Green Cheek attacking feet?

Rachel · Mar 11, 2010

My 9 month old green cheek is the sweetest, friendliest bird I've ever owned, but whenever she comes near our feet, she goes into attack mode and bites the heck out of them. It takes her awhile to get out of that attack mode once she sees our feet. What in the world is causing her to do this? She had a home before for about three months; however, they did not spend any time with her. I've been working with her for awhile to teach her how to step up and clicker train, and she is doing very well at it. She is very comfortable with people, and is a quick learner but she just can't seem to figure out that our feet are not for chewing! Any suggestions?

justwingingit · Mar 11, 2010

I'm not sure why some birds do that. I know that there is an amazon that belongs to a client that cannot stand my husband because we trim him. We were babysitting him and he climbed down from the cage and ran over and clamped on my husbands toe. He did a pretty good job of tearing him up. Are you barefooted when this happens? (My husband was wearing sandals.) You may have to cover your feet for a while. Sometimes my Hyacinth will try to chew on my toes because of my nail polish. I don't feel I've been much help except to let you know that your bird is not the only one that does this. :blue:

Auggie's Dad · Mar 11, 2010

I hear of this often - and experience it regularly!

Easy solution: don't let him see your feet.

Why does it happen? Not really sure, but I know it's easy to avoid.

Rachel · Mar 11, 2010

Yes, we were training on the floor, when she saw my bare foot and started gnawing on it!
It's silly! I've never encountered it before, and thanks for the help! Haha, i guess wearing socks or shoes would do the trick, wouldn't it?
I was just wondering if there was some known reason for it. Silly silly birds!

antoinette · Mar 12, 2010

Rachel said:
Yes, we were training on the floor, when she saw my bare foot and started gnawing on it!
It's silly! I've never encountered it before, and thanks for the help! Haha, i guess wearing socks or shoes would do the trick, wouldn't it?
I was just wondering if there was some known reason for it. Silly silly birds!

Hey the bird is not silly ???????

Mishka loves my son Steven's toes, they are big, especially the big toe, and I mean BIG

She always go straight for them haha.

He tells her no no, I think she is getting the message now.
Imagine what is going through the birds mind....... 10 moving toys LoL

birdcrazy · Mar 12, 2010

all my guys are facinated with my toes especially when they are painted a bright color!

KJS · Mar 13, 2010

It's weird, and I've wondered about the "feet thing" too. I had a cockatiel that was absolutely the most loving, sweetest bird.......but upon seeing my bare (socks were ok) feet, the attack would begin in earnest. My GC is a bit of a nipper anyway, but when she see's my bare feet, she b-lines straight for them. I have to sit with them covered, amongst other parts of my body so as not to get chewed to death!

Webby53 · Feb 2, 2018

Well my Jen Day conure hates feet and he is particularly violent towards feet in crocs which I have been wearing around the house! He first exhibited this behavior this summer when he walked down my son’s leg and attacked his toe. My son has a good relationship with the bird but was not pleased when the bird bit his toe! SMH

clark_conure · Feb 2, 2018

same time out method as on your shoulder......pick the bird up...put him on the floor 10-15 feet away. SAY NO. ignore bird. make them come back to you...just because it's your foot is no excuse for a bite.

Do a time out, might take a few tries, but they need to LEARN biting feet is not acceptable.

Sunnyclover · Feb 2, 2018

When my Ollie starts getting tired he will go after my feet also and he is kind natured and not a biter otherwise. From what I can tell he just doesn't understand that my feet are a part of me, he isn't afraid of hands at all but I think it's because feet look a little like hands and if is seeing my actual hand he doesn't think the other set of feet-like hands could be me because I already have hands lol if that makes any sense.

GaleriaGila · Feb 2, 2018

Well, I'll add my Patagonian to the list of foot-haters. Nobody is ever barefoot when he's on the loose. Unfortunately, he's flighted and fassst, so timeout isn't an option. Fortunately, a covered foot is of absolutely no interest!

clark_conure · Feb 2, 2018

a time out is a time out....even if they can fly back.....they still get the jist of it. Gimme some scale points super mod!!!!

dhraiden · Feb 2, 2018

I love how we resurrected a ten-year old thread

But I naturally dislike discontinuity, so this resumption of conversation pleases me. :emoticonc

Mochi really hates toes. I dunno why. Boy are you gonna shout if she gets a good chomp on them! It's a wonder she never got hurt getting flung off of a just-bitten foot..:smile011:

EDIT, PS: It's kinna sad how you don't see the same names going even a few years back, and certainly not going a decade back. One wonders what became of some of these folks, and whether they (and their birds) are well.

Sunnyclover · Feb 2, 2018

dhraiden said:
EDIT, PS: It's kinna sad how you don't see the same names going even a few years back, and certainly not going a decade back. One wonders what became of some of these folks, and whether they (and their birds) are well.

My thoughts exactly.

wrench13 · Feb 2, 2018

Shoes, slippers or boots, The easyest bite to prevent is the one that doesnt happen,nn

FlyBirdiesFly · Feb 2, 2018

Actually, the thread is 8 years old... it was posted in 2010. Bluebell likes to nibble at my feet but only when I’m wearing socks.

YUMgrinder · Feb 4, 2018

My cockatiel thinks my g/fs feet are his g/f. He does a little head bob thing and rubs his beak on her toes. then she will attack her hand if she gets near him and his g/f foot. Then he goes right back to wooing those toes. Its cute. Birds are very strange creatures. My cat loves my feet. Shes not much into rubbing against me unless I have just showered or taken off my shoes for the day. She comes running to rub up against my feet. She does summersalts and everything. crazy animals.

Green Cheek attacking feet?

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More plucking...need advice

My parrot is randy..... FOR ME!!!!!

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