Shocking bite...

Nakiska

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May 30, 2011
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Washington
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4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
So last night I had out our Franklin, as usual...and hubby and I were watching a movie, I was laying across our bed on my side, propping my head up on my hand and my other arm was just resting on my side slightly bent at the elbow, and Franklin was just milling around like always. He walks around the bed, burrows under the blankets, and climbs all over my husband and I. You know...normal conure stuff :D

So anyway, Franklin had been up on my shoulder, walked down my arm, hopped onto my thigh area, walked down toward my knee, hopped off my leg onto the bed behind me. All of the sudden, out of absolutely NO WHERE! WHAM!!! I felt a stinging, pinch, almost like a bee sting on my elbow! (I was wearing a T-shirt, so nothing covering my elbow) At first I didn't know what hit me and as I sat up and moved my arm, I felt Franklin's body and he was NOT letting go!! That little stinker!

My reaction was, of course I jerked, looked at my husband, confused "OOOWWWW! What the heck!!! OH MY GAWWWDD! Franklin just bit me!, BAD! Oouch! He let go, and I when I went to pick him up, he lunged to attack, so I grabbed the first thing I could find, a shirt that was laying on the floor and picked him up, put him in his cage and covered it.

Oh - and I told him, bad boy for biting me! OUCH!

He's 8 1/2 months old and he's NEVER done anything like this before. I have a bruise on my elbow...and I do NOT bruise easily and I can still feel where he bit me, but he didn't break the skin.

It was night time anyways...when I put him in his cage and covered it...which we never cover his cage...and I didn't uncover his cage til this morning, I talked to him, opened his door, he promptly came over and let me pet him, but I had to leave for work, so I didn't take him out.

He appears in good spirits today, but dang, what on earth could have instigated a bite like that? Before he bit me, I hadn't even moved, I was just watching the movie. I suppose I'll never know, but for what ever reason, my elbow sure ticked him off! Hahahahhahaah!!!! I hope I handled it good. I didn't handle him in anger, per say, I simply picked him up with the shirt and put him in his cage and covered it.

Anyway...just thought I'd share...sure shocked me!

Toni
 

SunMommy

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Nov 6, 2011
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Michigan
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Pyro, my new baby sun conure
It was night time anyways...when I put him in his cage and covered it...which we never cover his cage...and I didn't uncover his cage til this morning, I talked to him, opened his door, he promptly came over and let me pet him, but I had to leave for work, so I didn't take him out.

Just a question and a little off topic. You said you dont normally cover his cage. Is there a reason? Just curious because I dont think Pyro likes it when I cover his cage. I do it about the same time every night and he gets very loud when I cover his cage. It's almost like he is protesting. Then someone mentioned that he might feel claustrophobic in there all covered up. Not sure if this is common in conures.
 

Mamanda

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Oct 17, 2011
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Keen: female, YSGCC & Opi: male, Pied Cockatiel & Milo: male, Timneh African Grey
I feel your pain. Keen has been in a mood today. Unlike your baby, Keen does bite me ... and a daily basis. I'll have her perched on my finger talking to her and she'll lean down and haul off & bite me. HARD. I offer her toys, treats, etc to chew on, but she always ends up biting me anyway. Doesn't feel good.
 
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Nakiska

Nakiska

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4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
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It was night time anyways...when I put him in his cage and covered it...which we never cover his cage...and I didn't uncover his cage til this morning, I talked to him, opened his door, he promptly came over and let me pet him, but I had to leave for work, so I didn't take him out.

Just a question and a little off topic. You said you dont normally cover his cage. Is there a reason? Just curious because I dont think Pyro likes it when I cover his cage. I do it about the same time every night and he gets very loud when I cover his cage. It's almost like he is protesting. Then someone mentioned that he might feel claustrophobic in there all covered up. Not sure if this is common in conures.

Well, like you, our birds indicated they didn't like to be covered either, by hissing and/or lunging at the cover from their perches. I just didn't feel like it was worth the trauma to them and didn't see the point in mandatory cage covering.

Toni
 

SunMommy

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Nov 6, 2011
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Michigan
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Pyro, my new baby sun conure
It was night time anyways...when I put him in his cage and covered it...which we never cover his cage...and I didn't uncover his cage til this morning, I talked to him, opened his door, he promptly came over and let me pet him, but I had to leave for work, so I didn't take him out.

Just a question and a little off topic. You said you dont normally cover his cage. Is there a reason? Just curious because I dont think Pyro likes it when I cover his cage. I do it about the same time every night and he gets very loud when I cover his cage. It's almost like he is protesting. Then someone mentioned that he might feel claustrophobic in there all covered up. Not sure if this is common in conures.

