GC Conure Attacking Me

Hey Everyone,

So I recently posted about my Green Cheek Conure (Yoshi) who was going through a very nippy phase usually getting aggressive when she didn't get what she wanted. Now unfortunately for me it has turned into straight up attacking me! It's gotten to the point where I can't pick her up out of her cage without gloves on because she tries to maul my hand. I don't think it is a trust thing, I actually think it's her being territorial. When she is around her cage or my boyfriend she is super aggressive towards me. I have been doing things lately as to "regain" my dominance, such as not allowing her on my shoulder anymore, or the couch when I am on it. But I am just not sure about her attacking me. It's gotten to the point where I get nervous picking her up, and I think she knows it too. The gloves work, but she is clever and has learned when I have gloves on biting doesn't work, so she doesn't try to bite...that is unless she sees skin then she goes for it. If I don't have the gloves on she goes nuts! How do I fix this? I read every where not to react to her biting because she may be looking for a reaction but she bites so hard she draws blood, I can't help but react to it because obviously it hurts. My had is covered in cuts and blisters from her biting and pinching my skin so hard. I have tried so many techniques to work with her. I take her into another room where she is not familiar, and take the gloves off. Once she bites me I put her on the floor and walk away. She usually tries to follow me or climb up my leg if I don't leave the room, because she doesn't like being alone. Every time she stepped onto my finger without chomping me I would praise her and give her a treat. So after a while that started helping to where I can practice doing the ladder and "step up" with out being mauled. But it hasn't helped the cage/boyfriend territory problem.

What do I do? I want to be with my bird... but I am afraid she just doesn't like me!

T

just my 2 cents, but it sounds like she's going through the bluffing stage

I'm really interested to hear the suggestions you get because Chewie attacked me tonight as well and it really is not realistic to suggest you not react to the bites because no bird I have ever had has bitten as hard as him. He literally digs in an scrapes the skin off my fingers. I got my gcc in may and am seriously thinking of giving him away to someone else. He really just seems to hate me! He prefers my husband over me and is super cage aggressive. My hubby doesn't even like birds!

Oh wow this is a hard one! You know one trick I find often works? Show the bird indifference to it's existence! Feed it, don't talk to it, don't give it any special attention. Do this for a few days (and hopefully the bird will cool off in the mean time). The only reason I say this is because I hear so often that a bird likes the parent that doesn't care about it. And it's the same for mine as well! Prim doesn't bite and she WILL love me but Joel comes into the room and she's all over him. He doesn't have patience for her and just wants me to take her back but she always returns. So maybe there's a trick here right?

My IRN is going through the bluffing stage. Every thing was great at first but has been trying on with me. He fine away from the cage but once at the cage it " this is my home back of human" the top of his cage opens so he can sit on top and at first I was opening the top and letting him come out on his own. But now if he want to play on top he has to step up on my hand with out bitting and come out the front door first or no top play. And if he don't want to be nice up there no treats. I been going to him non stop during the day putting my hand to him for scratch most time he goes to bit I walk on by, and just say ok no treat. Today I was allowed to scratch his head just a couple of time and he got his treats and lots of praise. I think it's getting through to him. When he is on his stand in the kitchen it's like he is another bird, so sweet and fun to be around. So I'm putting down to baby bluffing they say that many birds his size go through it after weaning the " I'm a big kid now" thing. Hopefully this will pass and I hope it will pass for your bird as well. Don't give up to soon. It can make you feel upset. But what ever you do don't let him know that. They can tell what your feeling and feed off of that. And yes I used a glove when he got real bad for a few days. I know that a lot of people say tuff it out. But hay I wouldn't put my hand in a bitting dog why would I do it with a bird with a very painful bit?
Keep at it. Best of luck.

When you have gloves on she doesn't bite, because she doesn't get a reaction...

I would not give her a chance to bite, if she's going to get a reaction out of you... Let her bite a wooden stick... Clicker train her in targeting...

