Don't know what to do :(

[Skittles2016]

I'm crying so much my fingers are bleeding everywhere, skittles just flew around and didn't know where to land so she landed on my arm and I'm wearing a long sleeve and she got her claw caught really bad on it and I couldn't undo it and she was flapping about because she still doesn't trust me or know how to step up and she was tearing at my fingers which are all bleeding and I managed to get her free as gently as I could and she flew off and she just won't trust me and that's messed everything up

 

[Flboy]

So sorry! She was just terrified, you were going to eat her! Give her space and time to trust!
Parrot Behavior Myths: Building Trust | Learning Parrots

 

[Skittles2016]

So sorry! She was just terrified, you were going to eat her! Give her space and time to trust!
Parrot Behavior Myths: Building Trust | Learning Parrots

I know I kept my voice quiet and gentle all throughout I suppose it was just a shock seeing her try to get away from me so much, I let her have a little rest and then I decided I didn't want her to think I am horrid. So I found a little stick instead of my finger this time (should have done in the first place) and i got her favourite treat and we did some step up work and she was really good she stepped up lots of times and she got lots of praise and has calmed down a lot and now I've let her go in her cage and she's doing the same thing of trying to get to me?? Which she doesn't want to do when she's out of her cage. But anyway, I'm sat next to her cage talking to her.

 

[Flboy]

I keep perches, or sticks laying all around the house just for this! Anyone can safely move JoJo around that way.
The following thread totally changed my relationship between Bongo and myself. I was calling him a barbarian, could not get near him etc. and all it really turned out to be is the poor guy was just trying to hold his ground and I was trying to prove that I was bigger and badder! Just this week, he let me rearrange his cage, with him in it!! In the past, this guy has given me body piercings!
The big thing you want to avoid is, actions and reactions building bad habits! My JoJo, sweet, loving, not territorial at all. First AM, I had a 50/50 chance of getting nailed if I reached into his cage for him! Solution? Don't reach into the cage! I went for weeks, only using a stick to take him out in the morning. I have now found that I can sweettalk him, let him give me some kisses on the nose, and if he then wants he will step right up for me!
His play stand is another perfect example. I can move him around on it I can put him on it, I can take him off, all with no issues. But, when that stand is on the bathroom counter, if I go to move it he chases my hands and nips. Solution? Carry it from underneath!
Back to the morning cage routine, what started the whole dilemma? When I was first taking him out I would always want to cuddle him and I was never giving him time to take his morning dump!

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

 

[Skittles2016]

I keep perches, or sticks laying all around the house just for this! Anyone can safely move JoJo around that way.
The following thread totally changed my relationship between Bongo and myself. I was calling him a barbarian, could not get near him etc. and all it really turned out to be is the poor guy was just trying to hold his ground and I was trying to prove that I was bigger and badder! Just this week, he let me rearrange his cage, with him in it!! In the past, this guy has given me body piercings!
The big thing you want to avoid is, actions and reactions building bad habits! My JoJo, sweet, loving, not territorial at all. First AM, I had a 50/50 chance of getting nailed if I reached into his cage for him! Solution? Don't reach into the cage! I went for weeks, only using a stick to take him out in the morning. I have now found that I can sweettalk him, let him give me some kisses on the nose, and if he then wants he will step right up for me!
His play stand is another perfect example. I can move him around on it I can put him on it, I can take him off, all with no issues. But, when that stand is on the bathroom counter, if I go to move it he chases my hands and nips. Solution? Carry it from underneath!
Back to the morning cage routine, what started the whole dilemma? When I was first taking him out I would always want to cuddle him and I was never giving him time to take his morning dump!

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

Thank you for the link, I enjoy reading up on all this birdy help! I do have a stand for her but at the moment she doesn't like being anywhere else but in or on her cage so we haven't quite reached that stage of moving away from home yet and you wouldn't think she wants nothing to do with me when she's begging for a scratch from inside her cage but she's just absolutely terrified of my fingers the second that cage door is open.