Well, like you, our birds indicated they didn't like to be covered either, by hissing and/or lunging at the cover from their perches. I just didn't feel like it was worth the trauma to them and didn't see the point in mandatory cage covering.

Toni
I might stop covering his cage at night.
 

woubette

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Sep 19, 2011
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Kai-Cinnamon GCC
my birds are in the living room, right smack dab in the middle of all the activity and I am a day sleeper so I stay up all night. I have to cover my fids cage so they can get SOME sleep. I keep the lights off and just the TV on very low while I am in there but cage covering is a must for my guy and girl!
 
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Nakiska

Nakiska

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4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
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I feel your pain. Keen has been in a mood today. Unlike your baby, Keen does bite me ... and a daily basis. I'll have her perched on my finger talking to her and she'll lean down and haul off & bite me. HARD. I offer her toys, treats, etc to chew on, but she always ends up biting me anyway. Doesn't feel good.

Oh don't get me wrong, Franklin has bitten and hard and just like you describe...seems happy perched on your finger, or he wants to come out of his cage, he'll be sitting on the door opening, I"ll offer him my finger to step on to come out and he'll act like he's going to step up or give my finger a little test nibble, then wham...he'll land baste my finger with a stout bite, but he's NEVER bit like THIS before.

I've always seen it coming...meaning I'm looking at him or watching him, talking to him or playing when he's bitten before and by telling him "no bite" and "beeee nice" we've pretty much gotten his biteyness under control. I guess this bite seems different because for 1, it came from behind me and I did not SEE it coming and 2: I did absolutely NOTHING to provoke it, it's not like I moved my arm and scared him, or re-positioned myself that caught him off guard and caused a defensive bite...it seriously came out of no where!

Unlike you are describing, Franklin does not bite every day anymore, not even close, but he does bite sometimes, just never with THIS kind of vengence that he showed last night. It truly shocked me. Hopefully I shocked him just as much by putting him in his cage AND covering it for the night.

I can hope he put 2 and 2 together, but I doubt it. :)

Toni
 

lexx510

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Mar 13, 2011
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Bay Area, CA
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Pineapple Green Cheek Conure
Be careful about abruptly placing him in the cage as means of punishment (after he bites, etc). This may case him to associate the cage with punishment/bad energy, etc, so he will become more resistant to going back into his cage in general. This happened to me and my bird started biting really hard every time it was time for her to be put back into her cage. So I had to start training all over again.
 

SunMommy

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Nov 6, 2011
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Michigan
Parrots
Pyro, my new baby sun conure
Be careful about abruptly placing him in the cage as means of punishment (after he bites, etc). This may case him to associate the cage with punishment/bad energy, etc, so he will become more resistant to going back into his cage in general. This happened to me and my bird started biting really hard every time it was time for her to be put back into her cage. So I had to start training all over again.

What would you suggest as a disciplinary measure in place of putting a bird in the cage? I put Pyro in his cage after he does something undesirable. Only for a couple minutes though and then he's back out again.
 

Echo

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Dec 7, 2009
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3
USA
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Green Cheek Conures, Crimson Conures, CAG, Pionus, Budgies, Goffin Cockatoo
Be careful about abruptly placing him in the cage as means of punishment (after he bites, etc). This may case him to associate the cage with punishment/bad energy, etc, so he will become more resistant to going back into his cage in general. This happened to me and my bird started biting really hard every time it was time for her to be put back into her cage. So I had to start training all over again.

What would you suggest as a disciplinary measure in place of putting a bird in the cage? I put Pyro in his cage after he does something undesirable. Only for a couple minutes though and then he's back out again.

Usually, by removing your bird from the situation and walking away from them, give them the message. Like the incident in the bedroom, I would have brought him back to the area where the cage is, bird room or such and left him by himself for a bit and gotten back to watch the movie. After a few minutes, I would have asked to step up and put him in his cage for the night WITHOUT the cover.
 

Echo

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Dec 7, 2009
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USA
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Green Cheek Conures, Crimson Conures, CAG, Pionus, Budgies, Goffin Cockatoo
So last night I had out our Franklin, as usual...and hubby and I were watching a movie, I was laying across our bed on my side, propping my head up on my hand and my other arm was just resting on my side slightly bent at the elbow, and Franklin was just milling around like always. He walks around the bed, burrows under the blankets, and climbs all over my husband and I. You know...normal conure stuff :D

So anyway, Franklin had been up on my shoulder, walked down my arm, hopped onto my thigh area, walked down toward my knee, hopped off my leg onto the bed behind me. All of the sudden, out of absolutely NO WHERE! WHAM!!! I felt a stinging, pinch, almost like a bee sting on my elbow! (I was wearing a T-shirt, so nothing covering my elbow) At first I didn't know what hit me and as I sat up and moved my arm, I felt Franklin's body and he was NOT letting go!! That little stinker!

