Displaced Biting

[Taw5106]

Buddy has started biting his own leg when Husband is by his cage and Husband is not provoking him. He only does this when Husband walks by his cage or stands close. A couple of times he's bit himself hard enough he jumped. Is this a normal displacement biting habit? I'm worried that the goofball is going hurt himself bad enough he may loose a leg. I've moved Buddy's cage a bit to give Husband more room to pass by Buddy's cage to see if that will help.

 

[RavensGryf]

Wow, I've never heard of biting one's OWN leg! I hope you get some insight into why this has started to happen. I'm interested in knowing too! I do remember that your husband is not Buddy's favorite person.

 

[Kiwibird]

I've never heard of this type of behavior either. I hope someone with an idea of what to do comes along soon with some advice. What a habit for a parrot to pick up! Buddy must REALLY dislike your husband

 

[Taw5106]

He does really dislike Husband but it's only when Buddy is inside his cage. If I have him out and sit by Husband, totally different attitude so I know he's very cage aggressive. Husband passes his cage to get ready in the mornings and to get to his office. I've heard Buddy hit the bars with his beak as he passes, no sound. He'll flip his wings at Husband like he's challenging him. I've thought about moving his cage but right now he and Venus are in front of the only window we have in the livingroom, they love the window. I may end up rearranging the furniture. The things we do for our finds.

 

[Anansi]

Wow. I've never heard of displacement biting being directed at the self! Has he ever broken skin?

I wonder if it might help to work on his relationship with your husband while they're both with you and away from the cage? Perhaps with him offering Buddy treats? Maybe given time, it would somewhat soften Buddy's view of him.

 

[Kiwibird]

He does really dislike Husband but it's only when Buddy is inside his cage. If I have him out and sit by Husband, totally different attitude so I know he's very cage aggressive. Husband passes his cage to get ready in the mornings and to get to his office. I've heard Buddy hit the bars with his beak as he passes, no sound. He'll flip his wings at Husband like he's challenging him. I've thought about moving his cage but right now he and Venus are in front of the only window we have in the livingroom, they love the window. I may end up rearranging the furniture. The things we do for our finds.

The extra info is helpful. Instead of moving the cage, what about rearranging it? New toys, branches in different positions (new if possible), switch the dishes around ect...

And how about doing some desensitization work where hubby sits in a chair as close as he can to Buddy's cage without Buddy flipping out and talking to him. If he does that every day, I bet he could gradually move closer and closer. He and Buddy may never be buddies but he should be able to walk past his cage without causing issues:20:

I still can't believe Buddy is so upset about it he'd bite HIMSELF!

 

[henpecked]

Yes, that's displacement biting. Not uncommon behavior if they can't get to the object of their dislike. I think i might treat it different than you though. I usually put the cage in a higher traffic area. The object is to show Buddy that his actions aren't driving the offender away. His lunging ,biting aren't getting the desired results. I'd have hubby walk by many times a day, without showing any interest in Buddy. Completely ignore him. At some point have hubby approach until Buddy responds, then hubby back up a 1/2 step. have hubby remain there until Buddy calms and then hubby leaves. Sooner or later hubby will be able to approach closer and closer without buddy trying to drive him away. Maybe try the favorite treat that buddy only gets from hubbies hand.

 

[Taw5106]

This morning I ready the replies received up to this point. Thanks so much for replying. This morning Husband followed recommendations and walked by Buddy's cage without acknowledging him. Buddy would follow Husband around the cage but only bit the bars once. I took Buddy out of his cage after lunch, sat next to Husband and in Buddy fashion, he pooped on me and flew off my hand back to his cage.

About 30 minutes ago I took Venus in the kitchen and started mixing their dinner, fresh red peppers, blue berries and brown rice. Buddy got jealous! I took the opportunity and put Venus on her cage, scooped Buddy up, sat by Husband. Buddy was throwing kisses at me, typical Buddy, pooped on me, but then he wolf whistled and Husband whistled back, so a wolf whistle battle started, Buddy fluffed up, puffy cheeks, flared tail, pinned eyes and started moving closer to Husband and rocking on my hand. I take that as progress meaning there is hope for these two, lol.

 

[Taw5106]

Update on Buddy and Husband. Things are improving and I'm happy to say Husband doesn't think Buddy is out to destroy him, lol. I think Husband is learning too from this. When Husband comes home, he now goes to Buddy's cage to say Hello and they do a whistle conversation. He doesn't try to touch the cage and stands no closer than 2 feet by Buddy's cage. Buddy isn't biting himself or charging the bars, he moves closer to the bars, fluffs his tail, cheeks and pins his eyes, he's loving the attention. But once Husband turns to walk away, BAM! Buddy hits the bars, I can't help but laugh at Buddy's antics, Husband said if Buddy had a knife he'd stab Husband in the back as he turned to walk away.

