Yikes! A real bite for me!

[Janie]

I'm one of the fortunate few who has never experienced a real bite but I got one tonight! :D Big Boi grabbed hold of my wrist and it's already bruised and it did bleed. Truth is, I don't think that little bird has a mean bone in his body but he uses his beak for almost everything....stepping up, etc. He loves to chew on my watch, rings and skin and this time, he chewed a little too hard. I did gently hold his beak and say "no bite" but I don't think he has a clue that he did anything wrong. He can't tell a watch from a piece of skin, right? :D I put him back in his cage which for him is torture since his beloved Shy was still out. I really hated to do that because I don't think his bite was anything more than curiosity and investigation of my wrist. Oh well, I was bound to get a bite sooner or later. I'm sure I'll get many more.......ah, the teenage years! :D

[Crystal Taylor]

You don't really know love until your lovemonster bites you and your instinct is to knock him silly but you grit your teeth and look at that beautiful face and then think "Oh... he didn't mean it".

Oh, the joys of owning a little manipulative love monster who has you wrapped around (inside) his little beak.

Crystal

[butterfly1061]

Well Janie, you've been initiated! Welcome! ;) I'm just glad it wasn't any of mine from yesterday. I was soooo afraid they'd clamp down on you, cause I know they can. Poor Big Boi. I agree with you though, I don't think he even knows what he did. As an adult, yes, he would, but not as a youngster. Piper is just starting to really use his beak - ouch >o

[Mummieeva]

Aww sorry to hear you got a bite. It is hard to grin and bare it sometimes.Hope it was first and only time.


Steph

[Z28Taxman]

I never got bruised from a lovie bite. Ditto did cause a little pinprick in my finger once. He didn't want to come in from his little cage on the porch.

Those claws can scratch like crazy though if they try and climb up your face while lying on the couch. :eek:

[bellarains]

Janie,

I just don't know that I believe you. That sweet little boy doesn't have a mean little bone in his body. Come to think of it, I'm sure the watch is what he was after ;)

Jackie, I know I don't believe you. Your lovies do NOT bite. If they didn't bite me after all the hugging and kissing I did to them, they don't bite. Hmmm, maybe I had them too freaked out to bite???? :lol

[LauraO]

Welcome to the club Janie. Wow! There was blood and all. I'm impressed :D ;) :D. I find a lot of the lovie bites I get hurt but are not on purpose. Having so many lovies I do have two crazy hens in Cuddlybunny and Olive. They are the worst and definately the ones that drive me INSANE with their bites. Spike isn't far behind with her nesty hen like bites. Of course, there are times when I ask for it. Either way, I don't really do much about it unless it's Cookie who is much smarter and has a much bigger beak. He gets a time out.

[BarbieH]

Hooray, Janie's been initiated! :D No, I'm not really glad you got bit. ;)

"No bite" works for some birds, not for others. To stop the bite (at least on the wrist), the earthquake method would probably work quite well. Just rock your wrist gently from side to side.

Congrats? :confused:

[Janie]

You all have put a huge grin on my face, :D. Yep, it definitely was my turn, I'll admit that. He did bite me right in the same place my watch is and there is no doubt in my mind that he was just chewing everything he came in contact with and my wrist was one of those things. When Jeanette kept him for me she told me that Big Boi is a bitter and I've got to work on that. Hard to do when he's not biting out of fear or anger, just chewing around! :D I have learned to take my ear rings off the second he gets on my shoulder....he's broken two pairs! Shy and Oliver will both nibble at my ears and earrings but Big Boi's beak is far more powerful. I can't be in the least bit mad or angry with him (he is SO sweet) cause I really don't think his desire was to hurt me. If Shy decides to bite, YIKES! Shy tolerates me but doesn't like me nearly as well as Big Boi does so I'm thankful that he hasn't chomped down.....yet! :D

[mjm8321]

If Shy decides to bite, YIKES!