Targeting is great, because you can move the bird anywhere without direct handling... The bonus is that the bird learns to trust you...

The best thing to do to prevent a bite is to avoid situations that often result in biting. For example, if your bird often bites your ear when perched on your shoulder, don't allow her on your shoulder to begin with. It seems that you are already doing this to an extent. So knowing that she's territorial around her cage, I'd probably just respect her space around the cage and let her be. Why fight for dominance? It seems that only leads to frustration and hurt feelings on both ends. We have to keep in mind that parrots are wild animals, and they have certain instincts that we can't always control or manipulate. I've learned to accept and respect my bird's boundaries, and have not been bit in a long time.

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Someone said this:

everdusk said:

Oh wow this is a hard one! You know one trick I find often works? Show the bird indifference to it's existence! Feed it, don't talk to it, don't give it any special attention. Do this for a few days (and hopefully the bird will cool off in the mean time). The only reason I say this is because I hear so often that a bird likes the parent that doesn't care about it. And it's the same for mine as well! Prim doesn't bite and she WILL love me but Joel comes into the room and she's all over him. He doesn't have patience for her and just wants me to take her back but she always returns. So maybe there's a trick here right?

Click to expand...

It's interesting that you say that because my boyfriend is at work all day during the weekdays and I am home with her the majority of the day. We both were so surprised that she took to him since he doesn't get much time with her.

A few of you mentioned a bluffing stage? What is that? Someone said the "big kid stage" after weaning, is that what it is? Also someone mentioned the cage is her territory and I agree with that. I want her to feel like she has a safe space that is her own, since this is her home too. I just don't want to be attacked anymore. I did some reading and by the information I found I can't help but think Yoshi has chosen my boyfriend (Josh) as her mate. A few different places said that once they select a mate they get very territorial over that person and their cage. I read in someone elses forum that Conures are little jealous birds and don't like to "share" their mate so to speak. By Yoshi's behavior towards me I think that might be whats going on.

Daddylongnails I will see if I can find some of those articles I found about the aggressive conures. They were interesting reads if not helpful.

Thanks!

T

daddylongnails said:

I'm really interested to hear the suggestions you get because Chewie attacked me tonight as well and it really is not realistic to suggest you not react to the bites because no bird I have ever had has bitten as hard as him. He literally digs in an scrapes the skin off my fingers. I got my gcc in may and am seriously thinking of giving him away to someone else. He really just seems to hate me! He prefers my husband over me and is super cage aggressive. My hubby doesn't even like birds!

Click to expand...

If anyone is having similar problems to mine, here are some websites I have found during my quest to befriend my bird! And of course I am still always open to suggestions about Yoshi. I am going to try working with her using a perch around her cage as suggested by Lene1949. I will let you all know how it goes!

In the meantime, here are some resources:

How To Tame Your Wild Or Aggressive Biting Parrot - Dealing With Unwanted Behavior In Your Pet Parrot

Coping with Puberty

Thanks!

T

Birds are so social! I think that when they feel like someone isn't giving them enough attention they will do a lot to get it. Yoshi knows they'll get it from you but has to be an extra good birdy for your boyfriend to pay attention.

Everyone has given great advice! Hope it all works out!

Maybe I can get some insight also. I just brought my 11 week old GCC home a little over a week ago. He was so sweet when I would visit him in the store and the first couple days we had him. Now he is downright nasty. He'll come out on my finger and then game on!! He is clearly being nasty and makes a noise while he's trying to attack your finger. He has now bitten everyone that has gone near him. I'm sure it's still an adjustment for him in his new home but I surely don't want a bird with this behavior and I don't want to resent getting him so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

