Biting

This is a very common topic and there is lots information available online, but its hard to make sense out of it all. My female is very sweet most of the time, but she has her times when she can be nippy. It is either in the morning, or in the evening.

Usually, once or twice a week, when I go to remove her from her cage in the morning, she will step up onto my hand, and seem content, and in the next second go to bite my thumb. I have tried many methods, including giving her the evil eye and saying no very sternly. This seems to produce no effect on her, and when I do this, no matter how many times I say no and look her square in the eye, she often goes back for more bites on my thumb, such that I have to remove her from my hand. I also read at Land of Vos that making eye contact with a parrot will often prevent it from biting, but this seems to make no difference to my parrot.

The only other times she will bite is in the evening when I go to put her in her cage, but this is even more rare. Usually, she is quite cooperative and happy to come out of her cage, and happy to go back in the evening, and is never aggressive with me. But there are these unpredictable moments when she bites. It seems clear that it is dominance biting, because there is no body language to suggest to me I shouldn't approach her. And she steps up voluntarily when I reach for her. Then its usually a few seconds or even more before she goes for the thumb. Sometimes I get pretty far walking her before she goes for the thumb. Today, I did something different, and when she bit, I put her back in the cage. I waited 5 or more mins and then went back to try to remove her again. But she bit again. So I put her back, and re-approached in 10 mins. Then she came out and stayed on my hand without biting me.

I could obviously just use my arm and that prevents the biting, but I want to train her out of the behavior. I've read in some places that time-outs and punishments are ineffective for parrots.

What do you think? Is it effective for me to place her in a dark room by herself for a few mins when she bites, removing her from her social situation? What works for you?

I would not recommend putting her in the cage when she bites because it teaches her that going in her cage is a punishment.
The most effective way I have found to deal with biting is to give them a little earthquake while on your hand, just tip/wobble your hand until they get off balance but not enough to make them fall. It stops them from biting because they get knocked off balance, soon she should learn that biting isn't allowed.
It is also helpful to say no while shaking your hand so she learns the meaning of the word.

Thanks for the advice. I've read about the earthquake approach, and some say that it will make the parrot feel that your arm is not a safe place to perch, and thus lose trust. I had also heard what you are saying about the cage, and not wanting it to be a punishment zone.

So you see, for every bit of advice, someone says the complete opposite. I don't know how to make sense out of it! For now, I am just placing her in the bathroom in the dark for a few mins, and see if that works.

Well I guess it would all depend on the bird, but I have 9 parrots and I have used that technique on all of them with no ill effects.
Good luck with the biting, I have six conures so I feel your pain, literally.lol

Thanks, Cdog, that is good to know that it worked with your parrots!

Chikoo said:

Thanks for the advice. I've read about the earthquake approach, and some say that it will make the parrot feel that your arm is not a safe place to perch, and thus lose trust. I had also heard what you are saying about the cage, and not wanting it to be a punishment zone.

So you see, for every bit of advice, someone says the complete opposite. I don't know how to make sense out of it! For now, I am just placing her in the bathroom in the dark for a few mins, and see if that works.

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Honestly I believe that is because unlike other pets, parrots have a very highly level of intelligence and cant be domesticated like other animals. They are just to darn smart! Just like with children, some things will not work on all children and some things only work with a few.

You are just going to have to try them and see what works. I dont know if you are male of female but if you have manicured nails with little patterns on them, try getting just normal french whatever its called (the Mrs. does it, not me lol). Maybe you have a watch on or something that she hates. If its just your thumb, then you should be looking at why its just your thumb. Is it because its the only thing in front of her? Does she do it on both hands? Is she calm when she does it or is it more vicious? Its possible that she is just excited to be out and when you put her back, she dosent want to lol. Maybe she is just playing with you. Try taking her out and suprise her with a treat right away to keep her busy. Im just spitballin her but just try it. Its all you can do until you figure out why its happening in the first place. It might just be a phase, it might be aggression, it might be a game, it might be she dosent like the picture frame next to her cage- who knows.

Good luck

DerSchniffles said:

Chikoo said:

Thanks for the advice. I've read about the earthquake approach, and some say that it will make the parrot feel that your arm is not a safe place to perch, and thus lose trust. I had also heard what you are saying about the cage, and not wanting it to be a punishment zone.

So you see, for every bit of advice, someone says the complete opposite. I don't know how to make sense out of it! For now, I am just placing her in the bathroom in the dark for a few mins, and see if that works.

Click to expand...

Honestly I believe that is because unlike other pets, parrots have a very highly level of intelligence and cant be domesticated like other animals. They are just to darn smart! Just like with children, some things will not work on all children and some things only work with a few.

You are just going to have to try them and see what works. I dont know if you are male of female but if you have manicured nails with little patterns on them, try getting just normal french whatever its called (the Mrs. does it, not me lol). Maybe you have a watch on or something that she hates. If its just your thumb, then you should be looking at why its just your thumb. Is it because its the only thing in front of her? Does she do it on both hands? Is she calm when she does it or is it more vicious? Its possible that she is just excited to be out and when you put her back, she dosent want to lol. Maybe she is just playing with you. Try taking her out and suprise her with a treat right away to keep her busy. Im just spitballin her but just try it. Its all you can do until you figure out why its happening in the first place. It might just be a phase, it might be aggression, it might be a game, it might be she dosent like the picture frame next to her cage- who knows.

Good luck

Click to expand...

Very true. One of mine hates red shirts.

Biting! Ouch! I've had a few good bites from my male eckie over the last 5 years....I did the 'earthquake' thing and it worked with my boy. Try not to make a big deal after a bite as sometimes that's exactly what your eckie wants...the ATTENTION it creates. I found saying'NO only taught my bird to mimick me saying NO! Which was highly infuriating! Good luck!