bird obsessed with my daughter

[eitak]

I have an adult cockatiel (Pauly) that has become obsessed with my 4 year old daughter. When my daughter isn't around anyone can hold him, but if she enters the room, or the bird figures out where she is, he turn wickedly aggressive to whomever is holding him (has bitten and drawn blood recently). The bird uses all means possible to get over to my daughter. She can do anything to pauly and he will not leave her side. I have put his cage up high, so that he has to interact with someone taller in order to get out. In this last instance, I lifted the cage door and he hopped out on my finger, I pet his head and put him on my shoulder (he was very loving) and then my daughter walked past the door, so he nipped my cheek and took off toward her. Does anyone have any ideas to calm this obsession.

[mabird]

Wow... I have absolutely no advice to give... so sorry.

However, does your daughter feel special, or what?!?!? I know my boys would be loving that!!

Good luck with him.

[Tx mommy]

Well on the good side he won't hurt her. But from what I've seen and been obsurving with our new baby and other people its not unusual for a bird to pick its favorite. Sounds like he needs to be disciplined.

[eitak]

I am not quite sure how to discipline in this kind of situation.

[Abby]

I had this with one of the lorikeets and my oldest son. I didn't bother fighting it as they were both happier together. However my son was 11 at the time. Both the lorikeets are now his and there's a fantastic relationship between my son and his birds. This is to the point that Olly has gotten out of the aviary a couple of times (pure fluke incidents) and Jordan has been able to call her straight back.

If the cockatiel isn't hurting your daughter and she's fine with him then you may need to go with the flow. You still need to be in charge of supervising the pair of them though.

As far as young kids with birds my now 7yo has been playing with the babies since he was about 4-5yo. He knows that he needs to sit down on the floor with him.

Personally I think a cockatiel is a great bird for a youngster. They're a bit more robust then some of the smaller guys but have such a beautiful sensitive nature too.

[spain]

I can relate to that. I just posted a thread yesterday saying that my Green Wing is obsessing with me and today when my best friend who he knows well, tried to touch him, he drew blood. Was a shock to me, cos he's as gentle as a lamb with me and I never thought he'd do that to anyone. I too dunno what to say other than that.

[prettypenguin]

My boyfriend's male was like that, he had favorites- they would change sometimes, depending on who spent more time with the bird. Apparently, it's male tiels that this happens with more often, in my experience. If the fvorite wasn't in the room, he'd be really loving and accept pets from me, but if my bf showed up, He would yell and bite and fly over to him. He would change favorites, so maybe if he sees her less for a while? That may be hard for her too- but at least you could tell her it's for Pauly's good.

[pippy]

Originally Posted by Tx mommy

Well on the good side he won't hurt her. But from what I've seen and been obsurving with our new baby and other people its not unusual for a bird to pick its favorite. Sounds like he needs to be disciplined.

Do you mean discipline the bird for choosing it's favourite human?

[Lori~D]

Parrots in the wild act like that. Its instinctual behavior that is hard to break. Usually though its displaced biting that occures more often with regards to someone the bird does NOT like as opposed to someone he does. More often if the "birds person" is with the bird and someone walks into the room the bird does NOT like he will often bite the one he is with. Its the same way a mate will act in the wild. He will bite his mate to aggressivly shoo her away from the percieved danger. In this case your bird seems to have chosen your daughter and the only thing I can figure is He takes what he can "with you or others" until his "true love" walks in. Punishment will most probably make it worse as birds do not take punishment well at all. I will suggest reading some of Mattie Sue Athens books on behavior. I have a feeling you will have to go with the flow on this one and learn to put the bird on a perch or on his cage before she is in the room or house or as soon as you know she is. Its one of those quirky bird things.

[SDavid]

"Sounds like he needs to be disciplined."

Tx Mommy, could you elaborate on this? What do you mean and what method would you use?