A good way to avoid a bite on the finger is to sew up a finger stall out of suede material or leather or anything like that. I think the gloves freak them out. I used this with my gcc when he went thru that ........he finally learned I wasn't going to react and he stopped. Well not completely they have their moments.
Don't trespass on his turf in his cage. Don't try to pick him up, just let him step up and when he acts like he doesn't want to ...don't force the issue.
If you just let him make the first move toward you that would be best. I just ignore Forrest when he goes thru these stages and then in a couple days his curiosity gets the better of him and he comes to me to join in.
HOpe this helps

You can also use a little foam-core bandaging tape on your finger, which is less obtrusive. But IMO only as a precaution in case you misjudge the situation. Best to avoid the bites entirely as others have said. Don't try to force the bird to be with you and be good. Let the bird make choices about what to do. Try to understand what is motivating about the bite and work on or around the root cause. Try to find behaviors you can reward so you can make the interactions more positive. Fuss as little as possible if you do get bitten. And try not to take it personally. It's not about the bird liking you or hating you, it's about the bite getting him something he wants. He may not really understand that it hurts, just that you make certain noises or behave in a certain way when he does it. Could be attention he wants, could be being left alone for now, that's what's hard to figure out. Or it could be an expression of over-excitement. In any event, you have little to lose from keeping your distance if you think a bite is likely. Let him do his own thing.

If it persists for a long time, you could try making changes in the environment. Move the cage to a different location, rearrange the stuff inside it.

This is the kind of situation where I sense anthropomorphism complicates things because not only is the person getting physically hurt, but emotionally distraught because it seems that love has been lost. It's not a rejection, and it's not likely irreversible.

Scooter gets like this with me when I travel for more than a couple of nights. I've never really figured out a root cause for it, but I assume there is either some kind of anger (but I find even that uncomfortably anthropomorphic) or else over-excitement at the return of the familiar. In any event, everything I've tried to directly address it has only seemed to make it worse. The more I tried to dominate, punish, or otherwise change the behavior, the longer the behavior seemed to last. Waiting until he shows definite signs of wanting to be handled has proven the most successful tactic thus far. Certainly he's always come around again given patience, but sometimes it does take a lot of patience.

There are many methods to help curb biting in conures. When it comes to baby birds, I for one think its wrong to hide your reaction when you get bitten. Parrots are very good at picking up on emotions, and if you have an inconsistent reaction to something like a bite, your conure will very likely keep biting you to try and learn just what the deal is.

Whenever Birdy is out and about in public he'll be fine around 95% of people, but if he feels like someone is acting strangely or not giving him space, he will bite whatever is getting in the way.
This initial first bite is not a skin breaker - a warning bite, but its hard enough to scare some unsuspecting strangers who don't know about conures into defending themselves.
At this key moment, they try to defend themselves without hurting the bird*. This may sound reasonable, but at its extreme it means Birdy is given the ability to throw his weight around (all 62 grams), running amok and screaming while given free reign on the outstretched arm of the stranger. The stranger blocks with the other hand and subsequently gets fully attacked, it becomes mission for Birdy to bite something so elusive.
He becomes fully dominant over the person, who at this stage normally calls me to get this crazy bird off them.

It's important that no matter what method you use to try and change this behavior, you need to stop it before it escalates like this. I'll post a few suggestions of my own later, but definitely read up on as many ideas as you can so you can come to your own method.

*Learn to handle your fid without hurting him/her.

Haven't read all responses as I gotta run out to teach soon so sorry if this is repeated!

If it is a territorial thing - are you changing the inside of the cage, moving stuff around? That has helped me, also moving the cage from the lounge room to my room has helped a lot with my birds biting, I get a bad bite maybe once a fortnight now and no nipping in between that (much better than several times a day!)
Treats through the bars helped regain the trust too, that way you can also judge how they come towards you (whether interested or just aggresive) "watch your birds body language" is very true through the bitey times.

Hey Karyns I had a similar thing with Chewie, she's only a baby too and i've had her about 4 weeks now. We went through a similar phase where I wondered if I could cope with her because all she seemed to do was want to nip me, she would go crazy when she was out of her cage and nibble any available bit of me.

