My fiancée had grown up in a house with a large parrot that passed on 6-8 years ago. For a long time she talked about getting another bird so when I took my new job as a neurology fellow working 90hr/wk I decided to get her one to keep her company.
(I know giving animals as gifts is inadvisable but we had discussed the idea and that ended up not being the issue)
3 months ago I purchased her a 3 yr old male alexandrine ringneck. When I went to pick the bird up I was told he was hand tame but needed a little socialization and preferred males. I was able to handle the bird at the time although he was not overly friendly.
Fiancée is thrilled with bird and starts working with him daily… I interacted with the bird some when I was home and was around him frequently. Fast forward to last week- she is sitting at the computer and I run my hand over her hair not knowing this evil thing is on her thigh and it launches its self at me.
If she leaves the room the bird screams, she only has it in the cage at night or when she is not home. Bird sits on stands or on her. If I so much as walk by the bird he hisses and lunges at me. She tells me I just need to spend more time with him but the bird always wants to be with her and she just comes to get him when he yells.
At this point she is prioritizing time with the parrot over time with me as I can’t get near them together. The rare times I am the only one in the house he seems a little more receptive to me and will take treats from me or come out to go on a stand but will not step to my hand. I have tried bribing and coaxing and being patient but it seems like the more the bird loves her the more it dislikes me. The only person the bird hates more is her best friend (who happens to look a lot like her)
At this point I am ready to tell her she needs to put the bird away 2 hours before bedtime so I can spend time with her without being attacked.
I don’t even need the bird to like me, its enough he makes her happy but I would like him not to attack me in my own home. Is there anything I can do to convince the bird I am not competition for her attention?
edit:bird also hates her petting the dog- dog and i sit in corner alone when the bird is out.