Green Cheek is pinching and biting.

Lexielu

New member
May 27, 2014
8
0
Indiana
Parrots
Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure-Pandora
Green Cheek Conure-Pantheon
Hello I have a question about my green cheek. When we got her she was the sweetest thing but lately she has been biting rather hard and we cant figure out how to get her to stop we have tried everything from distracting her when she does it to setting her on the floor and walking away(not very far though so she cant get hurt or stuck anywhere).we just dont know what else to do. So suggestions would be nice.
She has also started pinching for lack of better word. She grabs little bits of skin with her beak and it hurts like crazy. Dont think she is trying to hurt us really but how do we get her to stop? Any advice would be helpful. Im pretty sure she is molting though she is losing feathers and getting new ones but I didnt think they molted till six months she is only five.
Thank you for helping.
 

BEWolf

New member
Mar 5, 2014
62
1
Lansing, NC, USA
Parrots
Harley and Marley mated pair of budgies, age unknown
Rajah and Keeta, mated pair of parrotlets, ages 6yrs. and 11yrs. respectively
Kiki, Senegal, F., 7yrs.
Kookooloo, CAG, F., 14 yrs.
Mimi, YHA, F., 1
You are not doing badly with how you are dealing with the biting or nipping, but I would also use a verbal cue as well. When 1 of mine bite I use " No Bite " or " Gently " as a verbal cue. There really isn't much more that you can do except to continue what you are doing and have patience while they figure it out.

As for the time differential involved with the molting, I would not be concerned about it. The 6 months of age when they first start molting is a generalization, a guideline for this species. It does not mean that there won't be individuals that molt earlier than this or that some won't molt a little bit later.
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
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Parrots
Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
If you can, try not to put her in a situation where it will result in a bite from her. Learn to read her body language so that you can avoid getting bitten.

Also, look into target training, clicker training and positive reinforcement.
 
OP
Lexielu

Lexielu

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May 27, 2014
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Indiana
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Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure-Pandora
Green Cheek Conure-Pantheon
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  • #5
We have been pushing her beak off what she is biting and telling her to be easy and she seems to understand that its not okay to do what she did especially with the biting. Its the pinching we cant figure out. Like I said she doesnt seem to mean to hurt and I dont think she knows she is hurting so when we tell her to be easy she kinda just looks at you like she is confused. And I dont know how to explain to her that it hurts and she cant do it.
 
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Lexielu

Lexielu

New member
May 27, 2014
8
0
Indiana
Parrots
Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure-Pandora
Green Cheek Conure-Pantheon
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
The good thing is she never draws blood when she does bite so I know she at least understand to an extent that biting hurts and she should be careful. We are getting a pinapple conure that is close to her age tomorrow and hoping that eventually they will be friends. Just worried a bit because she has been the baby and I dont want her to feel like to is being replaced.
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
Media
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43
Parrots
Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
Is she bored or curious? If so, it may help to provide her with a variety of foot toys and other things to keep her interested in while you have her with you!
 
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Lexielu

Lexielu

New member
May 27, 2014
8
0
Indiana
Parrots
Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure-Pandora
Green Cheek Conure-Pantheon
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  • Thread starter
  • #8
She always has lots of toys around. And she has also gotten a lot better this week with bitting.
 

OneHorseRanch

New member
May 25, 2014
179
1
California
Parrots
One Green Cheek Conure, Sheldon. Hatch date: 7/27/13
When my GCC gets irritated with me he will do this meow-growl thing that you hear two cats doing sometimes along with the head spin and trying to bite. So I try to avoid things that I do to irritate him. But when he's being cuddly he will roll my skin (from the crotch of my elbow or neck) in his beak. It does pinch but he just has a different attitude about it. WHen it really bothers me I'll gently move him. He does still bite my daughter but she has learned to not take it personal and be persistent with him and he gets over it. SHe's not her favorite pet but he tolerate her anyway.
 

bettietheripper

New member
May 3, 2014
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1
SoCal
Parrots
Sun Conure (Pipa), hatched 12/31/13
My conure is more mean lately than ever -- hard bites, hard pinches, followed by giggling. I've tried everything as well, even putting her back in her home and ignoring her, but she just screams non stop. After a while, once I do pick her up, and say no more, or stop, or be nice, she just goes back to biting hard.
 

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