- Mar 30, 2011
- 114
- 10
- 196
Hello all,
TLDR: 12 yo hand raised male peacock aggressive the ast two years, progressively worse, towards my husband.
Is there hormone therapy, or behavioral training?
We have had Henri since a chick and although he has a big personality, he never used to attack us. He would only attack objects, that we were carrying, like laundry, vacuums, brooms, and bags. So we knew what are his enemies and avoid triggering him.
Need to mention that Henri is a home pet and lives indoors and goes outside when the weather is nice. Currently, it is winter and he hates cold so he is house bound. But it used to never be an issue before. We spend a lot of time with him and he hangs out in my office. He is not free-range and is always contained even outside.
We moved to a new house 2 years ago. By all means, it is an upgrade for Henri. In the old house, he could only be in a cage, as the deck was hot and boring, but here, he can be on the nice big deck all summer long and also in his cage, digging holes. We even take him for walks around the house and to meet neighbors' chickens. The living room is large and sunny with all glass windows so he can observe things.
He goes to sleep at 9:20 and released around 8. Is this wrong? Should he be put to bed at 6 with sun and released earlier?
Also, I used to pet him all over, mostly head though but I stopped hearing that touching birds on shoulders can make them more hormonal.
It started happening slowly, he would attack my husband, with no provocation or no offending object involved. Because I read here from some owners that you must "put them in their place", some even saying smacking them with a shovel, my husband tried the tactic of dominating him back, like covering him with blanket, yelling, hissing, pushing him down, or even smacking him with a pillow. Well, soon I put a stop to it, because the next day, he would be even more fearful and aggressive so we realized that it is not like with dog. You cannot punish a bird, as they only remember the bad parts, but not that they should not do it again. Unfortunately, several times, because he truly injured my husband, he got very upset and fought back, whilst I was basically crying, because for me domestic violence is a trigger. To be very clear, my husband is very calm person otherwise, loves Henri, but Henri cut his scalp, his face, his legs and arms, several times now. There was a lot of blood. So at that point he simply was at wits end.
Now I worry henri lost all trust and they are open enemies.
Then we tried putting him in time out in his sleeping room. We still do it, to avoid further confrontation. That did nothing either. He comes back remembering all the bad stuff anyway. When he gets going he will not stop, unless the person leaves the room, and the he screams pleadingly. He will also chase and we have to put barriers in his way like chairs.
My husband wroks int he basement and even just coming for lunch is a big deal now as Henri won't leave him alone. What can we do immediately during an attack?
Because he just molted he seemed a bit calmer past 2 months and was very social, but he would stand near my husband and stalk him. he can also stand next to him and be nice and be petted. But soon it turns into him pecking.
Now, he stalks him anytime they are on the same floor, comes very close, and even though he might take food from my husband's hand, the next thing, he will jump him.
He is very hungry during growing and so we make sure he has variety of food.
We took to me protecting my husband, when I am around. I tried hissing and making myself taller, and sometimes it works. I run him into a corner on his perch and he kinda forgets and starts preening. He alos still hasn't jumped me so the female part helps I think. But past couple days when I tried to pushe him away, he started posturing toward me.
I strongly believe he thinks I am his female and my husband is the outsider.
The bad times now outweigh the good times.
I am so scared and not sure how to save this relationship. He is my "12 year old son" and we do not have children. I am over 40 and we always planned to have Henri. I cannot even imagine we would have to give him to some zoo or a farm. I prob would be depressed forever.
Thank you all
Kat
TLDR: 12 yo hand raised male peacock aggressive the ast two years, progressively worse, towards my husband.
Is there hormone therapy, or behavioral training?
We have had Henri since a chick and although he has a big personality, he never used to attack us. He would only attack objects, that we were carrying, like laundry, vacuums, brooms, and bags. So we knew what are his enemies and avoid triggering him.
Need to mention that Henri is a home pet and lives indoors and goes outside when the weather is nice. Currently, it is winter and he hates cold so he is house bound. But it used to never be an issue before. We spend a lot of time with him and he hangs out in my office. He is not free-range and is always contained even outside.
We moved to a new house 2 years ago. By all means, it is an upgrade for Henri. In the old house, he could only be in a cage, as the deck was hot and boring, but here, he can be on the nice big deck all summer long and also in his cage, digging holes. We even take him for walks around the house and to meet neighbors' chickens. The living room is large and sunny with all glass windows so he can observe things.
He goes to sleep at 9:20 and released around 8. Is this wrong? Should he be put to bed at 6 with sun and released earlier?
Also, I used to pet him all over, mostly head though but I stopped hearing that touching birds on shoulders can make them more hormonal.
It started happening slowly, he would attack my husband, with no provocation or no offending object involved. Because I read here from some owners that you must "put them in their place", some even saying smacking them with a shovel, my husband tried the tactic of dominating him back, like covering him with blanket, yelling, hissing, pushing him down, or even smacking him with a pillow. Well, soon I put a stop to it, because the next day, he would be even more fearful and aggressive so we realized that it is not like with dog. You cannot punish a bird, as they only remember the bad parts, but not that they should not do it again. Unfortunately, several times, because he truly injured my husband, he got very upset and fought back, whilst I was basically crying, because for me domestic violence is a trigger. To be very clear, my husband is very calm person otherwise, loves Henri, but Henri cut his scalp, his face, his legs and arms, several times now. There was a lot of blood. So at that point he simply was at wits end.
Now I worry henri lost all trust and they are open enemies.
Then we tried putting him in time out in his sleeping room. We still do it, to avoid further confrontation. That did nothing either. He comes back remembering all the bad stuff anyway. When he gets going he will not stop, unless the person leaves the room, and the he screams pleadingly. He will also chase and we have to put barriers in his way like chairs.
My husband wroks int he basement and even just coming for lunch is a big deal now as Henri won't leave him alone. What can we do immediately during an attack?
Because he just molted he seemed a bit calmer past 2 months and was very social, but he would stand near my husband and stalk him. he can also stand next to him and be nice and be petted. But soon it turns into him pecking.
Now, he stalks him anytime they are on the same floor, comes very close, and even though he might take food from my husband's hand, the next thing, he will jump him.
He is very hungry during growing and so we make sure he has variety of food.
We took to me protecting my husband, when I am around. I tried hissing and making myself taller, and sometimes it works. I run him into a corner on his perch and he kinda forgets and starts preening. He alos still hasn't jumped me so the female part helps I think. But past couple days when I tried to pushe him away, he started posturing toward me.
I strongly believe he thinks I am his female and my husband is the outsider.
The bad times now outweigh the good times.
I am so scared and not sure how to save this relationship. He is my "12 year old son" and we do not have children. I am over 40 and we always planned to have Henri. I cannot even imagine we would have to give him to some zoo or a farm. I prob would be depressed forever.
Thank you all
Kat