I think its just an adjustment phase, because she's doing a lot better now and will just beak my hands in quite a playful way, and seems to be more interested in other things like her toys and my computer mouse :/

I think maybe the turning point was when I (temporarily - in a moment of despair) decided I couldn't manage and was going to send her to a charity. Almost instantly she improved I think because I wasn't worrying or fussing over her. I think the other comments about kinda ignoring them are very true! These cheeky little birds just need to establish who the boss is

Conures bite hard, i know my conure when he did bite me it was the worst bite i have ever gotten. As other suggested don't use a glove, a wooden dowel is good. Conures can get cage aggressive mine had it and anyone that put their hand in there was getting bitten.

I used a wooden dowel for months. i would offer the dowel say step up if he bit the dowel I would leave and come back a few minutes later and try again. Don't make them come out just give them the option. After awhile when they notice they are not getting out at all they will willingly hop on a perch..

my conure has brought tears to my eyes it is very difficult, most of the time we pull away causing more pain, if he lays into you push into the bite its unexpected behavior, and hold your cool don't make a peep and leave him and come back a little later. conures need their space & lots of it. My conure was slow to trust it took months of work. Eventually though you will be able to putt your hand in that cage and he will hop on.

My conure was an angel for about a week i think and then ohh he was horrible, working with them in baby steps is the key and having lots of patience. I would not even recommend you offering your finger as a perch , because you stated you are scared of the bite, and you don't want him biting you at all so i recommend using a dowel until you know he will postivly step up without nipping you.

Thank you for all the info. I think we will just have to take some time and see if he adjusts to his surroundings and gains confidence. He loves to come out of his cage....he flies right over to the door when he sees you approach but as soon as hes on your finger and try to pet him he makes a sqeaking noise and then goes in for the kill!! LOL my teenage kids are terrified of him and want nothing to do with him and to be honest I'm a bit apprehensive with him as he was nothing like this when I would visit him at the store prior to bringing him home. YOu put him down and he runs all over the place and then if you try to pick him back up he's like a defiant little child!! LOL Tonight we put our dogs outside while we ate dinner so we could have him out at the table with us so he could 'interact' and bond but once it was time to go back in his cage we had to try to catch him running around!! LOL I've been so excited about getting him so I am really hoping I didn't get the bird from hell!!! LOL LOL

Karyns said:

Thank you for all the info. I think we will just have to take some time and see if he adjusts to his surroundings and gains confidence.

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I honestly think that at this stage he has more confidence then you guys!
When he hops on your finger, try walking into a room that he's never been in before. See the difference in how conures behave when their confidence drops - he should change to exactly how he was behaving when you first brought him into the house.

I think you need to teach him asap that what he's doing is just not on. The longer it goes on for, the harder it will be to get him to stop.

I recently went through this same thing with Widget, my pineapple conure. He's probably around 10 months old, somewhere around there. One day, he decided my neighbor was the bad guy, and started attacking her when she came in the house. It got so bad that she would just call for me through the mail slot so she wouldn't incur Widget's wrath. About two days later, he decided that *I* was the bad guy, and started biting the piss out of me pretty much all the time, no matter what I did. I was afraid to touch my own bird for a while, and then I found a post on this website (I can't remember where it was or who said it, I'm sorry! When I find it, I'll give credit where credit is due!) that suggested not only NOT reacting to his biting (which sucks and is nearly impossible), but also forcing him to follow commands instead of just leaving him alone. So, every single time he would poof up and bite me, I would immediately put him on a flat surface and make him step up and step off 4-5 times, and then I would give him scratchies and kisses, sometimes against his will, lol... I swear, it only took about 1 day to see results, and 4 days for him to go back to the sweet little baby he always was.

I can't promise this will work, obviously, but it worked for me. He did bite my fingers quite a bit when he was stepping up and stepping off, but something about me putting my foot down very quickly broke him of his little rebellious urges. I hope this helps!