Sudden aggressive bites

[Gummyworms]

I’ve had my 3-4 month old green cheek for about 5 days now. The first 3 days, it was an absolute joy. Friendly, hopped on easily, and affectionate. Day 4 started hell. He has been super aggressive, puffing up and biting, drawing blood a couple times. I can’t figure out what triggered the change. He now tries to bite if I go near the cage or approach him in any way. Even if I try with treats. He’ll take a few, and then attacks with no warning. I’m heart broken and I don’t know what to do or what I’ve done wrong. Please help!!

 

[LaManuka]

Welcome to the forums to you and your beautiful baby! You haven't done anything wrong, your little one is just testing boundaries and this seems to be a fairly common trait among GCCs. Best thing for you to do is employ a method called "shunning", which is what the adults in his flock would do in the wild if a young one gets a little bitey. This involves popping him down somewhere safe each and every time he bites, somewhere like the back of a chair for example. Not on the floor cos it's often unsafe, and not in his cage cos that may well teach him to bite whenever he feels like going back to his cage. Just pop him gently down and turn your back on him for a minute or so, no more because the immediacy of the lesson may be lost, and then go back and try again. This mimics what would happen in the wild, because parrots are prey species and do not want to feel "apart" from their flock. Shunning works best when employed consistently EVERY time he bites, and must be done consistently by every family member too. GCCs are very smart little birds and it won't take long before he realises that the fun stops when his biting starts! It's important to realise also that little birds don't always feel like being handled, but in time you'll come to be able to read his body language and better determine his mood.

Best of luck with your precious new baby, and please don't forget to tell us his name!

 

[Gummyworms]

His name is Mango, sorry. I’m just so confused by his behavior. I haven’t been able to get him out of his cage for 2 days now bc of how aggressive he’s gotten. He seems to be happy (running around, bobbing head, squawking, playing with toys) until he’s approached in any way. Then he’s like a light switch. I’m baffled honestly. I tried using a glove so the bites won’t hurt as bad or draw blood again, but he seems to be terrified of the glove.

 

[LaManuka]

His name is Mango, sorry. I’m just so confused by his behavior. I haven’t been able to get him out of his cage for 2 days now bc of how aggressive he’s gotten. He seems to be happy (running around, bobbing head, squawking, playing with toys) until he’s approached in any way. Then he’s like a light switch. I’m baffled honestly. I tried using a glove so the bites won’t hurt as bad or draw blood again, but he seems to be terrified of the glove.

I had a GCC once who I thought had turned on me, because I'd never had one before and didn't understand how nippy they could get. I wouldn't use a glove, but what I did use on my boy was a few strategically placed flesh-coloured band aids on the bits of my hand that he was most likely to bite. This had the effect of lessening my involuntary flinch reflex because I knew he wouldn't be able to draw blood. If he bit me I'd pop him down on the back of a chair, turn away for a little bit then go back and try again. Just about 100% of the time he'd step up quite happily, I'd kiss him *carefully* and tell him how much I loved him, then pop him down and he'd usually be ok for the rest of the day. GCCs can also be prone to a little thing called "cage aggression" where they get very territorial about their cage, so it's also often helpful if you let can let him get out of his cage of his own accord and work with him away from it. The methods I'm suggesting will not stop the biting altogether, you can't ever fully eliminate it, but as long as you are calm and consistent, Mango should get the hint eventually that biting will not get him what he wants.

 

[Gummyworms]

Thank you. I’ll keep all of your information in mind and keep working with him.

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

I am having biting problems as well. Birdie willingly flies to my finger and then goes to town. My hands are full of holes. I think the bandaids might be worth a try.

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

https://techthelead.com/all-the-ban...st-of-brands-found-to-have-forever-chemicals/ Just looked this up thinking about biting and look what I found ..