My reaction was, of course I jerked, looked at my husband, confused "OOOWWWW! What the heck!!! OH MY GAWWWDD! Franklin just bit me!, BAD! Oouch! He let go, and I when I went to pick him up, he lunged to attack, so I grabbed the first thing I could find, a shirt that was laying on the floor and picked him up, put him in his cage and covered it.

Oh - and I told him, bad boy for biting me! OUCH!

He's 8 1/2 months old and he's NEVER done anything like this before. I have a bruise on my elbow...and I do NOT bruise easily and I can still feel where he bit me, but he didn't break the skin.

It was night time anyways...when I put him in his cage and covered it...which we never cover his cage...and I didn't uncover his cage til this morning, I talked to him, opened his door, he promptly came over and let me pet him, but I had to leave for work, so I didn't take him out.

He appears in good spirits today, but dang, what on earth could have instigated a bite like that? Before he bit me, I hadn't even moved, I was just watching the movie. I suppose I'll never know, but for what ever reason, my elbow sure ticked him off! Hahahahhahaah!!!! I hope I handled it good. I didn't handle him in anger, per say, I simply picked him up with the shirt and put him in his cage and covered it.

Anyway...just thought I'd share...sure shocked me!

Toni

To us, we usually take bites as a punishment for something we did wrong. It is not always the case and not always how birds react to their surroundings. Take for example a human bonded to his parrot who is happily sitting on his shoulder. If a threat or another human walks in the room and the bird is scared/upset/jealous, and the bird cannot reach that person to bite HIM, he will then bite his loved human. In the wild, if 2 birds are next to each other and threat is present, often one bird will bite the other to make him fly away.

Even though you said you did nothing, and I believe you are right, your bird reacted to something. Could have been something in the movie and the fact it was late and your bird was tired. If the light was dimmed, something in the movie scared him and he bit you to make YOU move to safety. They do get also cranky when they want to go to bed and we don't see the signs. The bite you are describing though makes me thing of a scared bite where he reacted with aggression (birds react by flight or fight.....usually they choose flight if they can, in our houses it is less easy for them to choose that option behind walls and being clipped).

I am not saying that is what happened in his little head, but it is something to consider. In that case, you punished him by covering his cage the whole night knowing he doesn't like/or is afraid of it when he was just acting like a bird trying to either defend/protect you. Birds don't bite like this for no reason....
 

Mamanda

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Keen: female, YSGCC & Opi: male, Pied Cockatiel & Milo: male, Timneh African Grey
Be careful about abruptly placing him in the cage as means of punishment (after he bites, etc). This may case him to associate the cage with punishment/bad energy, etc, so he will become more resistant to going back into his cage in general. This happened to me and my bird started biting really hard every time it was time for her to be put back into her cage. So I had to start training all over again.

What would you suggest as a disciplinary measure in place of putting a bird in the cage? I put Pyro in his cage after he does something undesirable. Only for a couple minutes though and then he's back out again.

When Keen bites me, I place her on the ground. She isn't fond of it. She always stands at my feet and makes little "please pick me back up" noises. It makes me sad, but she needs to understand that biting means she can't be with Mama at that moment. I leave her there a a couple minutes and then I pick her up. I used to put her in her cage ... it didn't help a bit.
 

everdusk

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Oct 27, 2011
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Nova Scotia, Canada
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Marzipan (Hahns Macaw) & Pip & Monte ('tiels) // In Memory: Countess ('tiel), Primrose (GCC), Pauly, Star, Yoshi & Keitaro (budgies)
Mamanda, my baby GCC conure is very nibbly/bitey, and I tried a few different methods but yours seems to work the best. :3
 

MikeyTN

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Antioch, TN
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Putting them back in the cage does work for some birds yes, but yes again it can make it worse by placing them into the cage. Best thing to do is place them into solitary area on a playstand. And just ignore them, be sure to check on them, never leave them alone completely. When you do check on them, don't make eye contact, just look and walk away. Then try to pick them up again 15-30min later.
 

lene1949

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Sep 26, 2011
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Brisbane, Australia
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Cory: Short billed Corella -
Echo: Galah -
Max: Alexandrine -
Skye: Yellow Sided conure -
Luka: Green Cheek Conure -
RIP Shrek: Quaker
I agree with Echo... Something happened to make the bird bite... and since he didn't break the skin, it looks like it was a warning bite (Danger! Fly away!)..

