Arrival of a Newborn and an Unsettling Behavior

[DynamitePsycho]

Hi everyone,
I'm kind of at my wits end right now, and need some advice and help. My son came to this world a month ago, and I knew it was going to be a life changing event for everyone (including Ziggy, my 18 month CAG). I know and understand that CAGs are sponges for attention (whether positive and negative), and I know that it is important to spend as much time as I can with Ziggy as possible...but that leads to my dillemma.
Ziggy has started to become a biter within the last three weeks. I'm pretty distraught about it, because he's never shown aggression to any one (especially me, since I've been the one who's raised him). The only time he'd nip was if he got too excited when either myself or the hubby would play with him. Now that he's biting, I'm not wanting to spend time with him (even though I need to pay attention to him when I am not spending time with the baby). It's frustrating my husband to pieces, and I know my husband's reactions are not helping the situation.
The TAG I was raised with is very aggressive (23 years old and pretty crotchetty...but we think that's because of my brother teasing her for so many years), and I don't want Ziggy to be like her. I've put so much time and energy up to this point to make Ziggy a friendly and gentle bird, and now I just see everything going down the drain. I realize that Ziggy is probably jealous, and that the stress/frustrations of adjusting life is definitely affecting him.
Is there any hope for him to stop biting? Is there any good techniques to employ? I just want my old Ziggy back...

[bethn]

Our TAG (who has since passed) went thru a terribly nippy, biting stage @ 2 years old. He would bite during play,bite from displeasure you name it, he would bite because of it.
My husband, who has the patience of a saint, would sit with him for hours in the evening
playing with him. each time he bit, Bob would just say "gentle" and praise him when he just beaked rather than drew blood. It took several weeks possibly months, (it's been years I don't quite remember the time frame) but he finally got the idea, and went back to being his old sweet self. I am not advocating letting him bite you, but there is hope if you work thru it in whtever way works best in your household. Good luck with Ziggy

[Lisa B]

yeah Evey, its the terrible two's....give me a call if you want to discuss it.
it has more to do with Ziggy then the baby. they all go through it.

[DynamitePsycho]

Thanks guys. I was kind of wondering if it's terrible twos. I feel like it's the last straw kind of deal, with everything in my life drastically changing the stress level just sky rockets and to have Ziggy bite me is just disheartening. His behavior is stressing out my hubby, which results in a negative spiral of chain reactions...causing Ziggy to be stressed out (I know they can sense it). I'll just keep on being patient (something I had plenty of, but I swear I have more now since Cayden's birth).

[Lori~D]

I was supecting the same thing - I went through it with Lizzy and not so much my grey Buckeye but IT can be worked through. I had to simply make it so the bites did not affect me at all and she got over it. I had to insist on the same routine and step ups without backing down. Call Lisa

[SDavid]

Could someone describe the term itself and origin of "terrible two"s." I believe it comes from human children. Got to admit my TAG never went through anything like this and she's going on three. Granted, in certain play sessions she will get all frenzied up and bite out of excitement. But, in that type of play birds sort of loose control of themselves. Also, she will bite if I accidentally come near her with an object she doesn't like or is afraid of. But I know that agression is toward the object and not me. Anyway, I've heard the term before but you all seem to be using it like it's a scientific fact....I've always dismissed the term as anthropomorphic.

[Lisa B]

its not a scientific term, but a slang for a fact that around the age of 18 months in the wild, Congo's (not TAGS) are leaving their parents and branching out into the flock. Becoming their own little parrot and independent..... Its own thoughts, and not wanting to be with the mother or father. Each Parrot is different. Not everyone goes through it. Emma did not. However the boys do tend to be a bit more testy in the two year old range.

[DynamitePsycho]

Well, I have some good news. I sat down with Dan and explained what was going on with Ziggy (or at least the consensus of what is believed to be going on) and hashed out a plan. I explained to him about putting Ziggy into "time out" and if he bites, to push into him, etc, etc. Ziggy (as well as Dan) seems to be less stressed out, which is helping so much with the baby. He's actually taking an interest in Cayden while I'm nursing (his table top perch is near my side of the couch). He's still cranky and rebellious at times (like flying to the papason chair instead of his cage when we tell him to "go home"), but baby steps, right? Thanks to everyone with the insight and suggestions!

[Lisa B]

I'm glad things are going a bit better

[bethn]

Stick with it, they are so worht the effort!