Tell Me About Your Parrot’s Random Biting
This next week I’m going to be conducting a telephone seminar and providing a recording of that seminar, on the topic of how to stop random, freakish biting habits in normally nice parrots. And to make sure that call goes as GREAT as possible, I want your feedback!
So please share with me the challenges you’re having with your parrot’s random biting challenges, give details, and when I record the call I’ll try to include answers to as many of your questions as possible. Look forward to reading your questions and getting you back some EXTREMELY helpful advice on getting these issues fixed with your birds.
Chet
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:54 am
My Severe Macaw Lucy is the sweetest girl until my husband come near me. Lucy will climb or fly off of her cage, walk across the floor and rear up like she is going to tear him apart. If he walks in to the kitchen Lucy get crazy. Last night we were all settled in to watch TV and she was of course on her cage and when he came near me, she went after him, but instead got me. She goes from sweet to mean, what can I do to stop this behavior? I have used your cd’s before and they do work, so I am hoping you can help this time.
Thanks Colleen
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 am
I have a Blue Fount Amason, about 4.6 years old. This past winter he started to bite and draw blood. This was on my face,ears, neck and in my hair. I never knew what would set him off. He would bite going thouth doorway, in the kitchen, bathroom and twice just watching TV. Paying attention to him or not , he would walk up to me and want tobe picked up, be there on my shoulder or chest and then bite.
It is hard for me to trust him any more!
He loves to play with me, he really wants to be with me and I really don’t want him on me, it hurts me when he nails me. I do wrap him in a towel losely, but he does not really like it.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:07 am
My macaw will tap on the cage and say “come here” and I can go over to stroke him and after the first touch or tow he can turn and try to take a chunk out of my finger.
Also, the past few months when he is on my shoulder, he too can out of no where, try to rip my ear off.
Always before, I could read him, when he was going to be naughty, but now I can not always. Just out of the blue, he decides to bite.(bite as you know is an understatement.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 am
Hi Chet
I have a blue fronted amazon named Amazon aged 3 years What a delightful bird. He loves my husband I suppose that’s because he hand fed him as a baby. He has a habbit all of a sudden of telling me to come and when I do approach him thinking his going to kiss me like he always does he takes chunks out of my fingers or where ever he can can get hold of me. He has become so unpredictable lately but I put it down to hormonal change maybe. His fine with my husband and ok with me when his not around. Just to add fuel to the fire he has this awful scream which we are having difficulty in trying to figure out why he does that. Please help. Many thanks Vivienne
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:33 am
Hi Chet,
My bird will be just sitting on his cage and loving a good careful scratch avoiding his new feathers that are growing in and out of the blue she will jolt her head and bite right into my hand. I try to keep the pain from showing on my face and I try pushing my hand into her mouth and telling her a short “no”. Day in and day out she will do this.
I also have another topic I would wish you would talk about and that is . Putting on a harness on a grown four year old amazon. Do you know if it is possible. I have tried but she screams and runs away. Won’t talk to me for several days if she sees that harnes. It is a aviator, they just show on their CD already birds that are used to these harness. Thank you, look forward to hearing from you. Oslo, Norway
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:34 am
Hello Chet: I have a 2 yr old Conure who will sit on my shoulder and behave well, until someone comes near me and it’s me that gets bit!! Owww but that hurts! He will try to bite my Labs nose too if the dog is looking for affection from me. If he’s on the floor he will go after my son’s feet and bite their toes. In the beginning he was very friendly with everyone but now he has an attitude and seems jealous of anyone or anything that wants to come near me. I would love for everyone to be able to enjoy him. What can I do to help him socialize better? Thanks. Lorrie
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:41 am
I have a Pacific Parrotlet named Buka. He is 1 year old. He sits on my shoulder and goes with me everywhere in the building where I live and work. With no warning, he arches his back and begins viciously biting my ear, face, neck and shoulder. If I try to get him off my shoulder, he rips skin off my finger. If I try using a stick to get him off, he flutters down to the floor, arches his back and flares his wings and begins biting my toes. I walk away and in a minute he is his calm, loving self who just want up on my finger. When I put him back on my shoulder he starts kissing my cheek like nothing happened. Please help!
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:01 am
My 2 year old conure, bites at the children and others who she does not want me paying attention to. True the kids have teased her in the past, but I have tried to teach them how to talk to her and how to act around her.Biting is not an acceptable behavior , nor is the squawking that goes on constantly when the children are here and she is put in her cage to keep her from biting. I would appreciate any help on this part you could give me and Lucy (my conure).
Thanks
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:11 am
I have a seven year old yellow nape amazon. Smart as a whip, funny, talkative and headstrong. Her and I have had a few “moments” and i seem to be the one she bites the most. She won’t do it to my husband EXCEPT for those random times you are speaking about. I just had that experience the other day. She has not bitten me for behavioral reasons since your course but last week I was holding her, she was dancing, singing and having a time of it, we were in “deep conversation” as she calmly sat on my hand, when out of nowhere “wamp…she took a chunk out of my arm”….this has happened to both my husband and I with her and we can’t explain it. HELP!!!!!
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:14 am
(first, conducting is not spelled with a u.)
Second, how do you deal with a bird that bites whenever your fingers (or any
part of your body) are close enough? 12 year old grey won’t step up (used to) or obey any commands? Been trying to find help for years. So far, all advice has failed.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:18 am
I have a cockatoo names Joey that I have had since he was 7. He is now 28. He was very sweet and always out of his cage until about 6 years ago. One day he was outside with me and I bent down to pick him up and he attacked my arm and would not stop bitting me. I had to shake my arm for him to let go.
I later put on cotton gloves to take him into the house. He latched on to my thumb and I though I had lost it. After placing him in his cage, he turned into a crazy bird trying to attack me from inside his cage. I took him to a bird specialist and she did blood work on him but found nothing and he was very loving with her. For years he was crazy and I could not even get close to his cage. I had many bad bits trying to pet him from outside.
After about 3 years I was able to take him outside again but he attacked me once again biting my wrist and I went to the fire dept to be checked as I could not get it to stop bleedning. When I have him boarded while on vacation he is very sweet with the staff and it appears the problem is only with me as he thinks I am his mate. It was not until two weeks ago that he bit someone that he as know for 11 yr. while petting him from outside of his cage. I still let him out occationaly but have to place a bath towel around my arm while putting him in his cage as he bits very aggressivly. He will never be on my shoulder again as I can not trust hm. I will never give up on him and hope to resolve the problem so he can be my buddy again.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:31 am
I am so very lucky! I have a blue front amazon and they are known for their biting watch for eyes pinning and get out of the way!!!!! I was bitten severly in the lip huge chunk taken out of the center of my bottom lip, I was so mad at my parrot that I put her back in her cage and dident talk to her probably for 2 weeks or play w/ her just cleaned the cage and fed her, i KNOW THIS IS NOT THE WAY you should train a parrot, but this is my first parrot and @ the time I had only owned her for a short time
and dident know any better, well since then it has never happened again, I cant even remember when I was bit last I dont know what I have done right but I have a GREAT bird. She gets out of her cage every day loves showers usually once or twice a month eats an organic diet (harrisons) and an occasional sweet potatoe and some fresh fruit,and she sleeps when the sun goes down, I could ramble on forever, but I bet those key factors would help alot, btw a freakish bite out of the blue means your bird id trying to protect you from something, how to stop it? Chet?
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:34 am
I have a Blue Crowned Conure and he is very special to me. He is more like my child than a pet bird. He is well tamed and has even gotten more social with others in our household over the years. He is almost 3 yrs. old and is very attached to me, but like I said he will allow my 11 yr. old son & husband to pet him but not pick him up. Most of the time he is very talkative and happy go lucky but like you said of your macaw, after a while of sitting on my shoulder he will rear back & bite the mess out of my ear, and it seems like he does it more if my son or husband is talking to me and if he’s chewing on my shirt / button and I make him stop he will lunge for my whatever and nip, but sometimes his little nips really hurt and I don’t think he realizes that what he’s doing is a no no either. It’s like “he’s” the boss and that’s that, but I have always wondered if there was a correct way to teach them not to do that. I also know that they have good and bad days too so, I am very interested in learning what to do so I don’t hurt his little feelings or cause him to be afraid of me. Thank you so much!
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:36 am
Nalani, my Blue and Gold Macaw, just had his 2nd birthday and so far I haven’t had this happen, knock on wood. He does have short, unexplained aggressiveness when I least expect it, but it’s fleeting and usually stops short of clamping down into a real bite.
The reason I write is because I’m trying to understand the whole “change things back to how they were before” the bird started the bad behaviour versus help the bird to become more tolerant and flexible. Otherwise, it almost seems like the bird is making the rules. Don’t like the red tub, bite until they move it. Am I being too much of a disciplinarian to suggest a compromise like moving the tub a little further from the cage and force the bird to “deal with it” until he gets used to it? Maybe bring the tub in for an hour or 2 without picking up the bird and then remove it and make contact? Am I totally out to lunch here?
