Increasingly aggressive

[Eurycerus]

So Nika has over the past one or two weeks or so become increasingly aggressive to me which is surprisingly. She has not punctured the skin (yet...) but angrily bites me frequently. I make sure that she steps up repeatedly to do fun things, not just go back in the cage. I have her step up for treats, but randomly in the hopes that she'll associate it positively. I rarely let her (due to some trust issues because she never fully got over biting and now that she's biting again) but sometimes she goes on my shoulder and lately she will seemingly randomly attack my ear, cheek, or neck. Again no skin puncture or bleeding yet but I am worried that that is imminent. These are definitely angry bites. I attempt to not do much in response but I often move or try to shift her a bit so she doesn't continue. I do not make any additional noise, angry exclamations, yelling, or setting her down. I have not actually figured out what it is she wants from me when she bites.

Our schedule has not changed and nor has her eating habits. Her hormonal behavior is much less than it used to be. **I should also note that she's always pleased to see me and steps up and out of her cage easily.

An additional comment, I accidentally negatively associated her with hanging out on my finger. She came trained to be flipped over and held in your hand, with her still clutching the finger. Her previous owner did it and I even did it once or twice but I didn't for a month. So I thought I'd retrain her to do that since she was doing pretty well with being touched on the back and around her body and other tricks. So I did it a couple times and treated her accordingly but apparently she really didn't like it so now she won't stand on my finger for very long. She will often step up but then moves to my hand area or arm. I am trying to regain her trust but it's slow going.

Suggestions would be great or if anyone has any ideas as to why the shift to more aggression towards me than usual. I need to regain her trust with the finger too, but my guess is that will just take time. Her additional aggression puts a damper on our hang out time.

[Michael]

Never said Senegals were easy.

[liz]

When Myrtle does that I say "owe". She has learned that it means too rough. Sometimes before I say it she will say it.

She holds onto my ear with her right foot and sometimes pinches me. She chews on my ear and I can feel her tougne. When I have had enough I just tell her owe and she stops.

[ginger]

I really do hope that you will be able to arrange things in your life to consult with Michael. The longer you wait the harder and longer it will take to correct the problem.

[cml]

I think that from your posts that you are working hard with your parrot and that the work youve put in also has paid off as well =). Keep working.

Question, why do you allow your sennie on your shoulder if you know it can be problematic?
I would stop that immediatly so that you dont develop a bad habit around that behaviour !

[GreenWing]

Sorry to hear Nika does this. Michael is right, Senegals are not easy and they are the Jekyll and Hyde of birds... one day they're sweet, the next they're jerks.

Is your bird going through sexual maturity? It sounds like it.

[Michael]

Is your bird going through sexual maturity? It sounds like it.

See, I don't think this has to be the case here. If the bird was very sweet/tame to current owner for a long time and this kind of behavior came on would be one thing, but it doesn't sound like this was genuinely achieved to begin with. Senegals need tough love and once any fear is displayedm they'll jump all over that and take advantage. They need a firm hand that will not get bullied by their aggression, training, patience, and understanding.

[Wayne361]

As Michael said, you cant back down to a sennie or he/she will own you. I've had moments with my where he will become agressive out of the blue (all senegals are like this).....I have never backed down. If he became agressive to my hand I have simply made a fist and stayed strong even towards him. You can see that "moment" where they say, in their brain, "ok I'm not winning here"....then they go back to normal....sweet obediant bird. Most importantly they've resolved to the fact at the moment that they have not gained an upper hand. Obviously you want to avoid any aggression and take steps to avoid future agression (training etc) but senegals do require a firm/no-nonsense approach when required. Please do not interpret that I am, in any way, punishing the bird as this will lead to much worse problems.....

Positive re-enforcement, patience and more patience.

Wayne

[GreenWing]

See, I don't think this has to be the case here. If the bird was very sweet/tame to current owner for a long time and this kind of behavior came on would be one thing, but it doesn't sound like this was genuinely achieved to begin with. Senegals need tough love and once any fear is displayedm they'll jump all over that and take advantage. They need a firm hand that will not get bullied by their aggression, training, patience, and understanding.

^^Very true, and I have you to thank for this, as I've learned a lot from you Honestly, it took a while for me to "get this"; I have to be consistently confident and firm with Tiki. I have noticed a big improvement in her behavior overall since I've been tougher. Senegals will test, test, test.

As Michael said, you cant back down to a sennie or he/she will own you. I've had moments with my where he will become agressive out of the blue (all senegals are like this).....I have never backed down. If he became agressive to my hand I have simply made a fist and stayed strong even towards him. You can see that "moment" where they say, in their brain, "ok I'm not winning here"....then they go back to normal....sweet obediant bird. Most importantly they've resolved to the fact at the moment that they have not gained an upper hand. Obviously you want to avoid any aggression and take steps to avoid future agression (training etc) but senegals do require a firm/no-nonsense approach when required. Please do not interpret that I am, in any way, punishing the bird as this will lead to much worse problems.....

Positive re-enforcement, patience and more patience.

Wayne

Well said. Consistency is key. When it comes to Senegals, "Never give up, never surrender!"

[Eurycerus]

Yeah the Jekyll Hyde comment is too true. Nika is even more prone to shifts in behavior than i am. It's crazy. She was completely charming this weekend even though Dave had been over. I just want to understand why the extreme shifts on behavior when it's not diet or hormonal behavior seemingly. It's very confusing. I definitely don't take her crap but it's still frustrating to be mystified.