First conure, she bites, poor diet or something else? Help us work through it! :)

[VTWolfman]

We just adopted our first conure yesterday (we've had cockatiels and budgies in the past). She's around three years old. Her owners loved her very much but she didn't get much time out of her cage, and she's a big biter. She wasn't on a good diet before, just seeds with no fresh fruits, and her owners pet down her back often despite it getting her worked up so I feel that those two factors are huge contributors to the biteyness.

When she bites, she draws blood even if it's "exploratory" bites that aren't aggressive in nature. Her old owners thought that if you don't react to the bites, she'll stop, but after a few years of that not working they were still handling it that way. I get the feeling she doesn't necessarily know it hurts and that she just doesn't have bite inhibition.

Any tips? I'm hoping that with a good pellet diet (we mixed in some with her seed and she LOVES it, so that's good!) and no more back-petting she'll relax naturally.

 

[LordTriggs]

okay, take your time with her. Let her settle first before changing stuff. It's stressful for her right now, you can slowly change the diet later once she's relaxed in her new home

once she's had time to calm down and becomes happy with you try this.

when she bites hard tell her "no" in a calm voice and place her on the floor or wherever is safe. Never put her in or on the cage when doing this as that's a reward. Then completely ignore her for a minute or 2, then carry on with her. It'll take time as she's 1. Unaware her bite hurts. 2. has learnt to bite to get her way.

 

[MonicaMc]

The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs. If you can figure out why she's biting and learn to either avoid or redirect the behavior before it occurs, you can teach her to not bite.

Her "exploratory" bites? Try encouraging her to play with toys instead! OR forage for food! Maybe it's learning new behaviors? (aka "tricks")



If it helps, take a look over at this thread.

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

 

[wrench13]

Salty went thru a itey stage. We use the 'shunning' way. Any beak use that exceeds just a medium hold or grip, Salty is immediately put aside - not his cage , not his oing hang out. Chair back or away on the couch arm. Back turned and no eye contact. For a min max usually. Salty is being pushed from the flock. He learned quickly, as most parrots do, and a chomp is rare now. ANd yeah, no back petting. Beak, nares, top of head, cheek bones, all good, and against the grain of the feathers. SOme like that lightly, some really want you to SCRATCH them.