Steve & Nalani
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:47 am
I am very interested in hearing the call. My blue & gold MacCaw is biting and screaming for no reason.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:50 am
Peppy is a 14 year old male sulpher crested Triton cockatoo. I’ve had him since he was 2 1/2 years old. He and I have really bonded. However since he became a teenager he has exhibited some more aggressive behavior and he does do some random unexpected biting! This summer the line of women’s clothing that I sell has 2 flared skirts and it seems that the flare is a moving object to be reckoned with! Peppy can be across the room on top of his cage when I walk in wearing one of these skirts and he can’t seem to get himself down off the cage and across the room fast enough to come at my legs just below the flare! It is more of an open beaked hit than a bite which sometimes results in a blood blister, sometimes broken skin! (At least I think it is the skirt that is triggering this!) Usually now when I return home from someplace where I have worn the skirt, I change into pants before I take him out of the cage!
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:17 pm
We have a sweet loving Umbrella Cockatoo she is really great most the time. She loves the great-kids,but and its a biggie she will bite them for what seems like no reason. She wants to play with them and loves them sooo much . Can’t have a bike go by without her thinking its them and she yells hello etc. So whats up with this. Also at nite she can’ become a demon bird to anyone that does’nt belong in her home. I love her but after 14 yrs is this spoiled and something we are doing. LOL I know the answer, can you tell me what to change, she has and I mean has never bite me. Love my bird hate what she does at times. Thanks Barbara
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I have a green cheecked Conure. It’s at least 11 years old. I bought it at a pet store. Bandit wants to automatically bite because he/she is scared. He/she WILL get up on my shoulder and does talk a bit but (& I know I don’t spend enough time with it). Isn’t there anything quick & easy to teach so she won’t bite? She has always been like this but honestly is a good bird. Whe she/he has bitten me, if I get really mad and yell at her, she finally wil get on my finger and will be okay. OR if I trim her nails, because she’s scared & it seems I’m in control, she’s always nice after that too. She goes back to normal the next time I pick her up though.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:59 pm
I have a 5 month old african grey who always wants to bite first (not hard, just a nip) before she will step up. It doesn’t matter where she is stepping up from, either her cage or back of the couch, she always seems to want to taste first before she steps up.
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Hey Chet,
I need some advice from you for teaching my parrot to stand on my hand and to obey my orders….
I’ve had my african grey parrot for almost a year or two now, but it doesn’t seem to get used to me or my family that much.
What shall I do?
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Hey Chet,
I need some advice from you for teaching my parrot to stand on my hand and to obey my orders….
I’ve had my african grey parrot for almost a year or two now, but it doesn’t seem to get used to me or my family that much.
What shall I do?
P.S.
Sometimes he bites so hard when I’m simply giving him a pat on the head!
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
My 28 yr old Yellow Nape, Screwie, is the sweetest, most affectionate, funny, smart bird I’ve ever known. I know she loves me, but perhaps too much. I adopted her 2 yrs ago from a home where she was well cared for but not handled and loved enough. In all her years, she has laid only one egg, until this past spring, when she laid 5, so I know she’s happy and content.
However, I cannot pick up my cell phone or wear a cap without having a piece of my ear torn off. What’s that about??
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:08 pm
My wife and I have a 3.5 year old white bellied Caique, there are times when we can handle him and stroke him and most of the time we have to handle him with thick winter gloves and not let him near our faces. A few times now when walking past his cage while he was on the top of his cage he darted out of no where and latched himself onto my forearm and continued to twist, all while hanging from his beak. Whenever he is about to attack his eyes get pinned.
Thanx, Eric
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I recently got my sun conure back after 1 1/2 years. Prior to giving him up, he was loveable and we were best friend, even took showers together. He slept on the couch in a towel with me.
Since I got him back, he acts like he is afraid of me, backs off from me and bites me when I attempt to put him on my finger. He has bitten me on the finger, check and neck when he did get on me. He is friendly and loving with my husband. He has bitten him a couple of times but when corrected stopped. He was difinitely my bird when I had him before and closer to m e than my husband.
I am afraid that he was mistreated by some women who he was with the past 1 1/2 years and so got more attached to the man.
How can I overcome this fear with him and have him become my friend again???
Edie
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I have an Indian Ringneck named Jessie. I received her when my neighbor was going to let her go out the window. I bought her a new cage which tured out to be zinc coated, so my poor Jessie was very sick. We did nurse her back to health. As a result of the zinc she has seizures,which medicine has helped.So my Jessie has quite a background. She has bonded with me,does not like anyone else.
I am in the midst of moving and my little friend is beginning to bite for no reason.Please give some help to my little friend.
thanks,Ann and Jessie
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:33 pm
HI - I have a 12 year old Blue and Gold macaw. Casey seems to go through periods where he is very crabby and aggressive, he is particularly aggressive towards my husband, but he has been know to be so mean I have to wait until he calms down to put him back in his cage. I tried to get him on my arm during one these times and he bit my thumb nearly half way through. There does not appear to be any inidication that would warrant this bad behavior.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Hi Chet,
We have a 2.5 year old African Grey. She is very sweet bird and loves to play. Just recently she started biting my fingers and toes out of no where. Everytime we sit down to eat at the table… she would come under the table and just randomly start biting everyones toes. Not sure what is triggering this behavior, but she is getting worse and worse day by day. It is to a point where she draws blood.
Any help or guidance will be much appreciated.
Thanks
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:41 pm
my citron cockatoo loves to go for walks (on my shoulder) but will bite me if anyone stops to talk to me-
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:48 pm
My Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Baby Bird (now dubbed Cockatoosaurus Rex), was the ideal, loving, playful and snuggly companion until my grandchildren paid a visit. After luring me to his cage with a cute little “Come here, baby!” he proceeded to bite my finger visciously three times in rapid fire succession bringing blood and yelps with each crunch. Thereafter, for the last 6 months, my hands, feet, ears and anything else he can get to have been nothing less than targets to him and I have the scars (mental as well as physical) to prove it. He will step up, then run up my arm to bite my ear. There is no doubt he wants cuddling, but only on his mysterious, demanding terms. I’ve tried all suggested right things and most of the wrong ones to no success. I am at least his third owner, so I have no idea as to his age or history other than his first owner made the mistake of bringing a new wife home. Unless I find the key to his displeasure we’re doomed to love one another unhappily from afar.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Mine is a three year old Sengal Parrot named Kiwi, he is a great little guy most of the time, evry so often he will try to bite and go on a real aggresive attack. I am his third owner, have had him for alittle over 18 months now. If he is out of his area, as in the shower I can do anything with him without fear of being bit. My wife can not get near him, he will come to the cage edge and almost dare her to pet her saying hello and tlaking to my wife, the from no where insint attack mode.
Thank you,
Randy T.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Hi Chet,
I would be interested in hearing a recording on how best to go about this problem. Our umbrella cockatoo will be having tickles in-front of the TV for 30-40 minutes then decide to go on the floor and run at your toes, if he gets you it hurts, so far having been using the *boring* “no” technique he does stop and run off but it doesn’t seem to cure the behavior completely. Additionally to my horror the other day he bit my sister on the chin after he’d just let her pamper him. He is a sweet little soul and has never bitten me, it seems to be the odd nip which can be very unpredictable which is why I am increasingly aware of him and strangers in the house. Be sweet as pie one minute and all of a sudden lash out. Very strange!
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I have a 22 yr. African grey (congo) who I adopted when he was seventeen. He was known to bite and had been abused. I have gained his trust as he shows no fear of me. He wants to be petted as he will stand as close to me as he can get and crawl up the couch to be with me and yet he will bite into any part of me he can get to and a really mean bite to. He chases my feet with or without shoes and has bitten through the leather. He will down his head and spread his feathers and enjoys being gently scratched and yet will suddenly turn around and bite as hard as he can. There is no way I can stand those bites in order to stop him. I also have a blue front amazon who tries a little nip every once in a while but is easily controlled by saying No bite which she repeats or by gently pushing her beak away from me. I love them both and feel really bad that I cannot be as loving with the grey because of his terrible bite.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I have a 6 year old female Eclectus that bites me and my dad’s feet when where sitting on the couch. She Dose’nt just do it just to us but she does it our 4 year old male Eclectus too. Why does she do this?
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Hi, I have a Myers Parrot, whom flew into my house for hurricane Wilma, I do not know how old he is but he is very sweet 99% of the time but sometimes when I’m playing with her or rubbing her head she will all the sudden turn around and try to bite me for no reason what so ever, I think she is fine whit tuching her head, but once you start moving to the body he does not like it. Also when she is out of the cage and I try to get her to go back in if he is not ready, he won’t let me pick him up, and will try to bite me. Hopefully you can provide us with an answer. Thanks.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:40 pm
My 10 yr old Blue and Gold Macaw was the sweetest bird on earth until he bacame an adult @ 7 or 8 yrs old. He would let me do just about anything to him and he loved to give me kisses. That is, until all of a sudden, he bite my lip for no reason. My lip was all torn up and swollen. From that point on, when he would bite (which was all of the time) he would bite like he was trying to break my bones. He attacks when I’m trying to emty his water bowl from his cage. Seems like he is possessive of his cage. He also, for no reason will be playing with my feet and then suddenly bite them. Not super hard but enough to get my attention. He is very spoiled and acts more like a dog than a bird. He doesn’t like to be stuck in his cage much so when I’m home, he walks around the house and plays with his toys. Believe it or not, when he has to “go poopy” as I call it, he will go back to his cage and go. His biting has somewhat improved. I can touch him on his back with my hand or I can touch him any where with my foot. If my hand is covered with a towel then I can touch him any way I like and he can be close without always attacking me but he still bites. I don’t trust him anymore even though there are times when he wants to give kisses. He seems to love rubbing his beak up and down my legs and seems to not like when I leave the room too long. I put up with his biting because he shows (on occasion) much love. If I’m upset or crying, he has on many occasions, come out of his cage and walk over to where I’m sitting and climb on to my lap. He will act upset as well. I guess you can say that we have a “love-hate” relationship thing going. Any suggestions on how to stop the biting would be greatly appreciated….especially to my body parts! Thanks, Lauren
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Hi Chet, I have a 3 yr.old Congo. He has a night/inside cage, and an big/day/outside cage. Every morning he lets me take him
outside to his day cage, Because he loves to be outside with all our other birds. We have Eight other species of birds, altogether
about 100+_ . My problem is that I can’t bring him in unless it’s dark and everyone,(the birds) are quite and settle down for the evening.