 

[GaleriaGila]

You know what? Love will find a way. I believe that will be true for the two of you.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Also, I'll second FL's approach. I have reduced biting to almost zero over the decades... not because I've changed the bird, but I have changed me. And a lot of that has involved giving up on a lot of my desires/expectations. After years of battle, I surrendered. I don't do stuff that gets me bitten. I don't scratch his head much, ever... tail is okay. I NEVER do stuff that makes him mad... I don't touch others when he's out; I rarely try to get him to step up onto my hand first. Hand-held perch first, then hand. In some ways, I swallow my disappointment at having such a little monster for a pet, but he is what he is. I ALWAYS wear my hair down when he's on my shoulder, so all he can bite is hair. Hey, he's one generation out of the wilds of Patagonia!
But of course, learn all you can here, use all the smart suggestions, but in the end, let love find its way.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Birds are resilient creatures. My Skittles has gotten his foot caught in a pillow case before and it was a hassle to get him untangled and he wasn't happy about it, but after a few hours of calm quiet time he bounced right back and was his old self again.

While it may seem like it damaged the progress you've made, it hasn't. They just follow their instincts- 'fight or flight' and when they can't fly away, the fight.

I have to TOTALLY agree with Abigail. I had so many issues with my Skittles the first few years. I had lucked out as he was already hand tamed and potty trained yet I had so many behavioral issues with him. They were all do to how I was handling certain issues.

Once I changed my approach and several situations, the problems went away. One thing I do with Skittles before I pet him is I make a little 'tss tss tss' sound (similar to a kissy noise) and he has come to associate that sound with petty/scratching and so when he hears that sound and sees my hand- he will do one of two things- either lower his head or lift his wing. Either way, he knows that's a 'safe sound' and responds as such. I like to think we get the bird we need, not the bird we want and sometimes that involves approaching things from a different perspective.

 

[snowflake311]

Building trust will get you past all of this.

I can not wait for my birds flight feathers to come in. He came clipped from the store. I do not like to keep my birds clipped but it does help the bird learn to trust you quickly. Well if you do it right.

Sounds like you had a bit of a freak accident. Your bird will get over it faster than you. Us humans hold on to the past more than most animals. You guys will be ok.

 

[Skittles2016]

Also, I'll second FL's approach. I have reduced biting to almost zero over the decades... not because I've changed the bird, but I have changed me. And a lot of that has involved giving up on a lot of my desires/expectations. After years of battle, I surrendered. I don't do stuff that gets me bitten. I don't scratch his head much, ever... tail is okay. I NEVER do stuff that makes him mad... I don't touch others when he's out; I rarely try to get him to step up onto my hand first. Hand-held perch first, then hand. In some ways, I swallow my disappointment at having such a little monster for a pet, but he is what he is. I ALWAYS wear my hair down when he's on my shoulder, so all he can bite is hair. Hey, he's one generation out of the wilds of Patagonia!
But of course, learn all you can here, use all the smart suggestions, but in the end, let love find its way.

Thank you for your kind message I certainly will use all the help here, it's definitely interesting to read and I do think will be helpful in the long run! Just have to keep working with her. I do believe that after some time she will realise that I'm not some horrible monster that wants her to stay in her cage untouched but that I want her to be out with the others and always welcome to come and snuggle up with me.

 

[Skittles2016]

Birds are resilient creatures. My Skittles has gotten his foot caught in a pillow case before and it was a hassle to get him untangled and he wasn't happy about it, but after a few hours of calm quiet time he bounced right back and was his old self again.

While it may seem like it damaged the progress you've made, it hasn't. They just follow their instincts- 'fight or flight' and when they can't fly away, the fight.

I have to TOTALLY agree with Abigail. I had so many issues with my Skittles the first few years. I had lucked out as he was already hand tamed and potty trained yet I had so many behavioral issues with him. They were all do to how I was handling certain issues.

