No jinx no

[paulhanlon]

I have tried the method of holding jinx's beak and telling him no when he nips but now its getting alot harder he has just sunk his beak into the side of my finger and *OUCH* it hurt so anyways I have just been talking to my breeder who jinx came from and told him all of the above he knows jinx is out of the cage all the time morning to night and he said the problem is that jinx thinks he is the boss of me *pffft* I don't think so. But ken has told me to put him in his cage and leave him in it for a couple of days only time he gets out is when he needs to be fed ken told me that in a few days time I should see a change in him and the biting should stop.

Jinx is in the cage now and will be staying in there until its time to feed him then he will be going straight back in the cage and will remain there until he knows I'm the boss not him.

Also I have total faith in my breeder he has been doing this for 40+ years so I'm sure he knows what he is talking about.

 

[Thekatsmeow]

Definately take the advice from your experienced bird breeder. When I think about bonding/training time with any of my animals I try to think of how they treat each other in the wild. Mutual grooming and the way its done is important. Top alpha animal get groomed most then after they will spend some time grooming others but not as long. Hope all goes well with Mr. Jinx and stay positive Paul. These healthy training habits will create a happy well adjusted friend for life. One more thing, I am not much for beak grabbing for correction. They know that using that beak can hurt you but they also use their beak as another hand(stabilization), like when stepping up. To grab his beak might just cause more irritation instead of feeling like a correction. I am thinking that for us it would be like holding my hands behind my back, causing further irritation and anger. Well for me that would cause a full on fit with all my issues lol. All this is just my opinion and we both know opinions are like another body part humans have, everyone has one

 

[henpecked]

Grabbing the beak doesn't work well for me either. That's play ,mock fighting,Wrestling to them. I think he might miss the point if distracted by grabbing his beak. I think he needs more alone time,like your breeder says. But it's more of an issue of you smothering him with constant attention. The way to win them over is by playing "hard to get". Play wih him for a minute or two and then give him a break. When he plays too hard put him down and let him know, don't keep on, thinking your going to win him over. It's very similar to me telling people too stop petting your zon till he bites to say "that's enough", pet them for a minute and put them back on their cage. Leave the interactions with your bird wanting more of your attention. Your in control and they can respect a flock leader. If he's on you all day, he's getting all of you he wants, your at his control. He bites and you come back for more. He doesn't play nice, put him away and try again in 10 minutes. The second it gets out of hand, Turn your back.Put him away. When you say "NO" you mean it. This is just my opinion, it's what works for me. Maybe someone else has a better plan. I'm sure melissa will have some imput.

 

[paulhanlon]

I guess with him been my first real bird I made the easyest mistake of them all he's in his cage now I'm going to get him because its feed time I think I'll give him 2 minutes of petting then put him back and leave with a bye so it ends on a good note that should work I hope.

 

[henpecked]

Hey Paul, i'm a guy too. i've had young zons and played with them alot. They love to wrestling and fight, especially the boys. And it's fun for you too. Hard habit to break later. That and they get very good at "winning". Nip it in the bud.

 

[paulhanlon]

Well I have just fed him and gave him a few minutes of petting then I rubbed his beak and gave him a kiss on the head and now he's in his cage again and during feeding him and pets he never tried to stick his beak in me once I'm amazed.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Paul, I love what henpecked said. I really do. Remember, I have a 4 month old MALE DYH, and he's tried being quite testy with me, too, already.

Here's what works for me: I take him out, put him on his playtree and watch what mood he's in. If he's happy nibbling on food, or playing with toys, I leave him be. If he's following me around (with his body language) and making certain sounds, I know he wants to be held, and that's when I pick him up and "cuddle" with him. He actually lets me know already when he's had enough because he becomes a bit restless (<-- also a sign he's gotta go poop, lol). So then I put him back on his stand, and watch what happens. If he potties right away and indicates he wants to cuddle some more, I pick him back up. AND I tell him he's the bestest birdy in the whole wild world for pottying. If he, however, starts playing or eating, I know he's had enough of me for a while.

It's like henpeck said: Wait for him to want to be with you. It's SO rewarding.

Oh, and if Sam does get a nip in, I give him the evil eye and tell him in a not so nice voice "no"....or if he's grabbing a bit too had I'll say sweetly "Gentle".

They are testy buggers, but oh so much fun.

 

[wenz2712]

Your probably smothering him at the moment Paul! Just remember he is a Baby and needs time alone. Just get him out for half an hour at a time for now! If you dont control the biting now, then this will only get worse as he gets older!!

 

[WharfRat]

the grabbing the beak thing really only works on my GW's, I know I'm gonna get bit by the Zon's no matter what, but they don't bite hard enough usually to bother me. When ANY of our birds get too feisty they definitely get caged right away.

 

[paulhanlon]

Well I'm just going to sick with what my breeder told me to do because he thinks he is boss just leave him in the cage only bringing him out for feed time training time and some play time but if he gets abit testy and try's to bite put him right back in the cage its worked so far he hasn't bit me since earlier today so it must be working he has also picked up on my staffy's crying as he is special needs and needs to go to the toilet alot jinx has started doing that and i feel the need to get him out and cuddle him but i control myself and just leave him to it.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Off topic alert. You've got a Staffie??? Could you pretty please post some pics of your pups in the "Other Pets" section? I LOVE Bully Breeds with a passion, got 2 myself.

 

[paulhanlon]

Already posted in the none feathered pets section.

 

[lene1949]

Being less than 3 months old, I doubt it's behavioural... Probably more of a feeding response...

But... he does need to learn to entertain himself, so cage time will do him good... He's gorgeous, and so are your dogs...

 

[paulhanlon]

It could be that but its strange I have never known a bird to fly and attack for a feeding response before and he has been biting down on my hand and fingers over the past couple of days I have giving him food off my fingers before and he's never bitten but what my breeder has told me to do is working he hasn't tried biting anymore so I'll stick at that till he learns that he isn't the boss and he can't be biting me or anyone else.

 

[MilS]

Hi Paul, I've had the same problem with Yoshi. I have a feeling he thinks he's master of the universe! Lol. But I've been saying things like NO in a slightly harsher tone and it seems to work, when it works I tell him good boy to reaffirm biting is not good.

Iam going to try giving him some more alone time as he gets all the attention in the world at the moment.

 

[paulhanlon]

I think that's how my problem started with jinx to much attention and he thought he was boss now he has more in cage time to let him know I'm the boss and he gets the firm no still if he try's to bite it seems to be working as he's not trying to bite as much he still thinks he can shoulder himself on me which needs to shot also but again that was my own fault but I'll fix it I'm not worried about it because by time I'm done with him he will be the perfect zon in my eyes.

 

[MilS]

Hi Paul.

How's Jinx getting along with staying in the cage? Has he stopped nipping? I've just started Yoshi on his couple days in the cage, his biting got a little too hard. Just wanted to see if this method worked for you.