Conure biting

[MangoTheGCC]

My name is Robert and I’m new to the forum. Me and my girlfriend recently purchased Mango a pineapple GCC and mango was very calm and polite in the pet store but when we brought mango home the bird started biting. I was wondering what are ways to fix this behavior. The bird is about 5 months old if that is important.

 

[MangoTheGCC]

My name is Robert and I’m new to the forum. Me and my girlfriend recently purchased Mango a pineapple GCC and mango was very calm and polite in the pet store but when we brought mango home the bird started biting. I was wondering what are ways to fix this behavior. The bird is about 5 months old if that is important.

I figured I’d show off mango. I would like to say thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this post. Any advice would be helpful we have a budgie we have taken care of for almost a year so far also, so this isn’t are first bird but we would still consider ourself inexperienced.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Amsterdam]

My name is Robert and I’m new to the forum. Me and my girlfriend recently purchased Mango a pineapple GCC and mango was very calm and polite in the pet store but when we brought mango home the bird started biting. I was wondering what are ways to fix this behavior. The bird is about 5 months old if that is important.

How long is mango with you now? maybe he needs time to adapt in his new environment.

 

[MangoTheGCC]

My name is Robert and I’m new to the forum. Me and my girlfriend recently purchased Mango a pineapple GCC and mango was very calm and polite in the pet store but when we brought mango home the bird started biting. I was wondering what are ways to fix this behavior. The bird is about 5 months old if that is important.

How long is mango with you now? maybe he needs time to adapt in his new environment.

Mango has been with us for 3 days so far and very much likes human interaction(she was hand raised by the breeder) we’ve been trying to keep mango from going on your head and I recently lowered the cage because it was higher than us. We also don’t take mango from the cage we let mango come to us.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Flboy]

Hi! These little guys can be nippy! Make sure though, that you are not misinterpreting him trying to beak you out to just see what things feel like and taste! They should be light nibbles as he learns to control pressure!

 

[MangoTheGCC]

Hi! These little guys can be nippy! Make sure though, that you are not misinterpreting him trying to beak you out to just see what things feel like and taste! They should be light nibbles as he learns to control pressure!

They are occasionally hard enough to break skin.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[munami]

Welcome to the forum, Robert & Mango! I hope you get the help you're looking for!

What sort of body language is he giving before he bites? How do you react when he bites you? Is there a pattern for before he bites?

 

[MangoTheGCC]

Welcome to the forum, Robert & Mango! I hope you get the help you're looking for!

What sort of body language is he giving before he bites? How do you react when he bites you? Is there a pattern for before he bites?

To be honest I’m not too sure of conure body language but I’ve been doing research. I will say mango bite everything my shirt the cage everything and with varying strengths. Mango doesn’t head bob when he bites which I’ve heard is defensive body language. But when he bites his feathers are tight against his body and he slowly bites harder. I push his beak off my skin or tilt/shake my hand(not aggressively) and I typically put him back in the cage and leave the room.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[munami]

That does sound like defensive body behavior especially with the skinny bird feathers. Is he lowering his head and body when he does this?

Possibly he's figured out if he bites you hard enough, you'll leave the room and put him back into the cage. If so, that's the response he wants.

If you see him getting into aggressive stance and behavior, you need to distract and redirect his attention to something else. Then give him his space. Have you tried any training with him yet?


I've seen this thread shared a lot. It's got a lot of helpful tips on starting a trusting relationship with your parrot.


http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[LaManuka]

Hello Robert, welcome to you and Mango.

You’ve only been together for a few days, Mango needs time to learn to trust you. You might just need to slow down and allow him to settle into his new household. If he persists in biting you can use the “shunning” method. If he bites you, simply pop him gently down on the floor, or the back of a chair, walk away and leave him for 5 minutes or so. Don’t put him back in his cage as this may be what he wants! Go back to him and try again. Repeat the procedure if he bites you again. But I think he’ll come around given time, he sure is a cute little thing

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Congrats on your new fid!


