Need help,male attacking me

[momof2]

I really need some advice. My male Triton is about to put me over the edge. He is 5 years old now. I also have a female, same age, same breeder but different clutch. They have been together pretty much their whole life. (they are almost 6 months apart in age)

my male has started attacking me! All he seems to do is scream all the time now. This all started about 2.5 months ago. He will wait for me to walk by him and jump on me and start biting & clawing me! He only does this to me, he use to love being with me and only me. I'm scared he will really do some damage to me and I cant take the screaming any more. When he really gets going, then the female will join in. She is still the lovable bird she has always been, she loves to get hugs. But she will NOT step up at all, you have to wait until she climbs down on your shoulder (also need advice about that too)

I don't work so I am home w/ them all day by myself. To make things worst, when my daughter gets home from school and my husband gets home from work they both scream more. Sometimes I get my daughter to come in the back door & "hides" from them.

Something that has changed is that I sleep a lot during the day sometimes. I just found out that I have fibromyalgia.

And isn't this "breeding season".Could that be way he is doing this? what do I do? He is driving everyone in the house including my dogs & cats crazy! My daughter wants me to get rid of them, and frankly I'm at my breaking point and I'm thinking about it. When its warm, I push his cage out on the deck. Once summer gets here, I am thinking of leaving them outside pretty much all day & bring them in at night (this is only if I get some "sleeping" cages, I cant keep pushing & pulling both of their huge cages around)

Please help me so that I don't have to give my male bird away. My animals are part of my family, once I get them they stay w/ me for life! I'm having a hard time dealing w/ my fibro & I have to get a back operation in June & will not be able to do anything for 30 days.

I will say, that if he ever attacks my daughter (she is 9 ) or my son ( he is 19 & away at college) I will get rid of him right then & there. I know they can take off a finger, nose, ear, etc

** I just fixed the color so we can read it **

[momof2]

anyone? Sorry about the purple in my 1st post,it doesnt show up very good does it.

[Robyn]

Sorry really not sure why this is happening other than he is in breeding mode. Do you feed sunflower seeds. Have been told not to feed sunflower as to much makes the birds aggro. Also it appears you have separate cages for them. Could this be one of the reasons because Toos love to cuddle and preen each other.
I have a Major Mitchell that does the same to me. They are in an aviary with a hen now and he seems much happier.
Someone else may have better advise for you.

[sypher]

I read on a site that Their temperament can change suddenly and with little warning. As Robyn has said, breeding mode is generally the main factor. If you have space available for an aviary, they will probably be much happier and probably breed for you.

Vanharki had a similar problem with a pet Eclectus. Hopefully she might be able to help you.

Shaun

[farseeker]

It sounds to me personally as if your routine previously included a lot of time for them. That's what they are used to and if you're spending less time with them they can and will get upset. Birds have routines just like people and they get just as stroppy and anxious when things change.

There are several things you can do - looking at the diet as suggested by Robyn is one, I've had birds that were a lot less jumpy and aggressive once they were off a diet that included sunflower seeds.

If he's jumping on you and attacking you, do not let him out of the cage. It sounds harsh, but if he's doing real damage and you're concerned about others (as you seem to be) the best thing you can do for now is to not give him the opportunity in the first place.

Screaming and aggro behaviour occur because the bird isn't happy with something, and then it can become a learned behaviour very quickly if it gets them what they want (attention, and object they hate removed etc). I'd suggest ignoring the screaming completely. If you respond by giving any attention - even telling him to be quiet - it enforces the behaviour as getting what he wants as I'm pretty sure he's after more attention. Keep his favourite treat with you and if he screams while you're walking past or near, either leave the room or turn your back to him. Once he stops screaming go over, make a big fuss and reward him for being quiet. Over time lengthen the 'quiet time' before you come over to reward him and he'll hopefully get the idea.

Also, how is their cage set up? If they're used to spending a lot of time out and around you they may be getting bored if they don't have enough to stimulate them. New toys - particularly destructables and foraging toys - can help with this too.

These are just some ideas - hopefully someone who has more personal experience with cockatoos can help you out.

[vankarhi]

Good advise Alyssa ;D

As for my female eclectus.....yes that is what she does to me know....but female eclectus are renowned for their "tempermentalness" (sorry about the "new" word there lol). Not all female ekkies are as bad as my girl is either......but I was and still am risking serious damage to me so she is now in an aviary with a mate and seems happy now. although she still likes to "stalk" me through the wire, so hubby has to lock her up so I can go clean out the aviary......her mate is not a problem at all.

I have heard that cockatoos can be renowned for being absolute glorious loveable pattable love bugs......until they mature. I have heard that they can become quite loud and nasty.

I would be looking at diet and routine for a start. Maybe housing them together without a nest box just to see if that makes a difference.

I am hoping maybe Mike might come and give you some advise too. Others might also have some ideas also.

Can you cover their cages when they are being like this??? Can you wear ear muffs while ignoring them?? I know that sounds drastic......but I have heard that completely ignoring them when they are misbehaving can work.....but you will need ear muffs/plugs.

[Smiley]

Triton cockatoos and umbrella cockatoos have some similar traits. The best way to describe a Triton is that when they are calm they are very calm birds and when they are hyper they are extremely hyper.

They can shift between calm and hyper in a split second and this causes a lot of unpredictability in the species. They can be very loving when they want to be but they also lie to be independent.
They have very short attention spans but must always be playing with something, so you really need toys you can find where you can hid food in.. Much like birds in the wild looking for there food.

Males have been known to be aggressive round breeding age.
Sounds like your birds could do with some training. Clicker training is a good one to start with. If they are out all the time I would stop this. They are taking control of the house hold. I think teh male mite see you as a threat towards his mate.

Is there any way you can place them in a large avairy ? Can be indoors or out.