Question:
About eight weeks ago, our daughter saw an ad on eBay for a 6-year-old conure parrot adoption. Knowing that her father always wanted this type of bird, she went ahead and surprised him with Cookie, whose previous owners placed him up for adoption because their son eventually moved out and didn't want the bird. We were thrilled to welcome Cookie into our home, but it turns out that he is a biter. He has attacked my husband three times and drew blood. This has made my husband reluctant to be near him, much less handle him. We give Cookie a good deal of time out of his cage -- he doesn't fly, which is something the vet can't explain. He has new toys, a beautiful, large cage and a good deal of attention. He shows enjoyment when I hand-feed him and scratch his back and head, and he's always looking for my attention. But if I offer my hand to hold him, he bites! We would appreciate any advice you may have on how to get Cookie to stop biting.
G.A., Palmyra, Va Mar 21, 2010
Answer:
I regret that your husband's avian gift has turned out to be a nightmare. From your description, since the bird will take food from your hand and enjoys being scratched, he has been improperly socialized and was probably teased. This could trigger either defensive aggression or assertive-dominance aggression. That he is most aggressive to your poor husband may imply sexual rivalry/dominance, or result from being taunted by a male person. Birds are complex, intelligent animals. Desensitize all involved by training the bird to perch on a finger or hand covered with a thick, leather glove. Never put an ungloved hand or finger in front of the bird unless you are offering food.
Living a solitary life with no contact with his own species is no doubt behaviorally and psychologically disruptive. It may not be too late to adopt a female conure -- they could live in adjacent cages until they settle together. Your bird cannot fly because his flight feathers have been cut; or worse, his wing tendons -- a deplorable practice called pinioning.
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