Biting over valuables

GreenCheek

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Aug 27, 2009
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Hello,

I have a question about what's been going on with my green cheek. He's usually a playful, sweet boy at least with myself, and most of the time with my sister. However, whenever you have food you are trying to hand to him, or any "valuable" for that matter (for example, he loves playing with balled up pieces of paper and will bite over them too), he bites you hard! It's not just a quick bite either, it's a "I'm really trying to teach you a lesson", grinding back and forth bite. And this is while I'm trying to give him something nice! I just end up getting through the pain, telling him "no" then sitting him back down for a minute and don't give him anything. However, after the minute I try again, and he still bites me. Could anyone help me out with this one? It's like he never learns!

Thank you!
Brittney
 

HRH Di

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It sounds as if he's associated biting with getting something good. Is it possible to take away the treat/toy he's been offered when he bites? If so, offer it again in a minute or so, and if he doesn't bite, he gets the treat/toy.
 
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GreenCheek

GreenCheek

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See, that's the thing. That is exactly what I'm doing. I'm taking it away when he bites, but every time I try to give it back to him, he bites again. So then he goes back into his cage and doesn't get it at all. He doesn't bite every time either, sometimes he'll take things from me fine (not that often). But often he gets into these "clicky" moods (when he starts making clicking noises a lot, he bites a lot more), and I can't give him anything without him biting. And it's hard not to interact with him when he's in these moods, because he's in them sooo often! He's a completely tamed bird too I have to add, just hormonal maybe? He's around 1 and a half now.
 

antoinette

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You sure have tried almost anything I would have suggested. HRH Di gave some great tips and advise.
I found link below, very very interesting, where owner's mention that their most common problem with Green Cheeks are nipping and biting.

The Green Cheek Conure Homepage

Don't give up !!!!!!!
Please keep us posted
 

Spiritbird

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Is your bird near the cage when this happens? If so it may be part of cage agression. My avain vet said today that this is a phase they go through. Is the bird stepping up as usual? Try putting the treats in a little cup or somethng that is not your hand. Please keep us posted.
 
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GreenCheek

GreenCheek

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Sometimes it is, but sometimes it's about 15 ft away from the cage. I could try giving him treats in a cup, but it's kind of hard to do that when your trying to do training. It's most convenient to just hand it to him. He does step up just fine, but when I try to reward him for that (or any other trick), he bites me. Do you think he may be resentful that I'm having him do things to get treats? Then again.. that really doesn't explain why he bites over paper as well, lol.

And thanks for the site antoinette! When I got him, I had actually researched a lot and knew they were the nippiest of the conure species, so this doesn't really surprise me. It's just the circumstances under which he's biting that's leaving me scratching my head. I'm definitely going to keep working with him, and if I can I'll post a video of the behavior. It's very weird, talk about biting the hand that feeds you, or in this case, IS feeding you in the process!
 

Spiritbird

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My next thought is about the treat itself. My bird would kill for cheese. Maybe you could change the treat he usually gets and see what happens. If biting happens I would still put the treat in something else.
 

Mel

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I know this is a long shot, and it sounds like you've tried everything but I thought this may help. I once had a great dane who we rescued from the pound that would go nuts for food. When I was training him he would almost take my hand off when rewarding so I would get him to sit, show him the food and say gentle, as soon as he moved, even just an flinch I would pull my hand away and say gentle then repeat the process. He soon learnt that if he moved at all he wouldn't get the treat. After a couple of days he would take the food from my hand so gently, we often had to remind him over the years but it worked really well, as soon as I said gentle he would be really calm.

Could you adapt this to the bird? Watch really closely and as soon as she moves toward you remove what ever it is, maybe try with paper since it's bigger. I would try again straight away with offering it but again as soon as she moves or lunges move your hand back but still show her the item is there if she wants it.
 
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GreenCheek

GreenCheek

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Thanks, I'll give this a try. It makes sense that it could work. I also got a video of the behavior to give a little bit of an idea. He actually takes the first few without a single nip, but then he tries to bite my finger off! I give him a minute, then BAM, he bites me again... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo-G2JiiZwM"]YouTube - Cody biting.wmv[/ame]

It may be the treat, as he doesn't bite me over everything. But even if it is the treat, shouldn't I still be able to hand it to him? It's just so odd to me. Can those that were in my big beak phobia thread kind of understand why now? lol. And please, if you notice me doing something wrong please let me know! He's a really great bird if it wasn't for this one thing.
 
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Mel

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I couldn't see if he took the last one from you or just went for the bite. It looked to me like you left your hand there longer with the last one, even if just for a little while? If he did take the last treat then maybe make sure you move your hand away as soon as he takes the treat. Also take note of how many he takes before he bites, eg if he bites on the 3rd time each time then only offer him 2.
 
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GreenCheek

GreenCheek

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On the second time he bit me, he didn't even take the treat. He just starts to strike/bite, THEN expects the treat.. I don't think so, lol

And I just read your response on my other thread that your cockatoo starts biting when he gets excited. Could that be what's happening with Cody? He gets really excited he's getting more of his favorite treat/favorite items, perhaps?
 

Mel

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yeah for sure, a lot of animals bite when they get excited, it's a way of releasing the built up energy.
 

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