GCC likes the taste of people

[aufde]

It sounds weird, but when I try to get Yoshi to step up, he'll grab with one foot like a piece of food and nibble away. It was cute at first and it was one of the first times I got him to step up, but now he clings to his cage with the other foot and really tries to chow down. It hasn't drawn any blood yet, but it has been getting harder and harder over the days.

Whenever I have him out and he gets nippy, I put him back in his cage. I don't think this is really working because I think he likes it better in his cage anyways. I know he's bonding with me because every time I leave the room he chirps at me to get me to stay. So what I was thinking was use a smaller cage as a "timeout" cage so he knows the difference between his home and punishment. Any suggestions?

I've also tried mimicking they're "stop it" scream by whistling real loud and high, but he just looks at me and then goes right back for another bite.

I also want to note that he just started his molt, but I don't think that's what is making him so bite-y. I can tell the difference between the "don't touch me I'm molting" bite and what he's been doing since I got him a few weeks ago.

I keep hearing stories of all of your conures who are just so cuddly and playful and can't wait to get there with Yoshi, any help would be appreciated

 

[dishgal1]

My Gcc is nippy as well.....he doesn't like to cuddle except on his terms.
So they are not all cuddly. His personality is so wonderful he watches me everytime I talk to him and he answers me with his eyes like he understands. He is a wonderful companion, but cuddling forget it. Doesn't even like head scratches. He actually does that himself. Spreads his foot all across the top of his head and under his neck just like a person would do.
Occasionally he will get up under my hair and snuggle for a few minutes but that is few and far between. My daughter has one who will cuddle but not mine. My Sun conure I just got loves to be petted.

 

[dishgal1]

He will nestle down in my hand once or twice a day and chew on my fingers, usually very gently but some days he bites way too hard and I have to stop him. My husband and I both feel like chew sticks. LOL We give him a firm NO and then say be a good boy. Usually helps calm him down.
Hadn't thought about making the same screech he makes when he doesn't want to be touched. I willl have to try that.

 

[Mudkips]

I've also tried mimicking they're "stop it" scream by whistling real loud and high, but he just looks at me and then goes right back for another bite.

If he stops to pay attention for at least a little bit when you squeal, it's probably working a bit and worth working on. Once he goes for a second bite I would do the "stop it" squeal a bit louder while placing him on the floor. Then walk away and ignore him for a few minutes. If he cant fly, its good to sit somewhere with your legs up where he can't climb to you or even touch you - he will run around below you begging for your attention.

Then after a few minutes, pick him up again.

Part of the solution is also to know when he is in a biting mood and to deal with it accordingly. Sometimes I can see red in my Birdy's eyes, so I grab his favorite small toy and use it to catch his attention. As soon as he spots it, he'll charge at it while screaming, grab it hard, shake it violently then scream at it some more. Within minutes he has no energy left and he just wants to cuddle.

Is Yoshi always bitey every time you pick him up?
How much time does he spend out of the cage with you?
And does he have any leather chewing toys? (you may want to replace them with other things like paper/cardboard)

 

[aufde]

Yeah, but sometimes it'll be just to check if my finger is stable enough to stand on. Other times he'll nibble my finger the same way and just keep going and won't step up.

I still can't get him to step up consistently, so I usually have his cage open for a couple hours a day and he'll just sit on top of the cage. I'll either be at my computer or right next to him reading while he's out.

No leather chew toys, just one paper one and two wooden ones. One of the wooden ones still has the bark on it and he'll chew on that all the time. Those are all hanging toys in his cage. I've been meaning to get some toys for outside the cage, but I don't know what to get. Any suggestions?

Just curious, what's wrong with the leather toys?

If he cant fly, its good to sit somewhere with your legs up where he can't climb to you or even touch you - he will run around below you begging for your attention.

So far I've been keeping him in the same room as his cage, so if I put him on the ground, he'll run back to his cage. Should I be working with him in a different room then?

 

[dishgal1]

My little Forrest doesn't play with many toys and he is NOT a shredder.
HIs favorite toy is a Jungle Talk telephone. It says I love you and laughs and two other phrases. I have one hanging in his cage and that is his security blanket ....always sits next to it. Then I have another laying on his java stand.........he stands on it and chews on it and makes it talk like he is dancing. He learned to say I love you and laugh from this phone. He says several other words as well, he is quite a talker. Other than that toy his favorite is climbing the blinds. He thinks we are his toys. LOL
There is nothing wrong with leather toys but the others like wood or paper might work well if he likes to shred.

 

[dishgal1]

One thing he might like is the chinese finger traps filled with shreds....I order from mysafe bird store and they always send some of those as a gift.

 

[Mudkips]

Don't get me wrong, there's actually nothing wrong with leather toys.
Just remember that leather is actually made from skin, so if leather is your birds favorite anger management tool... well I guess you can see where I'm going with this!

