Six month old male hand reared cockatiel become aggressive

[Jaspa]

Hi

I was wondering whether anyone had any suggestions (I've typed a message already and my computer froze so here goes again...)

My six month old hand reared male cockatiel has become aggressive. Not only does he not go into his cage when we want him too but about a month ago he started flying and attaching at us - our faces and bodies, lunges and bites, and bites my husband's ears and neck if he manages to get onto his shoulder during this time. Tonight he was in this aggressive mood for most of the evening - its not a case we can give him 'time out in his cage' during this time as we have to wait for him to calm down. Tonight he came to me while I started typing the first message and my husband had gone to bed - he wanted a head scritch and was happy for me to scoop him up for a cuddle.

He can do step ups and go into his cage when he wants too.

My vet nurse suggesting carrying on training him with step ups and using a favourite treat to get him into his cage - I've been doing that in the bedroom as its a smaller area than the living room.

Both Olli and Jaspa are out of their cages for 3-4 hours each night and about an hour in the morning, though I've stopped getting Olli out in the morning because I have trouble getting him in and need to get to work. They are out of their cages more in the weekend. So it's not like they don't get their 'freedom'.

He's never had his wings clipped.

I don't have any aggressive issues with Jaspa my female tiel, and likewise with Gabi, my male tiel who died last year - Gabi was very good natured. I also had Gabi for a year on my own before I met my husband and had been on my own for much of Jaspa's life.

Olli loves sitting on my husband's shoulder, either sitting or riding around and spends quite a bit of time with him. But yet he also loves having snooches with me and head scritches. He can also be very charming and he's certainly very bright - he's already whistling tunes I've taught him and words. I've tried suggesting to my husband to ignore him as soon as he sees Olli's mood changing and to get him off his shoulder - tonight I wasnt in the room when it all changed so couldnt calm him down.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks.

[Marrie]

Are you sure he's only 6 months? The behavior is exactly what my male did when his hormones first began to surface, he dive bombed my boyfriend clawing/biting at his face so often he actually drew blood a few times. After a bit it calmed back down, but oh boy was he a hassle for about 3 weeks. It could also be his first molt is coming on, that can make them little terrors.

When he becomes aggressive, tell him "No" firmly and give him a time out in his cage. Tiels hate being ignored, so your idea is a good one - don't ignore for long though so that the lesson is learned. Once he seems to be acting OK, get him right back and reward him for being nice, if he acts mean again, ignore. Continuing training and most importantly do NOT react to any bites - big reactions encourage it and will make him bite more.

Make sure he has something he could use as a rubby toy as well, if it is hormones, that can really help to get out their frustration.