Another angel gone devil bird thread...

[Ethomsom]

Hi, I am a new member to this board, but have read it and other various websites regarding this problem. Any help/advice is needed.

I bought my Sun Conure "Wings" about 3 years ago from a pet store.

He liked everyone except my brother (hates him like no other every since day one...never understood it). Otherwise, he was a good bird, until early this year.

Since August of 2006, I have gone to college out of state (am rarely home), and due to slow work around my area, my dad has had to work out of state (rarely home).

Early this year, my bird began to hate me, and develop a fear of my dad. According to my mom, who has a home business and works at home, he has gotten loud...she states that he often resorts to a high pitched screech for hours on end (as opposed to regular warning "squawks," like when an outdoor animal, my cat, or a hawk goes by)

By hating, I mean Wings viciously tries to bite me. Anytime I am near him, he'll start rhythmically cocking is head, and if inside a cage, often lunges toward the cage bars and bites hard on the metal. Once he was on my mother's shoulder, and I tried to pet him, and he bit my mother (I read on one source, that they bite their "mate" to warn of danger...does my bird now perceive me as "danger?"). He never used to do that. In addition, my mother tried to give him to me, and instead of nicely stepping up on my fingers, he bit and drew blood from my finger. My instinctive reaction would have been to throw him to the ground, but I bared the pain and he flew off. If he is inside the cage and I have to move it, he'll run over to bite my hand, should I put it where he can bite through the bars. If outside, he's moody, sometimes he'll let me pet him, other times, he'll run. Once, he used to be nice always. Now, only occasionally will will be friendly.

And on to my dad, he just runs from my dad now whenever he tries to pick him up. Doesn't bite, just runs.

I will finally add that I have another bird...a male Cockatiel (has his own separate cage), that my mom will often let Wings spend time with if she has to leave the house. Whether or not this contributes, I do not know.

Like I said, Wings was fine until early this year, when he became vicious. Could someone help? Thanks a lot.

[kellywess]

How old is he? He could have hit sexual maturity.

[Ethomsom]

I got him 3 years ago, and he was a "toddler"-if you will, young, basically trained, and weaned. I would guess 3-1/2 to 4 years old.

I should also add he is fine around my mother.

[NaniOokami]

Sounds like sexual maturity to me, too - and that he's picked your mom as his 'mate'.

[kellywess]

Ditto

[Ethomsom]

I figured that he selected my mom as his mate; a, due to my dad and I's absence anymore, and b; I once heard that male birds tend to go to women, and vice versa.

Any possible remedy? I suppose starting from scratch, with towel and/or stick training to get him to understand that I will not hurt him?

[DarwinTheSun]

Sounds to me like he has picked your mom (not much you can do about that part) and also that he perceives you as a threat to the flock. How often do you get to come home? It doesn't sound to me like he knows you very well, and it is possible that he is just trying to save his flock from you. You can help this a bit, by doing what you are doing right now. Make sure you talk sweet to him, give him space, and do it when you mom isn't around. If your mom can leave him someplace on the floor (if he is clipped) and then she can leave, leaving you to save the bird on the floor. It could help too.

Anway, good luck! My sun attacks all non-flock members with vengeance too.

[Ethomsom]

See, that's the thing. From the time I got him to when I left for college (about 1-1/2 years), I saw him daily, played with him, etc. Then from August 2006 on, I occasionally come home. Now, I am home for a while, as it is my Summer Vacation, and I see him again every day. Only, he is not his (former) friendly self.

[tielfan]

You can help change his attitude with food bribery. Get something that's long enough that he can't reach your fingers, like millet spray or something on a spoon, and offer it to him in a way that he can't bite you - through the cage bars if that's the only way to be sure you're safe. He might not settle down enough to let you handle him, but at least he'll notice that good things happen when you come around. If you want to go all out then clicker training is very useful. Do your best to avoid getting bitten, since biting is a self-reinforcing behavior.

[hollmer]

MY miltary Macaw(Now 13 years old) did the same thing. I hand fed him and spent everyday with him for 4 years. MY husband also played with him but he was my bird and let everyone know it. He hit maturity and decided all of a sudden that he hated me and would only go to my husband. Then he decided he hated both of us equally but would allow us limited access. We could pick him up for short periods of time then he woulf nip and would not stop until he was back on his cage. He has outgrown most of these behaviors but if he can see me he will not listen to my husband, he will not step up for him and if my husband is holding him he usually throws a fit when I come into site. This is humerous to us now but we had a few very rough years before he outgrew this. I tried everything anyone would suggest, and it all failed. He was so devisous that he would pretend like he want to be picked up, he would lift his foot say step up and even let us pick him up, then a few seconds later he would bite. He did outgrow most of this and now he only plays that trick on strangers. Be patient with you Bird and keep going back. All you can do is keep trying and eventually he should come back around. Good Luck