Need help bonding with more than 1 person

[Buddysdad]

Hi ! I have a 17 week old Senegal. He was very shy the first week or so. He now lays in my hand on his back, cuddles under my chin on my neck, knows the step-up very well, and loves coming out of his cage for some fun. Well, anyway, the first week my mom was able to have him perched on her finger, no problem. But now, 4 weeks later, if I try to hand him over to mom, he 'goes' for her fingers. How can we get him acquainted with both of us at this point in time? As you already know he is only 17 weeks old, and has been with us for about 4 weeks. I want to start this bonding with both of us while he is still very young. What do I do? I am always the one to take him out of the cage, because if mom goes in, once again, he wants to bite her fingers...and he had no problem a few weeks back. The only thing I can think of is to go in another room, where he is not familiar with, and hand him over to mom. Would that work? Sorry for reiterating myself, but what do I do? Thank you all so very much !

[Fables]

Lots of luck with the bonding. We bought a hand fed baby Citron cockatoo and she only likes my husband. When she is on his shoulder she even tries to bite me. Lots of times she teases me and I tell her who spent the big bucks on her?

[loubear]

I have the same problem with my Senagal Isabelle. My husband always gets bit and he tries and tries with food and eveything and he still gets bit on the ear or cheek and definatly won't allow him to come near me when I am holding her. I am curious as to the answers you get because my questions is the same.

[KimM]

I don't have a Senegal, but I would think what I suggest may help. You can try it.

When the "other person" is in the room and wants to bulid a relationship, you should leave the room. Let the bird and other person be alone. They can offer treats, maybe copy some of things you did to bond with your bird. Try that in small sessions to start and see how it works.

Newt can be a brat sometimes with someone else until I leave the room. Then he's fine with them.

[Buddysdad]

Fables, I like your big bucks comment. Loubear, good luck with Isabelle, I hope to get some good answeres, too. KimM, I tried leaving the room last night. They had a mediocre 'session', but he did not bite. When I came back, he wanted me bad.

[DarwinTheSun]

I agree with the leaving the room suggestion, and letting your mom spend time with him alone. Make sure this is special time, where your bird gets lots of treats and only positive reinforcement. Also, another thing when both of you are around, if your bird gets stranded on the floor (if he is clipped), then have your mom be the one to "rescue" him from the floor.

We do give timeouts for aggressive behavior here too. I know it is important that your new bird feel safe, but it is also important that he start knowing the rules of the house from day 1. If he goes to bite your mom, then give a warning, but if he continues then he gets a time out on the floor (then your mom can rescue).

[Cricket11]

We have a number of birds including an male eclectus, he is definately my partners bird!! I talk to him, I feed him, I clean his cage, give him treats - the whole lot yet he still tries to bite me!! If Im in the kitchen cooking - no where near him he will fly to my shoulder and attack my ears!!