New Dad with no idea!
- Thread starter Inverse
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MikeyTN
New member
- Feb 1, 2011
- 13,296
- 21
- Parrots
- "Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
This biting/nipping is getting out of hand
It'll get better! Malachai gets out of control sometimes and bites hard! He will draw blood now, he's going through his hormone changes and can get a bit cranky....But he does calm down and be sweet like he can be....
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
- 7,960
- 44
- Parrots
- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
With puppies, it's often recommended to give them something they can chew on and praise them for chewing on that instead of what they aren't supposed to!
I know that my mitred conure loves bottle caps! Doesn't care for foot toys, but bottle caps are fun! lol
I've noticed that most young birds love to explore with their beaks when young and it's often mistaken for biting and nipping. It's just young birds being curious about whats in front of them! And depending on how it's handled may depend on how much they may bite in the future. After all, you want to encourage good behavior over bad!
I know that my mitred conure loves bottle caps! Doesn't care for foot toys, but bottle caps are fun! lol
I've noticed that most young birds love to explore with their beaks when young and it's often mistaken for biting and nipping. It's just young birds being curious about whats in front of them! And depending on how it's handled may depend on how much they may bite in the future. After all, you want to encourage good behavior over bad!
MikeyTN
New member
- Feb 1, 2011
- 13,296
- 21
- Parrots
- "Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
They do LOVE little ball toys with bells inside. Get the plastic cat ball toys with little bells inside. Malachai plays soccer with them. But when he's mad, he'll throw it against the cage....lol.....He also likes string toys which is not good as I've removed them all from his cage, he's really good in dismantling them completely and get himself all tangled up. IF you do cover up his cage, make sure you get the heavy duty thick curtains, mine shreds the towels, anything with strings he'll shred. All of his toys are hard plastic now days, I need to get some wooden toys on chains for him to destroy. Although I got him wooden blocks that he loves to play with.
MikeyTN
New member
- Feb 1, 2011
- 13,296
- 21
- Parrots
- "Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Monica,
Unfortunately little Lory aren't like conures or most of the other types of parrots. As I've raised multiple types before, this one is nothing compared! Lory are extremely intelligent birds that sulks all the time. Since I got Malachai around the same age as the poster, I know how he feels. As Malachai was a hand full to handle but over time I got used to his sulking and he's a very very loving bird that never wants to leave my side.
Unfortunately little Lory aren't like conures or most of the other types of parrots. As I've raised multiple types before, this one is nothing compared! Lory are extremely intelligent birds that sulks all the time. Since I got Malachai around the same age as the poster, I know how he feels. As Malachai was a hand full to handle but over time I got used to his sulking and he's a very very loving bird that never wants to leave my side.
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
- 7,960
- 44
- Parrots
- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
I have interacted with a few lories before. The first one was a black lory. Gorgeous bird but very inquisitive and "nippy"! Would have taken that little guy/gal home if I could! Only I didn't have the money and was over 2,000 miles from home! LOL
Also had the chance to see some at a zoo in California and feed them.
To me, it seemed as if they are like little kids on a sugar high... super active, hyper, playful, etc. I figure that if a person can keep their beaks busy with something, then the birds may be less likely to be nippy! After all, they can't easily play with a toy and bite/nip/explore human skin!
Also had the chance to see some at a zoo in California and feed them.
To me, it seemed as if they are like little kids on a sugar high... super active, hyper, playful, etc. I figure that if a person can keep their beaks busy with something, then the birds may be less likely to be nippy! After all, they can't easily play with a toy and bite/nip/explore human skin!
Inverse
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- #50
Still having a few issues with nipping and biting.
The problem is, she knows she's going to get put in her cage, starts flying around, especially considering she is rarely near her cage when out, she bites harder when I try and put her in and the whole palaver starts becoming a bit of a chore and I don't want it to escalate further.
Is it OK to play with her near her cage for short periods and almost "incite" her to bite and then pop her straight inside and ignore her for 5 minutes?
I know what can set her off and want to nip this all in the bud.
The problem is, she knows she's going to get put in her cage, starts flying around, especially considering she is rarely near her cage when out, she bites harder when I try and put her in and the whole palaver starts becoming a bit of a chore and I don't want it to escalate further.
Is it OK to play with her near her cage for short periods and almost "incite" her to bite and then pop her straight inside and ignore her for 5 minutes?
I know what can set her off and want to nip this all in the bud.
Love the pic's
Beautiful bird
Thanks for sharing
Beautiful bird
Thanks for sharing
Inverse
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- #52
Wow, this bird has suddenly lit up!
Starting to get her own personality, doing some very amusing things and taking to clicker/target training unbelievably well. She even gets all narky with me if we don't start with some training as soon as I get her out.
I read these guys are like toddlers, but I never realised quite how intelligent they are or quite how interactive as well.
This is going to be fun
Starting to get her own personality, doing some very amusing things and taking to clicker/target training unbelievably well. She even gets all narky with me if we don't start with some training as soon as I get her out.
I read these guys are like toddlers, but I never realised quite how intelligent they are or quite how interactive as well.
This is going to be fun
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
- 7,960
- 44
- Parrots
- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
What about clicker training her while she's at her cage? And throughout the day, taking her to her cage but not forcing her to stay there. Maybe give her treats and such to make her cage more interesting? Once comfortable going to the cage, leaving her in her cage for only a few minutes at a time so that she may learn that going to her cage doesn't always mean she's going in, and if she does go in, she doesn't always stay there for long?
Inverse
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- #54
It's all just time and getting used to each other, she's so much better over the last few weeks and it's all time out of the cage.
