Bites

Taw5106 · Jun 28, 2016

Venus has raging hormones again. I was napping and heard her scream like she was in pain so I ran to her cage. She wasn't in her cage, she was in Buzz's cage. Stupid me reached in and told her to step up, tried toweling too but was bit 4 times by her, hard, ruthless bites. I got an extra perch, stuck it in front of her and she stepped up immediately. Buzz is fine but now I know he hates towels, he was panicked.

For now I've zip tied all her doors. She got out of her nesting box door, first time she's used this door. These are the worst bites by far from her. Husband got home, saw my hands and I don't think he will ever try to get any bird to step up.

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Kiwibird · Jun 28, 2016

YOWCH

! Those look painful! Aren't they so fun to have sometimes? Those could be on a cautionary poster for potential owners about what they're in for and are they really ready! Hope those heal up quickly for you and that miss sassy pants calms down and doesn't pull that again. How is poor, innocent Buzz faring from his traumatic experience with a red intruder and an evil towel invading his safe space?

Taw5106 · Jun 28, 2016

Buzz is doing fine. I think he was pleased that I got her out of his palace. Maybe that earned half a brownie point with him. I just got back from the store to get band aids. On the way there, two of the bites opened up and started bleeding so I grabbed some butterflies too. I didn't realize they were so deep. When I got to the register they gave me a paper towel because both hands were leaking again. I must admit I cried a little but it was more over hurt feelings because Venus bit me, lol. But you are right about new bird owners and a cautionary poster. This is what can and most likely will happen at any point. The severity may not be as bad but it can happen, can you handle it? I remember the photo of your nose and that had to seriously hurt!

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GraciesMom · Jun 28, 2016

Ah dang ouch looks like she sawed down too. Gracie was very towel / paper towel etc. scared & aggressive. The worst bites I received in the beginning were getting to close to her with a towel/paper towel when cleaning.

I don't think Gracie will ever be friends with the towel monster but I was able to at least get her to a point of not losing her mind & freaking out around them. I just kept them laying around and let her discover that they weren't hideous towel monsters & after shower time she'd see me drying off with a towel and gets that intense look so I'd tell her it's alright it's just a towel and keep reassuring her. After a few months she just desensitized to them so now when she sees them she's not terrified or panicky she just makes a clucking sound repeatedly and will nibble on it if it gets too close but no panicky freak outs & doesn't attack them viciously anymore.

I had to / have to do similar technique with her toys - leave them around, play with them out of her reach but in her sight etc.

Really hope you catch a break from the hormones soon.

Kiwibird · Jun 28, 2016

Taw5106 said:
Buzz is doing fine. I think he was pleased that I got her out of his palace. Maybe that earned half a brownie point with him. I just got back from the store to get band aids. On the way there, two of the bites opened up and started bleeding so I grabbed some butterflies too. I didn't realize they were so deep. When I got to the register they gave me a paper towel because both hands were leaking again. I must admit I cried a little but it was more over hurt feelings because Venus bit me, lol. But you are right about new bird owners and a cautionary poster. This is what can and most likely will happen at any point. The severity may not be as bad but it can happen, can you handle it? I remember the photo of your nose and that had to seriously hurt!

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I hope you did win a few points with him. Buzz sounds like a tough nut. How is Venus? Sometimes even the, ahem, attacker can be a bit shaken up after a serious incident. And ya, they can definately leave deep wounds. I think the emotional wounds of our feathered friends attacking us are worse than the actual bites

Hope you cleaned them out real well with peroxide and neosporin? What did the people at the store think?

Perhaps we need a 'bird bites' sticky somewhere (hint hint). I know a lot of new users ask about it, but perhaps an archive of photos like this just for people to see to help them make an informed decision:33: List the species of parrot that inflicted the bite too. I'll contribute my nose photo:12: :green:

Taw5106 · Jun 28, 2016

I like your idea of a "birds bite" sticky and I second your suggestion!

