Too Rough!

Teddscau

Active member
Sep 25, 2015
640
Media
2
123
Ontario, Canada
Parrots
Budgies: Sunshine, Blanco, Azure; Peach-faced lovebirds: Rosie and Jaybird; YSA: Jasper (♀)
Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me teach our new parrotlet, Noah, to be more gentle. He's around a year old, and was given to us after his mate crashed into a door and died last week.

Apparently he was hand raised and tame at one point, but he hasn't been handled in several months. He previous guardians seemed completely incompetent. He was on an all seed diet, his "huge" cage is only 18" x 18" (I forget the height), his cage appears to actually be intended for a larger bird such as an amazon (the bars are thick and widely spaced), he only had two perches (a dowel perch for a much larger species and a sand perch) and two toys in his cage, and they thought that the males were green and that the females were blue!

Anyways, he settled in right away and is loving his sprouts! I give him sprouted millet, canary, flax, canola, Kamut wheat, oats, buckwheat, barley, lentils, and mung beans. He'll also eat/shred veggies that I offer him through the bars with my fingers.

Anyways, the problem I'm having with him is how hard he beaks my fingers. I'm trying to get him to be handleable. He really likes me and trusts me, and is quite comfortable around my fingers. He'll eat food from my fingers and will play with toys that I hold from the outside of the cage. Like, he doesn't get upset if I have my fingers sticking in the cage, but he gets a bit nervous when I have my hand in the cage.

Sorry, I'll get to the point. When he's playing with toys or eating from my fingers or whatever, he'll beak my fingers, which is fine. However, he becomes progressively rougher and rougher. He'll nibble on my fingers and run his beak along them, which is fine, but then he'll start preening me or something, and starts clamping down, harder and harder. He's not being aggressive, showing dominance, or trying to hurt me.

The first time he touched me with his beak, he jerked his head back, thinking I was going to be angry. I let him know it was fine for him to touch my fingers, and he was eager to explore my fingers some more. But at some point, he started trying to scrape chunks of skin off as though his beak were an ice cream scoop.

Anyways, I've been trying to teach him to be gentle, and he hasn't broke my skin since. However, instead of breaking the skin, he's now started crushing my finger like a nutcracker!

Anyways, when he's being gentle, I tell him he's a good boy, but when he starts biting to hard, I tell him in a stern voice to be gentle, and I sometimes gently move my finger away (I don't jerk it away or start screaming at him), but I don't think he's understanding. He's definitely not trying to hurt me. He's just never learned to be gentle with his beak. Any suggestions?
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,643
10,007
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Try using a single word. Use that word earlier. Shorten your contact sessions, like a built-in rest period. I have not worked with this species, so I'll let someone else carry forward.

Thank-you, for taking in this guy!
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Hi Robyn, as SailBoat said, try using your cue word earlier. 'Before' he starts biting.

Right as he's getting ready to, or starts with an unacceptable pressure, stop and immediately say "no". Stop all movement and look at him. Time out! Mom is serious! You now have his attention.. At the same moment, hold your index finger just above his top beak (or touch it for a second) and say 'no biting' or 'gentle', or whatever word you want to use, but you have to be consistent with the same word each time. Every single time it escalates, stop. Start from square one. At first you might be correcting him near constantly. Keep training sessions short. Give him a foot toy after. Remember to praise him well when he's good. If you're consistent in conveying to him what you want every time, he should learn quickly. Although even after he 'gets it' he might still be naughty at times depending on his individual personality ;).

Another thing.. If he is getting too wound up with energy, that can cause him to bite also. Stop touching him at that point and calm you body language and energy too.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll get more suggestions.
 
OP
Teddscau

Teddscau

Active member
Sep 25, 2015
640
Media
2
123
Ontario, Canada
Parrots
Budgies: Sunshine, Blanco, Azure; Peach-faced lovebirds: Rosie and Jaybird; YSA: Jasper (♀)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Thanks guys. Man, the guy just doesn't listen to me when I tell him he's being to rough. I'll definitely try gently touching his beak when he's brutalizing my fingers (along with scolding and telling him to be gentle). He doesn't even acknowledge me when I'm clearly trying to convey the fact that he's hurting me :eek:.

