U2 I've had just a few weeks was fine, til I put my hair down... now attacks!

The title pretty much says all, I mostly wear my hair in a messy bun on top of my head in the summer, so that is how Lola knows me. Well, a week or so ago now I showered and brushed out my hair in front of her, styled it down for a night out, and she absolutely freaked out! At first I didn't know what was going on, there were a few different reasons she could have been acting that way. Since then she has been full on hormonal, my husband is her mate, and she is Jekyll/Hyde with me when he is around. Sometimes she is good with me during the day when he is at work, but once he comes home she wants me out of her site- but doesn't full on attack, only bites if I push her. However, I have worn my hair up since then so as to avoid any possible issue. Last night I put my hair down to go out, and again- total freak out, literally chased me out of the house trying to bite me- after having had a wonderful non-hormonal day with her actually.

Today, I put my hair up to confirm that was def what the issue was- she was nicER at least, although with my husband home she is not as nice with me period since the first hair down incident. I pulled it back down again- she wanted out of her cage and was acting nice, I let her out but wouldn't allow her on my arm, she climbed up to her playstand. As I turned around to walk away, she launched herself at my head. My husband was able to get her off before a bite, but she was *pissed*.

What is going on here?? It's like me having my hair down is a threat to her in some way. The first thing that comes to mind is that someone with dark thick hair abused her or something, but I know things are more instinctual with them then that. Is this some thing about me being 'bigger' with my thick curls out? Is there any way to work with this? She is NEVER this aggressive, it's really terrible to deal with. Obviously I can't just never wear my hair down again......And it was having my hair down the first time that threw her into hormonal breeding season behavior- does that just happen like that??

It may be a reminder yes or she doesn't like long hair period....they're weird like that....

Any idea what I can do Mikey?

I have not personally experienced this but I know for sure it is an issue!! I have real long hair as well. In the summer I pull it up into a bun quick when around the house, then put it down and curl it when needing to leave the house or go to church. The only issue my fids have is getting a little tangled in my hair. They have never cared either way. But they do not like some changes! My MM2 especially, I watch carefully what I'm doing and wearing to make sure there are no new big changes from the norm. I always say I am so good with birds because they have autism tendencies! Just like Hannah. Routine is SO important!! I am always careful with her, so it falls over to the fids. Toos can become upset from smells, such as shampoo changes. I am hoping someone that has dealt with this first hand will chime in and tell you what to do. If this came up with one of my toos, what I would do, and what I do with Hannah, is introduce the change, (your hair down) in small increments of time. so start out 2x a day for 5mins having your hair down while talking to u2 while in the cage, then increase the time slowly, then the number of times per day.i will keep thinking regarding this also. I am so sorry your having to deal with this, but you will help her over come this!

Thanks Marcy That's great advice, I will definitely try it!

NeverBroken said:

Thanks Marcy That's great advice, I will definitely try it!

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You surely are welcome! Keep me updated! I will keep thinking!

NeverBroken said:

Any idea what I can do Mikey?

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Keep your hair tied up whenever your around her.

Not possible Mikey, she is in the living room and part of our lives at all times when she is awake. I cant go the next 50+ years without wearing my hair down....

It's a parrot thing. They don't like change. When I went from blonde to brunette, my GCC would bite and draw blood. It took several days before she recognized that it was me. I would imagine that any Too would be a million times worse.

I agree with Mikey. Keep your hair up around Lola.

Keeping my hair up around her for the rest of our lives is impossible. Either I have to literally never wear my hair down, EVER- or we need to put her cage in a back room where she can't interact with the family. Obviously both these options are unacceptable :/

There isn't much you can do if she decided she doesn't like the long hair except you can try to train her it's ok with long hair. Because of such aggression is the reason why I had to let Java go. He was dangerous to everyone in the household including me at times if I tell him not to do something, he gets angry. I still loved him dearly though cause I know how sweet he can be. Does yours respond to clicker training at all? Java doesn't like the clicker so that method don't work on him....

Mikey, I haven't found anything that can motivate her enough and consistently for training A peanut will work occasionally, but not more then a few times in a row. When she is being bad, punishment (being put in her cage, or back up on playstand if she went on the floor) do not work either. The only way to get her to stop screaming is to cover her cage. She is screaming incessantly now as I type this.

Are you in contact with the new family Java has? Is he doing better there?

As I said, I have long hair. I never leave my home w/out doing it. It is impossible to keep your hair up all the time. It causes headaches when up too long. I would never go out in public with my hair in a sloppy bun, I must put it down to go out. There wouldn't be reason to have long hair if it had to always be up. And cutting ur hair would be a change also for a too. To keep her where u can all be with her, in the open where she needs to be, is too hard to hide from her after doing your hair! I've been able to slowly introduce changes to my parrots & they have adapted well. You have to try! It truly is impossible to always have your hair up.

~Marcy
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They have him in a flight aviary with other Cockatoos outside. I didn't want to give him up but for the best of everyone I made the hard decision to rehome him. And your right about training things work for a time or two then they move on and it won't work again. She will calm down again but you just got over the honeymoon stage, it'll take her time to calm down a bit to quiet down. But it took me awhile to quiet down Java. He was kept in the bird room strictly. They know what the proper behavior is but they don't want to follow it, stubborn kids that's head strong....lol

I hear ya Mikey, sounds like you did the best thing for him.

I'm reading other posts online that say many birds just don't like something, and nothing can change it... idk. If that's the case, we have a major issue. She was an absolute doll before I put my hair down the first time... it's nuts. I will try to get her used to it and see if we can get past the fear/dislike. But right now it doesn't look promising.

I'm so sorry u r facing this!

~Marcy
Posted from my BlackBerry Q10 via Tapatalk.

Do it in stages. My hair is waist length, and I almost always wear it in a braid. She couldn't handle it down either, so I let it out a little at a time, making it fun. The more hair that came out, the more is gave her treats and attention. Now she's fine with it, and I brush & braid it in front of her no problem. We had a scare last week where she was on my shoulder and my hair was loose, and she grabbed a swatch and got tangled and started whipping her head around and quickly got tightly bound around her neck and I had to unwind it from her neck. I almost had a heart attack!

Thanks Kalidasa, that gives me hope! We will try it did you do this like all in one day, or over a period of time.....?

It took a few weeks, and I would just do it at random throughout the day. And always in conjunction with something pleasurable (treat, scratches) . I started with a swatch at the nape and went from there. I'm sure you can get your bird to conquer that fear

Awesome Kalidasa, thanks