hello!
It's been a while but thought I would get some help from the old and new gen of AAers.
So for the last two years I've been having a lot of trouble with my BHC, Douglas. The obvious catalyst is that I moved in with my boyfriend and Douglas (who has always preferred males) LOVES my boyfriend.
I don't mind passing on the love as I still have my darling, Kyoko, but since this happened he has started attacking me.
Generally I manage it pretty well. Douglas is perch trained, I don't let Colin pet him in certain ways as well and diet and sleep changes to keep his hormones down. But lately he has started jumping off perches and launching himself at my face. His bites HURT so I'm starting to get scared of him. Usually he's easy to read but for some reason now he will go from sweet and cuddly to "I-WANT-TO-RIP-YOUR-FACE-OFF". Sometimes I have to get my boyfriend to dislodge his beak and nails from my scalp. It's just scary!
Because I'm so scared he's getting a lot less out of cage time. I try to make up with foraging toys and lots of different activities in the cage. And I'll put him on his play stand when I'm far but can still monitor... But it's not the greatest way to live.
Any suggestions on trying to rebuild our relationship and trust?
Oh forgot to add. He is DNA-sexed male, born 2009 and I got him as a rescue at 8 months.
It's been a while but thought I would get some help from the old and new gen of AAers.
So for the last two years I've been having a lot of trouble with my BHC, Douglas. The obvious catalyst is that I moved in with my boyfriend and Douglas (who has always preferred males) LOVES my boyfriend.
I don't mind passing on the love as I still have my darling, Kyoko, but since this happened he has started attacking me.
Generally I manage it pretty well. Douglas is perch trained, I don't let Colin pet him in certain ways as well and diet and sleep changes to keep his hormones down. But lately he has started jumping off perches and launching himself at my face. His bites HURT so I'm starting to get scared of him. Usually he's easy to read but for some reason now he will go from sweet and cuddly to "I-WANT-TO-RIP-YOUR-FACE-OFF". Sometimes I have to get my boyfriend to dislodge his beak and nails from my scalp. It's just scary!
Because I'm so scared he's getting a lot less out of cage time. I try to make up with foraging toys and lots of different activities in the cage. And I'll put him on his play stand when I'm far but can still monitor... But it's not the greatest way to live.
Any suggestions on trying to rebuild our relationship and trust?
Oh forgot to add. He is DNA-sexed male, born 2009 and I got him as a rescue at 8 months.