Bitey Bird!

Hello, this is my first (but definately not last!) post here at ParrotForums.

We have a 1 year old Lovebird (Roseicolli) called Kiwi. We are having some trouble with him biting, it's gone past the exploring stage and is now becoming aggressive.

He is tame, completely comfortable with us. He knows how to step up (as well as spinning, shaking hands etc) and loves to be stroked, especially on his head!

However, he has starting biting more and more, and it's getting harder. He gently bites our lips and teeth, but that is him preening and we don't mind that.

He does however chase and bite our fingers hard, though it isn't all the time which is why I am ruling out fear. He also bites our faces, especially our necks and cheeks, and while it is less aggressive than our fingers it still hurts.

We have had the problem of people coming up to his cage and "poking" at him which we had to stop.

We have tried to be very consistent with our reaction, just making a "shh" sound without too much drama. I think he knows that means stop because sometimes he bites, we make the "shh" sound, and he bites again but more gently. We make the sound again and he screams, then bites again, more gently everytime until he gives up. However this hasn't stopped his biting and we are getting really fed up of it now, which is a shame because aside from this he is a lovely bird.

Some other fact which might help, we've had him since he was a few months old and hand fed him. He flies a LOT, and has plenty of toys. ALSO, right now he is going through a molt, and is also very hormonal... He is masturbating with one of his toys quite regularly. He has gotten worse with the biting during this stressful time.

If you could please advise us on how to stop this habit, it would be hugely appreciated! What do you think about other techniques, for example: Putting them in a small cage they bite, spraying a bit of water, or something more effective?

Thanks in advance and sorry about the length of this post!

first of i would consider stopping the mouth preening. it is harmful to both the bird and yourself. you can transmit bacteria from your mouth to his and the same with himself.

lovebirds are known for biting. its in their nature. nibbles here and there ar okay, but constant biting is harmful to you. maybe start by adding some chew toys in his cage. he might become bored. and that is why he is biting. also check his posture when you go to play with him. if he is napping, eating, or seems in a not so good mood, don't pick him up. it honestly depends on his mood.
it might also be that something is bothering him. maybe you were jewelry and he wants to play with it. or maybe he is hungry or hurt. if his behavior suddenly shifts, i would recommend going to an avian vet immediately hope i helped

it also might be of his hormonal change while molting. if he continues this after molting then consider my advice

OK, well I've been a lovebird owner for 20 years, but I've only had two of them so I'm by no means an expert. Hormonal times were the worst for one of my birds. Wilbur would pick feathers and be generally disagreeable - biting, fussing. Orville was fine - he would try to mate with a toy and maintained his normal happy attitude. What about, like a puppy, redirecting the biting when it starts? Handing him a cloth or toy to bite instead of your neck? If that doesn't work, I would try a cage time-out. You bite, you get shut in for a while. I hate this for you. So hard when a sweet baby starts having these Jekyll and Hyde moments.