The other day I had an appointment to get his wings and claws trimmed, so I went out to get him, opened his door and he attack me and bit me. I knew it was not going to be easy to
get him out. His pattern of comming out of his cage was changed on that day, and he was letting me know that. Oh, by the way when he does let me pick him up to be brought in the house he will screech to let everyone else that he is being brought in the house; and they aren’t.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I have a black capped conure, about 1-1/2 years old, who will also go onto the floor and bite feet. Sometimes he will be playing and appear perfectly fine when he decides to lunge after one of the family to bite. Thanks for any help.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Hi Chet-
I would like to listen in on a seminar. I have been trying to decide how to find a bird trainer help me reduce my injuries, which just recently began.
Trixie is my 8 year old Rose Breasted Cockatoo. She lives with me and my husband in the living room. She has a large tree with toys, a cage with more toys, gets lots of attention from both of us and plays by her self too. The bird has not been sexed & most groomers & the vet think it is likely male. I do not know if this changes the way I correct the biting behavior.
Trixie will be on my arm- then see my husband, and WHAMMO- I get a pirahna on my arm, collar bone hand- or what ever flesh is available to grab on to by Trixie.
She does not get to shoulder ride too much any more as a result- as I wish to keep my eyeballs in tact.
The bird will charge and bite anyone’s feet on the floor, we try to keep her from moseying around on the floor any longer at all, as that is trouble and danger for the bird.
Trixie puffs up like a feathered ballon & then strikes like a cobra.
We have nicknamed her Diablo since the last full moon.
Please, Chet, also if you have any recommendations of trainers in L.A. That I can work with, please tell me.
Thanks.
Lisa
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I have a 1 1/2 yr old green cheeked conure, Malabar, who is extremely docile most of the time. Occasionally, he (I don’t know the gender for certain) will fluff up his head feathers which we now know to be a sign that he is going to bite and bite hard. Most of the time this happens in the morning when we open his cage to feed him, but it can also suddenly happen when he is on our laps or shoulders. When he is in the cage, I just have to put something on my hand to protect it, and show it to him. This makes him a bit fearful, so I immediately remove the protection and he is his usual loving self. If this happens when he is on us we shake our shoulder or leg to get him to the ground and give him a few moments to compose himself. Usually within 30 seconds he is done with whatever it is and is happy to get back on our laps. This behavior is not limited to any particular person. We’d appreciate any advice.
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I have a 6 year old LSC who will attack any of my buddys that drop by the house. She has bite every one in my family at least once so I’m the only one to feed her or play with her. When I’m home she will not stop screaming until I give her attention. I’m looking forward to the call.
Del in Grand Cayman
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Hi Chet,
My 17 month old Senegal, Georgie, is a sweetheart almost all of the time. We have been very careful to encourage his relationships with my husband and my son, who does not live at home, as well as mine. He adores both of them, but is “my baby”.
Most of the time he just gently nibbles which is more like kisses, and he uses his beak as an extra hand/foot which is a nibble too. I have identified most of what gets him actually biting, sometimes to the point of drawing blood. Usually it is because he doesn’t want to do something that I want, and it is his only way of letting me know. I have had to get a bit crafty with him, particularly with distraction or teaching him not to associate 1 action with another that he doesn’t want, such as:
1. He started biting when he didn’t want to be taken off his play perch to go back to his cage, so I used his blanket and put it over him & picked him up with that, keeping him wrapped up in it until he calmed down. Once he’s calmed down, I take him out of the blanket and take him for a little walk around, rubbing his head and talking to him, doing step-ups, before putting him in his cage, so he no longer associates being taken off his perch with being put directly into his cage. He doesn’t bite in that situation anymore.
2. At other times if he doesn’t want to go back into his main cage, he will give hard pinches & sometimes really hard bites, so now if he looks like he’s going to bite when I put him in, I get his beak occupied with the perch & take my finger away from his feet, leaving him hanging so he can’t let go with his beak & bite me. He has to hang on with his beak in order to get his feet onto the perch! I also often reward him with a treat when he doesn’t even try to bite.
3. If he doesn’t want to come out of his “outside” cage on the patio, sometimes he will bite hard, other times it’s more like pretend biting, just enough to say “I don’t want to”, but I can get him anyway by ignoring it. Once he was really attacking, so used his blanket the same way as in #1.
4. Every once in while, he will go for me when I go to bring him out of his main cage, which he usually loves to come out of, so I just shut the door & walk away, I figure he’s just not ready to come out at that time. Then by the time I go back, he comes out without a problem.
He has only bitten my husband on the lip once right out of the blue, for no apparent reason, he was just sitting on his finger while my husband was talking & Georgie was kissing. He may have been going for my husband’s teeth, since he sometimes tries to get at mine if I talk when he’s really close to my mouth, though he doesn’t bite me, just tries to grab & hang onto them. He must think they are a toy!!
He bit me badly on the lip once when I had the “big, black”, cordless ‘phone, which I forgot he doesn’t like, it was by my ear & he was too close to it & to me, so I think it scared him. It also seems that occasionally, if I move a bit too quickly, it will startle him & he’ll try to bite, but as long as I don’t get going too fast with him, he’s fine.
When we leave the room, he will often scream his “where did my flock go?” scream, so I always tell him I’ll be back & he stops. But recently he was screaming & screaming continually for no apparent reason, I was still in the same room, & although I tried to just totally ignore him, a friend who arrived during the middle of this tirade noticed that I was actually responding to him without realizing it. I stopped that and now pay very close attention to what my husband & I are doing and he has now pretty much stopped that continuous screaming.
Sorry this was so long, there was a lot to share!
Thanks & I’m looking forward to the tele-seminar.
Susie
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Hi Chett,
Love your website, your DVDs and audio CDs. My cockatiel Gwen is only 5 months. She we think she’s a female anyway, is the sweetest and most dosile bird. But when we bring her in to our den she bites like crazy. This happens at night, and only in this specific room. She bit me the other night when I was putting her in her cage. She hasn’t bitten hard yet, but she has a very strong beak. Please help. She loves everyone, and is wonderful with my parents and the rest of the family. Thanks so much!
Marissa and Gwen
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
I have a 3.5 year old conure. He is always well behaved, except around young children (up to age 5) — he bites their earlobes when they go by his cage.
Lately, however, my conure wants nothing to do with my husband. We are going through a divorce and I believe he really senses the tension in the house. My husband enters the room and the bird goes into a complete rage. He tries to bite him whenever he is anywhere near the cage or me. I have seen this bird climb two flights of stairs (when his wings are clipped) just to screech at my husband. He also bites me when my husband is near me — but I understand that this is a flocking/flight mannerism –> that those birds at the back of the pack bite the birds in front of them to make them get out of the way of danger. The funny thing is — he is my husband’s bird!! But it looks like I will be getting him once the split has finalized!
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Wow, was this a timely email!!
I have a 1 1/2 year old sun conure (Shiloh) who has been my abolsute sunshine since I purchased him from the breeder. He plays peek-aboo with me, give me kisses continuously and, at times is absolutely glued to my chest (he loves to “ride” there).
I am a very fortunate woman who makes a good living from home and - for the most part - am able to spend lots of morning time with my flock (2 quakers - 1 rescued, 1 purchased, 1 CAG, 1 Sun conure, one Nanday - wild caught rescued, 1 cinnamon green cheek and a Starlight Dove ;-)). Everyone has their “issues” from time to time, however, not my Shiloh.
Yesterday I got him out of his cage for his lovin’s and he grabbed onto my finger, screaming and would not let go. Then he climbed to my head and would not get down. When I finally got him off my head (not an area I ever let him on), he grabbed my finger again and tried to fly away (I, of course had my fingers across his feet while I was trying to move to his cage to put him back). I knew better than to show the pain he was causing me (he did draw blood), but I imagine I did show some shock at first.
Now, as I am writing this, I am going over and over what I did that was wrong - and cannot find anything out of the ordinary. EXCEPT my husband had moved a cage of another animal into the front room to clean just before I picked him up (we used to be an animal shelter - nothing that Shiloh hasn’t been a part of since we brought him home). But now, am thinking that is the reason - the purpose behind his bites.
I realize that birds are very sensitive animals who pay attention to everything in their environment - all the time. Us humans forget that most of the issues are based on little things we really don’t pay attention to.
If I am on track, my little sweetie was just trying to protect his “mama” from what he viewed as a threat. If I am off track, please let me know.
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I would be very interested in learing how to stop biting. We are new in the parrot world and need all the information and help we can get.
