Suddenly Started Biting, Please help!

[psalucop]

I got Sora hand fed from a breeder a few months ago. She was pretty shy, but warmed up to me pretty quickly.

She loves coming out and never bit me before, but a couple weeks ago she started biting me! And not just like a little nibble, but full on attacking my fingers!

I don't know what I did wrong, or if it's because I got Yakumo. Yakumo did scratch her when she accidentally got too close, but other than that I haven't changed my behavior with her.

I did notice that the black on her beak is fading, so is she just going through a phase? Or was it something I did... Please help!

 

[MonicaMc]

Does she get baths often?

When she bites, how do you react?

Can you figure out any trigger to her biting? And if so, can you figure out a way to avoid bites in the future?

 

[MikeyTN]

Adding some questions with Monica's post,

When does she bite? Could you please briefly explain to us with some details.

Black on Sora's beak starting to fade cause she is maturing.

 

[psalucop]

I've tried giving her baths myself or trying to teach her how to bathe in a dish, but she prefers her water dish for some reason. I'm not sure why. If I don't see her bathe in a few days I'll lightly spray her with a mist.

When she bites, I try not to do anything as far as pulling away or flinching, but it's hard when she's attacking my fingers. I tell her in a stern upset voice not to bite, and usually put her back in her cage.

Most of the time she'll start biting after being out of her cage a little while. She usually tries to jump on my shoulder or head and I proceed to try and gently get her back on my hand. After a while she'll just attack me D: Other times we'll just be sitting and watching something peacefully, and then she'll start biting. Finally she's started to bite when I try to put her back in her cage for biting.

I can't figure out why she got so aggressive so suddenly. I've been trying to take her out in shorter shifts, but I feel she doesn't get out as much as I'd like that way on my busy days. And I can't just leave her out of her cage like Yakumo because she tends to try to fly towards her, which is not the safest.

I know that it means she's going into maturity, but could it be a hormonal thing that's making her more aggressive? Or does that not apply to birds?

 

[MonicaMc]

She's biting for a reason, and she's trying to tell you something. Is she afraid? Does she not like what you are asking? Does she not understand what you are asking?

*WHY* is she biting?



That is what you need to figure out. Once you can figure out why, you can try and prevent her from biting. Ignoring the bite as she mauls your hands isn't necessarily teaching her to bite, it's teaching her that regardless of what she says to you, you are ignoring her.

If you pay attention to a birds body language then you should be able to pick up on the subtle signs of when they are going to bite, and thus avoid getting bitten. Here's a video that really shows an uncomfortable grey, and if this bird wasn't so friendly, the owner would be in the hospital with stitches!


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr4QrTLKzjw]Parrot Training, Bird taming: What not to do - and helpful Tips - YouTube[/ame]



She usually tries to jump on my shoulder or head and I proceed to try and gently get her back on my hand. After a while she'll just attack me
Is she possibly getting bored and biting out of boredom? Is something within the environment startling her? Or is she just upset that you keep removing her from your shoulder?

Obviously, she finds your shoulder a rewarding place to be. If you don't want her on your shoulder then you need to make it more rewarding for her *not* to be on your shoulder. Provide her with treats, toys, food, cleaned bottle caps, empty pill bottles (you can always fill up with treats, food, wooden beads, etc!), etc! Make it more fun for her to be off your shoulder!

Other times we'll just be sitting and watching something peacefully, and then she'll start biting.
Same as above. Bored? Startled? You may be fine just having her sit with you, but she has an active mind like a child. Many parrots do not do well with just 'sitting around', they often are off exploring, getting into things, playing with things, especially things they shouldn't be!

When you have her with you, give her something to do! Teach her how to forage! Give her foraging opportunities! Teach her new behaviors such as turn around, shake hands, wave, shake feathers/big feathers, big wings, pick an object up, pick an object up and place it somewhere specifically, etc.

She's probably thinking "Hey! I'm bored... I don't know what to do... oh well, I'll just bite you! This makes things happen!"

Finally she's started to bite when I try to put her back in her cage for biting.
Probably because she doesn't want to go back to her cage. Parrots are social animals and the cage isn't exactly a social place. You may try placing her at her cage throughout various times in the day but don't put her in the cage, place her in the cage but don't close the door, place her in the cage, close the door, then immediately open it right back up, place her in other areas besides her cage (playgym? perch? chair? table?) - don't always place her at her cage. Maybe one time it's the cage, another time it's a perch/chair, the next time may be her cage, the time after that her playgym, after the playgym it's the couch, then the cage again, then the table, etc. Teach her that when you go and pick her up that she's not always going to her cage!

