Hi all,
I'm new to the forum, but looking for guidance as I'm at my wit's end and am looking for an alternative to clipping our Senegal's wings.
A little backstory:
About 1.5 years ago, when he was about 1.5, our Senegal was a sweet, happy little guy. But the phobia struck, and he decided that I (but not my husband) was a predator and he went into full prey-mode--every time I approached him, he screamed bloody murder and acted as if I were out to do him in. He'd land on the floor, scuttle as far away from me as he could, and worked himself into tight corners that only my husband could get him out of. We allowed his flight feathers to grow in, providing him with a way back to his cage and something that allowed him to feel safer and as if he had a way to escape.
The free-flight seemed to work, he and I began to make friends again, he loved his new flight abilities, and all was peaceful for a little while. He loves to take laps around the living room, and meet us at the stairs as we go up or come down. But in the process of making up and convincing him that I wasn't a predator, I had to play submissive for a little bit. I think that convinced him he was now the dominant one. Add to that the fact that he loves my husband and we have a problem. Now that he's free-flighted and feels he has a person to defend as his own, he will--unpredictably--fly at me from across the room, or from my husband's shoulder, and attack.
He's also started flying to me, or just stepping up on my finger with no evident malice, and then reaching down and biting--HARD--the finger he's standing on. Biting and clamping so hard that it's really difficult to get him to let go.
This aggression is unacceptable, and I don't know how to train him back to submissive without clipping his wings. I'm pretty familiar with parrots, having worked with them most of my life (working in a bird store, owning budgies and conures), but have never had to deal with anything like this. Any suggestions? Will a temporary clip help restore the balance of power?