New Alex hasn't bitten?

GracieRose

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Jul 31, 2013
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Australia
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Buddy (Alexandrine)
Hi everyone!
Proud owner of a new Alex here. We picked up our baby 'boy' (not sure if he is a boy or girl yet as he is only 6-7 months but that's what where calling 'him' LOL) on Monday so this is his 3rd day with us. He came from a lovely little elderly lady here in Perth who has 100's of birds and breeds them. He was hand raised but hasn't been handled at all in the past 8 weeks as she has some health issues.
Anyway, is such a sweet little guy. The thing is he won't bite! He is scared when in his cage - I'm taking it slowly with him and gaining his trust. He comes out of the cage reluctantly but everywhere I've read says Alexs are bitey, well most birds are, I've owned tiels, IRNs & An Ekkie. The thing is this little guy isn't. Is that normal? Haha I kind of expected to be bitten or tried to when I pick him up or hands come too close to him but he doesn't even mind being stroked and petted. Everything I've read tells me they don't like this but he just sits there happily letting me touch him. He is still a bit timid and hasn't come out of his shell completely yet so maybe when he is more himself he could start biting?
Has anyone had similar experiences with a new Alex?
The breeder told me he won't bite (haha totally didn't believe her!) but she has been true to her word so far!
Anyway I have been enjoying reading through all previous posts and learning more about these gorgeous birds.
 

kc_y0

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Nov 17, 2011
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Eclectus Female - Audrey.
Art - Budgie.
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Mini - Budgie, RIP gorgeous girl.
Hello and Welcome! :) Don't worry I am sure he will bite at some point lol! I don't have an alex, but my bird was very quite for the first few days, then she started with the warning bites when she was afraid haha!
 

MrSquak

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Feb 14, 2012
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GuangZhou China - Hong Kong
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Tango: Alexandrine
Talon: congo african grey
Alex parrots are so playful and fun once they get comfortable, you got yourself a great little friend there.

Judging by tango, I think your bird might want to develop a certain level of comfort with you before he bites. After all you're many times his size. Tango will bite me and my girlfriend when he's angry but he won't bite strangers, probably because he doesn't know how they'll take it. The lil' featherhead knows he can push us around!
 
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Betrisher

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Jun 3, 2013
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Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
O how I wish I had your problem! My Beaks certainly bite when things are not to their liking and when they bite, they sure pack a wallop. I'd just take things slowly and calmly with your little Buddy and perhaps you'll never need to know the exquisite pleasure of putting ice on an Alex bite. :)
 
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GracieRose

GracieRose

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Jul 31, 2013
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Australia
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Buddy (Alexandrine)
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I hope so :) thanks for all your posts - they definitely have the individual personalities! He is coming out if his shell more tonight! He growled at me a few times when I took him off my head ;)
 

Betrisher

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Jun 3, 2013
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Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
Just re-reading this thread after another day with my Beaks. I've noticed they absolutely *love* trying every new thing with their beaks, just like a baby puts everything in its mouth. At first, all they wanted was paper to chomp on, so I gave 'em a phone book and let 'em rip. That's old hat now and they're seriously into wood this week. That would include my rather au faît louvred double bathroom doors. Madge has sunk her bill into the top louvre and broken off a large splinter from the wood. Now, whenever they fly in there, they make a beeline for the tops of the doors and chomp! I 'solved' the problem by putting a towel over each door. That worked for a day. Then, dear little Madge discovered it was nice to bite the towels, so the wood has been forgotten and there's a pile of burgundy towel-frass building in the bathroom doorway!

Not only that, but Barney has found he can reach through the bars of his cage and grab Dominic's cage cover in his beak. Dominic has made a similar discovery about the Beaks' cage cover. So each morning, I have to disengage the two cages which have chunx of fabric pulled through the bars in both directions. All this is telling me I really need to work to keep up the variety for these *awfully* intelligent birds. They get bored quickly and a bored bird is a munchitty bird.
 
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GracieRose

GracieRose

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Jul 31, 2013
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Buddy (Alexandrine)
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Haha oh I totally know where you are coming from with the exploring beaks - he has been licking, nibbling and playing with my fingers which I'm happy for him to do as it's a way of gaining a grasp on his world.
I'm new to Alex's but have had many other birds my whole life. My IRN in had for 5 years was stolen from my backyard which was very devastating for me as I hand raised that little man. My hubbie and I have only just felt like we could open to another bird. Luckily I kind of knew what I was getting into, we did a bit of research into what bird would suit us and decided on the Alex as they apparently are a bit more laid back than IRN from what I've read. I was expecting biting as he hasn't been handled for so long but I'm surprised he has been so friendly. I think my past experience with parrots helps somewhat and I'm not afraid of a bite. Usually they can be avoided by watching body language.
I'm loving having another parrot in the house again, I'm having to remind my self all the time to take it slow. I've missed having a feathered baby.
 