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

https://techthelead.com/all-the-ban...st-of-brands-found-to-have-forever-chemicals/ Just looked this up thinking about biting and look what I found ..band-Aid Flexible Fabric Comfortable Protection Bandages (older sample that was likely 7-8 years old and not available in stores anymore) — 188 ppm organic fluorine on absorbent pad

• Band-Aid OURTONE Flexible Fabric BR45 Bandages — 262 ppm organic fluorine on absorbent pad
• Band-Aid OURTONE Flexible Fabric BR55 Bandages — 250 ppm organic fluorine on absorbent pad.
• Band-Aid OURTONE Flexible Fabric BR65 Bandages — 260 ppm organic fluorine on absorbent pads and 374 ppm on the sticky flaps.
• Care Science Antibacterial Flexible Fabric Adhesive Bandages — 328 ppm organic fluorine on the sticky flaps
• Curad Assorted Bandaids 4-Sided Seal — 140 ppm organic fluorine on the sticky flaps
• CVS Health C60 Flexible Fabric Antibacterial Bandages — 201 ppm organic fluorine on absorbent pad
• CVS Health C70 Flexible Fabric Sterile Bandages — 124 ppm organic fluorine on absorbent pad and 272 ppm on the sticky flaps
• CVS Health C80 Flexible Fabric Antibacterial Bandages — 128 ppm organic fluorine in absorbent pad
• Equate (Walmart) Flexible Fabric Bandages Antibacterial — 118 ppm organic fluorine on absorbent pad and 165 ppm on the sticky flaps.
• Equate (Walmart) SKIN TONE Antibacterial Bandages Flexible Fabric (darkest shade) — 197 ppm organic fluorine on the absorbent pad and 251 ppm on the sticky flaps
• Equate (Walmart) SKIN TONE Antibacterial Bandages Flexible Fabric (medium to dark shade) — 112 ppm organic fluorine on the absorbent pad
• Equate (Walmart) SKIN TONE Antibacterial Bandages Flexible Fabric (medium to light shade) — 120 ppm organic fluorine on the absorbent pad
• First Honey Manuka Bandages — 157 ppm organic fluorine on the sticky flaps
• Rite Aid First Aid Advanced Antibacterial Fabric Adhesive Bandages — 101 ppm organic fluorine on the absorbent pad and 181 parts per million (ppm) in the sticky flaps.
• Solimo (Amazon Brand) Flexible Fabric Adhesive Bandages — 104 ppm organic fluorine on the sticky flaps
• UP & UP (Target) Flexible Fabric Bandages — 256 ppm organic fluorine on the absorbent pad and 253 parts per million (ppm) on the sticky flaps.

 

[Beepers]

I’ve had my 3-4 month old green cheek for about 5 days now. The first 3 days, it was an absolute joy. Friendly, hopped on easily, and affectionate. Day 4 started hell. He has been super aggressive, puffing up and biting, drawing blood a couple times. I can’t figure out what triggered the change. He now tries to bite if I go near the cage or approach him in any way. Even if I try with treats. He’ll take a few, and then attacks with no warning. I’m heart broken and I don’t know what to do or what I’ve done wrong. Please help!!

Congratulations on your new family member! GCC can be territorial about their cages, which is normal. Sometimes they’ll let you in their cage, sometimes they’ll bite. That’s the fun of having a conure. Ha! When your bird is in a bad mood, use a spare perch, or a chopstick when you move him. My bird used to be hand obsessed, I wore an oversized hoodie, pulled the sleeves over my hands, which worked out well. I don’t even let my bird nibble on my hands now because I know he can’t control himself. I use my finger to “step up” and scratch his head. Otherwise, no hands are involved. Healthy boundaries will make your life a lot easier.

I’ve had my 3-4 month old green cheek for about 5 days now. The first 3 days, it was an absolute joy. Friendly, hopped on easily, and affectionate. Day 4 started hell. He has been super aggressive, puffing up and biting, drawing blood a couple times. I can’t figure out what triggered the change. He now tries to bite if I go near the cage or approach him in any way. Even if I try with treats. He’ll take a few, and then attacks with no warning. I’m heart broken and I don’t know what to do or what I’ve done wrong. Please help!!

 

[Shoegoo]

His name is Mango, sorry. I’m just so confused by his behavior. I haven’t been able to get him out of his cage for 2 days now bc of how aggressive he’s gotten. He seems to be happy (running around, bobbing head, squawking, playing with toys) until he’s approached in any way. Then he’s like a light switch. I’m baffled honestly. I tried using a glove so the bites won’t hurt as bad or draw blood again, but he seems to be terrified of the glove.

Yes, when they see the glove they know you mean business.