Yesterday, he took little bites out of my finger! I was telling him to be gentle and was giving him the evil eye and saying "bad" in a stern voice, but he didn't even seem to notice! I'm definitely going to try touching his beak when he's being a little butt. That way, he can't ignore me.

I've moved him into a bigger cage (not as big as I'd like), and he's continuing to try different foods.
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
They're very similar to Lovebirds when it comes to training part. They do bite hard!!! The main part is allow them to get used to you first. Then leave the cage door open to let them come out on their own to explore a bit. I do perch training instead of fingers. It's pretty much like clicker target training. Please do view videos off YouTube on how to perch/clicker training.
 
OP
Teddscau

Teddscau

Active member
Sep 25, 2015
640
Media
2
123
Ontario, Canada
Parrots
Budgies: Sunshine, Blanco, Azure; Peach-faced lovebirds: Rosie and Jaybird; YSA: Jasper (♀)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Fudge! He made me bleed! My fingertips still hurt! No more finger training, got it. I can't believe how much pain he was causing me! I can handle pain that animals cause me, but I actually pulled my fingers away. I know I shouldn't have, but it was as bad as that time my dog accidentally placed my finger and his treat between his molars and crunched down.

I'll definitely let him out to explore a bit, then try to perch train him. I'll look at some videos now. Man, I'm still in pain >_<

This would probably go so much better if he was a larger parrot. I'd imagine they'd actually listen, unlike little parrots who all have ADD.
 
Last edited:

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Parrotlets and Lovebirds are quite stubborn little birds, they give a very nasty bite. My worst bites came from a Lovebird and a Cockatoo. I had a bad macaw bite once as he peeled my skin like a banana peel, but I still didn't consider it to be that bad....lol
 
OP
Teddscau

Teddscau

Active member
Sep 25, 2015
640
Media
2
123
Ontario, Canada
Parrots
Budgies: Sunshine, Blanco, Azure; Peach-faced lovebirds: Rosie and Jaybird; YSA: Jasper (♀)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Sorry I took so long to get back to you! Anyways, I've been clicker and target training him, and he caught on extremely fast. It only took him five minutes to figure out to touch the target stick. Anyways, I've been working on teaching him "step up" with a perch since yesterday, and he seems to understand, although we need to work on it a bit more.

However, the biting has gotten in the way of "step up". During the training session I had with him a few minutes ago, he went on the perch fine and I used the target stick to lure him away so we could practice stepping up again. He did a good job of stepping up a second time, but when I tried to use targeting to get him off the perch again, he ignored me and went for my fingers that were holding the perch.

He started biting my finger hard, so I used the target stick to draw him away and rewarded him (like I always do for following my instructions). However, after eating the sunflower seed he ignored my instructions to go back in the cage to get some treats. I knew things were going to start going downhill really fast, so I tried to get him to go back in the cage.

Anyways, he goes back over to my fingers and just bites down on my index finger, chewing on it while I'm trying to get him to stop by telling him to touch the target stick. In the end, I ended up using the target stick as a little riot shield to get him away from my fingers. Then I accidentally dropped the perch in the cage when he was about to go for my fingers again. Well, at least that got him back in the cage. After he was back in the cage, we practiced targeting again.

I really need help teaching him to not mutilate my fingers! I mean, he chose gnawing on my fingers over touching the target to get sunflower seeds! He is totally obsessed with my fingers and wants nothing more than to chew on them. He actually broke the skin on my finger. There's even a bit of blood. Is this normal? One of my budgie girls likes nibbling on my fingers and will bite hard enough to cause a bit of pain, but she makes a point of not breaking the skin or causing me any real discomfort. And this girl's a macaw in a budgie's body. Noah, on the other hand, doesn't care if he's causing me discomfort.

Oh, and I guess I'm never getting a macaw :p.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
Sorry I took so long to get back to you! Anyways, I've been clicker and target training him, and he caught on extremely fast. It only took him five minutes to figure out to touch the target stick. Anyways, I've been working on teaching him "step up" with a perch since yesterday, and he seems to understand, although we need to work on it a bit more.

