Oliver is Hissing. Help?

[drlisaort]

Again, many thanks for your suggestions. I'm so glad I asked because I was intending to go from the top or back of his head towards the beak.On a positive note, I can kiss Oliver on the back of his neck and play with his feet and touch him anywhere. What I'm having trouble with is why I need to touch and rub his beak. But, I guess it's part of the bonding.

On a positive note, Oliver stopped his growling completely. I took the many suggestions to move forward and have him step up rather than backing off and learned he really had no intention of biting. So this is good...

Oh, and should I be holding him when I go to rub his beak or should he be on his stand? Did I mention I'm afraid of shots too!!!! I willl avoid the doctor(s) at all costs...and this beak issue is reminding me of docors and needles!

 

[Peeker]

I'm sure you don't NEED to touch his beak but it really is kinda nice. Do you know his beak is very sensitive? If you have a dog do you rub his tummy or scratch his ears?

 

[sodakat]

I certainly don't think you need to touch his beak. I thought you wanted to touch his beak to get over your fear of beaks! LOL.

If/when you ever get your nerve up (maybe following a margarita) to touch his beak, I have a suggestion. Instead of touching the tip of his beak, rub his beak on the side near the spot it touches his face. This is the area that the hen touches to initiate the feeding response in chicks. The actual spot is where the beak and face meet, but touching the beak right beside that spot will be close enough that he will know you are being friendly, not poking at him.

I don't think I've mentioned on this forum that my little guy, Skipper, fell shortly after he fledged and although he could fly, did not catch himself and fell straight down, hitting the floor. He is doing a bit better but is handicapped which means I hold him a lot and for a while was hand feeding him because he was unwilling to eat on his own. While holding him I sometimes rub his beak in the area I'm talking about, pushing his feathers back onto his face. Now a healthy, self-assured bird likely won't want you to spend a long time doing this, but if you have the opportunity you might find it interesting to see that when the feathers are pushed back there is a lot of face where no feathers grow. The feathers from the face grow in the direction that they overlap the beak a bit. But when the feathers are pushed back their faces look a lot like a macaw face. Cute.

 

[moni.k]

Hehe. I just touch Nalani's beak in response to what I do when she hisses or growls to help calm her. Everyone uses different techniques, but I was just sharing my experience. I think Sodakat gave you some really good advice on where to rub if you ever wanted to.

Ps: I'm so sorry sodakat about your baby that got injured. I wish for a quick recovery.

 

[drlisaort]

I'm sure you don't NEED to touch his beak but it really is kinda nice. Do you know his beak is very sensitive? If you have a dog do you rub his tummy or scratch his ears?

Peeker, you always say exactly what I need to hear!!!

 

[drlisaort]

Skipper, fell shortly after he fledged and although he could fly, did not catch himself and fell straight down, hitting the floor. He is doing a bit better but is handicapped which means I hold him a lot and for a while was hand feeding him because he was unwilling to eat on his own. While holding him I sometimes rub his beak in the area I'm talking about, pushing his feathers back onto his face. Now a healthy, self-assured bird likely won't want you to spend a long time doing this, but if you have the opportunity you might find it interesting to see that when the feathers are pushed back there is a lot of face where no feathers grow. The feathers from the face grow in the direction that they overlap the beak a bit. But when the feathers are pushed back their faces look a lot like a macaw face. Cute.

Thank you for the tips Sodakat, loved the margarita tip--if only I drank!

I'm sorry to hear about Skipper--poor baby! Your story is another reason I must make beak peace so I can comfort him if and when he's hurt. I never knew the beak was sensitive...

 

[coltfire]

i must be just weird as when they go to bite ill put my finger into there beak as for touching there beak if you are not scared the best way and you will bond so much is to use your nose to rub there beak they will cuddle right in if you have no worries and this i do with all my birds, the babies take a little but, if you watch a pair you will see them doing it all the time to each other. oh with putting my finger up when they go to bite its to say no and shake it they normally go to bite but with the right tone in voice they quickly stop and no its a no.

