Horrible Harry's Relapse!

Harry is my female quaker. She's been with me for over a year. She came to me with some problematic behavior to say the least. In the first months there was a lot of bloodshed, mine, never Harry's. Everyone who meets Harry, loves Harry. She's the funniest parrot and one of the smartest parrots I've ever been around. Training has improved her life so much. She's happily traded her most inappropriate behaviors for more positive ways to interact. She's a completely different bird than the shabby little rogue that insisted on being my companion.

Yesterday, for reasons of her own, Harry had a flashback out of nowhere. I had been working with her and she was in a sunshiny mood. We were playing one of her favorite games. I go into a different room and call her and she calls back until she finds me and lands on my shoulder. A lot of silliness. I was standing close and she raced up the side of her cage, bit me on the nose, yelled,"Ow", and laughed like a loon. I was so shocked, I busted up and we had a good laugh together. Maybe it was her way if reminding me how far we've come. That's the first and only time Harry has ever bit any part of my face, for her it was a very mild nip, no blood. A few minutes later, she was making kissy sounds and saying, Thank you.

Oh Allee, I am so glad that she didn't bite too hard! That Harry, I bet she was reminding you what things used to be like, probably so you will give her more treats for what a great girl she is now
Hopefully she will decide you have learned your lesson and won't do it again!

Join the "bit in the nose out of the blue" club (not that you ever wanted to be a member:54.

I think sometimes our little feathered "darlings" just want to remind us they have a beak and know how to use it. You know, just in case we ever decided not to totally spoil them rotten or something

Allee, I'm so glad she didn't draw blood or do damage! That isn't the best place to get bitten you know!
It sounds like you've come a long way with Harry in such a relatively short time

Yes-- I think Harry was saying to you "Remember the way things used to be?" That, and maybe a little reminder of who's in charge there.

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Gary, I think that was her point exactly. "Of course I can do everything you ask, but it's only because I want to." And Harry really gets a thrill out of being a "bad girl".

Julie, she did leave a mark on the side of my nose, and I did the worst thing possible, I laughed with her after her joke. She may give me an unwanted piercing next time.

Oh Allee! Your title sure had me chewing my nails. Good one!

Sorry Wendy, I should have clarified, relapse into bad behavior not the horrible thing that starts with a P. Her feather condition is better than ever, even her legs are fully feathered. I prefer a bite or a cuss word over feather yanking any day.

I recently found out what it is that Clover screams now and then: "the V bird the V bird the *****ichichi V bird". When she bites your nose she leaves a bloody "V" surrounded by a black/blue bruise.

It has taught me to greet HER first, then everyone else. Never the other way around!

Read your birds, dear suffering fellow members

Reading about rehabbed birds just warms my heart.