male meyers owners!

[Polly-anna97]

I would very much like to hear from owners of male meyers parrots
particularly the chicks ( featherless).
If particularly closely bonded to you, do you have any problems with your little man re jealousy of your big man?

Years ago I had a male nanday conure, and he and I were as one entity ( cheesy and naff I know, but sooo true). He became insanely vicious, attacking anyone that wasn't me, but my boyfriend was another thing all together, and would have to have had a death wish to enter a room with my conure on tthe loose, without wearing a suit of armour. On a number of times he SERIOUSLY harmed my boyfriend.
It got so bad that he had to be cage bound unless there was nobody but myself in the room. This, of course, would never do, and although it smashed my heart to smithereens, I found an AMAZING place for him to go to.

I have heard a lot about the male meyers turning very nasty during the mating season , the aggression mainly being directed at his lady( which I'm guessing is going to be me). And also judt a lot in general about them being pretty tricky customers all round.
All I need is two or three success stories, of birds waaay beyond maturity, that are safe to be around people other than ' the chosen one '. Then I can believe that it is possible for me to be able to give my new baby boy a happy forever home, thst really will be FOREVER!
Are you out there???...!

[Polly-anna97]

P.s I am not a serial bird buyer, then rehomer, I have only owned two parrots in the past. I only rehomed one of them.

[Wolf]

I am really at a loss in understanding what is meant by your first statement. Due to my lack of understanding, would you mind elaborating on this statement for me.

[Polly-anna97]

Sorry wolf, I do beg your pardon. I would like to hear particularly from the ladies on the forum, who own male meyers parrots. I would like to know if they have experienced any problems with the bird, because they are so closely bonded it has become jealous of their human male partner.
P.S : I LOVE how you said about senegals on valium. Excellent!

[Wolf]

Well in that case I really won't say much, but the answer that you will receive will be pretty much the same because if the bird over bonds to either sex it will act the same way as regards to other people.

[Pajarita]

The truth of the matter is that although parrots would, sometimes, become 'confused' and mate-bond to a human, it's always the human's fault this happens as it's not something that has to happen or that it's in any way beneficial to the parrot. Having said that, it is true that most parrots, given their genetic predisposition for monogamy, will have a chosen human but this doesn't mean they will necessarily attack anybody else. It's all a matter of handling them the right way and this means a strict solar schedule, a good fresh food diet and no improper caresses or anything that would make the bird hormonal.

[JaydeParrot]

I don't have a Meyers but I do have a male Senegal (nine years old). He's alright with visitors, he's not nippy with them but he's not affectionate either, he'll sit on visitors shoulders and even step for some but he's not very interested.

I've never had a bird go through the teenage stage so I'm not sure what that's like, your best bet is to let him interact with visitors to your house at an early age, if your boyfriend comes over often, make sure he gets to handle your meyers often.

Socialisation with other humans is the best way to get your bird used to being around other humans who are not you. Harness training would also be useful as birds will more readily the accept the harness the earlier in life they are trained to wear it.

My male Senegal came to me at six years old, he was scared, dangerous and would attack anyone who dared come near him, he's now very hand tame with me and will put up with the occasional head scratch and shoulder ride from vistors.

Just focus on socialising your meyers so that he doesn't become overly bonded to you to the point that he attacks anyone else. Also try to make yourself seem as in control as possible, from what I've noticed with mine, a bird is more likely to try to protect you if it sees you as weaker than itself and in need of protecting.