Siobhan
New member
I rock Rocky to sleep every night (no, he's not spoiled, why do you ask?) and usually sing to him as well. Quite often, he's all sleepy and snoozy but suddenly decides it's time for the floor show, and starts being silly. He dances. He raises his wings and yells "whoo!!!!" He flaps his wings while hanging onto my arm and leaving dents with his talons. And this display always ended with a chomp to my arm. I don't know why.
A few weeks ago, I started telling him "no bites!" while he was showing off, and when he lunged downward, I'd put my finger on his beak and say it again. The first few times, it didn't help a bit. But then he started giving me this injured look, like "But bites are part of the floor show!" And now, when he's showing off, he might lunge, but he stops short of biting and I always praise him effusively for not biting. The last couple of nights, he hasn't even lunged. He'll pause in the showing off and look at his favorite spot to bite, but he doesn't bite. And I praise him and tell him what a good boy he is for not biting and admit that I know biting is part of the show for him, but it's not much fun for me.
Maybe it helps that we applaud his floor show with enthusiasm and laugh at his antics and make sure he knows he's a fine entertainer without having to bite, too.
A few weeks ago, I started telling him "no bites!" while he was showing off, and when he lunged downward, I'd put my finger on his beak and say it again. The first few times, it didn't help a bit. But then he started giving me this injured look, like "But bites are part of the floor show!" And now, when he's showing off, he might lunge, but he stops short of biting and I always praise him effusively for not biting. The last couple of nights, he hasn't even lunged. He'll pause in the showing off and look at his favorite spot to bite, but he doesn't bite. And I praise him and tell him what a good boy he is for not biting and admit that I know biting is part of the show for him, but it's not much fun for me.
Maybe it helps that we applaud his floor show with enthusiasm and laugh at his antics and make sure he knows he's a fine entertainer without having to bite, too.