In other news, she now wolf whistles and has started mumbling! My son also got a plush R2-D2 for Christmas that makes R2 noises when you squeeze it, she's infatuated by it and has started making R2 beeps and noises. This pleases me greatly!
In other news, she now wolf whistles and has started mumbling! My son also got a plush R2-D2 for Christmas that makes R2 noises when you squeeze it, she's infatuated by it and has started making R2 beeps and noises. This pleases me greatly!
MikeyTN
New member
- Feb 1, 2011
- 13,296
- 21
- Parrots
- "Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
That's good news to hear! They can learn tricks easily. I love to lay Malachai in the palm of my hands and he just lays there looking cute.
Inverse
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- #58
She can say her name and "what you doing" amongst other mumbled phrases I haven't worked out yet.
And the nipping? I think it is/was her and I just getting to know each other.
She is a nibbly bird but with a lot of time invested the actual bites have subsided a huge deal.
She's still not overly cuddly, but that's just Lorikeets in general (although she does love preening us!).
She's not a huge fan of clicker training, which is unfortunate but she does seem to respond well to just playing and enjoying her time with me which I'm more than happy with.
I'm sure there are going to be other bumps in the road but I think we are over the initial issues that in all honesty, were probably my fault because other than reading things on the 'net, I honestly didn't have a clue!
And the nipping? I think it is/was her and I just getting to know each other.
She is a nibbly bird but with a lot of time invested the actual bites have subsided a huge deal.
She's still not overly cuddly, but that's just Lorikeets in general (although she does love preening us!).
She's not a huge fan of clicker training, which is unfortunate but she does seem to respond well to just playing and enjoying her time with me which I'm more than happy with.
I'm sure there are going to be other bumps in the road but I think we are over the initial issues that in all honesty, were probably my fault because other than reading things on the 'net, I honestly didn't have a clue!
LoryLover
New member
Sounds like you and Hollis are bonding just fine! Very happy to hear this. I enjoyed the pics and videos - Hollis a such a cutie! I've had two lories and yes, they are nippy, feisty birds. Almost the first thing each of them learned to say was "no biting" lol. But as you know, they are a ton of fun and have cute personalities and are very interactive.
Yeah, they don't really like to cuddle, but as long as you continue to handle them, they won't mind a quick cuddle now and then.
Using the cage as a punishment area can have problems when trying to get them to go back in their cage. I learned that with our first lory, it got so bad that I had to play with a toy inside his cage to trick him into going back in. With our current lory, I would reprimand her for biting by just telling her sternly "no biting". After a while I would say "ouch that hurts" in a hurt voice. She immediately responded by stopping her biting. And sometimes she would even say "sorry".
You've been successful in training Hollis not to bite, when she stops drawing blood. The occasional nipping will get less hurtful too, as you continue to build your bond with her and interact with her in a personal way... just as you interact with your young son, I've found that lories need that type of interaction in order to bond really well. They can read body language, can read expressions on your face, and can sense moods - all of this they can do extremely well and will react in kind.
If you can decipher some of the mumbling, and then say the word(s) very clearly, Hollis will improve what she's saying... I tried that with Sweet Pea and it worked almost instantly. I got Sweet Pea when she was just 6 weeks old, and she made the crying sound for a solid 6 months. I was in touch with the breeder who helped me wean her and told me the crying sound was normal. Now Sweet Pea is going to turn 16 years old this month... the time has flown and we love just as much as we did the day we got her. She's even learning new words too.
Yeah, they don't really like to cuddle, but as long as you continue to handle them, they won't mind a quick cuddle now and then.
Using the cage as a punishment area can have problems when trying to get them to go back in their cage. I learned that with our first lory, it got so bad that I had to play with a toy inside his cage to trick him into going back in. With our current lory, I would reprimand her for biting by just telling her sternly "no biting". After a while I would say "ouch that hurts" in a hurt voice. She immediately responded by stopping her biting. And sometimes she would even say "sorry".
You've been successful in training Hollis not to bite, when she stops drawing blood. The occasional nipping will get less hurtful too, as you continue to build your bond with her and interact with her in a personal way... just as you interact with your young son, I've found that lories need that type of interaction in order to bond really well. They can read body language, can read expressions on your face, and can sense moods - all of this they can do extremely well and will react in kind.
If you can decipher some of the mumbling, and then say the word(s) very clearly, Hollis will improve what she's saying... I tried that with Sweet Pea and it worked almost instantly. I got Sweet Pea when she was just 6 weeks old, and she made the crying sound for a solid 6 months. I was in touch with the breeder who helped me wean her and told me the crying sound was normal. Now Sweet Pea is going to turn 16 years old this month... the time has flown and we love just as much as we did the day we got her. She's even learning new words too.
Inverse
New member
- Thread starter
- #60
So unbelievably over owning a bird, this thing has brought me from aching to be a bird owner to wishing I had never gotten her.
I understand they are hard but after trying amazingly hard to get rid of the biting, I now can't handle the noise.
I can understand that birds are noisy and she's a parrot but the noise is constant, shrill, annoying and harsh from the minute the sun rises until the minute it sets.
Inside, outside, whenever she is awake, she makes noise.
It's unfair on my neighbours and it's driving myself and my wife to wish she'd just escape her cage and disappear.
I love this bird, but she is ruining my love for birds extremely quickly.
I understand they are hard but after trying amazingly hard to get rid of the biting, I now can't handle the noise.
I can understand that birds are noisy and she's a parrot but the noise is constant, shrill, annoying and harsh from the minute the sun rises until the minute it sets.
Inside, outside, whenever she is awake, she makes noise.
It's unfair on my neighbours and it's driving myself and my wife to wish she'd just escape her cage and disappear.
I love this bird, but she is ruining my love for birds extremely quickly.
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