BCC Attacking Hands

[Michie3]

Hi! My husband and I have had our little Black Capped Conure, Pei Chi, for about a year now. For the first six months my husband and I were both around giving him plenty of attention and he seemed to love both of us equally. My husband was then sent serve (in the military) in S. Korea for a year. He is now at his six month mark of being in Korea and has a month of leave to come home before going back for a remainder of five months. He has been anxiously awaiting seeing me, our dogs, cat, and of course, Pei Chi.

The reunion with him and our dogs and cat went off without a hitch, all very excited and pleased to see him. Pei Chi however... not so much. At first sight of my husband Pei Chi started moving about oddly slow in his cage, eyeing my husband from all angles slowly and deliberately. When my husband put his hand out to him, Pei Chi LUNGED aggressively and bit my husband so badly that it actually bled (which Pei Chi has NEVER done before). My husband and I were both in shock and my husband gravely emotionally hurt. What had changed his sweet cuddly little Pei? Now Pei Chi is okay when sitting on his shoulder or climbing about on my husband, but whenever he sees my husband's hands, he just goes all out attack bird and LUNGES to bite. He actually SEEKS out my husband's hands, looking for any hint or sight of them to track down and assault viciously.

At the same time, Pei Chi is still fine with me and my hands, and only a short time ago was fine with my grandparents and mother handling him. We are at a loss as to why he is doing this more more so are trying to figure out how to alter this new negative behavior.

There has been something else that may have caused or contributed to Pei Chi's new behavior however. While my husband is away for the year we've decided to have me stay with my parents in order to save money, etc. My 31 year old immature brother is also living with my parents at the moment... Every time he comes in my room (where Pei Chi's cage is located), he goes up to the cage and yells really loud, poking his fingers at Pei Chi then pulling back and screaming as though Pei has hurt him (although Pei never even touched him). In the beginning Pei Chi would try to reach out with his beak to climb onto my brother's hand/shoulder/etc. since this is his way of gaining access to 'climb aboard'. He has always been friendly and willing to go to anyone without hesitation. My brother, however, decided in his twisted mind to constantly pull away from Pei and cry out when Pei Chi would try to do this. After a while, Pei started to lunge frantically to reach him, but each time my brother would remain out of reach. It was not long before these lunges seemed to have taken on an aggressive tone and I am quite sure that if my brother did let Pei get to his finger now, there would be biting and possibly blood. My brother would also 'pretend' to attack me to get a reaction out of Pei Chi, so now I think that Pei is probably trying to protect me. I'm thinking that this behavior has led Pei Chi to be distrustful of young males (such as my brother -obviously- and now my husband). Since my brother only teased Pei with his hands that may be why he is only aggressive towards my husband's hands. The fact that my husband was away for these six months could not have helped matters.

Now for the real question:
How do we curb this aggressive seek out and attack assault Pei Chi is exercising on my poor husband?

[Addicted to Tequila]

Had me confused... BCC usually stands for a Blue Crown, which rarely bite.

Could be your brother. Could also be hormones as he is now reaching sexual maturity. Have your husband play with foot toys with him and feed lots of treats so that Pei Chi learns that your husbands hands are GOOD things.

Also I have found it very helpful with our GCC to put mu face a foot away and talk to him when I ask for a step-up and such. They are so small, and we are so big... I don't think they can connect hands to people well. Disembodied hands would make ME nervous too! LOL

[Bellco]

It could be your brothers actions but it can also be your birds way of telling your husband he is upset with him for leaving. I am currently waiting for my husband to come home from deployment and my vet warned me he might be a bit aggressive at first. As a way of saying do not leave me again. I would just give him time to readjust and see how it goes.

[hollyhawkz]

I remember when you got Pei Chi!!!

It was not long after we got Wawa, our black capped conure! Guess what... our birds have hit the terrible two's so to speak. Hang in there it will get better with time, just keep up consistant behavior discipline like- time outs and stern nos with "the look".

I would help by handing him to my husband, with calm reassuring words... you know like it's ok Pei Chi, good bird...etc...etc... Sit with your husband and Pei Chi together so he understands that your hubby is not abusive like your bother. Slow hand movements from you hubby as well.

I can't say on here what I would like to say about your brother, because I would be banned....but just let him know animal abuse is a serious offense, and that definately falls into animal abuse under any animal abuse act.

Also, there are so many different touches that are related to bird sexual stimulation that we had no clue about... look up sexual behavoir in parrots, and you will probably learn as much as I did.

Find the web page/article below... this reference was given to me by another Bird Board Memeber. It really helped me understand.

SEX AND THE PSITTACINE

Are we Keeping Our Companion Parrots Sexually Over-stimulated?

By Shari Beaudoin
Parrot Island, Burnsville, Minnesota
[url=http://www.parrotislandinc.com]

But as for your brother, you are going to have to explain to the entire household and get everybody to talk to him, and let him know that just one more time ... he will not be living there! Parrots are like three year olds.... it is like abusing a three year old child! Sorry for the rant...enough said, I feel your frustration.

I would also let my brother know that this can ruin a bird as a trusting pet and that he would be repaying you for the year of work you have put into this bird, the food, the cage and the cost of the bird... I don't know, I'm angry and rambling...maybe money matters to him... animals don't seem to. I know how much you love Pei Chi and all the work you have done and the love you have given him!

Good luck Sweetie!