Mixed signals?

[JadeW]

I know I'm still super new to these birds, but sometimes I just don't understand them... Maybe it's the mood swings or just ignorance of my birds body language on my part. Whatever it it, Cas is really confusing me lately. One minute he'll be a happy little cockatiel, and the next he'll start hissing and nipping at my hand. I know it's not personal, but could he really be that fickle that one second he'll be letting me scratch his head, grinding his beak and the next second he'll be acting angry and agressive... It's not me, because I put him back in his cage to calm down and he immediately start crying to come back out. Oh man I'm so confused... *sigh*

[Kim S]

Maybe you hit an irritable spot. When birds are molting they shed feathers and new ones grow in. These new spikes can itch and sometimes even hurt a little. They love to be scratched when molting but sometimes you hit one of thise spikes the wrong way.

If you look at flockbehavior in an aviary you see the exact same behavior between mates. Nothing to worry about.

[JadeW]

Hmm, I hope not. I'm just really hoping that I'm not inadvertently doing something to make him mad. I would hate it if he started associating me with something bad and decided he didn't like me anymore But I'm sure it's probably just molting crankyness... I hope.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I definitely get "yelled at" when I hit a pinfeather the wrong way! I've also seen my bird get over-excited and start getting "aggressive". It's not really directed agression, just sort of "I'm all over the place and I have to do SOMETHING".

I guess my, newbieish, advice would be to make sure you end your petting sessions earlier and on a good note and put him away on your terms. Otherwise this could become a habit, or he might even come to think it is what he SHOULD do when he wants you to stop.