I have a wonderful Moluccan and a Noble Macaw that are bonded and are part of the family. Basically, there are no bird issues.

Recently, I adopted an Umbrella Cockatoo who was loving, sweet, gave kisses, and couldn't be with me enough. Prior to taking him home, I went up once a week to see him for six weeks and there was never a behavior problem. I was told he came from a breeder; his records indicate not much outside time, and the person who had him last stated she allowed him out of the cage twice a day.

At our house, our birds are out all the time, except for when we are away from home, or have some reason to contain them for safety reasons. Everyone gets along; we have dogs, cats and birds, and the new Cockatoo came from an environment with other birds and dogs. The cats are not aggressive and have been raised with birds, and are often snuggling next to the feathered family members.

The new Cockatoo has been home with us since the end of June. The first couple of days, he was fine. Then he started biting my husband. Then he began avoiding me, and seemed to be more at ease with my husband; refusing to step up on my hand or even take food from me.

The new Cockatoo is now being very agressive towards me. At first, it started off as little pinches on my fingers, my lower lip when I kiss him, or the mound of my hand that were painful, but no blood. I said "Ouch" but did not react otherwise.

Yesterday, I was giving the new Cockatoo food and some favorite treats - he was inside his cage, but the door was open. As I reached in to reattach the seed cup, he raised his crest, fanned his tail, and flew at my hand and lacerated my right index finger. Today it is swollen and appears to be mildly infected.

Today, the new Cockatoo was outside of his cage on a perch in the middle of the kitchen with the other two birds. He was observing me, but seemed fine. I offered him grapes and went to the refrigerator to get the grapes. As I was opening the door to the refrigerator, the new Cockatoo attacked me and has lacerated my face along my left jaw line. I am probably going to have a scar - it was a deep puncture wound.

I have had exotic birds for many years, and have never had anything like this happen to me. I am devastated at the thought that my parrot has become psychotic towards me, but the honeymoon is definitely over.

I suspect he is jealous of my Moluccan, who is the sweetest bird in the house. I also suspect that when the new Cockatoo came home to see that I share my time with other parrots that it has triggered something inside of him. He has seen my other Cockatoo on my shoulder and on my office chair and is very unhappy. There is no jealousy between the other birds, and at this point the two Cockatoos are ignoring each other, although they have been seen on the same perch thoughout the day. They have been sharing a cage at night, without any issues, and also sharing food without problems.

The new Cockatoo has no issue with my husband and they are getting along famously. All three birds live in the kitchen, and the area is small. There is no other place to house them, so moving them is not an option.

I am quite heart broken and depressed. My perfect Cockatoo has turned into a Jeckyl and Hyde, and I am in tears.

Any insight is greatly appreciated. I am totally terrified to walk past him because of the attack today and I also realize it is unfair to cage him, because of the risk of feather-picking and isolation.

Will this ever get better? I am afraid of more injuries and concerned that my own anxiety will cause me to change my life for a bird who has now decided he hates me.

Please help...I am clueless. I don't want to send him back to his previous owner and I am quite distressed.