I certainly hope you are referring to your little lovie and not our beloved Shy! :lol

Yep, I've learned even with the biting, it just makes them all their own little individual. This morning I went into check on one of our hens who has four chicks in her box and I was offering a millet sprig as a bribe to let me snoop. While trying to hang it in the cage, she tenderized my entire right hand! :lol She has learned that I will not pull away nor yelp (even though she used to bite much harder) so she just tenderizes.
Welcome to the club Janie! Maybe it's a sign that Oliver has finally realized he's a bird and not an extension of your shoulder. ;)

[Janie]

Oliver?????? Oh no, MJ, not my Oliver! It was Big Boi! If Oliver bit me I'd probably not believe it happened! I have deserved a bite from him more than once but I don't think there is anything I could do to him to cause one. Where is Oliver now, you ask? Sitting on my shoulder, still an extension! :D

[mjm8321]

Oh, I thought it was Oliver....that'll teach me to read and actually do my work at the same time! ;)
Big Boi is at the age for biting. All of ours that are roughly the same age can really give you a good bite without even realizing they are doing it...little stinkers. You can't believe how many leather strips we go through when the little ones are between 2-6 months.

[shylevon]

Hey, I am a biter. I am a real good biter. Just bring that Janie gal over here and I'll give her something to feel initiated about. Chommmppppp. Yum.

[butterfly1061]

You people ain't right :rofl:

[bellarains]

Janie,

Yep, naming that sweet little one after you know who may get ya some funny things to say. You know, you could talk about how Shy poops on ya, chews on the window sill, makes that cute little chatter noise, etc...... You'll have everyone thinking it's you know who :lol

[Janie]

Oh Lori, when I refer to the poop mess I AM referring to "you know who"....:lol.

Shy, you is bad....very, very bad! :D

[sdgilley]

Welcome to the club, Janie!

Peter bites for sport, and if you saw him lunge, you'd know it was all sport for him. Since I know him, I avoid getting in his way. Luka bites for DRAMA. It's in slow motion, and you're supposed to be really scared. I need to get a picture of that!

I'm sorry Big Boi bit you. I agree with the others, he's just at that age where he's all beak. He may not have known what he did, but if he continues to bite (even by accident) he'll begin to connect going back to his cage with the action. If Peepo bites, I put her up. If she wants to go back to her cage, she bites me a little bit, and then harder if I don't "get it". I usually "get it" right away, and return her to her castle. They are smart little buggars.

[acardz]

Have you gotten the bite where theyDONT LET GO! Oh yes i put my hand in my lovies cage and pissed off she was. When i pull my hand out she was still on it. I had to blow in her face abd she let go but boy did that hurt. Ps it was my first year with her since then no bites like that but i KNOW now what i can and cant do and when i hear the grrrrrrrrr i LISTEN

[Janie]

Suzanne, going back to the cage would be the worst punishment for Big Boi IF Shy is out. Neither one can stand to be in if the other is out so that will be my strategy in the future.....and I do expect more! :D

Unfortunately, I had nothing to "listen" to or any warning. He was playing, chewing on my watch and my breast cancer "find the cure" fat rubber bracelet and just grabbed some skin along the way. I don't think he was in the least bit mad or upset about anything, just chewing.

[shylevon]

Ooo, this watch tastes gooood, and this plastic bracelet thingie, that would kill me deader than a door nail if I should swallow even the tiniest piece of it, tastes even better.

Hmmm, I wonder what this thing that is attached to the watch and the bracelet tastes like. Oh, that was tasty indeed, gonna have ta get me more of that when no one is looking. yummmyyyy.