As for the bites and cleansing, Oh yes I cleaned them well, first peroxide and then a diluted bedidine solution. Owwww!!!

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camo · Jun 28, 2016

What the.....

was my response when I saw the photos. Forget the prospective parronts, I've had Gizmo and Pebbles for a few years now, and I think I will cringe the next time I ask for step up

I will never complain about Gizmo's biting again. I hope the wounds heal quickly and aren't too painful.

When she does these bites are they quick or a persistent hold? If your quick enough, can you get her to release with say a thumb and finger Over the beak, or is it over too quick or is she too persistent? I'm asking to get an idea of what I might have to deal with at some point (if Pebbles ever rages), not to suggest I have any advice.

And Venus....come on, play fair!

Cheers,

Cameron

Taw5106 · Jun 28, 2016

camo said:
What the..... was my response when I saw the photos. Forget the prospective parronts, I've had Gizmo and Pebbles for a few years now, and I think I will cringe the next time I ask for step up

I will never complain about Gizmo's biting again. I hope the wounds heal quickly and aren't too painful.

When she does these bites are they quick or a persistent hold? If your quick enough, can you get her to release with say a thumb and finger Over the beak, or is it over too quick or is she too persistent? I'm asking to get an idea of what I might have to deal with at some point (if Pebbles ever rages), not to suggest I have any advice.

And Venus....come on, play fair!

Cheers,

Cameron

Great questions! She held on, a persistent hold on the three deep bites. Deep bites are on my left pointer finger, right pointer finger, and right index finger. She was VICIOUS!!! I even screamed "Ow" and she didn't let go. This is the worst by far.

Now she is calling to me. What ever.... Girl, you need a serious time out!

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katie_fleming · Jun 29, 2016

Oh man, ouch x1000

Sorry to hear that happened, hope your hands heal quickly

plumsmum2005 · Jun 29, 2016

Aw so sorry for the bites from Madam Houdini. She has some attitude doesn't she?

Curious did she get out of her cage and unlatch Buzz's too?

coopedup · Jun 29, 2016

sorry she bit you--im sure your fingers will heal faster than your trust. Venus is a very lucky girl to have a mom like you.

Scott · Jun 29, 2016

My deepest and most painful bites have come from an Ekkie. They seem to bite and rhythmically grind and saw the upper and lower beak into flesh.

I have also found them to be far more difficult to "read." So much easier with highly expressive cockatoos!

Definitely take care of the wounds to prevent infection or contamination with some very nasty organisms in the environment.

BIRDIGIRL · Jun 29, 2016

Ouch those bites look really painful...reading the posts I gather you have all been bitten at one time or another...I havent yet been really bitten (only a few nibbles and the odd bruise from Roger) Mr Biggles was the closest I came as he drew blood in the early days but only a scratch compared with your war wounds...I guess considering I have on ocasion at Pet stores asked strange Toos and Macaws to step up it can be said that I have been very lucky to date. Hope your hand heals quickly...a little ice on it might help with the swelling and the pain. Hope it feels better soon as it looks reslly nasty

OutlawedSpirit · Jun 29, 2016

With everything I've seen you post with Miss Venus, I can definitely say I'm a little worried about the pretty chicken when she hits puberty. Like you said with Venus, she is just the sweetest, most well behaved bird right now. Hopefully they aren't like kids where good babies turn in to terrible toddlers...

I hope your bites heal quickly and heal well. The worst bite I have ever gotten was from a Moluccan Too. I was walking by his cage while we were letting him have out of cage time (my dad had gotten him a playtop) and he ran over to me and went after my face. He went all the way through my lip. Still have the scar. However, I couldn't really blame him, I walked too close to his cage and knew he was pretty much unhandleable. He had been severely abused before we got him and had no trust in people.

Just like with the hormones, you can't really blame Venus. I would totally agree with you on not letting her have out of cage time, though.

