Many people are afraid of an aggressive cockatoo. The fact their bites can cause serious damage deter many people from attempting to work with an upset bird. But aggressive cockatoos are full of untapped potential. They have the ability to love, but have never had the chance to truly show off their skills of affection. Many factors can cause an aggression in a cockatoo. Verbal or physical abuse (even something not directly injuring the bird- like shaking the cage or yelling at them) can cause them to become aggressive. This is a natural reaction for any animal. They see humans as a threat that makes them scared. So naturally they try to protect themselves by coming off as 'mean'. Other reasons for aggression include boredom (a lack of emotional, physical, or mental stimulation), loneliness (not enough contact with another cockatoo or human), or a lack of human interaction (they fear humans because they have not dealt with them before). But with a lot of patience, and a lot of love even the angriest cockatoo can become the most affectionate companion.
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Be patient: When attempting to hand tame an aggressive cockatoo, you need to realize that time truly does heal all wounds. And patience is key in turning their behavior around. Let your bird find love at it's own pace. Do not get frustrated or give up. All your cockatoo really needs is lots of love, positive attention, and time to realize you are the place it's all coming from.
Stay calm: When approaching an upset cockatoo, it's natural to be jumpy. When they hiss or attempt to bite, our instinct is to flinch away. But those sudden movements only make your bird more nervous. So before even approaching your bird, take a minute and calm down. Breathe deep, close your eyes a little, relax your shoulders. When you approach the bird calmly, they will subconsciously become calmer as well. Although they will still be anxious, your calm demeanor will be contagious. So really work to calm yourself before approaching an aggressive cockatoo.
Talk softly: In the past many aggressive and 'noisy' birds were most likely yelled at. A common remark made to loud and angry birds is "Shut up" and many owners mistake yelling at a bird for scolding them- when in all reality it merely makes them want to sqwuak louder. Separate yourself from their negative past human interaction by keeping a very soft voice. Make clicking sounds, whisper, talk lightly, or raise the tone of your voice slightly are all good ways of positively verbally interacting with your bird.
Move slowly: Once again, past owners probably made the mistake of making quick, sudden, and sometimes aggressive movements towards their cockatoo. This would obviously make any cockatoo very frightened of sudden jerks or body movements. So it's important to be aware of the movement you make around an aggressive cockatoo. Always move very slowly. Even a sneeze or a quick scratch of an itch could scare your bird. So be conscious of your every movement and always attempt to move very slowly. This will give your bird time to react to you without feeling the need to protect themselves.
Sit next to the cage: Take a few hours each day to simply sit next to the cage. Talk to your bird in a calm voice. Let them get used to your smell, your voice, and your natural movements. The more aware they are of you and your habits, the less likely they are to be startled or scared by you. After a while try to press your hand against the cage bars. Allow them to come over and sniff, lightly bite, and check out your hand. It will get them accustomed to being close to and interacting with you. But they'll feel safe on the inside of the cage bars.
Set your hand near the door with a treat: Once your bird doesn't seem so standoffish as you sit beside them, open the cage door just a little and set your hand inside with a treat in it. Leave it there. Be still and talk quietly. Your bird may not come to you the first time- that's fine. Just be patient. Continue to do this day after day, so your bird begins to learn that your hand will always have a reward associated with it (a snack).
Let the bird approach you: As your bird gets more accustomed to the presence of your hand in their cage, they may try to approach it. Be still and make no sudden movements. As the bird takes the treat, release it from your hand, and let it walk away. Slowly remove your hand from the cage and grab another treat- and repeat the process again.
Make no sudden movements: Stay very still as your bird begins to take treats from you. Continue to let your bird to take the treats. As your bird gets used to this, approach your bird with the treat (again making no sharp or fast movements). If they run away, retreat and try again later. But if they accept, let them take the treat and then move your hand away. Continue this process until your bird is familiar with your hand coming close. Once you do that, as your bird gets used to you coming close you can begin to try and pet them while they eat. Earning their trust will take a lot of time and patience, but is worth it in the end.
Reward positive interactions with praise and snacks: If your bird allows you to approach them, pet them or comes to you willingly- reward them. Give them a treat for positive interactions and ignore then when they act inappropriately. If they bite or hiss then simply leave them alone. Do not try to bribe them with a snack- that will just show them their bad behavior is rewarded. Only reward good behavior.
Work to train a new trick every week: As your bird's aggression begins to subside, start working on training your bird new tricks. There are a variety of tricks you can work to train your bird. By keeping their mind challenged and entertained you give them a good outlet for their energy- which will prevent anger and aggression.
Deter improper behavior by verbal-training the bird: As your bird begins to learn the meaning of different commands, begin to work on training them "No". When they act inappropriately tell them 'No'. Give them a few seconds to see if they repeat the behavior. If they stop- reward them with a treat. If they continue, ignore them and leave them alone. By teaching your bird the meaning of 'No' you can create an easy way for both you and your bird to understand what is inappropriate and when that act needs to end (aka- as soon as you tell them 'No').