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:31 pm
My severe maccaw Robbie is 2.5 years old and can be a sweetheart. Recently she attacked my face cutting my chin which bled for quite a while. That was just out of the blue or perhaps b/c I gave her some banana and when she acted disinterested (had all she liked) ate the rest myself. I thought maybe she was upset about that. Otherwise she is very “nippy” with constant bites especially through a nylon mesh LS tee shirt. They are seldom enough to draw blood but on sensitive areas, they hurt. I spoke with the vet about her regurgitation routine that she’s been performing lately (only when I hold her) and he suggested it may be a hormonal thing, that she was demonstrating that she could care for chicks. I thought that perhaps this biting issue may be caused by some hormone issue. She spends a lot of time in the cage these days because of the biting.
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:42 pm
HI Chet,
I have a Red Headed Amazon who is very gentle except when I wake him from a nap, when it is dinner time or when my husband comes into the room. He is in love with my husband who no interest in him. He also loves me when we are alone. He was a rescue parrot and at first he did bite some but has gotten over it to the point that he beaks me but not hard, just as a warning. When in doubt of his disposition, I have a heavy duty BBQ mit that is black and white striped. He will step up immediately. He is always receptive to me using it when needed.
Another comment is: He does not like red, especially when I am wearing it. He also will eat no red fruits such as red grapes, strawberries, Raspberries but loves blackberries, green grapes, etc.
I am interested in stopping all biting so will be anxious to see what you have to tell us.
Thanks
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
My Grey will let my wife and I pick him up, pet him and play but it almost seems as if he thinks that part of the picking him up requires him to bite. He does it everytime we pick him up or put him back in his cage. Also when I’m rubbing his neck or head he will turn real quick and try to bite. It’s never very hard but with his pointed beak it still is noticeable.
Thanks
Jim Sublett
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:07 pm
OK, the plelthora of replies you’ve received is enough to turn anyone off to having a parrot for a pet unless you come up with some really great tips and tricks here. I have a 20 year old conure who lost 2 mates years ago, bonded to my Amazon, and will only let me handle him. He used to be the darling of the pet store as a baby until the owner almost killed him feeding him hot microwaved food and burning a hole in his crop (so, he’s basically a rescue). My Amazon also gets in “moods” occasionally biting, and lures my husband in for the kill (so he’s stopped handling her altogether for years). Can’t wait to see your and others’ suggestions.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Skylar our 2 year old B&G Macaw nips some but basicly is an angel compared to Diago our 3year old African Gray. He was rehomed with us after 2.5 years with 6 young children and 2 adults that had their oun business and never home. Diago has calmed down quite a bit, but his bites are always severe in nature. We cant help but be afraid of him. He is just now letting us touch him, but only for 1 second & always on his terms. I will ask hijm if he wants to “Step Up” before I try. He may step up on my hand, or take a hunk out of it. Not sure what those kids did. But we try all pertinent tricks to asure him we are not going to harm him. Diago is quite & likes to stay close but not within reach. My reading states a few years is not uncommon before trust is given, or maybe never. We still love him.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I have a 17 year old Scarlet Macaw. The bird came to me as a rehome about 5 years ago. She had previously been a “trophy bird” Very little handling and human interaction. We started out slowly. I was warned that she hated women. I was ok with that. Over the course of getting to know her and her adjustment to life in my home, she is now more of a womans bird. The reason I say this……she started out really liking my son and boyfriend and biting me to bits at every turn possible. Now, she doesn’t bite me but will playfully nip or give warning nips when a stranger is too close for her liking.
The real problem is her biting my boyfriend. She will play with him on her cage top and if she is on the sofa with him. But whenever he attempts to take her to or from her cage, many times she will with no provovation bite him.
We have tried stick or perch carrying her. She is deathly afraid of this, I am told this is due to the previous owner. We do not allow he on shoulders as she is too unpredictable with the biting. We have watched her closely and can find absolutely no reason for the impulsive biting. We always move slowly and queitly with her as to not frighten her. Her environment does not change…….so no issues with strange items in the room/house. She is overall a very good bird and has come out of her shell over the years and is quite playful. But this horrific biting with no reason is not good. My boyfriend has resorted to using a thick welders glove to transfer her.
Is this our only solution? I sure hope not!
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Hi there,
I have a blue and gold macaw, he is 6 years old and I purchased him form his former owner which was never home, wouldn’t give him much attention, leave him locked up in his cage and he lived ever since he was born with a couple of vicious red macaws. He even have fight scars.
Well, I have him for about 1 year and a half, in the beginning he was wild and vicious, would scream for no reason, would stop talking, would not let us get close to him, if so, he would start bitting and do his challenge rituals in his cage (open his wings, go on the top of the cage, hang there, and start flapping his wings and calling us there. It took me a few of days of non-stop reading on the subject. So I learned that he needed to adapt with us, and trust us. It took about 2 months for him to slowly trust me and let me pick him up and pet him, that only after I stop being scared and I would just let him bite my hand until he would get tired and stop, so then I would pet him.
Anyways, now he trusts me, he lets me pet him, pick him up and all that, specially now he is 200% quieter. But, from no where, randomly, he would just bite while petting him, sometimes because of the growing feathers, but I would watch for that, sometimes because he wants to play fighting (since he was raised with two other macaws, they played fighting often, so I took the role). And while in my shoulder, form nowhere, with no warning, he would just bite.
Thanks.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Dear Chet,
Funny you bring this up… I was watching your DVD on Taming, Training and Tricks with my African Grey. We had been enjoying a wonderful morning and I thought it would be fun to watch your DVD and try some of your training. I got his favorite treat and we began. I held the treat out and he gave me one of those vice grip nips on my finger then jumped to the floor. Luckily he got mostly finger nail, but it still hurts as I am typing this message. Undaunted, I put him on his perch and we learned the wave. To answer your question, yes, I would be interested in a “Why the heck did you bite me seminar?”
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Hi Chet,
My 5 yr old grey congo gets upset when I try to put her into her cage before she wants to go. She growls and will grab my finger. She doesnt bite hard but her beak is pointed and it hurts.
The most aggravating habit she has now is chewing up my shirts. I love to take her outside on my shoulder but a t shirt is only able to last 3 days then its in shreds.
I bought a leather coat at the flee market two weeks ago and it is a shambles now—-How can I get her to stop destroying cloths?
Best regards. Jack
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:01 pm
we leave our birds front and side doors open. He usually sits in thedoorway on the side about half way up the cage. Whenever we have male company he climbs down and gets between my husband who has cancer and the male company. And if they move toward my husband he bites their shoe/toes…He will also wait till no one is paying attention to him and sneak over and bite shoe/toe of the male visitor. I know he is territorial because I can only pick him up if he is on the outside of his cage. I can also pass him to my grand daughter at her house but he he bit her when I tried to pass him to her at our house. Please advise.
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:13 pm
My African Grey Petrie has always been my darling: his original owner chose between him and a cockatoo, so Petrie was sold.
We had some “issues” concerning his consignment sale, and the tension over the bird was quite thick. Petrie started to pluck, and he still (ten years later) plucks himself downy, like a little chick.
After repeated interventions for the plucking, I decided to just leave him be–he was a smart, talkative, and sweet bird, so there didn’t seen any sense in making him crazy with interventions. But then he started doing the unthinkable: attacking me, his supposed favorite person.
These attacks are bizarre. At first I attributed them to separation anxiety, since he seemed to bite when I tried to get
him off my hand. But that never explained the bull-dog ferocity with which he attacked: he would chomp down and hold on, and “distraction techniques” didn’t dissuade him. And he would sometimes start fighting with my arm when we were simply sitting on the sofa–no other birds around, no cats, no strangenesses or newnesses in the room, just this weird brain flash that would cause him to seize on my arm.
I’ve been afraid to kiss him on the beak for years now, after he put a hole in my cheek on the morning of my church solo in the choir. Now I only pick him up with a stick, and keep same stick handy if he should happen to creep up on my knee.
I recognize the “strike” signs like the “Amazon foot” or the dilating pupils, but caging him before or after a putative assault does no good. He just looks abject, I feel sorry for him, and relent by giving him free reign.
Double-bind here: he plucks and/or he bites, but I’m the only person he ever attacks.
Makes me very sad–I used to sing “You Are My Sunshine” to him every morning. I still do it, but my heart’s not in it–I’m afraid of my friend, who’s turned abusive.
I’d love some printed or CD advice on this problem–I’m usually feeding animals whenever you hold a call-in session.
Thanks,
Barb
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I have a beautiful 17-year-old Umbrella Cockatoo. I have only had the bird a few months and feel very fortunate that he was so loving and well-trained when I got him. He had done some plucking before I got him, but now all his chest feathers have grown back and he isn’t plucking any more, so I must be doing something right! He showers with me twice a week and eats directly from my plate at mealtime. I have worked very hard to give him new and interesting experiences. He always goes with me any time I go to a pet store or any kind of drive-through and any outdoor function that has a lot of people is a great time for him. He simply rides on my shoulder and waits for the inevitable attention that he draws. What has me concerned is that sometimes, for no apparent reason, the bird will be near (but not on) someone and will suddenly run at them and lunge and bite. It is usually me or a family member. We will be sitting on the couch and he will be either running laps across the cushions (his favorite form of excercise) or playing peekaboo with the pillows. With no warning he will run at a person, lunge at them and bite. This only happens about once every week or two so I don’t think it’s caused by a change in his environment. Last night, I had him at a company picnic. He found a co-worker of mine that he was especially friendly with. He was walking back and forth on the picnic table between her and I, and suddenly he lunged and bit her on the arm. She’s now terrified of him. I know how much he loves going with me where there are a lot of people, but after he bit the co-worker I’m having second thoughts about the wisdom of this. What can I do to stop this behavior so I can feel safe sitting on the couch or having him around strangers again?
