How do you handle displacement biting?

Percy hasn't bitten me with the intention of hurting me/scaring me away/whatever in quite a long time and so, it was quite dissapointing when he started nipping me quite hard every so often, recently

I've now discovered he only does it when someone else comes too close (my mom/son or Gyzmo, the pug). He gets really aggressive and has drawn blood on occassion. Clearly, it is displacement biting

We really make sure he gets to interact with everyone in the family as we cannot afford for him to be a one person bird. With my work schedule, I must leave him in my family's care sometimes and I can't have him caged all the time I'm away (usually two nights, 3 days at a time) because the family is afraid of biting. So, we encourage (and have had good results) him to interact and visit with everyone.

Even so, he seems to favour me now and as a result, *I* get nipped if 'intruders' come along This is causing some unhappiness between us because when he bites that hard, I put him on his gym and walk away. I can clearly see that he doesn't understand why mommy is cross and it breaks my heart But I do want to be consistent and let him know that hard bites will result in time out every time.

Percy is a shoulder bird (because normally he never bites faces) but he's threatened once or twice now and I fear a bite to my face will cause serious damage. I really don't think his 'shoulder sitting' is the problem (if I did, I would immediately discontinue it) - I have to address the displacement biting issue because it happens no matter where he happens to be sitting : shoulder, hand, knee... Any advice?

How recently has the biting started up? Any chance its just hormonal? I don't know about the weather / time changes in South Africa, but I know with the daylight savings time change here and the days just getting longer because season have definitely resulted in a bit more attitude going around with the birds!

I don't think so Jen - Spring starts in Sept here and last year in Spring, he was scarily hormonal!

I was not sure about the seasons... guess that would have been too easy and obvious!! Sorry he's being a little brat... any other changes going on that he would be unhappy about?

Uh-ooh, sounds like Percy had firmly claimed you now, Michelle. :54:

I would try and diffuse the situation as soon as someone else enters the room. Make Percy do something, no matter how small, so he redirects his attention to YOU rather than whoever else just entered "his" space. You know he doesn't mean to hurt you, he'd much rather pluck the person apart that dared get near you, but since he can't reach them, he lets his anger out on you instead.

Try and have a goody/treat handy at any given time, and as soon as you feel he's gonna nail you, remove him from your shoulder, show him the treat and redirect his attention. Ideally the "intruder" could offer him a treat (trying to get him to warm up to fellow family members).

1. You've already taken step one by recognizing the cause and effect.

2. Be aware of his body language right before he does this.

3. When you see him start acting that way, start warning the people around you that they need to back up because the bird is "getting nervous or excited" and may start biting...

4. Ignore step 3, if you are with the type of people who consider that type of thing "funny." [You mean if I take a step forward, LIKE THIS, you're gonna get bit? Look at that! You are right... Yep! He did it again... ] Instead immediately excuse yourself and put the bird down.

4A. [In the alternative tell the "funny" person, If you think that's funny?! Wait a Second. Cuz that's just a warning! It means he's getting ready to rip your nose off!!! So you might want to back up a bit before he launches at your face... And don't say I didn't warn you! - Okay, it's kind of a fib, but THEY don't know that.]

5. Be prepared to deflect bites with two fingers when you see the body language indicating the bird is getting agitated. And ask your bird if he needs to go back... If he doesn't calm down put him back. He'll get the message.

I handle displacement biting by observing Kiwi's body language and warning guests. If he is just TOO excited and I'm pretty confident he's going to bite, I get him with the stick and put him up to calm his butt down. Unfortunately, that's a little quark with the zons- they get quite worked up and have a problem calming themselves down

Edit:

If you want him to be comfortable with your family, they must go through the same steps you did to gain his trust and make him understand they want to be nice and aren't a threat. Anyone who needs to handle him regularly MUST teach him to step up on command to them EVERY time, and use consistent positive reinforcement with him. If you are using a "time out" method, then they should also use that too when he misbehaves in the ways that yield him a time out. That way he learns the acceptable behaviors of and has respect for the WHOLE flock, not just his favored person. I would discuss with the family who will regularly handle him "the rules" and have everyone on the same page so Percy has a clear picture of his expected behavior through consistent reactions (encouragement and otherwise) to his behaviors.

And just my personal opinion, but I do not allow Kiwi on my shoulder, nor do I allow any other bird. I know it is very sweet and a very nice bonding thing, but it's simply not safe and gives the bird the wrong idea. Even Lucy (my moms DYH) who I have an incredible bond with and knows "her place" is not allowed up on my shoulder. She has never bitten me, but she has ripped out my earrings and tried to preen around my eyes just being "playful". I don't trust Kiwi anywhere near my face where I don't have a clear view of his eyes and how they're pinning. He's bit me in the lip and the nose pretty severely when he was in a (seemingly) good mood and it was a lesson well learned. Plus, with a bird who is still relatively new to you (as in you haven't had him 25 years or anything) being at eye level with you gives him the WRONG impression. As much as we love our feathery babies, they MUST respect us as the authority figure or they can become unmanageable. Kind of like a child being told they don't have to listen to their parent. Placing a bird at the same height as you gives them the idea they are your equal and may do as they please. Until they have well and learned their place in your flock, they should not be getting signals that give the wrong impression. I know a lot of people shoulder their birds, but I just feel there are safer, more appropriate ways to bond.

Sally is bite pressure trained, but I know it's coming because she is usually on either a hand or a shoulder. If she runs down to my elbow, it means that something is upsetting her.

She has been taught to pinch instead of bite. She pinches me in the ribs.

The clue though is running to my elbow and nestling up next to me. And usually if I rub her head and soothe her at that point, she calms down.

jenphilly said:

. any other changes going on that he would be unhappy about?

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Only that I've been away for business more often recently. I suppose that also contributes? My family did tell me today that he's much more subdued when I'm away, the poor baby

JerseyWendy said:

Uh-ooh, sounds like Percy had firmly claimed you now, Michelle. :54:

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LOL! Be careful what you wish for, eh?

JerseyWendy said:

You know he doesn't mean to hurt you, he'd much rather pluck the person apart that dared get near you, but since he can't reach them, he lets his anger out on you instead.

Try and have a goody/treat handy at any given time, and as soon as you feel he's gonna nail you, remove him from your shoulder, show him the treat and redirect his attention.

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Good tips! I will try that, thanks

Birdman666 said:

4. Ignore step 3, if you are with the type of people who consider that type of thing "funny." [You mean if I take a step forward, LIKE THIS, you're gonna get bit? Look at that! You are right... Yep! He did it again... ] Instead immediately excuse yourself and put the bird down.

5. Be prepared to deflect bites with two fingers when you see the body language indicating the bird is getting agitated. And ask your bird if he needs to go back... If he doesn't calm down put him back. He'll get the message.

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NO ONE who knows me would mess with my Percy like that, Birdman! . They'd need to be more afraid of ME ripping their face off than Percy :54:

I have been using the 'time out' routine which I must say, DOES help...for a while. But I think he forgets... LOL!!

Here's a few things to check out.

Natural Encounters, Inc. (be sure to click on and read the answer options!)

Or you can download some of Steve Martin's articles in regards to biting
Natural Encounters, Inc.



And.... this one may be quite important as well.
Training a Bird to Station & Its Importance | Lara Joseph


Maybe something in those links may help you to handle Percy's behavior?