My baby doesn't love me anymore?

[actyourshoosize]

I posted in October about putting a new bird with my old bird since I've had to leave it alone more often lately. I know I did the wrong thing back then, but not to make an excuse, I'm hardly 16 and didn't quite know what some of the things people said to me on the topic meant (should have looked it up first). The birds have been together for about four months and I've been able to take them out and play with them still, just as loving as before I introduced the new bird. They haven't bonded to the point of cuddling but i catch them secretly grooming each other and "kissing", I guess i would say they're friends with each other. For the past week and a half or so my older bird, who is now almost two years old, has been biting me like crazy! She tries so hard to get out of cage, and when i open it she climbs on my finger and will sit on me or cuddle in my shirt, but when i try to pet her or even accidentaly pass my hand by her she attacks it, my hands look like swiss cheese by now. On a few occasions she will let me pet her for a few minutes but then go right back to violently biting and not letting go. The only thing I can think of is the night the biting started, i came home with brightly colored nailpolish on, and when i realized she didnt like it i immediately took it off. Could the biting now still be from her remembering that or something? It hasn't stopped since then. Or could it be because of the other bird, which doesn't make sense to me since they have been fine for so long. It would make sense that my old bird might not want me anymore and just want the new bird for herself, but she has shown some meanness toward the new bird (nothing bad, no one is getting hurt) and still tries to come out to me and kiss me and cuddle with me and everything besides petting. Any ideas?:confused:

[actyourshoosize]

Forgot to ask...could it be a hormonal thing that might go away eventually?

[bellarains]

Hey,

It very well may be hormonal, or it could be a little phase she is going through. I have found with mine that if they get hand nippy, I just give them a little space as far as petting goes for a little while, and then slowly reintroduce my hands.

If it was the nail polish episode that started the biting, she may just need a little time to get over being scared of your hands. Try just holding her, letting her sit on your shoulder, and using an extra perch to get her in and out of the cage for a few days, then slowly try to pet her. If she bites, back off and try again in a couple of days.

I hope this will help. Let us know how it's going.

[linda040899]

I have to agree that this sounds like hormones have kicked in! Females can be nippy but there are times when they are flat out bitey!!! This is not something you want to take personally. I liken it to what happens monthly to human females and it will calm back down again. If she is not in the mood to cuddle or be petted, respect what she doesn't want. I would continue to pay attention to her, even if it means just being near her and talking to her. If she wants to come out, let it be on her terms, at least for now.

[Buy A Paper Doll]

" For the past week and a half or so my older bird, who is now almost two years old, has been biting me like crazy! She tries so hard to get out of cage, and when i open it she climbs on my finger and will sit on me or cuddle in my shirt, but when i try to pet her or even accidentaly pass my hand by her she attacks it, my hands look like swiss cheese by now. "

My little hen is pretty much always like this! :) She is always eager to come out of her cage and hang out with hubby or me. She'll hop right up on my finger or arm and perch/climb on me all day. But she has never wanted to be touched or petted and good grief, can she bite when she wants to!

[actyourshoosize]

"She'll hop right up on my finger or arm and perch/climb on me all day. But she has never wanted to be touched or petted"

That's understandable, but in my case i've been petting her for two years and this is so sudden :(

[linda040899]

Some birds take longer for hormones to kick in that others do. I've had hens that were absolute sweethearts until they were 3 or 4!

[bellarains]

I understand what you are feeling. I mean, when they bite, it hurts your feelings. I have been known to actually tear up a bit when one of mine gets nippy out of the blue. I just chalk it up to hormonal or tired, try to respect their nippy stage and we work through it together. I know it's hard, but try and just give her some time and space. Hopefully this will pass soon.

I know you are saying "she", are you sure she is female? Has she ever laid eggs? If you are certain she is a hen, hormonal would be my guess, as she would be of egg laying age, and adding another bird might have kicked those hormones in.

One other thing I thought of is, when you take her out, take her out of sight of the cage. Sometimes if the cage is in sight, even if they are not in the cage, they can be territorial, and nipping is a good way to get back in the cage.

Try not to get too discouraged. She was a sweet little thing once, and I'm sure with time and love, she will be again:)

[LauraO]

I just wanted to add that I have lovies who enjoyed being petted until they got a mate. I don't mean they stopped being tame or didn't want to spend time with me, they just didn't want to get scritches. I've always thought it was because a lovie beak was a much better scritcher than our human nubs:D.

[peppero1]

perhaps the two situations are connected,,,, you introduced a new bird and now her hormones are kicking in,,,, so she is getting nippy as a result. Sometimes you can stall the hormones kicking in by not giving a happy hut, or nest materials or avoiding excessive body petting.....
just a thought.