When you *DO* take her to her cage, give her a little treat, a foraging item, or perhaps a favorite toy that she enjoys but only gets when she goes to her cage! Again, make it a rewarding experience to go back to her cage!




And most of all -AVOID THE BITE-!!!! I know, easier said than done, but it requires really learning to read and understand her. Learning to know her moods so you can predict her behaviors before they occur. The better the two of you learn how to communicate with each other the better relationship that you will have!

 

[psalucop]

WOW! Thanks for the advice!!! I'll do my best and try to get things back on good terms with her!

 

[MonicaMc]

Best of luck!

 

[psalucop]

Just a little update:

I've been trying to read her a bit more, and keeping her busy when I take her out. She can step up when I first take her out, and we can play around and I'm trying to get her to forage a bit when we play.

She stays in a good mood longer, but I still can't figure out the why. D: We'll be playing and then out of nowhere it seems she goes for the fingers instead of the paper/toys/etc.

I know masked lovelies are more spirited than the peach face, but I can't seem to figure out the "WHY"

I'll keep trying, and check back with updates, etc.

 

[psalucop]

On the side note, when she does start trying to attack my hand, there's no real warning like in the video... D:

but,she still snuggles anything other than my hand/toes.

 

[mitsouko]

this is wild. I'm going through the same issue with my Lutino Lovebird. Mitsouko is its name and its super fiesty lately. I'm going to try out some of these tactics
thanks!

 

[mangoandtzippy]

Is she getting 12 hours of sleep in darkness (undisturbed)? My female lovebird, Tzippy, started to bite as she came out of the baby stage and seems to have gone through stages of this behaviour. I can avoid this behaviour if I am careful. Her bites have triggers (not just one!) and it seems in all cases to be one of the following: lack of 12 hours of sleep, hormonal, bored, dominanting 'something'... she is also cage territorial from the inside if she is in it... she doesn't mind me servicing it from outside nor cleaning it out if she is out of it.

One trigger for her is cellphones/computers/tablets. If she sees one of those, she wants to dominate/possess it because she basically loves watching videos on it and listening to music! So if I am using one and my fingers/hands are moving (typing/mouse), she seems to see them as the enemy/attacker and will lunge at them and obviously her method of getting rid of the enemy is to use her beak. For that reason, I try not to use any of the above around her and if I have to, I distract her first and use the electronic item very quickly.

If she is acting hormonal, I just have to be careful and when she is out, I pretty much stay out of her way and let her socialise with Mango more. She tends to want to do that anyway during those times.

If she has not had enough sleep, she is grumpy! So again, I make sure she gets her 12 hours (at least) of dark time in peace and quiet.

Lastly, there have been times where she has started biting/nipping for a reaction because she is bored. When she is out, she likes to be engaged in activities with me so I try to keep her amused. If I see her starting to change towards biting, then I change activity by stepping her up and we move on to something else.

 

[jacksmom]

Oh geez...good advice already given here...just wanted to say that vid almost made me want to go to this woman's house, put her up on a stick and force her into all the things she just forced that poor grey into. That bird will turn mean in no time if she keeps that up! Idiot owner, very nice and polite bird!!!

 

[cdnbirdlover]

One trigger for her is cellphones/computers/tablets. If she sees one of those, she wants to dominate/possess it because she basically loves watching videos on it and listening to music! So if I am using one and my fingers/hands are moving (typing/mouse), she seems to see them as the enemy/attacker and will lunge at them and obviously her method of getting rid of the enemy is to use her beak. For that reason, I try not to use any of the above around her and if I have to, I distract her first and use the electronic item very quickly.

Basil hates the cordless phone and the blackberry. When we first had him out, I would think nothing of picking up the phone while he was on me. BIG MISTAKE. He would attack the phone and me until I put him or the phone away. He even makes warning calls if I am on the phone and wander over to see him in his cage. Apparently this is rather common in some birds. He's not so bad with the blackberry unless I am talking on it, although he sure would like to pick all the little buttons off and bite it if given half a chance.

