The Amazon Nibble

Friday13 · Apr 8, 2014

A check to see if there are better methods to breakthrough my existing methods of taming Zons. In the past till present, I used to train Zons not to nibble on my fingers and any part of my body. For they tend to get over excited fast and sometimes they may accidentally draw blood especially during their mating season. Only once they stop nibbling, they are allowed on my shoulders.
I have seen owners letting their Zons beaking them all over. I am particularly worried about their ears and noses...Anyone has trained a Zon to such that it never bites? It would be fun to fool around with a nibbling but no hard bites Zon.
Please share your views and thoughts. Thanks.

henpecked · Apr 8, 2014

Wish i had more time. I don't mind the nibbling, it's a form on bonding. Even the bites are from misplaced aggresion not intended to harm you. The over excited bites are your fault, you should read your bird better, or teach them NO. Of course younger birds will bite more, my long time hen would never bite me with intention of hurting me. She nibbles where ever she wants, eye lashes,eye brows,beard etc. She also like for me to scratch her tongue and beak. She lets me do her eye lashes too.

SandyBee · Apr 8, 2014

My amazon nibbles all the time, he does it to preen me lol. He also loves to nibble and beak play. I'm very lucky since we adopted him someone trained him previously. He also uses his beak to tell me he doesn't want to do something but doesn't bite hard. I do let him on my shoulder in controlled situations. He nibbles my ear in a loving manner. When he gets excited I immediately get him off my shoulder though.

Taw5106 · Apr 8, 2014

Thanks henpecked. My husband hasn't tried to touch Buddy other than to rub his head if Buddy is willing. Buddy comes out and visits with me, sitting on my shoulder and he nibbles, the worst was ripping my earring from my ear the very first time. It was a little gold ball, he turned it into crunched gold. My husband is fearful because he thinks Buddy is going to take a chunk out of something, he has no experience with birds. The earring was my fault, and I knew how birds love shiny things. I got the earring from him and when he comes out, earrings are off. I've always thought the nibbling and "tasting" was a normal behavior.

I've been working the step up command and re-enforcing no and no bite. He's not bad but I don't think he's had enforcement or the attention needed for months. He's making great progress every day.

MomtoPercy · Apr 8, 2014

Mine is also a nibbler

. He can indeed get moody and then there no nibbling, just bbiting but usually, I'm quite good with reading the signs and then I just avoid going too close.
Justt be consistent - each time he bites too had or with the intention of hurting, I say Don't bite! and then I walk away for a few moments. It works....most times

Friday13 · Apr 9, 2014

Hey thanks for all your replies.

Quoted from Henpecked - The over excited bites are your fault, you should read your bird better, or teach them NO.
I agree with this as I tend to let them sit my shoulders in the past and go around doing my stuff (chatting up other bird handlers). Then another one with a female zon comes near and that's it. My Yellow Crown snapped on my neck. May I ask how long have you had your hen?

Quoted from SandyBee - When he gets excited I immediately get him off my shoulder though.
Your Zon sounds fun! May I know how long you have had your buddy?

Quoted from TAW5106 - The earring was my fault, and I knew how birds love shiny things.
I got to say I lost a couple of nice necklaces and charms like your earrings...lol. This is one of the things I am trying to train Zoro now. Anything on my body, no bite.

Quoted from MomtoPercy - Justt be consistent - each time he bites too had or with the intention of hurting, I say Don't bite! and then I walk away for a few moments. It works....most times

I really love the toys you have made. Your baby must be the most happy Zon in your area!!! May I know how old is your baby?

Cheers to all Amazonians and parrot lovers!

henpecked · Apr 9, 2014

Friday13 said:
Hey thanks for all your replies.

Quoted from Henpecked - The over excited bites are your fault, you should read your bird better, or teach them NO.
I agree with this as I tend to let them sit my shoulders in the past and go around doing my stuff (chatting up other bird handlers). Then another one with a female zon comes near and that's it. My Yellow Crown snapped on my neck. May I ask how long have you had your hen?

44 yrs. Many other long time zons. I like zons.

Friday13 · Apr 9, 2014

Hmmm...Ok...Let's see how long I have to go with Zoro to reach the 44 yrs bond.

MomtoPercy · Apr 9, 2014

Friday13 said:
Quoted from MomtoPercy - Justt be consistent - each time he bites too had or with the intention of hurting, I say Don't bite! and then I walk away for a few moments. It works....most times
I really love the toys you have made. Your baby must be the most happy Zon in your area!!! May I know how old is your baby?

Thanks

. The person I adopted Percy from said he's 'about 5 years old' but I don't know for sure. I can tell you that his behaviour swings between the Terrible Two's and Grumpy Geriatrics, LOL!

Kiwibird · Apr 9, 2014

I can tell when Kiwi is being nice or naughty, and he does not touch me with that beak when he's naughty (or excited). He likes to nibble on my husbands fingers, but prefers my toes for some reason. I have not been bit in a couple years (KNOCK ON WOOD, I'm hoping to keep it that way). Due to the fact he has bit me in the face on several occasions, I just do not trust him on my shoulder, period. I will only let him near my face when I can clearly see him and his body language. He adores my husband, so he gets to go up on his shoulder.

Thankfully, zons are so easy to see when they are either upset or overstimulated- it's all in the eyes and body language. Dilated pupils, flared tail, vibrating wings means he can go ahead and keep his beak to himself. He's only allowed to nibble when he's a nice, calm boy

Friday13 · Apr 10, 2014

Thanks Kiwibird, seems like Kiwi has reckoned your husband to be the Alpha of the flock.

Yeah I know the feeling of being bitten in the face...Especially when you are not aware...

Iambigsy · Apr 10, 2014

I've had Alfie about 2 months now and the first time I let him nibble my finger I realised he is really gentle and upon till this point every time he went to nibble me and moved away (scared) he would bite me hard.

If he is ever on my shoulder and doesn't want to get down he used to bite my hands hard but I realised my hands are small for his size so he must not feel safe on my hand he will aim for my arm to get onto me.

He always sometimes gently nibbles my nose and ear but I started off letting he do it whilst looking in a mirror so I could watch him and I trust he's not trying to hurting me.

Even gives me a little kiss.

I'm always on my guard with him as it's a whole new world for him and if I didn't get the nasty bites out of the way I don't think he would have ever started to be gentle.

I always tap his beak up if I don't want him doing anything which seems to work.

Friday13 · Apr 11, 2014

Seems like Alfie is a real gentle friend. May I know how old is him?

ImmunoGoblin · Apr 14, 2014

Tater is "mouthy," but usually we focus on the amount of beak pressure he uses. He will often go through a half-hearted "threat" of biting when asked to step up if he doesn't want to, etc., but he doesn't really use any pressure at all. We don't really punish for that, we just kind of "override" it. We do reward him a lot when he steps up nicely. As long as I pay attention to his mood, I almost never get bitten with any real pressure. He's very "beaky" with my partner - his favorite person - but in an affectionate, playful way. Any time he uses too much pressure, he gets set down and ignored for a moment til he can compose himself.

The Amazon Nibble

Friday13

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henpecked

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MomtoPercy

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henpecked

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a flying Zack

is this normal ?

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