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I have a goffin cockatoo named ellie she is a very sweet bird and is 2 and a half the problem I am having is that she loves all the attention and presses her body against your chin then she will start biting your ear or any kind of flesh she could get to its mostly the ear. my thought is maybe because she is still a baby because being only two and a half years who knows but I just cant seem to understand it when we first got her she was even sweeter never a bite out of her then two months later approx. all heck broke loose and we cant shake the behaviour problem. I am her third home her first home was a lawyer then a pet store then me the pet store lied about her saying she was a male and wouldnt send me a picture when she arrived her toe nail was missing on her right foot and when I asked they didnt know what happend but other then her behaviour she is really sweet and fully featherd and beautifull what erked me was then the petstore asked if I wanted to return her since she wasnt a male now why in the would I do that I am attached to her and would never do that to this poor bird. I have three goffins including her I have two green cheeck conures and two parakeets I dont know chet but once you get one bird you cant stop most of my birds are from previous homes one of my green cheecks paulie is so mean that you cant go near him/her unless you got a towel handy paulie I saved from a pet store she/he had been there for three years and I couldnt take it no more had to get paulie I knew she would die there because no one would get her because she was not tame. I want to know also how I can change paulies behaviour. well got to go but one more question who can I complain to about this pet store paulie came from when I went to buy food the food bin had mold in it and diease has went through the birds dont know if its gone now or not and the dogs there keep getting parvo well thank you and hope to hear from you keep training your doing great to bad you werent on tv like the dog whisper you would be the bird whisper lol thanks again
Barbara
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Our sun conure is generally very sweet, but she does surprise us with theese random bouts of biting sometimes. As clear as I can figure it’s usuall when she gets tired and wants to go back to her cage. Maybe I’m wrong? It always seems to happen when she’s been on my shoulder for a while. Maybe she gets bored with whats on TV of she’s had her full of whats on the dinner table…
Carl
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Hi Chet,
I have 2 African Greys. Thomas is around 8. He was given to me because the people who owned him kept him closed up in a bathroom for years and he cut all his feathers til he looked horrible. He seems to like both of us but he will bite sometimes when you are feeding him. He talks all the time and has all his feathers now. He got very scared when we had a screened in porch put on. Bit off 2 of his toes. He spent a month at the bird hosp. and wore a big sattelite dish and was fed by syringe for some time. That’s when we decided to get him a friend. The breeder said Serina is a girl. I don’t know. They seem very happy being side by side. She is 3. She’ll say Hello I love you and then try to bite you when she is being fed! I don’t take them out of their chages except for nice long baths, because we have 3 cats and Thomas tears up all the wood furniture in our house if he’s on the floor.
I wish I could trust them enough to take them out and love on them. We have alot of years to go!
Deanna
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I have a RainbowLory, she was the sweetest thing, then one day, this was two years ago she started biting me, and I mean attacking me any chance she got and she still is. She will go to my husband but I must put a towel on my hand to get her to step up. She is so smart that she will get on my toweled hand then jump to my toweled hand and attack that one. If she is on the floor she will attack my feet too. She will take treats from me and say “yummy” and not bite. I have to remove her from her cage to a different cage to clean it or she attacks me. She will go to any man that is around and loves them. I am her main caregiver and she would eat me alive if she were big enough!
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I wanted to say I was going to buy food there when I bought paulie when I saw that I ran out of that pet store faster than ever thanks again
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I have my parents 30ish yr old crabby African Grey Congo parrot they named Clyde. They bought him from a pet store 30 yrs ago to be a companion for their other Congo Parrot. From the first day they saw him, he had his feathers puffed up and growled at anybody who came near him, especially strangers. He spent 29 years in my parents living room and never was friendly with anybody, not even the other parrot. Nobody dared put a finger near him. I’ve had him now for a year and we ended up putting him in a back room, out of the hub of activity, due to his angry growling and screaming. Since then I have tried some of the parrot taming techniques on your CD. I pet him with wooden dowls and he furiously bit them, but eventually accepted the petting. Since moving him to the back room, he is given treats and talks when we are in the room with him and he has become a different bird. He actually let my husband scratch his head and I can change his food and water dishes now without breaking out in a nervous sweat trying not to get bit. Until recently, when placing food in his dish, he gently mouths my finger and lets me scratch his head. My Dad spent a month in the hospital until 2 days ago and we have his 40 yr old Congo parrot staying with us temporarily. Clyde has started puffing his feathers up and acting like he did before we got him. I definitely don’t want my husband or myself to get a vicious bite from him. It hurts!
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I have a Blue and Gold Macaw with a bad attitude problem. He has had two previous owners and he is about 4 years old. He constantly attacks my husbands feet and sometimes bites him to get his attention. He’s bit me a couple times too and laughed about it. Sometimes he is sweet and sometime he’s a real devil. I’m afraid to hold him, because I don’t know if he is going to bite me. He’s so bad, but he’s funny and I love him so much. I really need help!!!! Thank You, Beverly
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:13 pm
My Lilac Amazon (Rio)was very friendly when I bought her but immediately took to my husband and hates my guts. She views me as the “other woman” and is vicious. I have many scars to prove it. I care about her but have never been able to trust her for a minute. She’s drawn blood repeatedly. It’s very discouraging. I wish I would have gotten a Cockapoo as they seem so loving. Judy Dugan
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Wow Guys,
Obviously I struck a chort with this topic. This makes me excited about doing the call… and keep the questions and feedback coming so I can make it as impactful a call as possible!
Chet
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I have an amazon named Ripley. He’s just over 2 years old and he started biting just after a year old. No reason, just started biting. I have had parrots for 15 years now, but all have been females by chance. he shares th Den with a Sun Conure and Caique. In the bird world, males are also much different than females. They’re agressive, more playful - AND when they play, they play rough! He doesn’t like to cuddle let alone play nicely or to be petted. Currently, I have him down to biting once a month, but he’ll chase anyone else that goes near him. Our kitchen oven mit is used more for him than for cooking. I’m ready to send him back to the pet store for consignment sale after over 2 years of working woth him. Any suggestions that work will be much appreciated as this problem will only continue with any new owner.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Alex is a yellow-collared mini macaw that I’ve had since he was 9.5 weeks old. I hand fed him for weeks. He is now 7 years old. We were well bonded and then wamo! he starts biting me. Attacking for no reason.
I have had a friend living in the house spending more time with him so I figured that was part of the problem. Okay, I learned,thanks to you, to watch carefully for signs of a coming attack.
We spent a week together about a month ago and he was much better. Now, he’s taken to landing unexpectedly on my shoulder. Hasn’t bitten yet but I’m not very trusting. He still lunges at me when my friend is in the room or when I walk my the gate (to keep the dogs out) to his room/my office. He runs towards me and starts barking like the dogs. He has attacked my feet. Not a good feeling. No reason for the attack.
Don’t understand why his behavior changed in the first place. He will take a shower with me but I can’t carry him in and while on the perch in the shower he will lung like he’s trying to bite.
The nasties started around age 3. He used to sit with me for hours, share my drinks and food.
Help, I want my sweet loving Alex back.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Hi Chet,
I have a Dusky Conure that I’ve owned for about 7 months now. He is about 14 months old. He’s is the sweetest bird 99% of the time. If fact, his name is Sweetie!
Anyway, the other day he was on my shoulder, and then out of the blue he bit me on the shoulder. He has never bitten like that before! I held his beak and said, “no!” but then he did it again a couple more times. I have no idea what prompted him to do this. I was wearing a sleeveless shirt, too…ooouuuccchhh!!!!!
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:27 pm
I have a 7 year old black headed caique, I’m his only owner. We have a great relationship except for the occassional VISCIOUS bites. Then I become afraid of him and he is often toweled. He does not mind the towel at all though, he actually coos and purrs while in it. His attacks are completely random sometimes weeks to months apart. They can come from him while on perch, on the floor, or most recently he was laying on my chest (literally laying down) and I put him on my figer to get a kiss as we so often do but you know what I got instead, a very fat lip! !
Sometimes I can detect a possible bite coming by feather movement and dilation of eyes but other times I don’t see it coming at all. I am just wondering if this is just to be accepted and expected since I have expected something that is supposed to live in the wild to live by my standards now…or am I actually doing something “wrong” to get these bites. Should I just disregard them and continue our relationship as usual or do as I do and beat myself up for being a bad mom somehow, not know what I am doing wrong?!
