Bit in face for the first time in 10 years - parrot in love w/my Husband

[requiemeden]

Hi All,

I have a 14 year old Eleanora Cockatoo name Romeo (he has been sexed). Romeo prefers women (his 1st two owners were women) and is sometimes aggressive towards men.

Up until October I was living with my parents and Romeo loved my mom the best and liked my dad but I was the "flock leader" and we had no problems. I could get kisses on the lips, touch him anywhere I want, etc.

Fast forward to now. I now live with my husband and Romeo is in love with my husband. He will follow him around the house. If he leaves the room Romeo will scream and cry for him, or run around the house looking for him. He talks to my husband and plays with him. Romeo is the pickiest eater but my Husband got him to try lots of new foods.

When its just Romeo and myself we get along just great!

My husband plays with Romeo here and there but does not take him out of his cage or put him away.

Tonight I went to take Romeo to the kitchen with me so my husband could take a shower and he jumped onto my hand like normal then suddenly lunged at me and bit me above my lip. He was not on my husband at the time just in the same room.

I put him in his cage after and let him go to bed.

I am so hurt both physically and mentally.

I don't know what to do.

edit: I should add that I have taken Romeo to bed everynight/or to his stick when my husband leaves for any reason and not once has there been an issue.

 

[MikeyTN]

I'm sorry but that does happen when they fallen for someone new. Java the U2 have always prefer women in his two previous household. But he took to me right away when I went to visit him. I ended up having to re-home him due to him being way too aggressive towards my other animals and my partner. The new home where he went to, he attacked the guy's wife pretty good so somehow he changed and prefer men now....

 

[Kalidasa]

Don't take it personally....easier said than done when your face is stinging. The days are getting longer and birds are gearing up for courtship/breeding season. Birds snap sometimes (as you know) but he doesn't hate you. He's just making a big show of his undying fidelity to your husband. You did the right thing, but your husband should do the time-outs, to show he doesn't appreciate it. His mood will cool as the season changes. 14 yrs with a 'too! That's awesome

 

[Birdman666]

Someone's GF just got bit on the face, and I responded in detail in that post as well.

It will get better, but for now, you need to be pro-active and keep your face away from this bird. This bird is a hand bird until the bad behavior stops, and go back to basics, and reinforce the no biting, and bite pressure training...

They do that, but they also mellow out in time.

 

[requiemeden]

Hi all,

Just checking in. I took Romeo out last night and this morning (husband was not home) and he's just fine...like nothing happened lol.

My husband doesn't want to discipline him... I'm guessing its not going to work until I change his mind on that?

Maybe Romeo likes him better because he sees him less? I work at home 6 days a week giving private lessons and my husband is out for 12-15 hours a day with his work. When I'm awake he's asleep and vice versa. So Romeo gets maybe 1 hour with him a day.

 

[Birdman666]

Don't take it personally.

If he didn't love you too, you wouldn't get anywhere near him without bleeding...

And their favorites often change on a whim, and then change back, also on a whim.

It happens.

 

[MonicaMc]

Sounds like clicker training/positive reinforcement may help create a better bond with Romeo.

Check out these two links. Both talk about cockatoos who are bonded to the man of the house and have been known for attacking the women. Both also mention ways they have worked with the birds in order to be able to handle them without being attacked.

Clicker Training Parrots | Peggy's Parrot Place

Changing Behavior | Lara Joseph (particularly Rocky chasing balls instead of chasing feet)

 

[requiemeden]

I found this super helpful - thank you! I'm going to start the clicker training this weekend. He's been much better, only got my hand nipped at once.

 

[Kiwibird]

I agree with others not to take it personally. A few years ago I woke up Kiwi with kisses and telling him how much I loved him, he repaid me by re-designing my nose But it was a rare bite from him, and he hasn't got me that bad since. He just woke up on the wrong side of the perch. Plus, it is their breeding season, they are all have surging hormones when the days get longer, and some years can be worse for hormonal problems than others.

I do want to remind you that there should never be discipline with a bird. Always us a positive reward system. Negative behaviors should either be ignored entirely, or handled in as calm a manner as possible. It does no good to punish a bird, as they will become untrusting of you and get (understandably) mean. The clicker training seems to be especially effective with toos', so hopefully that will help rebuild the trust you lost in Romeo. If you've had him 14 years, you're obviously doing something right! Good luck with him!

 

[requiemeden]

I agree with others not to take it personally. A few years ago I woke up Kiwi with kisses and telling him how much I loved him, he repaid me by re-designing my nose But it was a rare bite from him, and he hasn't got me that bad since. He just woke up on the wrong side of the perch. Plus, it is their breeding season, they are all have surging hormones when the days get longer, and some years can be worse for hormonal problems than others.

I do want to remind you that there should never be discipline with a bird. Always us a positive reward system. Negative behaviors should either be ignored entirely, or handled in as calm a manner as possible. It does no good to punish a bird, as they will become untrusting of you and get (understandably) mean. The clicker training seems to be especially effective with toos', so hopefully that will help rebuild the trust you lost in Romeo. If you've had him 14 years, you're obviously doing something right! Good luck with him!

Thank you so much! I'm trusting Romeo again - I get kisses and some little hugs.

I'm actually Romeos 3rd owner. He had 2 previous owners, and was with the breeder 2x in between each owner. I've had him the past 10 years.

He has been very "un-cockatoo" like until my move. I swear for the past 10 years I had a pet parakeet lol!

 

[MonicaMc]

Well, perhaps with some "relationship rebuilding" with Romeo you can avoid any future attacks from him! Ten years without any undesirable behavior, or at least minimally so, is pretty great!