However, the biting has gotten in the way of "step up". During the training session I had with him a few minutes ago, he went on the perch fine and I used the target stick to lure him away so we could practice stepping up again. He did a good job of stepping up a second time, but when I tried to use targeting to get him off the perch again, he ignored me and went for my fingers that were holding the perch.

He started biting my finger hard, so I used the target stick to draw him away and rewarded him (like I always do for following my instructions). However, after eating the sunflower seed he ignored my instructions to go back in the cage to get some treats. I knew things were going to start going downhill really fast, so I tried to get him to go back in the cage.

Anyways, he goes back over to my fingers and just bites down on my index finger, chewing on it while I'm trying to get him to stop by telling him to touch the target stick. In the end, I ended up using the target stick as a little riot shield to get him away from my fingers. Then I accidentally dropped the perch in the cage when he was about to go for my fingers again. Well, at least that got him back in the cage. After he was back in the cage, we practiced targeting again.

I really need help teaching him to not mutilate my fingers! I mean, he chose gnawing on my fingers over touching the target to get sunflower seeds! He is totally obsessed with my fingers and wants nothing more than to chew on them. He actually broke the skin on my finger. There's even a bit of blood. Is this normal? One of my budgie girls likes nibbling on my fingers and will bite hard enough to cause a bit of pain, but she makes a point of not breaking the skin or causing me any real discomfort. And this girl's a macaw in a budgie's body. Noah, on the other hand, doesn't care if he's causing me discomfort.

Oh, and I guess I'm never getting a macaw :p.

Can you try gloves? Until he learns NO BEAKY!


Jim
 

wrench13

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Nov 22, 2015
11,383
Media
14
Albums
2
12,567
Isle of Long, NY
Parrots
Yellow Shoulder Amazon, Salty
Salty can get really carried away when we are playing rough, biting harder and harder. Until I use the "shhhh". Like you are trying to quite some one whose too loud. Makes him stop biting immediately . Try that friend, I kinda know where you are at. Parrolets are amazons in Itty bitty bodies. But more stubborn. Good luck now and don't give up on the little guy.
 

MurkyWaters

New member
Jun 27, 2016
22
0
I can't do step up with mine. We got her at I think 5 years old. Have had her for about a year now. I tried to go back to basics clicker training with the stick.... she's now scared of sticks lol however when she's all worked up and has her feathers in an uproar I just have to say "stick!" And she calms right down. She's extremely cage protective (I think from the cats that used to attack her through the bars in her previous home) so to stick my hand in to get her dish is a full on attack unless I have the stick and say "stick". Maybe you can find a word that calms yours down. Also take her to a different room. Mine will more then willingly step up when she thinks she's lost. I'm her saviour bff then lol

MurkyWaters
 
OP
Teddscau

Teddscau

Active member
Sep 25, 2015
640
Media
2
123
Ontario, Canada
Parrots
Budgies: Sunshine, Blanco, Azure; Peach-faced lovebirds: Rosie and Jaybird; YSA: Jasper (♀)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
Thanks for the replies, everyone. :) He hasn't broken the skin at all in at least the past two weeks. He's been such a sweet boy lately, and has been giving me love pecks <3. He really looks forward to spending time with me, and starts making that "do-ba-do" sound that he makes when he's happy and excited. He steps up beautifully for me on the perch now. I can also get him to step up using my forearm (he doesn't like stepping up on fingers). Anyways, he knows step up, step down, touch, turn around, fly to me, and I'm currently working on Batbird.

He really likes it when I pet his head, and he's been flying over to my parents to visit them. At night, I've been letting him cuddle on my shoulder, pressed against my neck as he's nestled in my hair. I let him nap there for a couple of hours before I put him in the cage to sleep.

He's realized that being gentle and communicating in a non-violent manner actually gets him what he wants. I've also stopped trying to use the "gentle beak" technique, since he takes it as a sign of aggression and disrespect, and starts taking chunks.

Anyways, he's been great. It was a sharp learning curve for him, but he's done so well!
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top