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It's made me a bit jealous, i have to admit, but Marley seems to favor my bf more than me. It's not like she doesn't like me, but if he's in the room with us, it's downright obvious that she's more excited about being with him than me. She will fly off of me just to go to him. Hmmph! And I do all the primary caregiving too!

It's the reason so many people get a second bird If you get another tiel, buy from a good breeder and quarantine the baby for at least 30 days or until your vet gives the okay to let the two birds be in the same room. During the quarantine, have your bf keep out of the quarantine room. Completely!

Paca

Why does this happen anyway?

Our birds are intelligent and have emotions and personalities. They are drawn to others -- birds and humans and other creatures -- for the same complex reasons we humans are. Think how differently you and your bf respond to those you meet at a party.

If you are the only person interacting with a bird during a 30-day quarantine, the baby will grow to love you. Then when your bf is introduced, the baby might like him too but will still love you. Usually it works this way. It's one of the best things about quarantine!

Paca

My parents had a cockatiel that bonded strongly with only one person---my brother. He just loved my brother and my brother was all he wanted! He would yell scream for only him, and every time my brother spent time with him, he would talk and be so happy-----my brother grew up, bought his own home and moved out, but came over to my parents often. He wore flannel shirts alot, and if you held one up to the birds cage, it would remind him of my brother, and he would talk to it!
So far, my tiel seems to like us both---although he does seem more concerned about where my boyfriend is than me, and yells for him more, I only get the feeling he likes him just a little bit more---not too much. I do plan on getting him a birdy friend eventually, maybe over the summer.

When my wife first got Chibi, he liked her, but much preferred to be with me, and he really showed his emotions. After I brought home the other 4 kids, Chibi started cooling off to me, and now prefers to be with my wife. You can see it in both behavior and in facial expressions and eyes. Chibi still will be comfortable on my shoulder or getting scritches, but as soon as he sees his "mama", he lets me know right quick, he wants to go to her. All the rest of them still don't have much to do with my wife, and some won't even get on her hand, but I have to restrict who I have on me or who I cuddle with or the rest get so mad and jelous (but then again, all are jealous of each other)

Sam

That's what I'm thinking too (getting another bird eventually).
I cant right now, for several reasons, but I want to down the road.
She does get excited to see me too, but she will not even hardly acknowledge me coming or going if he is nearby.
She didnt even meet him until 4 weeks after I first saw her(she was a classroom birdie and had bonded with me over her owner even--that's how we ended up with her!) but she sure has taken to him. I wonder if it's because I'm with her more, and the time that she does have with him she just gets really happy to see him? Like if he was around all the time, and I kind of came and went if it would be reversed.

Parrot behaviorist Sally Blanchard has said that most birds prefer a person who is very even keeled, meaning (as I understand her) not given to wide mood swings, just consistently calm and cheerful. I can see how some birds might be that way, like greys, who form a very deep emotional bond and get upset when their person gets upset. But many birds are easy going themselves and more independent of their people, like amazons. I'm just generalizing here, since all can be very individual and different.

I think of tiels as being more like amazons in their way of being happy and playful most of the time and not letting much get them down. So, my guess is still that your bird just happens to have an individual preference for your bf's personality, just as you might like one acquaintance better than another. What we sometimes call chemistry. Some of my tiels get very excited about a tall person or one with facial hair. And often a tall person with facial hair is a man

Paca

Luna likes my husband, she's with him all day while I'm at work. Stays on his shoulder, will nap on his arm, sit on his leg.

When I'm home - it's all about me! Especailly if I'm in the room or where she could see me. She doesn't give hubby a second look (most of the time).

Yes, I'm the one who sat with her in the bird store, then brought her home. Since hubby is disabled and home all day, I figured she'd bond to him, she didn't and yes he is a bit jealous too.

I know your the one who cleans the cage and feeds her, but if you could give her the treats maybe she'll warm up to you a little more.

One more thing, when she went through her puberty stage at 11 months (lasted about 6 weeks ) She would make this "squeaky" sound like a hinge needed oil and present herself to Hubby!! He didn't touch her back area at all, just the head and neck! I teased him and said "she loves me but wants to have your chicks

when Joeys with me gizmo gets jealous and vise versa. when there both on me Joey lets gizzy no who's boss.

and it's not me. LOL

What Paca says sounds so familiar! My baby is really closely bonded to me, and when i get upset, he does too... if I raise my voice, he will tweet and get anxious too... it is really kinda funny. But my baby really does seem to prefer me to anyone else... I hand fed him, and he kind of sees me as mama. He really likes my boyfriend too though, but usually prefers to be with me.

Right now it is almost 12:30 ---thats after midnight! and my tiel is singing away! happy as can be! wolf whistle, the works! we both came home late tonight around 11:00-11:30 and he is SO happy!

Doesn't this all sound like when mom has to deal with the kids all day? Feeding them, cleaning them, displining them etc..and as soon as Dad comes home WHAM! Mom is invisible?
It's not that your bird doesn't love you. It is just that the other person seems more interesting to them for what ever reason.
One of my spoiled hand fed tiels(I hand-fed them) just looooves my husband. I call her "Daddy's girl. She just prefers his company more than mine which it fine by me since I have two other velcro birds that insist on being with me.

Mine seems to like calm people..... as was previously mentioned! He loves to be around my dad mainly because dad just sits and relaxes. Sherwin is as content as he can be just sitting and relaxing with dad. My dad does not live near me but visits at least twice a year....so far Sherwin seems to have remembered him.

hmmmm... this is really interesting as I keep reading people's imput about how one bird will favor a "calmer" person.
My husband is really mellow so I think that is why my "high strung" spoiled tiel loves him.He mellows her out.
My Mother really likes birds but the birds screamed & hissed at her. She was offened & upset by this. But I think you hit the nail on the head because she is extremely high strung & jittery. The birds definitely do not care for my nephews either.Interesting observation.