Help - Cockatiel biting

[Cockatiel_Mum]

hi all,

I am the owner of two cockatiels - a boy 11 months old and a girl (we think) 6 months old. The boy lived alone with us for 4 months before his buddy came along.

From the very get go, the little boy - Gus - fell in love with my husband. He always flys to him, hangs around on his shoulder whilst he is going about his business in the house, asking for neck rubs, singing to him - the whole works. The rest of us (me and 2 kids) he is pleasant to but he has an obvious favourite.

A couple of months after we got him, he on occasion started to attack my husband - flying at him with claws out, pecking him quite hard on the neck... This was only ocassionally and most of the time he remained his loving, doting self.

We did some research and tried a few of the recommendations. Among them:
- limiting access to mirrors (he always seems to do this when his reflection is about)
- making sure he had sufficient period of darkness. We draw the curtains at 8pm each night - and open them around 7am.
- letting him spend more time in his cage (he started life pretty free-range but now comes out about 2-3 hrs in the morning and 1-2 hrs or so early evening). The two birds live in a indoor aviary with lots of space.

We hoped it would get better when his cage mate came but it made no difference. He tolerates her (unless she tries to take away something he has or use the same food bowl at the same time as him in which case she gets put in her place) but they are not best buddies.

We hoped when the breeding season was over it might improve - but we are now end Oct and no change. I would say approx 2-3 times a week he still attacks- and only ever my husband. I work from home so he sees far more of me but he has never had this issue with me or anyone else in the house.

So we are now getting desperate and don't know what to do. Some traits we have noticed:

- He will typically only do this when he has access to his own reflection. We have covered over mirrors but that bird adores his own reflection and will sing to the back of a shiny spoon, the reflection on the oven (a particular favourite), even the side of his shiny food bowls - there is no way to cover everything.

- He usually does this when he has been out of his cage for some time and sitting next to something that shows his reflection.

Any suggestions very welcome on what is going on in his head and how we might stop this behaviour. Thx.

 

[Tangie]

Some of the Cockatoo species do that. I think it's called Mate Agression or something. They can just get frustrated that your husband isn't interacting with the cockatiel like the cockatiel wants he can get angry. Has something happened between your bird and your husband that your bird interpreted wrongly?

 

[Cockatiel_Mum]

Hi Tangie thanks for replying. If something did happen I've no idea what it could have been.

If he is getting agressive because my husband is not behaving as a mate should - have you any idea what it is Gus wants from him?

 

[Tangie]

Well, it is hard to tell. It is good that you are keeping mirrors away from him, because it might help the situation. I got my cockatiel Kiko in early July and he had a whole ton of aggressive problems. He didn't want anything to do with humans. Over the months he actually likes me enough, let's me give him treats and hangs out on my shoulders. But whenever I give him a mirror, or he sees his reflections, he becomes a little demon! He acts like he forgets all of my training. So, make sure you can keep him away from his reflection as much as possible. SInce you said that he mainly only does it after seeing his reflection that might be the problem. I know I can certainly not handle my bird after he has seen his reflection. For at least a few minutes. Make sure he gets enough sleep, and he spends some time in his cage. When your husband does get bitten, make sure he does not react at all. Some of the reason's he may be acting like this is because of the following reasons-


Stress brought on by noise or visual eye contact made by other males of the same species. Or any stress in general.


Sexual aggression: Male sexually ready to mate, while female is not


Lack of stimulation and activities that the parrots can do as a way of entertaining themselves. Try providing him with tons of toys and foraging activities.

I believe he has finally reached sexual maturity, and now that he has he believes he is your husband's boss. What is his diet? A bad diet can make him feel unwell and make him extremely grouchy and temperamental. Since breeding season is over, it might be something a little more.

Your Cockatiel might not get what he wants from your husband, but understanding the body language of Gus will reeaaally help. Do not interact with him when he seems upset. For example if his crest is down and he is leaning forward it means he is being aggressive and he may attack or bite. Maybe he should not interact with him right after he sees his reflection. I will look some stuff up and give you some more advice when I figure it out.

 

[Cockatiel_Mum]

(just been away for a few days hence late reply)

Once again thx so much for the tips. his diet is a standard "complete food" mix from the pet shop. I buy two different ones and mix them up (but he cherry picks the seeds he likes I admit) . In addition he has millet sprays in the cage and some fresh food each day - peas, carrots, sweetcorn, celery, melon are all favourites...it depends what we have been eating.

If there is food types that will help I am definitely up to giving that a try.

 

[MikeyTN]

Breeding season is not over! It's just starting right now. Does your husband feed the birds at all? If not, he should start! Let him be their main care giver.

 

[Cockatiel_Mum]

Breeding season is still on? I am located in the UK does that make a difference? Days are really short and cold at the moment.

Re feeding - yes he does feed him (he comes around begging whenever my husband has food and gets fed from the hand any appropriate items) but I am the main care giver and put the food in the cage. I'll get him to do it for a while in case it makes a difference.

 

[Tangie]

Hmn....
I actually didn't know that!
Well I heard about it....
That's really weird because at 4 our sun sets and the temp never goes higher than 55.
I learn somethinh new every day!

 

[MikeyTN]

They don't have a specific set breeding season as they can breed all year long but they do take time out too, especially during their molting period. My birds took a rest during their molting period and back into breeding right now as they're eggs set to hatch later this month.