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Hi! I think I have the perfect example of what you’re looking for:
I have a now 10-year old African Grey who is wonderful. I’ve been his sole caretaker. Should there be a visitor, he has no problems with either male or female guests in the room. His big cage, full of interesting toys, is next to that of a 12-yr. old B&G macaw named Cory; they’ve been together since my Grey, Cody, was born. They get along well and both receive an equal amount of attention. Cody speaks every word in the English language! He talks all the time and in complete sentences - not that are just mimicked, but that are relevant to the situation. He also sings, alternating verses with me on a song, and tells me when he wants to listen to the radio. I also have a small TV facing their cages that’s on all the time, tuned in to the Animal Channel, so he gets lots of stimulation. He keeps a clean cage and is no trouble at all, except that sometimes I find food on the bottom of the cage that he hasn’t tried to eat and I can’t figure out why he’s throwing out good (and expensive) Zupreem fruitblend! His cage is located in the living room where I pass frequently and he can see me in the kitchen and other rooms. Sometimes I bring him into my bedroom onto a play gym for a few hours or to spend the night so he gets personal time with me other than when I play with him near his cage. He often gets fresh fruit and vegetables and nuts only as an occasional treat. To me he’s got a perfect and well-balanced life. But about once every three months, completely out of nowhere, he bites me, and I mean hard! It’s not a “play” bite. His beak goes deep into my skin and he doesn’t let go! So I’m not only in pain and bleeding from his bite, but for instance, when he bites my hand, I’ve got the whole weight of his body also pulling on the bitten area! I try as quickly as possible to set him down on the floor to get him off of me. I have NO IDEA AT ALL why he would do this! He knows how much I love him by the way I treat him and take care of him, and I’m always in a good mood when I approach him. Naturally this behavior scares me away from being close to him for awhile. From what I’ve read, you’re not supposed to react a lot, so I try not to, but my hand continues to throb for days and sometimes I can’t help but ask him “Why?” when he does it. Nothing in the room or his cage has changed. I do know that I have to be careful of making any sudden moves around him that are unexpected, because he may react to my simply taking a feather off of his food dish if he doesn’t see me reaching out for it. I love my bird very much, and I’d like to have more hand contact with him, but I’m afraid of being bitten again. My macaw has never bitten me. It’s such a good feeling when Cody tells me he loves me frequently, but with all the good care and love he’s getting, why does he bite me?
Thanks so much,
Julie
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:33 pm
My blue and gold is a gentle soul and is well socialized. He goes into schools all the time and loves children. Anyone can pet him and he seems to welcome the attention. Periodically he will seem to want to show others that he is really the one in charge so he will run across the table or whatever and pinch me. Not a full-on bite, but he could escalate and I would like to stop the behavior. He NEVER bites when we are alone but reserves theis behavior when he wants to be in charge. I would love to here your solutions.
Dennis
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:46 pm
My little 8 month old green cheek ‘Caillou’ is very tame, lovable and learns many tricks very fast. But he will not let anyone else have anything to do with him. He will bite them. Even if a person just comes into his presence he will bite me. Why me? A few days ago my brother-in-law came into the room and Caillou immediately attacked me by biting me almost to the point of drawing blood. Any suggestions you have would be helpful.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:50 pm
My Lesser Sulpher will randomly RUN across the kitchen to bite one of us.
This happens randomly, with no unsual changes in that area or the area around. Once he was kissing my grown daughter and then bit her on the lip just after the kiss???? I call him our bi-polar bird!! One i was comming down the stairs as normal every morning and he decided to bite my hand (the one he was standing on) Now I bring him down in the AM on a stick.
Help!!
Linda
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:54 pm
I have a 2 1/2 year old conure who at first was very close to my son and I - but did not like my husband and HATED my daughter. He has become more accepting of my husband but will bite when he gets close without a treat. We used your suggestion on limiting food and then giving him sunflower seeds for treats - and only my husband has been giving him the treats - thus the acceptance. Recently he has been turning on my son and biting him rather than coming to him and stepping up which he had done since we got him. He has gotten very jealous - very irritated when anyone talks to me or sits near me. He will start screaming and screaching until I stop talking with others. I now have to leave the room to talk on the phone. He gets lots of attention, loves daily showers and/or baths, has a good bit of time out of his cage playing on his jungle gym and with his other toys. He loves to sit with me by the computer as I type. In the past couple of months I have been bit twice - for no apparent reason as well. I’d love to hear what you have for suggestions for both the biting and the jealousy. Please help.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:58 pm
I have a 12 yo male umbrella cockatoo who I’ve labelled as a hormonal teenager. He can be friendly, loving and talkative and suddenly turn into a vicious attack bird. i don’t trust him enough to let him sit on my shoulder, but he has broken skin on my fingers.
The 14 yo female maluccan, has only pinched me once, but can she scream. She starts screaming, then my dogs start yodelling, HELP
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm
My Galah will be as nice as one thing but in the mornings he is as mean as one thing and lunges at me when I put his toast in his cage. He had stopped it but has started it again just this morning thank goodness he missed my fingures. Plus I have another who is as nice a pie but when I have a plaster on my fingures or different clothes on (e.g. raincoat) he attacks terribly every where that there is skin showing HELP regards Jenny
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:02 pm
My Galah hwss started lunging and biting me when I give hime toast in the morings which he had stopped for about a year. Now I also have another Galah who does not like plaster or gloves on hands (when gardening and giving him weeds) plus if I have different clothes on (e.g. raincoat or a jacket on) Help Jenny
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:04 pm
It appears most bird lovers experience some sort of spontaneous biting from our friends, do you really think it can be altered by a reaction from us, or will this not stop due to the birds having “bad days” and emotions like they do?
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:12 pm
One of our Sun Conures, Taco, the male, not quite two years old, likes to give my ear a chomp whenever I have both hands full (e.g. water container in one hand & seed container in the other). He seems to know exactly when I can’t retaliate and takes advantage of the situation. I know he’s only being playful but that doesn’t make the blood flow any less.
The other problem I have is with our Green Cheek male, Fagan, not a year old yet, who likes the taste of the back of one’s neck. Fagan rules the roost over the other eight birds, all fully flighted, with which we cohabitate. He draws himself up to his full height (3 ¾” ), puffs his chest out, and proceeds to terrorise all the others, even those four times as big as he is. And when he’s flying around playing Chicken Hawk, he’ll land on your shoulder, run around the back of your head, and CHOMP, right in the neck. Those little green guys have very sharp beaks – ouch!
Looking forward to some of your suggestions.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:18 pm
I have a Derbyan female who was always polite. Not warm & cuddly, but tolerant of me until her 8th month. At 8 months if a Derbyan is a male his beak will turn red. I knew this must be a hormonal month, so when she was cranky I left her alone. That was a mistake. She’s been like a pit viper. She puffs up, pins her eyes and strikes at the cage if your hands are near. In just a few months it’s chronic. She’s a witch. I’m told with sexual maturity they like to be handles more and become warmer. She’s a 13 months old now and I don’t know if this is a passing stage or if it’s her Character. I don’t know how to stop the lunge biting.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Rio loves his family but isn’t so trusting of strangers which is ok for now. I have your videos and have linked on all the pages you have offered for info. Rio is a good boy now because of them. But… I have to walk through five rooms before we reach the room for our daily shower. I always liked to change things and add new things to my house. I have found out that Rio does not like it. The least little thing I change he knows and acts as if he is upset because he wasn’t consulted about it. It took me a few good bites, which is not like him since your videos to realize what the problem was. When walking through the rooms I explain anything new, and I tell him(exact words) I don’t want any of your piss and vinegar mood, you don’t make money from decorating cutie. For some reason this seems to work. I point out what is familiar and point out what is different. I never realized how much attention he actually pays. I have people that can come over for weeks and not notice a new item in the living room. Rio sees it immediately. In my experience talking to him about any upcoming change he seems to do better with. From now on I will check with him about my decorating issues. LOL P.S. I have noticed, which is a big issue all in itself… make the beak fun. If Rio is in one of his moods and wants to bite. I let him grab my finger, I bend his head down and kiss him on his head. I never let him think, that I think his beak is scary. Even though we all know that they are. Point is not to let them know we think that.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:23 pm
My 2 year old coockatoo start biting my husband and my sons same way, used to be swwet, now we dont trust him
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I have a Mila Gold Macaw named Buster. He is usually very sweet and talkative, and doesn’t mind strangers. My parents were over, which the come over alot, so Buster knows them. He was sitting on my mothers arm, and when I came into the room, he bit her. I went to put him in his cage for time out, and he puffed up at me and bit me so hard it drew blood on my thumb and arm. He has never done anything like that before. I left him in his cage over night, and tried to let him out the next day, and he puffed up at me again and tried to bite me. He threw a temper tantrum in his cage knocking his dishes over, and tearing everything he could up. I left him in his cage, and would check on him every once in a while, talking to him to try to calm him down. By the next day he was fine. My Dr. Jekel Mr. Hyde Bird!!
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Hi Chet,
We have a 6 yr old senegal. Actually he favors my wife but will only talk for me mostly. He is very affectionate to both of us but will not let me hold him without biting. He will let me scratch his head, neck, shoulders, beak and chin and I feel comfortable as long as he is “tonguing.” When he stops and gives that look I know if I don’t quit he will chomp and tear in short order. A while ago he climbed down off his tree, walked across the living room to the couch where I was lounging. He climbed up the couch onto my pants, up my sleeve and onto my shoulder. My wife went to get up and get him and as she came near he suddenly chomped on my ear. He wouldn’t let go until he has bitten through twice. I had blood streaming down my neck. As you can understand, I am very hesitant to have him on my shoulder as he had bitten me once before without warning on the ear lobe and made a mess of that. Boy did it hurt! He used to be so sweet and rode around on my shoulder quite a lot and still wants to jump on my shoulder all the time. If I stand too close to his cage with my back to him, before I know it, he’s on my shoulder. I just don’t trust that beak. He is difficult to train as his attention span is about as long as a fly but he is very, very smart! We still love him anyway.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
This is one of the reasons i unsubscribed from you lessons. I have a 25+ year old B&G. I’ve had him for about 2 years. It didn’t take him too long to get used to me but after we adopted another dog his behavior changed and he started biting randomly. Nothing in your courses dealt with a change in behavior like this and no one on the forum could or would help. I would do almost anything to get back the bird that I can trust. I look forward to any advise in a recorded message or otherwise.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Hi, Our Umbrella Cockatoo Tory has been with us since 1976… he’s older than me - or so I like to think. We also have a dog, a Greyhound Fargo.
