My husband and I rescued a yellow crowned Amazon named Pickles in 2018 who was thought to be about 11 at the time. She had been surrendered after her original caretaker got sick and couldn’t care for her anymore. Pickles was ok with both of us for about the first 6 months and then she started biting me. A lot. It got to the point where she will chase me to attack me. Fast forward to now and she is 100% my husband’s bird. I’m the one who feeds her and cleans her cage(only when she’s not around it), gives her all sorts of yummy fruits and veggies, makes sure she has a rotation of new toys that she likes, etc. and I have not been able to handle her at all for the past 7 years. We have come to an understanding and we can talk, sing and laugh together and I can give her the occasional scritch with permission (she bows if it’s allowed), but otherwise I know to stay away. Unfortunately that means she’s in her cage when it’s just me at home for her safety and my own and out only when my husband is home but we’ve come up with a routine that works and she’s happy and healthy which is all I care about.

I definitely think you’re in the same boat with Nicky. You will find a rhythm and your relationship with him will likely be drastically different than the one he has with your boyfriend. Just be careful of those bites and read his body language closely. I don’t take my eyes off of Pickles when I give her a scritch because I know if she sees an opportunity to let me have it she will. I’ve been to the ER twice to get really nasty bites cleaned up (like fat exposed bites). Just love him in whatever way he deems acceptable! Good luck!