I just discovered that my 4 month-old QP, Ollie, is food aggressive when he's in his cage. He may have learned it from my cockatiel, Barry, a rescue who came from a VERY bad situation; Barry's aggression is understandable but still there. Either way, I'm not sure what to do. I discovered it yesterday when I forgot to add his Nutri Berries to his bowl. I reached in while he was eating, just to set them in his bowl, and he started lunging and hissing and trying to bite me. I let him do it (I know I'm not supposed to pull back) but man, did it ever hurt! He's never bitten me like this before, just little nips other than this.

Should I even bother trying to break this or should I just let him have his space when he's eating? If it's something I should eradicate, what do I do?

Mine will also hiss and lunge at me if I try to do anything with their food bowl while they are eating ... I guess they think I'm going to take it away or push them out ... I just ignore their behavior but also respect their rights to their own dinner plate (how would YOU feel if someone was to mess with your dinner plate while you were trying to eat?) and maybe add whatever is forgotten later.

Truman can be food aggressive, but it's not consistent. Most of the time he's fine, but a couple of times he nearly chomped me! All I can figure is that he felt threatening in some way those two times, but I have no idea by what.

I WAS TOLD A WHILE AGO ABOUT SUNFLOWER SEED BEING BAD FOR YOUR BIRD, IT CAN MAKE THEM MEAN AND START BITING. WELL I STOP GIVING MY QUAKER PARROT THE SUNFLOWER SEED, AND IN JUST A SHORT TIME THIS BEFAVORE STOPPED. THAT WAS WHAT I GAVE HER FOR A TREAT, WELL SHE STARTED IT ALL OVER NASTY BEHAVIOR, SO I HAVE STOPPED IT COMPLETELY.BOY WHAT A CHANGE. NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE COMING UP WITH SOME KIND OF TREAT, SHE IS VERY PICKY, SHE WILL TASTE WHAT EVER I GIVE HER AND SHE DROPS IT, SHE EVEN STARTED DOING THAT WITH FOOD SHE ALL WAYS LIKED. EVEN WHAT I EAT. ANY IDEAS? I DID GO TO THE PART WITH THE LIST OF FOOD AND THE STUFF THERE SHE TURNS IT DOWN.

Elliot is the same way...they must think you are trying to eat their food and they are just not willing to share!! When I want to add something to the bowl they are eating out of I just hold it up by the door and let them see what I am doing and usually he will take it and add it himself

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I'll go the route of just letting him be while he's eating. Heck, I know I'd be huffy too if someone tried to mess iwth my dinner plate! Never again will I forget his NutriBerries!