Does your fid enjoy being blown on?

Firstly, let me say I am heavily against blowing hard in a parrot's face to "discipline" him or anything like that, so it is not something I ever do.

However, Percy & had a rather strange encounter this evening and I love to hear your thoughts.

He's been pretty aggressive (with his foot toys )and bitey this afternoon but of course, I just ignored all the zon-aggression and carried on about my business, just chatting with him and picking up the toys he flung to all corners of the room.

By bedtime, he was still full of "The Wild" and was doing his best Batman impression (see pic) in an attempt to zap my fingers while is was undoing the QLink that attaches his 'cage to gym' bridge so that I can cover him. I was worried that he'd get his beak caught in the (by then open) QLink and on a whim, GENTLY blew allover his body, against the feathers, ruffling and lifting the feathers (loads of pins under there, I see - molting is obviously still ongoing).

Well his reaction was instantanious! He stopped trying to bite me, looked at me (still in Batman mode), 'kirrrrred' like he does when he's content and favoured me with a whiff of Amazon smell (to me it smells like honey ).

He moved over to his perch and actually turned so that I could blow some more! He clearly enjoyed the sensation. He kept trying to snap my fingers if I got too close but the honey whiffs just kept coming.

Do your birds enjoy this too? And why would he give me the honey whiff if he is still trying to get in a good bite?

Here's a pic of my upsidedown darling

I never knew that people would blow in their birds face as "discipline" it certainly wouldn't work for Rizo because when I do this she rolls over so I will blow on her belly lol...or stretch her neck to me so i will blow on her neck lol....and if I dont continue she will lean into me to the point that she almost falls over:52:

LOL Rizosmom! That sounds so funny!

Yes, I've read several websites on training that advise 'blowing sharply into the bird's face' will make him stop biting! Sounds awful to me!

> Firstly, let me say I am heavily against blowing hard in a parrot's face to "discipline" him or anything like that, so it is not something I ever do.

Can I ask why not to do that?

lotosha said:

>
Can I ask why not to do that?

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Why not blow in a parrot's face to make him stop doing something like eg. biting, you mean?

Well, to me it just seems harsh, not condusive to fostering trust and perhaps even dangerous. I certainly wouldn't like it being done to me, you know? Maybe my view is flawed, I *am* still very new at parronthood so perhaps there's something I don't know?

I think the difference is the blowing sharply into their face....basically the intent of the blowing (which I agree is mean) is to shock the bird into backing off which in mind my means scaring the bird....obviously when I do it...it is a gentle blowing motion like the breeze...so two different results because of two different intents....

Rizosmom said:

I think the difference is the blowing sharply into their face....basically the intent of the blowing (which I agree is mean) is to shock the bird into backing off which in mind my means scaring the bird....obviously when I do it...it is a gentle blowing motion like the breeze...so two different results because of two different intents....

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Yes, Rizosmom, I understood that from your post (that you use a gentle breeze that your fid enjoys ). That's what I did this evening as well.

I find a hard 'snap of fingers' behind my back (using the hand not being mauled and ensuring he can't see where this sudden sound is coming from ) is enough to distract him long enough to remove my hand from his beak if the "No bite!" command didn't work fast enough.

very good idea I will have to try that....I am like you though....I have some experience with birds but I certainly consider myself a newbie and love how much I learn on this site as well as new ideas try....especially from you guys that have the bigger babies.....I hope someday to find that right bigger baby but it will happen when it happens and when I have lessened my fear of those bigger beaks lol....

With my first lory I used to blow at his face playfully. He made a laughing sound and soon began blowing back at me. It became a fun game we played.

Sometimes I will blow at my chattering if there's a feather that's come out, but just sitting on top of her other feathers. She never seems to mind, or get frightened. And I can sense the feeling in her that she knows I'm helping her, not hurting her, as she will say in a very sweet voice "you're so sweet, yes you are".

I laughed pretty hard at the title my budgies hate it, but my conure seems to love it on the nape of his neck, not so much blowing (lol) but more just breathing on his neck---and at the same time smelling his delicious birdy smell

My camilla hates it! My other birds love or like it.

Fred doesn't seem to mind it. The only time I really blow in his face is when he's trying to get in my mouth. LOL. But if I just blow on him normally he just puffs up and looks at me like I'm a big weirdo.

Our ecelctus Riley loves it when I blow on him, even in the face. I discovered this by accident. I had given him a shower, and just wanted to blow off some of the bigger droplets on his outer feathers before he shook them all over the place. He couldn't get enough. He even lifted his wings like he does during his shower.
Now I blow on him if he's just hanging out on his cage, or wherever, and of course after a shower. He still enjoys it!!

My quaker seems to like being blown on, whether it ruffles his feathers or not. And definitely when he is close he likes my warm breath under is neck feathers (where he plucks).

My Beaks are in love with the blow dryer! Once, on a whim, I blew it at them after their shower. After the initial surprise, they both sidled up to me and began begging to be blow-dried and before I knew it, I had a birdie riot on my hands! Now, after their shower (which happens in the kitchen), the Beaks beat me to the bathroom and will be waiting anxiously and dripping wet on the shower rail for me to come and turn on the magic blowy-blasty-thing. Watching them jockey for the best position in front of the air blast is hilarious and Madge gets particularly acrobatic as she likes to swing off the tail of my plait by way of getting my attention (NB. my plait comes down to my waist). So, picture if you will a mad bird-woman with one green hat, wings akimbo and feathers fluffed to the max on her head, and another green scrunchie, wings similarly akimbo dangling off the end of her plait, all the while brandishing a noisy electrical appliance at both.

Honestly! The things we do for our birds!

Trish Bundii loves the blow dry as well. She loves nothing better to have a warm blow dry in winter after bathing in near freezing water. Just the way she likes it. Man she is crazy

LOL Trish! That is some mental picture :

My Orange Wing Amazon used to love being gently blown on! Blowing against the lie of the feathers, just enough to raise the lovely long nape feathers, he acted like he was like getting tickles! He would making a purring noise and close his eyes... Sadly he is no longer with us

My B&G macaw isn't keen on being blown on but likes the hair dryer after a shower. On warm heat and gentle blow he will fluff himself up to get maximum blowage and grind his beak until he changes color from damp brown to pretty dry blue