Why is my cockatiel nice to me and vicious to my daughter?

Question

I can hug, kiss and pet my cockatiel, but she runs up my daughter's arm (who is 20) with her mouth open to attack her. I don't get it! We had to purposely clip her wings because when she grew them out, she would fly to my daughter and attack her. My daughter loves animals but this one doesn't love her back!

Answer 1

  Try keeping her hands out of sight, might  feel less threatened.  Let bird come to her instead of initiating contact...Might help..

Answer 2

They could be several reasons. She may have chosen you as her "mate" and feels threatened by your relationship with your daughter. She could feel you need protection. She might simply dislike your daughter.

Answer 3

She may be jealous of her/your relationship or just doesn't like her. I had a cockateil who (after let out of her cage) would fly to me if i was sitting on the couch and land on my lap, open her wings as wide and high as possible facing the dog or cat near me, then hiss at them. She was literally protecting me - the cat and dog thought she was nuts. I was flattered. Maybe if your daughter starts feeding her, caring for her, etc... this will change her perception of her.

Answer 4

Birds are like that. They often pick one or two people that they like and they become very possessive and protective of them. I had a conure that only liked me and one of my daughters. She was so affectionate to us, but would bite the fire out of anyone else. I doubt if there's anything your daughter can do except get her own cockatiel.

Answer 5

yup, they have their faves, and thats normal..

maybe ur daughter should try giving it a treat or a headscratch.