Time Out

Tiki can be quite the biter.

She gets plenty of time out of her cage daily, she's out darn near 24/7 on the weekends, I stock her cage with all kinds of toys (shredding/foraging/foot/you name it) and I rearrange every three days or so she doesn't get bored.

I've admittedly gotten a little lax about "step up" and "step down", she usually just does for me. I noticed this past weekend that she latches on and won't really get off my spouses hand and actually even mine. She latches on with both feet and her beak and holds on for dear life. I understand she wants to be with us but I cant very well have her on my hand while i'm cooking (much to her dismay).

I've tried quite a few methods to curb the biting, some work temporarily some are just a joke to her. I've tried returning to her cage or her travel cage which just doesn't ever do anything, she loves her cages so its just an adventure to her. I completely understand that this all takes time and patience which I've got unlimited amounts of for her.

I'm just wondering what people thing of a penalty box or a time out box. A smaller carrier, no toys, no snacks just a perch or two for a 5 minute time out.

My anxious new mom thoughts trigger and say "oh that would be so terrifying for her" but at the same time "it would prove that the behavior isn't welcome".

Thoughts?

I think it would be worth a try. Make sure it isn't a carrier you'd use for transporting her (you don't want negative associations with her transport carrier). Kiwi gets a time out if he bites followed by step up drills, where I step him up and down from various locations for a few minutes to reinforce trust and good bird behavior. It has proven to be effective for him, but every bird is different.

Thanks Kiwibird - I'd say she tolerates her little carrier (vet visits and such). Its just not roomy. I'm thinking of something small like that where she cant really play around and such, just to kind of reinforce the "biters dont make friends" idea.

I know in the beginning I briefly tried the timeout /ignore technique - didn't work for me at all but like Kiwi said - every bird is different.

She either doesn't get the time out/ignore concept or simply isn't effective with her.

Not sure if what I want thru with Gracie would shed any insight or offer anything you haven't tried but here it is ...

Part of her problem was quickly discovered by the vet that she had an infection & muscle weakness so that led to her latching on which led to hard bites probably to gain control/stability that she didn't feel she had with me holding her.

The 2nd part was she wanted to be on me & didn't want to step back down or go where I was taking her.
The 3rd part - that's how she greets me by grasping my fingers/hand & when I didn't acknowledge it - she would amp up & really latch on

I'm sure fear, uncertainty & lack of control etc. may have also played a part in it for her.

Initially I used these times to teach her "ahahaha - easy, gentle" to pressure train her & I always set her on her favorite perch with a treat to end on a good note - I'd praise her a lot -smart parrot, good girl Gracie etc. I also established a routine where when I initially took her out & if she seemed hyper/excited I'd let her blow off some steam playing & having a treat on her cage before handling her. If I was going to be holding her I'd keep a foot toy or treat to distract her.

She got the bite pressure really fast - excellent student. What I discovered tho is after the infection was gone, she built up muscles exercising, her grip improved & I was able to teach her the amount of pressure that was comfortable for me she still does the same beaking & grasping my fingers/hands she's just super gentle. She does it to greet me & just to interact when I'm holding her (almost like a cat rubbing against you) she'll do it get my attention if she wants to be put down or a head scritch etc. I always respond with a head pat, a scritch or some kind of acknowledgment then go about putting her down or taking her with me whichever I need to do.

Like Kiwibird - I did a lot of step up/ down drills to set the stage for what I wanted but to also keep her moving so she wasn't getting a chance to get into that latch on mode.

I guess If I only had feet & a beak I'd prolly use my beak to communicate what I want or grab my peoples hands like a steering wheel to get where I wanna go lol

Now the time I can't get her step down is into her cage @ bedtime.
Any other time she's fine. Bedtime? Forget about it.
She won't latch on or use her beak - she literally flops back wards so I can't put her on a perch, in essence hanging upside down like a limp noodle, she turns to jelly.
No amount of step down drills is working, no distraction techniques & apparently mama pleading with her to be a good girl & go night night falls on deaf ears.
It takes me at least 3 attempts every night.
She hates going night night. Will contact call & beg to be released the second I manage to get her perched.
It's a race to the cage door from there.

I just haven't figured out how to get her cooperation.. yet.

They are smart - ingenious, stubborn little buggers when it comes to getting what they want aren't they?

Good luck I'm sure you'll figure out what works.

Why is she biting???


Have you ever tried avoiding getting bitten????


The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs.

GraciesMom said:

...The 2nd part was she wanted to be on me & didn't want to step back down or go where I was taking her.

... I also established a routine where when I initially took her out & if she seemed hyper/excited I'd let her blow off some steam playing & having a treat on her cage before handling her. If I was going to be holding her I'd keep a foot toy or treat to distract her.

...I guess If I only had feet & a beak I'd prolly use my beak to communicate what I want or grab my peoples hands like a steering wheel to get where I wanna go lol

...They are smart - ingenious, stubborn little buggers when it comes to getting what they want aren't they?

Good luck I'm sure you'll figure out what works.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice I'm sure a lot of it is she just wants to be with us, which i totally get. She's still very young so I'm hoping that with some patience and training we can curb this at least a little. When she's all goofy and silly I usually let her just hang out on top of her cage or her other play area until we're ready. She's a pretty happy girl, but like almost all other animals, wants to be with her people/flock mates. She really does have us wrapped around her tiny little feet, and honestly i wouldn't have it any other way. Its amazing how much love a 61gram bird can bring to a flock.

MonicaMc said:

Why is she biting???


Have you ever tried avoiding getting bitten????


The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs.

Click to expand...

Of course I try to not get bitten. I completely understand birds don't bite for no reason and they don't typically bite each other but they also don't stand on each other.

She's only seven months old so we're still training and learning a lot. I'm sure time and patience will help immensely.

Not much of a fan of the "time out" as punishment. Never seen a mommy or daddy bird give baby bird a "time out" when they misbehave. Isolation... solitary confinement..sensory deprivation... I admit it works pretty well on inmates on a chain gang,, not sure I'd try it on a birdie. I favor communication on the birds level.. with verbal instruction, gesture, and touch. Its always worked for me.