everdusk
New member
- Oct 27, 2011
- 111
- 0
- Parrots
- Marzipan (Hahns Macaw) & Pip & Monte ('tiels) // In Memory: Countess ('tiel), Primrose (GCC), Pauly, Star, Yoshi & Keitaro (budgies)
I shouldn't be shocked because I've read about it... but it's different when it actually happens in front of you...
Prim was born early October 2011, the past two months she has been on a downward slope. She went from /never/ biting, to occasional moody nips, to now lunging at faces and hands. And the worst part is sometimes it comes completely out of the blue! Today she attacked my face and drew blood... this is the first time she's broken the skin. I wish I could say I reacted with composure but she bit the bridge of my nose and I literally screamed and flung my arms around. I calmed down enough to get her back into the cage before crying out of heart break.
I have tried several methods and I feel like I need to find the right combination but nothing has worked so far... First of all I try not to react when I get bitten, I usually don't, however, my fiancée has a lot of trouble in that area so she usually gets a reaction out of him. Second method was to remain calm and put her back in the cage gently. Well from this she learned to attach to my clothes and bite me harder so she gets 5 seconds more out of the cage (then she sits in her hut and makes pissed off PUFF noises). I try to reward her when she goes into the cage by giving her her favourite treat but she just takes it then attempts to bite me.
She bites even harder now but I decided to let her go on her biting rampage on my hand without reacting. Well a minute went by and she was still attacking viciously. I tried to get her to step onto my other arm so I could move her away but she just runs to that hand and bites. So I grasped her gently with one hand and held her head away from my hand and gave her the "stink eye" to which she looked VERY frightened. Immediately after she snuggled me like crazy as if in apology. She then decided to go to Joel and started biting his acne so I took her back to me, she ran up my arm, lunged at my face and bit me on the nose! Back into the cage she went where she made even more angry puff noises... She went into her hut and grabbed a piece of felt in her beak and closed her eyes... I covered over half of the cage so she can have some privacy...
It seems like her biting is usually a result of a "no". If she can't do what she wants she bites. I don't reward her for this behaviour, I don't give her what she wants but she continues to try it and it gets worse and worse... When she attacks now it's totally single-mindedly and sometimes it seems like she just won't stop. I should also mention sometimes she acts like "hands" are threatening, probably because they have to do with putting her into the cage. So if I move my hand suddenly or try to move her with it she may decide to attack it.
I have also tried leaving her in her cage for a few days without paying attention to her. When I let her out she's usually friendly then bites after a few minutes...
Is this just a "phase"? Will this pass? What am I doing wrong? What else can I try? She eats normally, drinks plenty, gets regular baths and I try to give her lots of time out. She and my cockatiel share a cage in the main living area as well.
There are only a couple of vets in my province, the closest being 5 hours away if they are even "certified". I am going in that direction on boxing day so if there is a vet there I would like to have her checked up...
This is really heart breaking. She has been an extremely affectionate bird. She used to be very calm and snuggly, then playful, and now just vicious half the time or more.
Help!
Prim was born early October 2011, the past two months she has been on a downward slope. She went from /never/ biting, to occasional moody nips, to now lunging at faces and hands. And the worst part is sometimes it comes completely out of the blue! Today she attacked my face and drew blood... this is the first time she's broken the skin. I wish I could say I reacted with composure but she bit the bridge of my nose and I literally screamed and flung my arms around. I calmed down enough to get her back into the cage before crying out of heart break.
I have tried several methods and I feel like I need to find the right combination but nothing has worked so far... First of all I try not to react when I get bitten, I usually don't, however, my fiancée has a lot of trouble in that area so she usually gets a reaction out of him. Second method was to remain calm and put her back in the cage gently. Well from this she learned to attach to my clothes and bite me harder so she gets 5 seconds more out of the cage (then she sits in her hut and makes pissed off PUFF noises). I try to reward her when she goes into the cage by giving her her favourite treat but she just takes it then attempts to bite me.
She bites even harder now but I decided to let her go on her biting rampage on my hand without reacting. Well a minute went by and she was still attacking viciously. I tried to get her to step onto my other arm so I could move her away but she just runs to that hand and bites. So I grasped her gently with one hand and held her head away from my hand and gave her the "stink eye" to which she looked VERY frightened. Immediately after she snuggled me like crazy as if in apology. She then decided to go to Joel and started biting his acne so I took her back to me, she ran up my arm, lunged at my face and bit me on the nose! Back into the cage she went where she made even more angry puff noises... She went into her hut and grabbed a piece of felt in her beak and closed her eyes... I covered over half of the cage so she can have some privacy...
It seems like her biting is usually a result of a "no". If she can't do what she wants she bites. I don't reward her for this behaviour, I don't give her what she wants but she continues to try it and it gets worse and worse... When she attacks now it's totally single-mindedly and sometimes it seems like she just won't stop. I should also mention sometimes she acts like "hands" are threatening, probably because they have to do with putting her into the cage. So if I move my hand suddenly or try to move her with it she may decide to attack it.
I have also tried leaving her in her cage for a few days without paying attention to her. When I let her out she's usually friendly then bites after a few minutes...
Is this just a "phase"? Will this pass? What am I doing wrong? What else can I try? She eats normally, drinks plenty, gets regular baths and I try to give her lots of time out. She and my cockatiel share a cage in the main living area as well.
There are only a couple of vets in my province, the closest being 5 hours away if they are even "certified". I am going in that direction on boxing day so if there is a vet there I would like to have her checked up...
This is really heart breaking. She has been an extremely affectionate bird. She used to be very calm and snuggly, then playful, and now just vicious half the time or more.
Help!
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