Taw5106 · Jun 29, 2016

This morning I woke and my hands were throbbing. The left pointer was swollen and bleeding so I took some ibuprofen and logged into my computer to start working. OW! I did see my doctor today and they expressed concern that the left pointer is already becoming infected so they ordered antibiotics and I got a tetanus shot. And they wanted to see all the parrots so I showed them pictures. They were shocked out how beautiful Venus is and that she did the biting. Don't let that sweet little face fool you!

I've been looking for the bite pressure rating on female ekkies, still looking. While the doctor thought Venus was small, I showed him a pic of Buzz and one of Venus to show the density of her beak in comparison of Buzz who is larger than Venus and has a larger beak. His toys are all wood and blocks because he loves shredding them. He hasn't bit me and Buddy has but never broken the skin. Husband and I have been reading up on female ekkie behaviour and Husband noted many people have shared online their fear of females and choose males because of how vicious they can be. He then asked me to not touch her anymore. I told him that is an impossible request.

camo · Jun 29, 2016

I certainly fear Pebbles ability to bite over Gizmo's, her beak structure just looks better designed for biting. Pebbles has never bitten me, yet, and the reality is I don't think I have really experienced a "bite" from Gizmo, his worst bite bearly broke the skin, and just left a slight bruise.

I think the thing that make me fear Pebble potential is the times she has gotten something in her beak that I don't want her to have, it is very hard to get it back (a thumb and finger over Gizmo's beak will result in a release, Pebbles could care less, she would be practically willing to hang by her beak to hold on). Also she tends to put up with a lot from Gizmo, but when she has had enough he backs off quick smart, so clearly even he knows she is not to be messed with

Hope the infection settles down quickly, you were wise to see a doctor, things can go downhill quickly with these sorts of injuries.

DexMom · Jun 30, 2016

Ouch, ouch, ouch!! Those look like Dexter bites! He's also a beast and does the bite/hold/grind. I'm glad to hear the doc gave you antibiotics, that should help the swelling and throbbing abate as the infection eases.

Kiwibird · Jun 30, 2016

Taw5106 said:
He then asked me to not touch her anymore. I told him that is an impossible request.

Spoken like a true parrot lover! It's ok, there a lot of us here in crazy town:30:

I'm sorry to hear one of the wounds has become infected and the others are still bleeding

Out of the countless time I've been bitten in my life, I can't say I've ever gotten an infection in a bite wound. That is really unfortunate to have happen! Usually they heal up pretty clean and easy.

When we were looking at parrots before we knew there were rescues who needed homes, I remember being in contact with an eke breeder who said something about the males being more popular because they are generally calmer. It's kind of surprising how naughty Venus is being. How old is she again? Just hitting puberty? It'll be a rough few years, but you'll get through it with your beautiful girl, I'm sure

I bet even Buddy was a real nasty piece of work during his puberty before he mellowed out

They all are. It would be nice if their beaks turned to marshmallows during it

AmyMyBlueFront · Jun 30, 2016

Beaks are a powerful tool! Amy FRACTURED Arleens middle finger with a healthy chomp.OUCH!

Jim

Anansi · Jun 30, 2016

Aw, Tracey! I'm just seeing this! Those are some serious bites, my friend. And quite painful looking. I hope they heal up soon, and well.

I think that, until her behavior stabilizes somewhat, you need to start carrying a "distractor" around. A small, bird safe piece of wood that you can interpose whenever she starts feeling a little sanguine. When they get to that point, they'll start going after everything that approaches... including said piece of wood. Handled correctly, she'll remained focused on the wood instead of your hand. Transference at its finest!

While you're waiting for her hormonal period to pass, don't lose heart. Stay consistent with her behavioral training. I know hormones complicates the situation, but staying consistent helps prevent hormonal behaviors from becoming the norm. You never want her to feel like biting is acceptable, you know?

Btw, you are a wonderful parront. I know she doesn't make it easy at times like this, but you keep right on loving her regardless. We all trade training techniques everyday, but love like that can't really be taught, you know? It has to be inside of you, already.

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Non fattening training treat?

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