Finally realized why she was being nippy!!!

[Sterling1113]

So I briefly mentioned something about my White Eared Conure being nippy toward my boyfriend, Brad, which is totally unlike her.. She's lived with both of us for almost a year now and has been nothing but sweet since I got her at the age of 3 months.

At first I thought "Oh no, maybe she's becoming bonded to me..?" Since I recently lost my job and have been spending all day every day with her. That's the only "big" change that has gone on. And I definitely did not want her to become aggressive to Brad over me. They're best friends!!!

And yesterday we sat down and put our brains together... and it clicked!
Here in Texas we get warmer weather(60s-80s) by the end of February most of the time, and it's been really warm lately. For the past several months, Brad and I have both been wearing beanies. (His is grey, mine is purple/black.)

I still wear mine all day, just cause it keeps my hair out of my face, and if she has an accident on my head.. I can wash the hat! However HE has NOT been wearing his hat!

So last night after returning home from dinner and trying to find out why she's changed her mood, he went to the bathroom and put on his hat(which he hadn't done in about a week...) And not only did she step up and not nip AT ALL, she was so excited!! She acted like it was the first time she'd seen him since he took his hat off!

With how she was acting I swear she was saying "Thank GOD you're back!! There's been this strange man here, and he tried to hug momma, but it's okay.. I bit him real good!!"
So now we know... and balance has been restored.
We just laugh about it now, and we're pretty sure that's the only reason she bites strangers, because mom and dad wear these weird things on their heads and no one else does... Hah!

 

[Dinosrawr]

That's hilarious!

 

[Agapornis]

That's great that you figured out what was going on in Kiwi's little mind. Birds are complicated, but that's one of the reasons we love them so much! So do you have extra beanies for other people to wear when they come over, lol?

 

[Terry57]

That is too funny! Uh oh, now I am dreading dying my hair the next time;(

 

[kq_fan]

Oh my gosh! That is too funny! What a silly bird! That is so cute! Maybe you should hand out beanie's to your guests so that she doesn't bite them! Lol

 

[Sterling1113]

That's great that you figured out what was going on in Kiwi's little mind. Birds are complicated, but that's one of the reasons we love them so much! So do you have extra beanies for other people to wear when they come over, lol?

Ahaha that's actually one of the things we brought up.. We should just hang a beanie by the door and let people know if they plan on touching the birds, they've gotta wear it... They might think we're crazy, but hey, they're the ones that's gonna get bit.. not us hat-wearing folk! Hehe.

Loki, the Pineapple GCC is fine whether or not we're wearing a hat.. but he's fine with anyone holding him, so he's much less picky on his humans. Haha

 

[Sterling1113]

That is too funny! Uh oh, now I am dreading dying my hair the next time;(

I used to dye my hair pretty frequently, and she never seemed to mind..
I mean sure most of it is covered by a hat usually, but things like dying my hair, or my boyfriend changing his facial hair has never seemed to spike any mood changes with her.
But maybe that's just her.. I don't want to tell you it will be fine cause I don't know your bird hah

 

[MonicaMc]

Sterling, I'd like to congratulate you on figuring out why Kiwi was being extra nippy rather than trying to stop the behavior! Far too many people don't focus on the cause of the behavior but instead focus on trying to stop the behavior once it has already occurred. By figuring out the cause to Kiwi's behavior, you've "solved" it!