Of course... relaxing - as you were - it would be impossible not to react - I know I would have... I don't react, when I'm expecting a bite, but out of the blue like that, I would have hit the ceiling... lol..

Your 'punishment' is over and done with, so I won't comment on that.
 
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Nakiska

Nakiska

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Washington
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4 Cockatiels 2 males Chicken Little & Charlie, 2 Females Chiquita and Sweet pea. Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure -Franklin and our now tame, rescued feral Pigeon - Belle.
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Well, as I am only human, I'm expected to make mistakes sometimes.

As far as how I handled Franklins bite, well I guess I should fill you all in, he lives in our room, his cage is in our room, the show we were watching (Grand Lodges of National Parks, a PBS video) was near over when he bit me so when I put him in his cage and covered it, it was (in my opinion) like "early bed" for him. Shortly there after, we turned off the TV and the lights and we all fell asleep.

Franklin does not appear to be suffering any ill effects from my apparent "extreme" punishment. He's behaving exactly as he did prior to the bite.

Last night he beebopped all over without a care in the world. :) And no one got bit ;)

Anyway, I'm here to learn so thanks for the advice and tips.

That was the first bite I've ever recieved like that, but I'm sure it won't be the last.

Take care and have a great weekend everyone!

Toni
 

roxynoodle

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Dec 1, 2011
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Well, since it has never happened before, I am wondering if you have something on your elbow like a freckle or a scab? My Nanday has been trying to pick my freckles off for 11 years, lol! Only because of her did I learn I have one in my right ear! Getting the inside of your ear chomped is no fun, but I figured there must have been a reason. So I had someone look and sure enough there is a freckle in my ear canal.

The bird is also at an age now where it's in it's "terrible 2's" like a human child goes through. It may begin testing you and it's boundaries.

For a biting toddler conure, there are a couple of things you might try. Getting their attention by looking it in the eye often can stop a bite, even before it starts. Some say to wobble your hand, but it turned out my Nanday loved that and would bite to make me give her an amusing ride. Back then when going through this stage, I would say, "Don't!" and put her on her play gym. Since she wanted to be with me more, she wasn't thrilled about that. I'd ignore her begging for a couple of minutes and then try again. They are smart and will get it. But, you need to be consistent and don't leave them there for more than a couple of minutes or they may not make the connection.

You can also try distracting them with a piece of paper like junk mail by putting it between their beak and your skin until you can establish the eye contact. That can be helpful because when they are biting they are looking down at you instead of up at your face.
 

Echo

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USA
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Green Cheek Conures, Crimson Conures, CAG, Pionus, Budgies, Goffin Cockatoo
Well, as I am only human, I'm expected to make mistakes sometimes.

As far as how I handled Franklins bite, well I guess I should fill you all in, he lives in our room, his cage is in our room, the show we were watching (Grand Lodges of National Parks, a PBS video) was near over when he bit me so when I put him in his cage and covered it, it was (in my opinion) like "early bed" for him. Shortly there after, we turned off the TV and the lights and we all fell asleep.

Franklin does not appear to be suffering any ill effects from my apparent "extreme" punishment. He's behaving exactly as he did prior to the bite.

Last night he beebopped all over without a care in the world. :) And no one got bit ;)

Anyway, I'm here to learn so thanks for the advice and tips.

That was the first bite I've ever recieved like that, but I'm sure it won't be the last.

Take care and have a great weekend everyone!

Toni

I didn't mean to say your punishment was extreme. I am sorry if you felt that way. I was just thinking that if he indeed was trying to warn you of something or got startled, then that punishment wouldn't really get the expected result.

It is easy for me to look back at the situation and comment, however, I probably would have reacted without thinking of the why and how under such a bite!........and maybe would have done the same thing. I am not better than anyone else on this forum and didn't mean to patronize.
 

Adz

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Jan 9, 2011
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Melbourne, Australia
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Green Cheek Conure
Interesting topic. Loco never usually bites, he gnaws like conures do but never really bites (well at least not me, he's not as fond of my girlfriend).

Both my girlfriend and I have laptops and and a wireless mouse each. I've found that when ever we are using the mouse, Loco will fluff up, get low and stalk our hands, slowly crawling over....and then BANG he'll attack! He bites SO hard he breaks my skin and I if try and grab him he just keeps biting! I've no idea why he does this and he only ever does it with the mouse.

I can see when he's going to do it, he starts getting all slinky and gets down like a cat about to pounce. Little bastard! :)
 

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