Hand biting

[Stacye and Tiki]

Tiki bites my hands and fingers ALOT. I know Green Cheek's are often nippy but I think this goes a little beyond that. Tiki seems to go out of her way to bite or attack my hands and fingers.

I think I know what started the problem. The first couple of days I had her, she was constantly getting on my shoulder and burrowing in my hair. Anytime I wanted to move her to get her either off my shoulder I had to pick her up. About half the time she would step up but the other times she wouldn't so I had to pick her up by hand as gently as I could. That caused alot of sqwuaking and biting and since the first few days she seems hand aggressive.

So last night, after she drew blood for like the 5th time, I decided to change my tactic. Keeping her off my shoulder is turning out to be almost impossible and honestly, I like her there so I have to figure out how we can both live happily with her hanging out on my shoulder.

I started trying to persuade her down from my shoulder with bits of fruit or nuts because she seems to be less annoyed at stepping up once shes off my shoulder/neck. She steps up much better and hardly ever bites me if she's NOT on my shoulder when I ask her to step up.

Is there anything else I can do other then offering her treats and toys to make her like my hands more? I hope I haven't caused a permanent rift with her.

 

[Quantumcat]

My bird vet told me not to let my bird on my shoulder unless I had asked her to go there (putting your hand near your shoulder and saying 'shoulder!'), and if she does, to remove her immediately. He said a way to discourage her from going there is to hold your hand or arm higher than your shoulder as much as possible. If you have to forcibly remove her, you can cover her with a teatowel and lift her off. If she buries herself in your hair making this difficult, tie your hair up before you play with her. He said that being as high up as possible is showing dominance, and being on your shoulder without being allowed to is your bird's way of showing they are the boss over you. If you let her do this, she'll keep believing she's the boss.

 

[Spiritbird]

Height dominance is no longer considered an issue when training birds. It is an old theory that has been proven incorrect and may be harmful to your relationship with a bird. The birds naturallly want to go to the many high places in the world. We should not be fighting what comes naturally when it comes to our birds.

http://www.naturalencounters.com/images/Publications&Presentations/Height_Dominance-Steve_Martin.pdf

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Stayce, it sounds like you're on the right track.

Some birds just don't like hands. I NEVER ask Auggie to step up on my hand/finger. Fingers are crazy unpredictable things that we humans seem to wave around incessantly - I can't blame a bird for not trusting them. I have Auggie step up on my arm or on a perch; each of these are perceived as much more stable.

When she tries to attack your hands don't try to pull away, instead just make a fist and keep your hand where it is. Any bites will actually hurt less, plus she'll be dissuaded from completing the attack, AND she will loose the reward that has reinforced this behavior in the past making it less likely that she will continue.