Three days is not a long time- it usually takes 'on average' a few weeks for a bird to become accustomed to its new surroundings and is likely to be hyper-vigilante and defensive in unfamiliar territory.


You are doing the right thing in letting her come out on her own though and not forcing her.

 

[MangoTheGCC]

Hello Robert, welcome to you and Mango.

You’ve only been together for a few days, Mango needs time to learn to trust you. You might just need to slow down and allow him to settle into his new household. If he persists in biting you can use the “shunning” method. If he bites you, simply pop him gently down on the floor, or the back of a chair, walk away and leave him for 5 minutes or so. Don’t put him back in his cage as this may be what he wants! Go back to him and try again. Repeat the procedure if he bites you again. But I think he’ll come around given time, he sure is a cute little thing

I think I may need to take him to get his wings clipped again as he can actually fly upwards for short distances.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MangoTheGCC]

That does sound like defensive body behavior especially with the skinny bird feathers. Is he lowering his head and body when he does this?

Possibly he's figured out if he bites you hard enough, you'll leave the room and put him back into the cage. If so, that's the response he wants.

If you see him getting into aggressive stance and behavior, you need to distract and redirect his attention to something else. Then give him his space. Have you tried any training with him yet?


I've seen this thread shared a lot. It's got a lot of helpful tips on starting a trusting relationship with your parrot.


http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

https://streamable.com/igap6 here is a video of mango biting if this helps. Typically my girlfriend doesn’t yell she just says no biting but this is the only video I have.(he bit her pretty hard) also I have been training him step up and he does it pretty well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LaManuka]

Honestly I don’t know if wing clipping will help. Badly clipped wings can result in loss of trust plus possible physical injuries if he hits the floor too hard. He would just find another way to retreat from you anyway. Just go slowly with him, and try to make each interaction a positive one. If everyone in the home is consistent with him, particularly with the shunning method if it comes to that, he will learn biting gets him nowhere.

 

[MangoTheGCC]

Honestly I don’t know if wing clipping will help. Badly clipped wings can result in loss of trust plus possible physical injuries if he hits the floor too hard. He would just find another way to retreat from you anyway. Just go slowly with him, and try to make each interaction a positive one. If everyone in the home is consistent with him, particularly with the shunning method if it comes to that, he will learn biting gets him nowhere.

His wings where actually clipped since I’ve owned him(the pet store clipped his wings) but he can fly upwards so when I put him on the floor he just flys back up to either us or the cage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[YSGC]

IMO poking a bird's beak with a fingertip is begging to get bit.
Not watching while interacting is another mistake.
Reacting to a bite is teaching it to bite and even rewarding the bite because parrots LOVE drama.

Parrots are complex.
Learning what they like or accept takes time.

 

[MangoTheGCC]

Honestly I don’t know if wing clipping will help. Badly clipped wings can result in loss of trust plus possible physical injuries if he hits the floor too hard. He would just find another way to retreat from you anyway. Just go slowly with him, and try to make each interaction a positive one. If everyone in the home is consistent with him, particularly with the shunning method if it comes to that, he will learn biting gets him nowhere.

I just tried shunning mango and he went back to his cage and has been making quite tweets and fluffing his feathers. Is he trying to get my attention?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MangoTheGCC]

IMO poking a bird's beak with a fingertip is begging to get bit.
Not watching while interacting is another mistake.
Reacting to a bite is teaching it to bite and even rewarding the bite because parrots LOVE drama.

Parrots are complex.
Learning what they like or accept takes time.

I typically push the beak away/tilt or earthquake my hand and don’t respond verbally to the action.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LaManuka]

Yes very probably! Conures are masters at “playing” their owners! If he bites you again just shun him again, either to the floor or the back of a chair. Conures can also be very cage-territorial although Mango is still very young. He will soon learn that the fun stops if he bites!

 

[RemiBird]

He doesn't know you or your fingers. He is just trying to protect himself.
With time, he will learn that your fingers bring the good stuff to him, such as treats and neck scratches.
Give him time to settle in and don't push your fingers towards him like that, lol.