So Husband keeps doing this sort of visit several times a day, Buddy hasn't bit himself all week so that's a big improvement. I also moved his perches around, and changed out his toys. His toys were trying to eat him so he had to sit with me for most of the day the day I did it, Monday.

 

[Anansi]

Hahaha! I can't help but laugh at Buddy's antics, either!

So glad to hear that things have improved so quickly! Looks like April and Richard were right on the money with their advice. With consistency, hopefully things will get better, yet.

 

[Taw5106]

Hahaha! I can't help but laugh at Buddy's antics, either!

So glad to hear that things have improved so quickly! Looks like April and Richard were right on the money with their advice. With consistency, hopefully things will get better, yet.

Stephen, today's Buddy antic didn't fail to make everyone laugh. I took Venus out with us today. She was so good and curious. Great day with her. We got home and I walked to Buddy's cage saying hello. He climbs up to his perch by the nesting door and I open it. He shoves his fluffy face through the door and says "HELLO". I asked if he wanted a kiss, he makes his kissing sounds, I reach in and scratch his head, Buddy's in heaven. Husband walks up, Buddy is ignoring him, not replying to husband so I stopped rubbing his head and told husband to pet his head. After talking to Buddy, saying head rub, weaving, dodging and diving like a boxer, he bent his head forward and let Husband touch his red head. Progress, that was like .0099999 of a second LOL!

 

[Anansi]

Hahaha! Baby steps, right? Buddy probably considered that merest fraction of a second a huge concession on his part. Lol!

 

[henpecked]

Hahaha! I can't help but laugh at Buddy's antics, either!

So glad to hear that things have improved so quickly! Looks like April and Richard were right on the money with their advice. With consistency, hopefully things will get better, yet.

Stephen, today's Buddy antic didn't fail to make everyone laugh. I took Venus out with us today. She was so good and curious. Great day with her. We got home and I walked to Buddy's cage saying hello. He climbs up to his perch by the nesting door and I open it. He shoves his fluffy face through the door and says "HELLO". I asked if he wanted a kiss, he makes his kissing sounds, I reach in and scratch his head, Buddy's in heaven. Husband walks up, Buddy is ignoring him, not replying to husband so I stopped rubbing his head and told husband to pet his head. After talking to Buddy, saying head rub, weaving, dodging and diving like a boxer, he bent his head forward and let Husband touch his red head. Progress, that was like .0099999 of a second LOL!

In that situation , Buddy might have been more receptive if you hadn't been close by. Try not to be present when hubby and Buddy are interacting. Glad to hear everyone is making progress, congrats.

 

[Anansi]

Funny, I was just coming back to this thread to comment on that. Richard is quite right. By you stopping what you were doing with him so that your husband could start, there's a bit of a negative association. ("HE made her stop! Grumble, grumble.")

But if you've completely left his line of sight, he might indeed be more receptive to your husband.

 

[Taw5106]

Hahaha! I can't help but laugh at Buddy's antics, either!



So glad to hear that things have improved so quickly! Looks like April and Richard were right on the money with their advice. With consistency, hopefully things will get better, yet.

Stephen, today's Buddy antic didn't fail to make everyone laugh. I took Venus out with us today. She was so good and curious. Great day with her. We got home and I walked to Buddy's cage saying hello. He climbs up to his perch by the nesting door and I open it. He shoves his fluffy face through the door and says "HELLO". I asked if he wanted a kiss, he makes his kissing sounds, I reach in and scratch his head, Buddy's in heaven. Husband walks up, Buddy is ignoring him, not replying to husband so I stopped rubbing his head and told husband to pet his head. After talking to Buddy, saying head rub, weaving, dodging and diving like a boxer, he bent his head forward and let Husband touch his red head. Progress, that was like .0099999 of a second LOL!

In that situation , Buddy might have been more receptive if you hadn't been close by. Try not to be present when hubby and Buddy are interacting. Glad to hear everyone is making progress, congrats.

Do you think I can be in the same room when Husband is interacting with Buddy or completely out of sight?

 

[henpecked]

Better to be out of sight. You don't want Buddy to make a choice between you and hubby. Only give him the choice of hubby's attention, you need to stay out of the picture.