Parker is really trying my patience

[ParkersMom]

He is starting to bite a lot, not hard enough to draw blood but hard enough to leave a mark and hurt pretty bad.
I have tried saying NO sternly, I have tried putting him back in his cage for a little bit.
No luck...I think it is because I let him be very beaky when he was younger and had trouble teaching him pressure control.
He does it almost all the time
he will step up nice but if I try and touch him at all he will grab my fingers and usually bite
but I know that he loves his scritches
Please help
I'm almost to the point of just wearing gloves when I handle him.
and he is only 1.5 years old, He hasn't even reached his hormonal period yet
if I don't get this under control then I am in BIG trouble

 

[Mayden]

I feel for you, I can't handle Merlin anymore without being bitten. sigh. Will be watching for tips...

 

[JerseyWendy]

Does he get excited too easily, Heather? Or is he trying to play "rough" with you? How does he ask for scritches? If he lowers his head, and you start rubbing on him, does he nip you then, too??

 

[ParkersMom]

he does seem to get excited more easily
I guess he doesn't really ask for scritches, but once I start giving them he fluffs right up
He does the biting thing when he is in any mood though

 

[ParkersMom]

once he steps up if I reach towards him with my other hand, unless he is gonna step up on that one, he will grab my hand/fingers with his beak and most times bite at that point

 

[Blueridge]

I read somewhere that if they aren't getting enough natural sunlight then parrots can become aggressive. Maybe if you put his cage outside for an hour or so a day he might get better. Good luck!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

So he still steps up and down whenever you ask him, that is GREAT. Could you possibly try some target training with him?

You could also try to have a small tiny treat in one hand and if you are holding him for a while and he doesn't nip, then offer him a small piece of goodie (like a sliver of an almond perhaps, if he likes those). Also praise him verbally.

Then you can play games with him on any surface except for his cage, make him use his beak to do thing, like fetch. Anything to distract him from nipping.

Amazons DO go through quite a beaky phase, my Sam just finished going through his and has resorted to being a sweet boy again. I'm not saying he doesn't have his moments, but whenever he would get carried away I made him do something. Something he liked that is, and something that wouldn't wind him up more.

 

[ParkersMom]

85% of the time I don't even ask him to step up He just does it...the only time I ask is when he is in the middle of playing and even then he does it right away...unless he is really excited or really mad

 

[JerseyWendy]

You could try holding a little foot toy with your hand as you pick him up so that he interacts with it rather than with your digits. As soon as he beaks the little toy, reward him. ANYTHING that will distract him from chomping down on you, re-direct him to something else.

 

[henpecked]

Right now, parker feels like he's calling the shots, he's in charge. if the bird is incharge then choas is the result. Don't be so "available" , play harder to get. You need to take charge and be the leader. wait til he ask for pets, then only give a few seconds worth. Leave him wanting more from you instead of him biting to say"that's enough" or No". Don't be timid, be confident and outgoing. Ask one time for them to step up, if they don't or act aggressive,turn your back, don't ask again and act like they are really missing out.Don't worry about winning him over, just be someone who's a good leader, Zons don't need to be a flock leader but need someone who is. "Nip it in the bud" applies here.