SharonC
New member
- May 26, 2010
- 1,139
- 0
...and for me that might be dangerous!!! LOL!
Fred has been in a bad mood for a couple of days.
Yesterday, he bit me hard, between the fingers, when I placed my hand in front of him to step him up. I was asking him if he wanted to come. There was room for him to say NO. He lunged and bit. I yelled at him, stepped him up on to the stick, and put him in the cage. I gave him a really dirty look, and ignored him for about an hour. I think I reacted badly, according to what I read...BUT....Fred actually looked ashamed of himself. He said softly...Freddie's a good bird?, to which I replied No, Freddie's not a good bird. I'm very angry with you! He continued to look ashamed.
This morning, all was well. Step ups were not a problem. Later today, he left the top of his cage and jumped on a leather sofa...where I don't allow him to be. I attempted to step him up. He refused, so I got the stick perch. He stepped up...I thought it would be a good time for him to have a little physical contact. He walked up my arm, attempted to get on the shoulder. I do not allow him on my shoulder. He chomped my upper arm, and removed skin. It was a bite...not an attempt to climb. I again let him know that I was angry, and he got placed in his cage. About an hour later, I offered him my hand. He took my finger gently in his beak. Again, it was quite obvious, that he KNEW that I was displeased with him, and why, and he altered the behavior.
My thinking may be flawed but I'm questioning whether I'm being firm enough with him. I know that I can't destroy his trust, and I should just ignore bad behavior. But Fred seems like a very smart bird who is quite capable of knowing what is acceptable and what is not. He also is a very stubborn bird who is capable of trying to get his way, and trying to discipline me. I think the time has come to get a little more "aggressive" with some of his antics.
Opinions welcome....
Fred has been in a bad mood for a couple of days.
Yesterday, he bit me hard, between the fingers, when I placed my hand in front of him to step him up. I was asking him if he wanted to come. There was room for him to say NO. He lunged and bit. I yelled at him, stepped him up on to the stick, and put him in the cage. I gave him a really dirty look, and ignored him for about an hour. I think I reacted badly, according to what I read...BUT....Fred actually looked ashamed of himself. He said softly...Freddie's a good bird?, to which I replied No, Freddie's not a good bird. I'm very angry with you! He continued to look ashamed.
This morning, all was well. Step ups were not a problem. Later today, he left the top of his cage and jumped on a leather sofa...where I don't allow him to be. I attempted to step him up. He refused, so I got the stick perch. He stepped up...I thought it would be a good time for him to have a little physical contact. He walked up my arm, attempted to get on the shoulder. I do not allow him on my shoulder. He chomped my upper arm, and removed skin. It was a bite...not an attempt to climb. I again let him know that I was angry, and he got placed in his cage. About an hour later, I offered him my hand. He took my finger gently in his beak. Again, it was quite obvious, that he KNEW that I was displeased with him, and why, and he altered the behavior.
My thinking may be flawed but I'm questioning whether I'm being firm enough with him. I know that I can't destroy his trust, and I should just ignore bad behavior. But Fred seems like a very smart bird who is quite capable of knowing what is acceptable and what is not. He also is a very stubborn bird who is capable of trying to get his way, and trying to discipline me. I think the time has come to get a little more "aggressive" with some of his antics.
Opinions welcome....