly.

If you rehome him again, he will just go to home #4, #3 since losing his original home of 16 years, in the span of months. He will just continue to be bounced around until either someone commits and toughs it out, or more likely he ends up either in a rescue forever or as a breeder locked in a little cage for the rest of his life making money for someone. Please don't do that to him, it's not his fault in this particular situation.

"Dance Like Nobody's Watching"