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Old 05-24-2008, 11:58 AM   #11
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

"is there any trick you can ask of her?"...do you mean I should teach her a new trick and react to that instead? Maybe she'll get the same entertainment value out of that?
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Old 05-24-2008, 12:17 PM   #12
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

I may be way off on this idea cause I have yet to deal with any of my birds doing any real biting. But if I was starting to jump when interacting with any of my birds I would start stick training. It could be that time of the year for Harrison and fade away later in the year in the mean time stick training would be a good way for you to learn to trust her again.
Karen's idea is great too.
They can feel your stress no mater how hard you try to hide it.
I may be way off on this idea but it is what I would do.


Last edited by 2horse; 07-04-2008 at 04:08 AM.
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Old 05-24-2008, 12:22 PM   #13
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

Tari, that sounds like a great idea but Harrison spooks soooo easily. You should have seen her yesterday when she saw the glove on my hand. She dropped to the bottom of her cage then flew out of her cage and out of the room...when I got to her (without the glove), her heart was just about pounding out of her chest. Her eyes were wild...I'm afraid a stick would do the same thing. Maybe I'll try it in a few days...hopefully she'll forget about the glove by then and won't be so jumpy then. She still seems a little bit more jumpy since the glove. Weird. Thank you for the advice.

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Old 05-24-2008, 12:35 PM   #14
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

Well part of stick training means getting use to the stick. lol
Start by letting the stick sit near the cage. Not to close but close enough she can see it. From time to time you can go pick up the stick and play with or pet it. I know it sounds silly.
In other words interduce it like you would a new toy.
You could even do a glove the same way. Make it fun.
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Old 05-24-2008, 05:48 PM   #15
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

Quote:
Originally Posted by HeatherStrella View Post
"is there any trick you can ask of her?"...do you mean I should teach her a new trick and react to that instead? Maybe she'll get the same entertainment value out of that?
yes anything other than biting, isnt Harrison the bird that can wave a flag? Does not have to be new trick if she has a good behavior that she knows already. A round of praise or applause will make her forget the personal self gratification biting brings.
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Old 05-24-2008, 07:05 PM   #16
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

No, Harrison isn't the one who can wave a flag. She has an extensive vocabulary for her age, but she really doesn't know any tricks. She has the attention span of a house fly and she's never shown any interest in learning...I've tried but once she knows I have a treat for her, that's all she cares about and will chase my hand until either 1) she gets it or 2) I eat it or throw it away. She does like to throw balls with her beak...maybe we should do that more and I can "react" to that instead of the biting. I will definately try to think of something else to teach the little turkey.

Today's been a good day so far, knock on wood. I should be keeping a journal to see if there's some kind of pattern. It also seems like she might be molting. I'm hoping this recent change in behavior is because of that. (!!!!)

Last edited by HeatherStrella; 05-24-2008 at 07:14 PM.
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Old 05-24-2008, 07:10 PM   #17
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Oops double post
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Old 05-24-2008, 07:17 PM   #18
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

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Originally Posted by HeatherStrella View Post
Jessalyn,

How long do you leave her on the floor before you have her give you a kiss? Do you have her kiss your hand? Face?
Just a second. Now, we never get to the floor. She kisses my face. It's just a real quick peck. She and Harrison are about the same age, so I am thinking it's just a young bird thing. Trying us out! ha! This works for us. You will figure something out I am sure. When she kisses me sometimes I will raise her up high as I can! Then she behaves.
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Old 05-24-2008, 08:45 PM   #19
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

I feel your pain! (no pun intended) As most of you know jazz goes thru these kind of spells. After getting him thru the adjustment of coming to our home and then back in feb we had been caretaking for our beloved 15 yr old dog which is very stressful because we knew we had a decision to make and 5 days after we said goodbye my husbands mother passed away. During and after this time i could not get him to stop clamping down on me. He must of sensed the anguish and stress. Finally it is back to normal I notice that he is not biting out of meaness but he wants his way and if i do not move fast enough that is his way of saying "now" Over this last month when he thinks he is going to his cage he reached down and bites my hand but i say no and he goes to the cage. I also notice that when i reach up to scratch him while he is on his cage he will clamp down on my finger in order to keep my hand there so he can step up. And to think he is only one years old...
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Old 05-25-2008, 06:16 AM   #20
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Default Re: Biting Getting Worse...

What she is doing is absolutely, 100% normal behavior. At two years of age and during breeding season she is resenting the fact that she cannot leave her parents (you and your husband) and find a boyfriend. Greys and other parrots of their size usually leave the parents and start play-courting at 1.5 years of age.

What you need to take into consideration is that those bites are not really meant to hurt you, if she wanted to do this, she would outright attack you, come after you growling and with her wings curved and halfway open and literally bite chunks out of you. These are more lovebites brought on by frustration than real aggression bites. We can take baby parrots out of their parents nest and handraise them to force them to imprint with humans but we can't take the instincts or alter the natural biological cycles out of them. She will most likely outgrow this stage and calm down but, I might as well tell you that a) it could take a long time and
b) there are some that never do revert to the same loving relationship with their owner and need to be rehomed. When this happens, the bird bonds with the new owner the way they would do with a mate in the wild and the problem solves itself.

Try entertaining her and allowing her more hours out of her cage. Young birds don't do well caged all day long same as a teenager does not do well when grounded for days and days. Also, don't put your hand out to her, just open her cage and walk away. You can talk to her, give her treats but in a casual, nonchalant, off-hand kind of way, as in passing. Do not ask her to come to you, do not ask her to step up, do not pay her a lot of attention and do not put your hand out when she flies in your direction, simply duck and allow her to pass over your head. These birds are highly social and need the loving interaction of flock members, by your 'ignoring' her, you will force her to 'reconsider' her situation and take the first step. And, when she does and she is 'nice', reward her with verbal praise, attention and a treat; if she bites you, put her in her cage and walk away from her for about ten minutes, then start again: open the door of the cage and just 'ignore' her until she comes to you and behaves nicely. Parrots are highly intelligent and grasp the concept of 'action - consequence' very quickly, once they realize that the only way to get attention and treats is by been nice, they usually stop.

Last edited by Beatriz Cazeneuve; 05-25-2008 at 06:23 AM.
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