Betrisher

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Jun 3, 2013
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Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
Oh, I hadn't realised about your losing your IRN. I'm so sorry to hear that! I love my Alexes and I bet you're quickly discovering how excellent yours is? It's funny: I'm far more scared of the Galah's bite than I am of the Beaks'. As you say, I know their body language and can usually avoid a major bite. The thing that's amazing me most is how intelligent they are and how quickly they catch on to things. Like cage-avoidance, for example...

Where do you live? I'm in Newcastle, NSW. :)
 
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GracieRose

GracieRose

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Jul 31, 2013
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Buddy (Alexandrine)
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We're in Perth, WA :)

Nice to meet another Aussie on the forum with an Alex. He still hasn't bitten me and is seriously super sweet. He is stepping up all the time now and coming out of his shell slowly. Although he is not a fan of my hubbie - won't go to him at all and he is feeling a bit left out! Haha
 

Betrisher

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2013
4,253
177
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
There's a few Aussies here and quite a few Alex owners too. I'd never heard of them (Alexes) until a few years ago when I went window-shopping for Indian Ringnecks. The breeder had one large male Alex with an amazing command of speech (although nothing remotely like our Mishka, the CAG!). I fell in love on the spot and since then have been plotting and planning how I could get my non-animal-inclined husband to agree.

Well, long story short and he did agree and the Beaks are now installed in our family room. Darling Hubby has been busting his buns trying to think up new and clever ways to occupy them. Just this evening, he presented me with a lovely timber ladder he'd made for our disabled Galah, Dominic. Now, Dom can get down to the bottom of his cage and back! Yay!

If your Buddy is stepping up all the time, have a good look on the net (especially YouTube) for tips and hints about training him. I've been having an absolute riot teaching my Beaks new things. They can do a few little tricks and say a few words. I wish they'd let me stroke their naughty little heads, but they're very touchy about that and will only let me tip them with my finger so far. Slowly does it.

I'd love to hear more about what you and Buddy are doing from day to day. It sounds as though you're thoroughly enjoying him! :)
 

Marlin

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Sep 21, 2013
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Canton Beach Central Coast NSW Australia
Parrots
I have a 9 Month old IRN parakeet and will be getting a Alexandrine Parakeet at the end of November 2013
don't believe everything you read. I have read statements made by people who don't own and have never owned that peculiar species of bird. if you want to get an insight to a species of bird then find a good breeder and I mean a good breeder and ask them about the species you are obtaining.

Alexandrines are the largest parakeet and are a member of the ringneck family.
yes birds do bite and Alexandrines can pack a wallop. the question is why they bite. remember that in the wild, parrots rarely bite each other because they convey their feelings beforehand or simply fly away to avoid physical contact. birds bite because they are frightened, threaten, frustrated or being protective of itself and its surrounding.

baby birds will use their beak to play with fingers this is called mouthing and in a way the baby bird is trying to show affection towards you. the bird is not trying to bite you. but this habit should be discouraged. it better to have the baby bird play with a toy. have a look at the toys condition that an adult bird plays with. I know that I prefer the bird plays with the toys, not my fingers and baby birds grow up with all the behaviors that they have learnt whilst growing up.

ringnecks go through a stage called "bluffing"this is due to hormonal changes. this can last for a couple of days, weeks or months. once it's over you will have your bird back. but it's vitally important that you continue the training during the "bluffing" stage otherwise the bird will go wild in a surprisingly short time.

I read a story of a person who purchase a hand reared Alexandrine Parrot and when the bird enter the "bluffing" stage. they couldn't cope and put the cage and bird in the basement and left it there. after six months they surrendered the bird which was seriously insane. there was a happy ending to the story. the bird was re-homed and the hero managed to re-train the Alexandrine to become a happy and well behave bird.

a tip: allocate places where your parrot can land and perch (T-perch) and train them to land and stay there. otherwise you could be cleaning bird dropping everywhere and it is safer for the bird. I wouldn't allow my birds to chew on anything that they feel like, as the materials that they are chewing could be toxic e.g. wood stains, varnishes, and lead base paint or they could chew through electrical cords with fatal results.
there are many dangers and risks for parrots within a household.

remember that Parrots are a lot smarter then we give then credit for.
so train the bird don't let the bird train you.
 

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