Male rainbow lorikeet loves me - but attacks me!!!

[blondie25]

Hi everyone,

I hope someone out there can help me! My partner and I got a hand-reared male lorikeet (Toby) when he was about 9 weeks old. He is now nearly 2 years. For the first year and a bit he was lovely, and simply adored me... and was scared of my boyfriend (not for any real reason, I think he just liked me cos I was a girl - he seemed to think I was his mate). I have always been the 'softer' one, and I guess I was a bit of a pushover when he was growing up... he is just too cute to stay mad at!

In April this year, all of a sudden Toby turned on me one day, and lunged at me and bit me as hard as he could on my hand, not letting go - he was squawking and screeching, and tore a fair bit of skin off. Since then, this has been happening on and off - sometimes it's like he forgets about it for a bit - but then he'll launch and bite again... only when my boyfriend isn't there. Recently he was on my shoulder and attacked my face... I now have a scar and am terrified of him. The funny thing is, he always wants to come to me (much more than my boyfriend) - so he LIKES me, but then he will attack me!

He used to be good about stepping up, would poop on command, follow my instructions - now he will only do these things for my boyfriend (or only for me if my boyfriend is right there watching). When my bf is there, Toby will be quiet, well behaved and the perfect bird... but if I get him out when my bf isn't there, he is SO naughty... he marches around, lunges at me, and tries to 'rule the roost'. I can tell he thinks he is above me in the pecking order of the house, but it is really hard to act with authority when both Toby and I know I am scared of being bitten again!

Things we have thought about/tried:

- Thought maybe it is 'Spring' - but the biting started several months before winter, so it can't be that!

- His wings are regularly clipped

- I have tried wearing soft ski gloves to handle him ( my poor hands are sooo scarred, I felt I had no choice) - this seemed to be working but then he started finding other skin wherever he could to latch onto (my neck, my feet)

- I was maybe too soft / forgiving while I was raising him - but how to turn things around when obviously he only respects my boyfriend - not me!

Please can anyone help?? Everytime he attacks me I am so sad - I really try not to scream/cry etc when he does, cos I have heard they often like an excited reaction which encourages them to bite again, but it REALLY hurts and I am starting to get scared he'll take out one of my eyes or something!! Where has my sweet little boy gone? Any suggestions are welcome, I don't want to give him away!!

Thanks

Attachments:

[avinet]

Yet another Rainbow problem bird! They seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. Again I can only refer you to my reply last night in the thread at aussiebirds.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=necter&thread=10742&page=1

In your case blondie25, I feel your problems have started due to maturing hormones and you likely have a female that has decided your boyfriend is the love of her life! Usually, but not exclusively, birds will bond better to a human of the opposite sex to the bird, and 18 to 24 months is the time of life they become sexually mature.

What makes you think you have a male?

In the meantime I would definitely make sure the bird is NEVER on your shoulder - your eyes are definitely at risk, as is your ears, lips, nose and neck, seriously at risk

If you want to wear gloves - and in this case it might be a good idea - try to get a pair of soft leather gardening gloves that fit snuggly - I used to have a pair especially reserved for handling Rainbows.

cheers,

Mike

[blondie25]

Thanks for your reply Avinet! When we purchased Toby from a breeder, he had been DNA tested (we got a copy of the certificate) saying he was male... And it doesn't seem like he's in LOVE with my boyfriend... he is just very respectful to him and a little bit scared of him (which means he is super compliant!) When he is running around on the ground under our kitchen table, he will never go to my bf and will always come to me - so he PREFERS me but then he attacks me as well!

Is there a chance the DNA thing is wrong? He is definitely sexually mature - he is constantly trying to 'hump' everything in sight! And he is always scratching up the newspaper at the bottom of his cage, seemingly to try make a 'nesting box' - is this male behaviour?

Thanks,

Kim

[squishy]

I think he's frustrated and loving the extreme reaction. They have such a high octane diet and very little way of burning it off if their wings are clipped. I gently wrestle and play with my 4 year old a LOT and she always knows it's a game from the tone of my voice, and she really loves the mock aggression. She used to bite but ever since I started giving a lot of high-energy praise to her good behaviour – like when she does the gentle kissing, she's made that the habit and I only get bitten in rare cases, even when we're playing. When she does, I put her away very quickly, no other reaction. She's not happy with that. The trick with lories, is that the praise needs to be excitable, because that's what they love. They ain't gentle birds by nature. My bird will even 'kiss' my partner now for the praise, and she HATED her before (all jealous). Positive reinforcement all the way!