Once I changed my approach and several situations, the problems went away. One thing I do with Skittles before I pet him is I make a little 'tss tss tss' sound (similar to a kissy noise) and he has come to associate that sound with petty/scratching and so when he hears that sound and sees my hand- he will do one of two things- either lower his head or lift his wing. Either way, he knows that's a 'safe sound' and responds as such. I like to think we get the bird we need, not the bird we want and sometimes that involves approaching things from a different perspective.

That's nice and reassuring to hear, I did feel like it would push us a step back but few hours later once she was back in her cage she was calling me over and ended with me scratching her head through the bars for over half an hour (she won't let me touch her when she's out of the cage) but that's good enough for me. That is one thing I'm doing at the moment saying "scritchy time" in a soft voice and putting my finger by the cage for her to decide if she wants to come over and hopefully that's getting her used to the fact that my hands are not going to hurt her at all. I think once she learns how to step up things will start to progress a lot more quickly and smoother. I hope anyway! Also, great name skittles

 

[Skittles2016]

Building trust will get you past all of this.

I can not wait for my birds flight feathers to come in. He came clipped from the store. I do not like to keep my birds clipped but it does help the bird learn to trust you quickly. Well if you do it right.

Sounds like you had a bit of a freak accident. Your bird will get over it faster than you. Us humans hold on to the past more than most animals. You guys will be ok.

I agree, I don't like it either and I wouldn't do it if it weren't necessary but when my budgie had to have hers clipped a few years ago (my other budgie she was bonded with passed away and she started self harming) it definitely helped us bond a lot and she would follow me everywhere! (Until I brought her a new friend which she decided was far more interesting than me ) thank you for the message!

 

[Ximichi]

Have spare perches and small towels around! When I first got my birds and they were untrusting, towels helped a lot. It helped them calm down enough for me to help untangle them.


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[Skittles2016]

Have spare perches and small towels around! When I first got my birds and they were untrusting, towels helped a lot. It helped them calm down enough for me to help untangle them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, I have a play stand for her to eventually go onto but she doesn't like going on anywhere apart from her cage. I did try to wrap her in my top while trying to untangle but she just freaked even more I just didn't want to hurt her and was panicking. Hopefully it won't happen again while she's so untrusting of me

 

[Ximichi]

Have spare perches and small towels around! When I first got my birds and they were untrusting, towels helped a lot. It helped them calm down enough for me to help untangle them.





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Thanks, I have a play stand for her to eventually go onto but she doesn't like going on anywhere apart from her cage. I did try to wrap her in my top while trying to untangle but she just freaked even more I just didn't want to hurt her and was panicking. Hopefully it won't happen again while she's so untrusting of me

We do this with the wild birds at the rehab center I volunteer at too. Just throw over a towel and wait for her to calm down. If you try to wrap her in the shirt, she will be nervous because it's restricting her. The towel will give her enough room to move and prevent her from hurting herself


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[AmyMyBlueFront]

I still can't get Amy out of her house with my hand. She'll bite for sure! And if I use her perch stick,she'll chomp on it and hold on,and hang upside down from her bars
She'll go IN with no problem if she is on my hand or perch.

Its HER house! But all I have to do is open the door, or when I have her food/water bowl doors open,she likes to squeeze her chubby amazon body thru the openings lol. On a side note here...when I was at the local ALLPETS there was a baby black noggined caqui..just a baby. He jumped on my palm..started rubbing and rubbing his face and head all over my palm! Like he had a skritch to itch lol..and when I skritched his head..his eyes closed and he just kept moving his head like he was trying to tell me where to skritch lol.. he was beautiful and amazing. The birdie girl who has seen Amy and I in there many times asked me " So? a new friend for Amy? should I box him up now?" lol.. I wish!


Jim

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Also, great name skittles

It is indeed! Granted it may be common, but it fits him. He's very colorful both inside and out! He's a character and a half! I call him "Skitty" for short, since Skittles is such a common conure name, it gives him a little 'uniqueness'. lol And when he is being a booger, I call him 'you little skit'. lol