Some problems are easier to deal with than others. This one is a simple case of human training. No phones when birdie is out. Same goes for the holes he puts in my clothing. No point trying to teach him not to do that, just wear something bird-friendly (ie already has holes) when he is out.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Just a little update:

I've been trying to read her a bit more, and keeping her busy when I take her out. She can step up when I first take her out, and we can play around and I'm trying to get her to forage a bit when we play.

She stays in a good mood longer, but I still can't figure out the why. D: We'll be playing and then out of nowhere it seems she goes for the fingers instead of the paper/toys/etc.

I know masked lovelies are more spirited than the peach face, but I can't seem to figure out the "WHY"

I'll keep trying, and check back with updates, etc.

Could she be getting too excited when you play. Since you said that you are starting to read her more, perhaps try and put her back before she gets to that point. If she is starting to act up 10 mins in to playtime, put her back along with a yummy treat at about 5-8 minutes in to play time. Always ending your session on a positive note.

I do this with my dog, especially when I am doing something like nail trimming (which she hates) even though I know she is stressed and just wants to get away from the situation, when I am done I don't just say "all done" and let her go. I want the last thing for her to remember from the experience is that she got a really nice belly rub and a snuggle from me. After she is completely calm I let her go.

So the point is in both situations is that the session ended on a positive note. My dog still hates to have her nails trimmed but she is much more cooperative now.

 

[mangoandtzippy]

Some problems are easier to deal with than others. This one is a simple case of human training. No phones when birdie is out. Same goes for the holes he puts in my clothing. No point trying to teach him not to do that, just wear something bird-friendly (ie already has holes) when he is out.

This is so true! The things I know are triggers I am aware to avoid and if I forget, I quickly remember! However, sometimes it's hard to work out what is the trigger - especially if it's a new one. The good news, in my case, being that since I have made 100% effort to a. work out triggers and b. to avoid them, I have had barely any biting. My other lovie, Mango, is such a saint - he would never dream of biting me... but then he is male so I guess that explains it!

 

[chippy]

Here's a video that really shows an uncomfortable grey, and if this bird wasn't so friendly, the owner would be in the hospital with stitches!

Parrot Training, Bird taming: What not to do - and helpful Tips - YouTube

OMG, I saw this video earlier today and was just HORRIFIED!! That poor bird...SO disrespected! That woman made me SO MAD!!!

 

[walterbyrd]

1. Maybe the lovebird is trying to dominate you? As I understand, bird develop a "pecking order"

2. Maybe hormones? From my experience: females tend to bite a lot when they are in nesting mode.

 

[MonicaMc]

There is no dominance or "alpha" in wild parrots... many of the behaviors we see are due to an unnatural circumstance the bird(s) has been placed into.

Could be hormones, but it might not be. I see behaviors far too often blamed on hormones, but there are *so* many reasons for a behavior to occur, and unless you see noticeable hormonal behavior, it should not be blamed on hormones. If it is hormones, the behavior may just "pass", but that doesn't mean you should ignore training, either. Many parrots are sexually overstimulated, so training a parrot to not be so hormonal could actually be a good thing!


The person in the video with the TAG? It's just a great example of just how much people can misinterpret behavior. I saw another video of a CAG who supposedly enjoyed playing with a ball, but everyone who watched the video saw a bird that was terrified, not a bird having fun.


Birds trained through force may stop showing any behaviors that they *will* bite, so it can be a lot harder to read them than a bird who has been trained through positive reinforcement.


I know it's been a while, and maybe there are updates somewhere... but just wondering how things are going!

 

[AMArenson]

psalucop,

I have a very similar story with our peach faced love bird. When we got him from the breeder he was hand-tamed and very sweet. He remained very sweet and loving for many months, but as soon as his beak started losing the black coloring he began getting very aggressive with me. He bonded with my husband and now completely hates me, screams and tries to bite me anytime I'm near his cage. I have tried many times to get him not to be mean toward me but all my attempts fail. We took him to the vet and hes all healthy except he never learned how to groom himself so when he tries he ends up looking a little weird, the vet said it was fine though. My sister-in-law has the same trouble with her lovebird, its bonded to her husband and totally hates her. Could it be that your bird has bonded with another person in your house? Unfortunately there is not much you can do about it once it has happened. I hope this helped you.