Improved Behaviour..

[JellyBean]

Hey guys,

A couple of weeks ago I posted about JellyBean's (GCC) increasing tendency towards aggressive biting.. I had taken the "no-react" approach to him and needless to say, he was starting to get worse. Not terrible - but I wanted to nip it at the bud (Ha! pardon the pun!)

Tried Birdmans and others suggestion of time-outs and a firm NO - it was amazing! Within one week - all that bold biting stopped... He spends so much time with me around the house - that putting him back in his cage was a complete shock to him. I was genuinely surprised at the quickness of the response!! He still has a tendency to be slighty nippy around his food but I am aware of that and accommodate him!!

So, much improved birdy - and JellyBean's mom says thank you!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

What a SWEET update!! Thank you for letting us know how it's been going with JellyBean.

Here's to continued success!!

 

[Birdman666]

Glad to hear it. Yeah, I've said it for years, that advice only gets people bit. They pick it up very quickly if you teach.

If you want to really get a super interactive conure, try doing a little trick training with them. Be the teacher, and they really do respond to that. They love to learn...

 

[JellyBean]

I am definitely going to try that Birdman - I am a new bird owner and this little feathery critter surprises me every day!!!! Truth be told - I am captivated by him!!

 

[Taw5106]

All of Birdman's advice and direction I have used hasn't failed. He's a bird whisperer, lol.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

First off, I am so glad to hear of your improvements. I'm sure it's such a relief!

Yeah, I've often heard found that when you ignore them - it just gets worse. This is usually true because the reason many times they act up is to communicate with us a particular want/need. IE, a bath, playtime, sleepy time, etc.

Skittles has his own way of sending me 'signals' IE, sitting on the faucet shaking his feathers and sneezing when he wants a bath. Sitting atop the fridge wiggling his tongue when he wants juice, flying over to his 'treat bag' and screeching when he wants a treat, going into his cage on his own and into his cuddle hut and screeching when he wants to go to sleep. The latter is not a current thing right now due to his 'new cage', but I imagine the behavior will return. It amazes me how well he communicates with me. He is indeed an extremely intelligent bird. Smarter than most people I know.

The whole "don't react" is more effective with biting - BUT by 'don't react' I mean, don't freak out. Setting limits or a firm 'no biting' works wonders for me. What I do when Skittles wants to bite my finger when I try to get him to climb on is "no, no biting" and it almost always works.

BUT, you have to be consistent and repetitive for them to 'catch on'.

I had such an issue with Skittles the first few years with his screeching. Several methods I tried only backfired.

The most successful thing for me was using 'positive reinforcement' for good behavior and firm 'no's' or 'get over here'. For his incessant screeching - I found trying to 'read' him worked wonders. That is no longer an issue. He'll still have screeching periods - but typical ones that are just natural (ie, morning, bedtime or reacting to a particular noise/threat.

Boundaries and limits are MUCH more effective than time-outs. While time-outs did work short term, it wasn't long before it started up again. I found that once I set boundaries and affirmed MY place as the leader of the flock - he became much more obedient.

If you don't set limits and affirm yourself as the alpha, they will take that position and expect you to answer to their commands.

It's like some people say "you can train your bird" or "your bird can train you".

 

[JellyBean]

Thank you Skittys_Daddy! I agree - I believe that he was getting very territorial..He is given loads of freedom; rarely in his cage except when he wants food or water, and of course bed-time (he has a separate sleeping cage).

First, he started to make the dresser his territory, so if I went near a drawer, he would ruffle and waddle as fast as he could in his little legs to take a chunk out of my finger!!

Then it extended to another part of the kitchen - where he took possession of a silver coffee maker - pushing it repeatedly of the edge - just to hear the sound of the crash on the stone floor!!!! Woe betide anyone who tried to touch the coffee pot...

Then!! It became the drawers with tin foil, knives and forks etc.. I started to realise that my kitchen/living area was becoming his kitchen living area!!!!

Boundaries needed to be drawn and the biting not tolerated!!! So, time-outs... not reacting per se but showing that I did not like his behaviour - I would never shout, handle him roughly or anything remotely like that. But, because he is so used to being with me that when I did put him hack in his cage for bitey behaviour, it really worked.

I don't want to give the impression that he is a bold bird... mostly he is so good.. a real cuddle bug, but I think that he was getting to big for his beak, so to speak, and needed to realise - like you say - that he is part of our flock and cannot be so dominant!

I have started trick training with him... using positive re-enforcement! So hoping he won't so backwards!!!!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Yeah, like I said - time-outs will work short-term - but if it's an on-going problem that isn't getting any better, sometimes a more in-depth approach is best. It all depends on the circumstances.

Skittles is free-flighted too and I found one of the biggest issues with him was his 'possessiveness' of certain objects. Since I have affirmed myself as the leader of the flock, he looks to follow my lead. Looks to me for signals. It's really incredible.

Also, what I find works great with foods and drink is - if you can't give them some of what you are having (ie coffee and a donut etc) then provide them with something they CAN have while you eat yours. If Skittles is given a power treat, piece of fruit or some juice when I am eating something he can't have - it works great.

Out in the wild, birds follow other members of the flock in searching for food which is why you see so many 'gather together' when food is found. Birds expect to eat with us, it's a natural instinct for them. The key is making it work domestically.

 

[Flboy]

Funny, my JoJo does this with my daughter on her playpen. My daughter gives her a 'knock it off' and a finger point. JoJo replies with a typical conure complaint, daughter replies with knock it off and finger and squawks back. JoJo then backs down and lets her be