I'm sooo confused.

[Dougc1369]

So I've been letting Zack out the last couple of days and it seemed to be going well. Playing with him, letting him go in and out his cage when he wants even took a walk around the house yessterday.

Today however, he has bitten me several times, once drawing blood. When I let him out! I brought him food and as I approached his cage, he flew at me and attacked. Clawed at me and bit me on my head and neck. I got him away from me aand when I stepped toward his cage again he flew toward me but landed on a tv tray. My Mom got him to stepup onto a stick and got him into his cage. Everytime I come close, he lunges at me. My Mom however, he will interact with, which is something new. The first day I let him out, he bit her, total one eighty!

Sigh,

Doug

 

[henpecked]

How long have you had him? What's his history? Why you call him Zack, DNAed? Any other birds in the house?

 

[getwozzy]

Has your mom always been in zack's life? (well, since you brought him home). Or has he recently met her? Is Zack attacking you only when she's there?

 

[Dougc1369]

I've had him a little over a month. He was tormented\teased when he was young by my ex bro in law and the previous three months or so before I got him he was in a house all alone except when my sister stopped by to feed himseveral times a week. When I first got him he acted like I described but I thought he was getting better. If you read my previous posts he has gone kind of back and forth but I thought we had made a breakthrough this week when I started letting him out.

My Mom has only been here for a little over a week. She has been feeding him in the morning and changing his water as she gets up earlier than I do. I feed him after that tho she will give him treats. When he came after me today, she was in the other room. (I didn't even know he could fly...I was told he couldn't.) He has tried to lunge or bite me both when she is in the room and when she isn't. It amazed me he stepped up onto the stick and let her put him in the cage. He even let her pet him later on.


He is the only bird in the house and the first I've had. I call him Zack because that is the name he had when he came to me, he hasn't been dna'd as far as I know. He is 15 or 16 years old.

Thanks for any advice,

Doug

 

[getwozzy]

I'm just going further out on the limb here and say that I think he might have a thing for your mom. If she's only recently showed up and same with the biting behavior- and he let's her pet him...that's the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Empath]

he may also have trust issues with males. I have a rescued cockatoo that the vet warned me didnt like females. he had attacked all the female staff at the vet but seemed ok with most of the males. when i got him home he was ok with me for a short time (20 mins) then went aggro and started attacking me. this lasted a few weeks/months before he settled down and he now loves me. he's hated my missus with a passion from day one, in line with what the vets had experienced

perhaps zack is distrustful of males cos of your ex brother in law. you'll have good days, and bad days, but with perseverance hopefully he'll eventually come round

 

[Dougc1369]

I think you both may be on to something. My Mom has been with Zack more than I have this past week. He also got along with my sister and niece better than my current bro in law and his son. He has treated me better than my bro in law from day one, the attack today is something I never saw coming.

I made a joke to my Mom that maybe he was mad because I didn't give him his orange slice last night. Lol

I'm going to keep workin' with him. I guess I keep forgetting he has mind and personality of his own. Thanks for the info!

Doug

 

[BirdyMomma]

Aww, don't get discouraged buddy. He just had a bad day. Give him a little time, and he will come back around. I know how bad it feels when they go nuts on you. Please forgive him, I'm sure he didn't mean it.

 

[getwozzy]

At this point I think you need to go back to your regular routine you had with him before your mom came...and when you do one-on-one time make sure your mom, or any of the other ladies, are out of sight and hearing. Find a treat that he is crazy about and only YOU get to give it to him.

 

[henpecked]

getwozzy has given you good advice. Remember, he was friends with you when you were the only game in town. He has just happened to meet someone he likes better. You can still be friends, but need to work hard at that relationship. Socialize,socialize,socialize. Just don't try it when the favorite person is around, don't make it a popularity contest.

 

[Motogordo]

Jan. 30, 2014

He's not bad he's just assertive. LOL. I think God gave us 10 fingers knowing that our fine feathered friends are liable to bite off a few. LOL. My 3 Zons won't step up for anybody unless I pick them up first and hand them to the other person. Their feathers to spread out when someone comes near them, whether I am next to them or not. They just love me. How could they not ? Every Zon is different. You must play with them away from their cage and preferably in a different room. Letting them come out of the cage on their own and picking them up with a perch is a good idea. He might not like too much human contact due to being mistreated in the past. Take you time with him. Many of the Zons due come around over time if they trust you.

Gordon
P.S. They definitely will choose who THEY want to be friendly with. They always seem to pick a favorite. If they love everyone, then you got a real winner.

:red:

 

[msdeb]

When I first got Charlie he really loved me and then after about a week he began to be somewhat aggressive and drawing blood many times. He finally settled back down but those were very difficult days for both of us. My doctor got tired of treating my hands and arms for the bites. Charlie and I continued to work hard and it took a couple of months before the biting stopped. Now it is all love for me and Charlie. Your Zack WILL come around, just be patient and careful. I think sometimes they test us to see whether we will love them even when they aren't so lovable.

 

[Dougc1369]

Aaaaand now he's back to beaking!! (Of course I did give him his orange slice last night...coincidence?) I just finished 5 to10 minutes of playing with him, beaking and reaching thru the bars to hold my finger. No aggression at all!

Lesson learned, give him the orange slice and nobody gets hurt! :09:

Thanks for all the comments and reassurance! As a new parront, I am still trying to figure things out so having you all around helps my nerves a LOT!

Doug

 

[BirdyMomma]

How's it going? Did you guys have a better day today?

Oh wait, just saw that you guys are pals again!!!! That's awesome!!!

 

[Dougc1369]

Yep, he's being a good bird today. I made sure to give him his orange slice tonight so maybe he won't go 'Mister Hyde' on me tomorrow! ,

Doug