Is Yoshi's cage on the ground? You might want to think about propping it up higher if it is.

I'm at work at the moment, but when I get home I'll try to get a video of how I effectively deal with Birdy's rage/energy, and how he behaves directly after it.

 

[Lintini]

Some members here posted to put your bird on the floor when they bite/nip too hard for your liking versus putting them back in the cage, so that the cage isn't thought of as negative. I have had great luck with setting my conure on the ground when he pinches me too hard. He doesn't pinch me like he did when I first got him because being on the floor isn't as fun as my arm!

 

[aufde]

His cage is on the ground right now. Why should it be raised up? I think I've read that somewhere, but can't remember why.

 

[dishgal1]

His cage is on the ground right now. Why should it be raised up? I think I've read that somewhere, but can't remember why.

Birds like to be higher up to avoid predators, a basic instinct. I think he would be happier up higher.

 

[Mudkips]

Exactly what dishgal1 said.
Also, if you want him to treat you as an equal, it's best to have him at about eye height.
It's absolutely devastating to a bonded bird when you are too busy to notice him, and the further down he is positioned the worse that feeling becomes.
Try to position the cage so that the top of the cage is just below your eye level when you are close by - that includes your sitting eye-height if you have a comfy seat nearby.
That way he can stand on the top of his cage and not feel left out of the action.

 

[aufde]

I'll definitely have to move his cage up then.

Another quick question, when he's nibbling on my fingers, sometimes he'll get a bit of my fingernail and eat it. I can't imagine this is bad for him, but I just wanted to check.

 

[Mudkips]

Here's a short video of how I deal with Birdy in his 'Demon mode' using bottle caps. I also use a different kind of 'clicker training' mid way thru the video!
It's pretty important that when a bird is in this kind of mood you take the attention away from your fingers and onto something else that he can focus his energy onto.

He was only giving it 50% today, it's quite a sight to behold when he gives it his screeching all!
At the end you can see he has lost all interest in attacking and just wants scratchies and cuddles.

Apologies for the bad camera work - hope it helps!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO7LKYDtcc0]Attack Bird - YouTube[/ame]

 

[aufde]

That's really cute! I tried letting Yoshi play with a plastic bottle cap like that and he was scared of it. I'm trying to think of how I could get one in his cage without it falling down into the grate. I know they usually have to get used to new toys, but I'm not sure how to do that with a small chew toy. I think maybe I need to get a play stand for him while he's out of his cage.

Also, I tried putting him on the ground when he bites too hard and he'll be nice for a few mins, but that's it. How long do you usually put your bird on the ground when they're naughty? I also haven't completely birdproofed my room so I have to watch him when I set him down. Maybe that's why it's not working, because I'm still paying attention to him.

 

[lexx510]

Here's a short video of how I deal with Birdy in his 'Demon mode' using bottle caps. I also use a different kind of 'clicker training' mid way thru the video!
It's pretty important that when a bird is in this kind of mood you take the attention away from your fingers and onto something else that he can focus his energy onto.

He was only giving it 50% today, it's quite a sight to behold when he gives it his screeching all!
At the end you can see he has lost all interest in attacking and just wants scratchies and cuddles.

Apologies for the bad camera work - hope it helps!

Attack Bird - YouTube

Excellent! lol

We have a similar approach with Guava using a plastic toy shovel.

[ame=http://youtu.be/4pY20mPv-OA?hd=1]Green cheek conure attacks pooper scooper - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Mudkips]

Hah I didn't realize someone had already posted the same video a few months before me!
Good vid!

How long do you usually put your bird on the ground when they're naughty? I also haven't completely birdproofed my room so I have to watch him when I set him down. Maybe that's why it's not working, because I'm still paying attention to him.

They don't have to be on the ground for long at all - maybe 2 to 5 minutes. The most important thing is knowing when your parrot changes his attitude (most of the time it will change the second you place them on the floor, other times it takes a few minutes), then ignoring them for a minute or two longer while they want to get back to you.

I hope Lexx510's and my own video show a good height for the cage. You can also attach branches and other things to the top to create your own play gym for Yoshi.

 

[aufde]

I a rope perch arced over his cage and he likes to sit up there, but when he poops, it drops right down onto one of his toys, I kind of want a separate play area so he doesn't get sick from pooping on his own toys.

He does seem to change his attitude as soon as I put him on the floor, but I'm not really sure if he's getting what he's being punished for because it doesn't seem to work well. I've only been doing it for a day or so, I'm not sure how long it takes them to pick up on these kinds of things.

 

[Mudkips]

Yeah it sounds like you're doing it right, just remember to continue ignoring him for a minute or so after he wants to come up to you.

If you've only been doing it for one day, keep it up!
This technique is a kind of training - just like positive training - so it takes a few days/weeks for the bird to get the idea and catch on.