Recently Tory started biting me for the first time in, as you can see, 30 years… on my wrist. out of no where. Fargo wasn’t even home. He starts to bounce and then I know he’s ready to go off. Any help is appreciated.
Also he’s screaming again when we have company. Any words on that would be great too. Thanks, Elisa Southard
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
I have a small green Parolet that Is about 8 months old, he is a very sweet and affectionate bird, he will sit nicely on your shoulder and cuddle , but if you go to put your hands or fingers near your face while he is on your shoulder he will bite and attack them. What advice would you give to help me to stop him from doing this, he is a great little guy other than that. He learns things very quickly as I have found out, but I don’t know or understand what to do in the situation. I have trained dogs and even cats, but birds are very different as they don’t think anything like dogs or cats. Thank you Donna
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Hello,
A little difficult to type, because my right hand is basically a bloody stump…due to the repeated attacks of my little, green Quaker demon from Hell.
A loving bird, sweet-tempered, affectionate, very interactive with me in gentle, loving ways…..until CHOMP, for absolutely no discernible reason, he turns his head and clamps down. No warning. No provocation. (That I can determine. I’m sure he feels justified, he’s not a stupid bird)
Any guidance at all would be deeply appreciated. I love this guy…as pathetic as that makes me…I love him. But I’m scared of him!
Thanx, Sami
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Le’le is a year old Senegal Parrot and has become a sweet and friendly bird. His friendliness does not extend to others, which is to be expected, but when I have others in the house (especially if they are male) with me he will come over and bite the back of my neck. This same biting takes place whenever I’m on the phone. They feel like little crabby pinches, and he has yet to take skin, but I’m worried it will get worse.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:09 pm
My 12 month old Blue MaCaw’s eyes start to dialate every time I go near his cage. If he is on top of his cage he lunges and hisses at me and sometimes if I don’t act quick enough he rips a hole in my finger. He used to be very sweet and loved to be held but now he just looks to be in attack mode all the time….HELP me Please!!!!
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Hey Chet
I work with a number of birds, and the most frequent biting behaviour I come across, as described by many of the peops leaving their comments, is the one where you are giving them a nice head scratch and then……….they grab yer!! I have no idea what to do and can’t wait to find out.
Olivia, New Zealand
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Hi Chet, I have a blue and gold Macow his name is Sam. I have had him since he was 4 months old. He is now 1.5 yrs old.
I have used your training program on him and he has done very good with it. I can turn him upside down and hold him like a baby. I spend 1 to 2 hours per day with him in my chair. He to likes to strike out at me once in awhile. Not as much as he use to. But at times he will strike out at my face and I will scold him for it. He eats everything that I eat including van ice cream. In most part he is a loving bird, giving me kisses and hugs. I would like him to stop striking out. Also he will bite my wife sometimes when he goes to her. If you have any sugestions please let me know what I can do to help matters out.
Thanks
Keith
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I have an adorable 6 year old sun conure. He was either abused or neglected in his old home and therefore is very cautious with new people and new environments. However he has greatly opened up with me and even takes naps on me and enjoys the outdoors. When he first came home with me he bit and drew blood. He mostly bit me. I think he was telling me to keep him safe from the men in my house. He used to randomly attack men who were in close proximity with him, but now he will give warning signs and grunts before an attack. His biting has stopped within the last few months, only small nips at me when he feels unsafe.
However He hates telephones! He will use all his body weight and energy to attack any phone that is near. I can not even answer the phone when he is on me. He does not give any warning signs that I can see before an attack. He viciously attacks the phone, while ringing or not. He attacks any phone not just one type. He screeches extremely loud when the phone rings. I have placed the phone in my room for a few days to see if he would calm down I have also placed the phone in his cage. He will attack it until he is tired, and the next day he will attack it again, and so on. I just wanted to share this with you, and if you have any advice?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I have a yellow nape, Cookie that’s 23 year’s old. Biting has always a problem but over the year’s now it’s only now and then. I know the main reason is, she get’s excited and doesn’t understand what pain is and sense it doesn’t hurt her, she doesn’t know any better. When she’s too excited I won’t play with her. Last April I had her on my shoulder thinking she was ok
when after about 5 min’s she bit my ear. If that’s not bad enough, it’s the laugh aftward’s. I live in Miami, home of the Parrot Jungle and they know bird’s, they have over 50 year’s training bird’s. They moved to another to another part of Miami
and on opening day a Macaw bit the trainer and laughed about it. So if they get bit it seem’s to me this bitting thing just might
be something that parrot owner’s just have to live with. But we’ll see what you have, I’m always open for suggestion’s. Not Cookie though, she doesn’t know there’s a problem.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Hi:
I have a blue and gold macaw name ruby. She loves to be on top of my head (I have some googles after a couple of scratches near my eyes). But some days not very usual she don’t want me to hold her. She will folow me around the floar and as sunes i pick her up, she will try to bite me. She just grab my sking but no blode have come aut. I can’t figuer out why she acts like that but on those days i just let here in the cage and ignore her. The next day she will be very lovely again. Any idea why she will act like like this. No change have been made on her usual routine or soroundings. Thank you.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:33 pm
My 1.5 year old Indian Ringneck is totally unpredictable. He can be sweet and loving, then suddenly bite (hard) for no reason. He is usually really good when he is just with me, but whenever my partner is around (even if he is in another room) he gets really aggressive and attacks both of us - he seems very jealous. He doesn’t seem to like it when my male housemate is around either - he is definitely at his best when I am the only one home.
He has had 2 previous owners, both male, and one of whom I believe mistreated him. It is hard getting him to step up on a stick as he is absolutely terrified of it.
He is very territorial of his cage and often tries to bite when I open the cage door and change his food and water. When he is being handled sometimes he flaps his wings and squawks aggressively, behaving in what I perceive to be a dominating way. He has also started lunging for our faces which is a real concern as he almost took out my partner’s eye the other day!
I work full-time and I think he gets angry at me for not being home much. Every morning when I drive off in my car he squawks incessantly. On the weekends when I can let him out and is free to fly around he is much happier, but the only time he is truly happy and friendly is when he has me all to himself and there are no men in the house, which unfortunately is a rare occurrence. What can I do, short of kicking out my partner and housemate?!
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I have an 8-year-old Nanday Conure. I just adore her!
My bird was adopted at 2-yrs old from a teenage boy that let her roam free most of the time, sleeping in his jeans on the floor, and cursing up a storm! He moved out for college and his mother couldn’t control the bird - so she went from person to person for a week before I got her. He named the bird Rocky, I had the dna sex test done and renamed HER Roxie … close enough so that she didn’t notice much of a difference being called.
She’s sooooo intelligent! She is constantly learning new words and has a cage for a bedroom, with an outside playarea, and next to that some Sesame Street toys that she clicks on to play music and dance! She puts herself to bed when she’s tired and tells you its time to “clean poopoos” - which is our routine before her cage is covered for the night. In the morning she says “take alook” (uncover the cage) and “wanna come out” - where she greets you as the door opens by climbing onto your finger and giving you a kiss! She tells you “eat cookie” which is for all pellet bird food that is served in the morning, sample veggies at dinnertime, and a small piece of millet or a peanut when watching tv. Plus there’s dozens of other words and activities to long to mention.
My problem is that she likes to be independent and only gets picked up when SHE decides she needs to be… However, 99 percent of the time I tell her to “go sit” and she walks into her cage on her own. It depends on the person visiting if she’s nice or not. She screams when she’s mad or doesn’t like something, and covering her cage does NOT help… she yells “hear me!” which started as a joke when I would say “Roxie, I hear you, now be quiet.”
Anyway, she started laying acouple unfertilized eggs last Spring and this Spring… My vet explained why (smile) and she takes car of them in a cardboard box at the bottom of her cage…
I understand she gets cranky right before this laying period in the Spring, but now she’s bored with the eggs, chewing up the box, etc. … and she bites randomly when greeted for a kiss or going to bed at night. I don’t see it coming and don’t know how to deal with it.
Is this because she’s mad about no babies with her eggs? She attacks when I try to clean out the cage and our vet said to wait until the eggs get no attention before pulling them out.
I also have three adopted cockatiels that Roxie’s lived with for years: A 16 yr old female that Roxie loves and calls to by name; a 7yr old female that also lays eggs at the same time now; and a new 1-2 yr old male that I recently found flying outside in a storm. Roxie is on one side of the room and the cockatiels are on the other - the cockatiels only come out when Roxie is in her cage - but I have never had any problems (knock wood!). All my pets go to the vet routinely, are cleaned daily, and get regular attention at night.