 

[drlisaort]

I have wonderful, wonderful news to share! Yes, I now am a beak toucher!!!!! A couple came over to visit and they have several parrots. They were all over Oliver, kissing him and petting his beak and tickling his belly. He was in bird heaven! My friend took my finger and gently raised it to Oliver's beak and from there she showed me what to do. He went bizzurk (?)checking every finger of mine and putting his tongue on my fingers to taste and check me out. This went on for quite some time. I swear he was sooooooooo happy to have this chance to use his beak. I don't know how to express my total glee and relief and to now have this new experience with him. I haven't worked up to the kiss yet but it's coming (no saliva of course). So, thank you, thank you, thank you. This may not be a big deal to you but it's humongous to me. I feel this huge relief. Oh and a few times he chomped down some but I did what my friend and all of you suggested and gave him a firm but kind no and a very gentle push back and he lightened up his grip. Yay!!! And the hissing stopped on Friday when I left my home to my get-away home...and my son didn't come with. Hmmmmmm something there....

 

[lpolliard]

Kisses are next then you can move on to flipping him onto his back and giving him cuddles. They don't like scritches but Chico seems to like it when I stroke his head.

 

[moni.k]

Yay! That's awesome to here!! I know it's tough explaining something with words when it really can only be understood/taught with hands on guidance. I'm so glad you have friends that were able to walk you through it and be there for support. Haha, my first experience with birds were two umbrella cockatoos, with one being fairly aggressive. So when I got nalani her beak was was definitely manageable. But I do see my mom struggle with the same beak fear. Who knows, if it wasn't for my friends U2s I may possibly could have been in your exact shoes. I'm glad your making progress, hehe I hope to see picture evidence soon!!

 

[coltfire]

well done one step at a time and we all know how much of a big deal it is , remember we were all there once.so kisses next then try the nose rubbing. and watch what a sook he becomes (loving sook)lol

 

[Peeker]

Awww that's great news! It's not something you ever HAVE to do, but you don't want to be fearful of your sweet birdie. You have some good friends there!

 

[nicki]

So glad you are trying to overcome this! Just like any fear you need to work at it to get over it, especially since it's your flockmate.

I love my birdie's beak, it gets so warm when hes sleepy and I love the way he snuggles it against my cheek <3 I didn't know until I read this thread that they were actually sensitive to touch. I was thinking they were like fingernails! I have been giving my Eko more beak attention since learning this

 

[drlisaort]

Yay! That's awesome to here!! I know it's tough explaining something with words when it really can only be understood/taught with hands on guidance. I'm so glad you have friends that were able to walk you through it and be there for support. Haha, my first experience with birds were two umbrella cockatoos, with one being fairly aggressive. So when I got nalani her beak was was definitely manageable. But I do see my mom struggle with the same beak fear. Who knows, if it wasn't for my friends U2s I may possibly could have been in your exact shoes. I'm glad your making progress, hehe I hope to see picture evidence soon!!

I will send pics of our beak connection as soon as I figure out how to add more pictures. Somehow I went over my allotment and I have no clue how to fix that...not a techy for sure...

 

[drlisaort]

well done one step at a time and we all know how much of a big deal it is , remember we were all there once.so kisses next then try the nose rubbing. and watch what a sook he becomes (loving sook)lol

I'm looking forward to the nose rubbing and him becoming a sook! We got close--he rubbed his beak ever-so-gently across my lip...

 

[drlisaort]

Awww that's great news! It's not something you ever HAVE to do, but you don't want to be fearful of your sweet birdie. You have some good friends there!

And some darn good friends here too!!!! And what a difference in Oliver now that he can explore my fingers....

 

[Tonia]

I'm interested to see what the final decision is.....Annelise can growl....it sounds MEAN. However, she also makes this whining sound that sounds like a baby. I tend to push on through both...growls and whines....and make her step up. So far I haven't been bit. MY thoughts are that I don't want her to think that SHE is controlling me. Am I right or wrong?

~~~Tonia & Annelise