The dilemma with my cockatoo being selective with the kids

[Muna]

Hi everyone.

I have my female umbrella cockatoo who is close to 8-9 years old. Her past is a mystery to me.
When my brother bought her she was 7 years old. I can guess someone bought her & returned her to the pet shop.

Even the vet confirmed her ring tag does not match her age & gave me an estimate of 8-9 years old.

Here what I’ve noticed with her.

She is very obsessed with all the kids 7-year-olds & below. But the sad part seeing her being selective toward my two nieces both aged 8 and she resorts to biting them very deep till they bleed. I hate locking her whenever she sees them. The two girls are terrified of her and I want to fix it .. but unsure what to do.
I’ve tried asking the girls to feed her while she’s inside her cage. She would reject taking the treats from them & puff up.

 

[JLcribber]

The two girls are terrified of her and I want to fix it .. but unsure what to do.

There is no real "fix"for this. They choose who they like and don't like. Your female is a very new "adult" meaning hormones are starting to dictate her behaviour amongst other things. Your long term success is going to boil down to all the humans learning/training to interact and handle (or not) this bird. This is not a bird to be handled by children.

Give this a read. It will explain the psychology behind what's going on with ways to approach things.

Site Name - Articles - Behavioral - Sex And The Psittacine

 

[Zara]

But the sad part seeing her being selective toward my two nieces both aged 8 and she resorts to biting them

I have a hen lovebird who acts like this, so I keep her caged when my 4 year old nephew visits. Would hate for him to get bit, and it´s not her fault. I´m sure to give her a new toy or something to keep her entertained while he´s here and she has to stay inside.