Help needed my pearly conure has started attacking my boyfriend!

[Lucyj]

Our lovely pearly conure who has recently turned 1 has took a very bad liking to my boyfriend. We've had him for nearly a year and up untill about 2 months ago pearly seemed to favour him over me but for the past two months there relationship has took a serious decline! He never bites me! At first we put it down to hormones and sexual maturity Etc but he's just getting worse and worse, as soon as he's out his cage his feathers puff up and he's straight over attacking him ( even dived straight for his face today!) we've tried bf giving him treats in which pearly attacks him through his cage, tried bf getting pearly out his cage in which he gets attacked, we've tried bf giving him breakfast, fusses and stuff ( what I normally do) but nothing is working! he goes straight back in his cage once he's attacked but it's just so sad that he isn't being the loving nice parrot that I know he is when it's just us to! It's always been us 3 so it's not like he's been newly introduced to him.

Has anyone had any similar experiences and how they've over come them? I hate keeping him in his cage in the evenings but my bf can't sit and be attacked all night! When it's just me and pearly he is the perfect conure! I jus want my bf to have that with him to!

 

[BoomBoom]

So sorry this is happening! Who knows what goes on in bird's minds . Could be anything. To start, has your boyfriend changed anything abou his look recently? Shaved, grew a beard, etc? Has your bird shifted attention to you?

 

[Lucyj]

Hi boom boom, firstly thanks for replying!

Nope absolutely nothing has changed! It is very strange, he doesn't seem particularly keen on any males but he defo has more hate for Ste (bf) he never bites me but is so aggressive with Ste, it's causing a lot of arguing in our household at the minute!

 

[BoomBoom]

Has the bird increased his affection towards you? Could he be fending off your boyfriend because he sees you as his mate? Just things to consider.

Perhaps you can try this thing I read online. I forgot what its called. Basically you let the least favored person do the fun things with your bird. This includes opening the cage for him, feeding, giving him treats, training, playing, bathing/showering (if your bird enjoys that). The favored person can be relegated to doing the unfun chores like cleaning the cage, washing the birdie dishes. You can also try to let the least favored person 'rescue' the bird from an unfamiliar room. I haven't tried this last one. Make sure the bird is not too distressed and is not put in harms way when you do.

Results may take a while, so instill in your boyfriend that patience will win the day. I've sort of been in this situation before so I know how it could really cause tension in your home routine. I wish all the best of luck! You can do it!

 

[BoomBoom]

Sorry I missed the part when you said your bf has tried the things I suggested. Perhaps do it with more consistency and for a longer time, you might see results? Also when he misbehaves, show displeasure. How do you usually react when he attacks the bf?

 

[Kalidasa]

He perceives you as his mate at this point, but he can be socialized with BF and be on friendly terms. When your bf is spoiling him, make sure you're in the room close by and talking to him. Don't leave, because then in his eyes you are ignoring him for interacting with bf. Be present. It also helps for you to initiate the interaction between the two. Put him on BF's shoulder and immediately give him a treat to keep his mouth busy, and be very close praising and petting him for sitting there. The lesson should come from you, not from him. Ignore him and walk away when he's being aggressive. The moments he's not biting bf and being calm treat & scratch. It helps to do these things early when he's fresh (and hungry). In time this will pass. The days are getting longer so it's courtship time, many are getting very hormonal right now...I know mine is lol trust me this will pass. Your bf must be patient as well.

 

[Lucyj]

I guess if I'm honest when pearly bites Ste, Ste will as such grab him and put him in his cage but I go over to pearly to make sure he is ok after my bf has grabbed him, he is like my baby! We've started putting a cover on him once he goes in after biting now.

Kalidasa we can't even get close to putting pearly on stes shoulder as he attacks him, we think it has to be a case of wanting to be top dog! Even if Ste try's to give him a sun flower seed ( special treat) pearly will attack him instead of having the seed.

It's strange though because when Ste comes in from work pearly like twitches and squeaks as if happy to see him (I don't get this treatment) we've always assumed this is a happy sign but perhaps it's a go away sign?

He is such a little diva!

 

[Kalidasa]

Your bf shouldn't be giving him the time-outs, it should be you. Coming from him it will be meaningless...he just the bad guy. Coming from you it's a lesson. Always be the one who initiates a time out.

 

[Lucyj]

Yea I guess that makes sense, all about patience ! Does your conure twitch and squeak when you come in? He does it to one of his toys to so were it sure if he's happy! angry or trying to do the deed!