But I want to learn more about the unforeseen biting and screaming … What can I do for this otherwise wonderful pet?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:39 pm
My blue & gold macaw Tiki has the typical playful personality, but also has the tendency to just Snap out of nowhere for no reason. I’ve done research on this and found that it’s a very common thing for this breed to Lunge out of nowhere. Most of the time she doesn’t even bite, she’ll just lunge at you and hit you with her beak. My Congo grey Spanky has a similar personality. One second she’s putting her head down to be rubbed, the next she pinches the hell out of you and get’s very nasty. In both cases with both parrots, simply standing my ground and picking up the bird with confidence puts an end to this behavior. But it definitely falls under the “what the heck was that for” category.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I have two birds,a cockatiel,named corkette & a crimson rosella called corky.Corkette is somewhat tame ,bites a bit but don’t draw blood.Corky is another story,hes pretty wild ,don’t like to B manhandled but loves his freedom out of the cage,once out hes pretty tough to get him back in,& bites if cornered.Corkette shes a sweetheart likes to hang out on my finger ,hard to get her off once shes perched,corky don’t perch much and recently had an episode where he plucked his tailfaithers off,hes fine now,new feathers grew in,but same old same old.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I have six birds all housed together in a large indoor flight in my den, an African Grey, Blue and Gold Macaw, Severe Macaw, Hahn’s Macaw, Blue Crown Conure and a Nanday Conure. I screened in half my den and made a giant playpen with windows and their very own light. The Grey seems to be odd man out as she is the only parrot, everyone else is classified parakeet. She and the Blue and Gold get along and groom each other, but she fears the others. They occasionally get on her stand and chase her just because she makes such a fuss, but when I tell them to stop it, they mind me. I also keep a water gun nearby just to startle them some if they are being really bad.
My Grey has always been a bit of a biter even while being hand fed. She was sitting on one hand yesterday just talking and suddenly leaned over and bit my other hand, drawing blood. I put her back on her stand immediately. I have had some family emergencies the past month and not been home as much, so she seems desperate for me to hold her. She will go weeks without biting and then suddenly it’s not safe to reach for her. None of my other birds bite at all. Three of them were rescues. They all get fruits and veggies every day along with their pellets.
My grey also takes spells and plucks feathers in a necklace style, but then they grow back in short order. She was in another home for a very short time and they decided she didn’t get along with their other bird. Before I brought her home from the pet store where I work, she plucked one entire side of her body nearly naked overnight. We never could figure out why and it took almost a year to grow back. As a result of being naked on one side, she would fall uncontrollably if she tried to fly, now she won’t even flap her wings when she jumps or trys to get away. I have tried putting her on my hand and running with her, but she just sits there. I really feel like she needs to know she can fly, but I can’t get her to try. She has hurt herself badly enough to go the the vet twice because she won’t try to fly.
None of her bites have been particularly vicious, but they are painful and it makes me want to handle the other kids who don’t bite more. She just seems to demand a lot more than they do.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:55 pm
We have been long lost friends since I got him 5 months ago, Apollo is 2 years old, My Umbrella “Apollo” has been like a sweet little puppy. A true Velcro parrot.
I even have him potty trained. Two days ago, he attacked his Daddy as I took him out of his cage as usual and was saying hello to him and he lunged off my hand and latched onto my chin. Biting very hard and breaking the skin with both upper and lower mandabuls. I though I was going to have to go to the hospital that’s how bad it was- plus I am on blood thinners. It was like someone was killed on my white tiled livingroom.
I immediately put him back in the cage to mend myself. I later in the day took him out and it was like nothing happened. Apollo has lost shoulder privlidges and cuddling under my chin for hours as I am not comfortable at the moment. He will have to earn my trust again. I have him out with me but don’t allow him near my face anymore.
I have no idea what scared him or freraked him out.
Al Hebert and Apollo-
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:05 pm
My 3-yr-old Sun Conure, Jaxon, is the joy of my life! We are together 24/7. When I first got Jaxon from a national pet store chain, he loved everyone and would sit on everyone’s finger without incident. Now that he is confined to just me, he has of course, made himself a “one woman” bird. Being highly protective, he will attack anyone who comes to visit.
At first, I realized he was biting me merely because he was trying to get leverage to pull himself up. Later, when I got to know him better, he would bite when he didn’t want to do something (like go to bed).
We have grown extremely close and have a REGULAR, HABITUAL ROUTINE of eating popcorn and watching TV every night for a few hours Then, he climbs in my shirt and I rock him to sleep.
It is RARE anymore that I get a freakish bite, but it happens. Since I know him so well now, I truly can anticipate potential problems. He, as well, does NOT like CHANGES to the room or atmosphere and it takes him awhile to adapt. So, I anticipate that and am prepared to take it slowly.
Jaxon has always only bitten my fingers. Of late, I’ve come to the belief that his personality demands its own way and that when/if he bites it has something to do with not getting his way. He DEMANDS ATTENTION and I think sometimes this is the only way he figures he can get it. It’s like “pay attention to me!” We have now developed a communication to where I know when he wants a drink or when he wants to go somewhere else.
It must be frustrating to birds to not be able to communicate verbally with someone they love so much. We have to remember they each have strong, individual personalities and we have to constantly TRY to interpret just what they are trying to communicate.
I don’t have many visitors, but I would like to know how I can socialize him again so visitors could enjoy him as well as I do.
Thank you for this opportunity to “bird talk”!
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:08 pm
I have recently acquired a 6 yr old Blue Fronted Amazon named Scooby about 3 1/2 months ago. He seemed to adjust very well to a new home. He now has complete freedom to fly from his cage to his new perch in the livingroom and talk to my cockatiel thru his cage. His previous home he was mostly caged with no “playtime”. Plays with me with his toys, likes scatches behind his head then BAM! a month ago i was singing to him and he was singing along then he leaned as if to give me a kiss. I leaned towards him and he bit clear thru my bottom lip! I had my daughter cage him and cover him while i got stitches. And since, he has taken flesh out of my arm, finger and head. He will now fly at me and kick me in the head and fly back to his cage. Sometimes he’ll chase me down the hall! Sounds pretty silly but he hurts! I’m now apprehensive around him but try not to be thinking he senses my fear of pain and is just messing with me. He has since fallen in love with my 20 yr old daughter and will lay with her on her bed, he HAS to be on her always and won’t let her leave. Read your articles about rearranging house, new clothing, etc. but nothing is different other than the fact that he now likes the taste of my blood! HELP cuz i love him!
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Chet:
Almost two years ago my moluccan cockatoo conrad was sitting on my shoulder as he always did and with no apparent reason leaned over and instead of cuddling as I thought he took a bite out of my face next to my eye and then started on my head tearing at my hair. I got him off of me and on his cage and left the room. Within just minutes he calmed down but I was till freaked out so i did not go to him until a couple of hours later when it was time to put him to bed. As i approached his cage he jumped on my chest and began biting me again. I got him in and now we have a situation where I feed him and clean his cage. I scratch his head through the cage bars and talk to him all the time. I do not handle him when I do let him out of the cage and fear that he will not go back in himself. On the couple of occasions that I have gone near his cage when he is out he jumps to my shoulder and tears at my hair. I miss the close relationship we had. I used to walk around the house with him on my shoulder all the time. I took him in the shower which he loved. I even had to put a mirror on the door to the garage to remind me to put Conrad in his cage before leaving the house I was so used to him being on my shoulder.
Sometimes he is very happy to have me scratch his head and talk with him and other times it appears that he would love nothing more than to tear me apart. We do travel and he loves the place we board him and they just love him. He has never behaved in an agressive manner there. I used to take him there in a travel cage and use one of there cages but since the attacks began I take his huge cage there in my van –I am that untrusting of him and unwilling to handle him.
I am looking forward to your phone conference and also am consoled to see there are so many others with similiar problems. Barbara
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 pm
my blue & gold mccaw has started trying to bite I moved her out of the room with the cockatoo & she was ok for awhile thenall of a sudden she trys to bite me & she was getting on my shoulder then now she is just mean. help I got both the birds from a police officer t hey had taken them from a male because they were mistreading them. help I don’t want to give her back. the cockatoo is doing good he loves on me but I can’t get him to turn loose of t he cage. but help with t he wanting to bite first. thank you I really like you letters.
Thank you,
Judy Walton(cowgirljudy)
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 pm
From the responses here I can see that i’m not the only one who’s stoked to hear the answer to our random problems! Mine is a one and half year old Green Cheek Conure and although we don’t have any unmanagable bitting problems, I’d love to be prepared if and when any bitting problems arise! Thanks in advance Chet!
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 pm
We have a gorgeous South American Quaker parrot who is such a delight to be with. She constantly says “Hello” and “What you doing ??” She laughs often and arches her whole body right back giving her the opportunity to give it her best. Missy loves to sleep in her cage at night, and the occassional nap during the day but generally lives in our house free to enjoy the full comforts of home. She also barks like a dog, something that was inherited from her previous owners pet dogs. Whilst Missy sounds like an ideal pet, there is the issue of the biting. Yes, Missy has started biting the hand that feeds her !! It doesn’t seem to be any particular time but it seems to be around the time she would like a ‘cuddle’ or a bite to eat. We have owned, or should I say, Missy has owned us for close to three years and up until recently has always been very good or as good as a parrot can be !!! Chet, we would be interested in knowing your thoughts on why the biting has started and the best way to keep Missy away from human flesh.
Regards
Greg Bennett
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Tango is a love bird.Who is very playful loving and affectionate and love to share wih me. I found Him? so do not know His age or background. We have come along way THANKS TO YOUR DVD AND ALOT OF
PERSISTANCE in the last 8 months. I lthought maybe this nipping was normal that I would need to live with