Biting alexandrine parrot

Timgeorgr

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Hi there,
Ten months ago I got an alexandrine parrot which was most likely around 13- 20 months old. What I first got it, it was really aggressive; it used to bit so hard and with such force that my fingers and hand would bleed, scar up and then he would bite off the scab; a vicious painful cycle. Its been ten months now and I still cannot put my hands in the cage. ( I asked a question about him when I first got him, and someone suggested I use a stick to get him on it and then take him out of the cage.) I've been doing that ever since and that's the only way I can get him out of the cage. When I do finally get him out of the cage, and go to pet him he will attack my hand. He doesn't like other people either. His cage (its a big cage, so I know it's not a living space issue) is in the living room ( I figured he will get used to people this way, since there's a lot of people in my family). He doesn't let others pet him or hold him. When you try to pet him, his pupils will shrink and he will bob he head up and down and then attack. I've been working with him about six days a week for a few hours a day ( with resting periods; that's what I was told to do) so far for ten months and he is still biting. I can pet him but he will still bite ( which makes no sense). I'm asking this question because I'm getting this little feeling that I want to give up, but I really don't want to. As crazy as this sounds I like this bird; I love animals. I feel like if I give up on him, he wouldn't get a nice home and it will be hanging over my conscience for a very long time. I need some advice, new inspiration. Thank you very much.
 
As far as I know Alexandrines don't like to be petted... Mine doesn't... I let him come out of the cage by himself - He'll push my hand away, if I try to take him out.. He has never bitten me, but I reckon if I kept on trying to pet him, he would...

No need to give up... Alexandrines are very independent, and happy just doing their own thing... As long as they have a good and varied diet, chew toys and daily time out of cage, they'll be happy...
 
Do you have any tips on how to get him to want to take treats. He only eats when he's in his cage. His favorites are apples and peanuts. Thank you.
 
Have you tried offering him a variety of foods and treats while he's inside the cage?

If he only eats while inside his cage, then it may be best to start working with him from inside the cage!
 
Today I started click/touch training with him. I didn't know what his favorite treats were so I removed his regular daily foods ( chopped apples, unshelled nuts, celery, lettuce, and parrot mix) and I placed in all kinds of treats. Each treat was in a separate dish, these include: chopped peanuts, sun flower seeds, cooked pasta, uncooked pasta, carrots, peas, and uncooked ziti pasta filled with peanut butter. After about 10 minutes he started inspecting each one; he then took one of the pasta filled with peanut butter, went on the highest perch and started munching away. To my surprise, the peanut butter won; he only ate the peanut butter and left the shell empty. We did three 8 minute touch training sessions with 2minutes break in between and he was really motivated by the peanut butter. I'm really happy with what we did today.
 

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