[Janie]

and this plastic bracelet thingie, that would kill me deader than a door nail if I should swallow even the tiniest piece of it

Shy, so what you're telling me is to take that bracelet OFF before they start chewing me to the bone???? Big Boi has picked at that thing.....I had no idea it could kill him.....before *I* had the chance! :D I will take it off. His favorite NEW thing is picking my scabs off and causing them to bleed! Is that bad for him, if he contracts some of my blood? (I am serious!) I know that scabs are not a very ladylike thing but I have them on both arms....from the birds and from reaching into cages and scraping my arms. These YOUNG birds have aged me 10 years in 3 months! I'm too old for "a" toddler and I have "two!" It's a good thing for them that they make me laugh....a lot! :D Oliver wanted to cook them with the Cornish Hens tonight! I don't think he's quite the fan that I am! :lol

[shylevon]

Janie

You don't have to remove the bracelet, but like all plastics, a poisonous and deadly toxin is released when plastic interacts with digestive juices. Make sure birdie doesn't swallow any little nibbles of it.

Yes, people blood is not bood for birdies. Aside from the obvious circumstance of them becoming vampire lovies with only a very small taste of human blood, I would assume blood carries a lot of unhealthy germies. Are you concerned your lovie may already be on the fast track to vampirism? You will need to check for tiny fangs just under their upper beak. These are difficult to see, so look carefully. If you find small fangs, or believe your bird to be a true vampire, you may be in for a whole world of hurt. Not even plastic bracelets will kill a lovie vampire and should the cage door be unlocked in the night, well, you just know the little guys will come find you, warm in your bed, and suck the life right out of you and your loved ones, drop by precious drop. Little scabs on your arms will be the least of your worries. Sleep tight, Janie.

[Janie]

Sleep tight, Janie

Shy, being that *I* am a vampire, I don't worry one little bit about a 50 gram vampire! :D And, btw, I am a day sleeper! ;)

[LauraO]

His favorite NEW thing is picking my scabs off and causing them to bleed!

Wait til' he starts going for the moles, that's always fun :x :x

[Janie]

Laura, I don't have moles on my arms but I can tell you I'd have to cover them up if I did! I've found tiny little round Band-Aids to cover the little scabs! My husband has requested that I not mention the word "scab" again! He is so squeamish! :D

[LauraO]

Janie: You're lucky. I have moles all over and some of the lovies like to bite them and Koa has even bitten a couple. I can't count how many times they've pulled one off or made one bleed. For a time, they went after this specific one on my arm so much I ended going to the dermatologist to have it checked out. These bites are also the worst cause they are tiny beaker bites :eek:.

[Z28Taxman]

Janie: You're lucky. I have moles all over and some of the lovies like to bite them and Koa has even bitten a couple. I can't count how many times they've pulled one off or made one bleed. For a time, they went after this specific one on my arm so much I ended going to the dermatologist to have it checked out. These bites are also the worst cause they are tiny beaker bites :eek:.

Well I don't have moles for ditto to go after but he does like to pluck nose hairs. :eek: :x

[jetanlori]

Janie, the LB in your picture is gorgeous, what kind?

[butterfly1061]

He's a yeller birdie :rofl: Right Janie? ;)

[Buy A Paper Doll]

"Wait til' he starts going for the moles, that's always fun"

I had to go to the dermatologist and have one removed because the birds were not going to rest until it was gone! Lovebirds are actually quite gross when you think about it; scabs, moles ... you name it, they'll pick at it.

[Janie]

"Jet," that bird is the common old normal peach face.....my boy, Oliver. Probably the most inexpensive (to buy) lovebird anywhere. Also called a "wild" peach face. IMHO, ain't nothing prettier than a normal peachie! I have a White Face Cobalt Violet and a White Face Blue, both beautiful little boys but I've never seen a love bird more beautiful than my Oliver! :D

[Crystal Taylor]

Janie,

I completely agree. I love the normal green. My first was a regular old peachie who feather plucked like it was going out of style for the couple years he was with me (I adopted him and he must have been an older bird because he passed away after only a few short wonderful years with me... my birds have a tendancy to get sick on Saturday nights and die before I can get them to an avian vet... I've had two unlucky experiences with this... both were my two favorites to top it off)... but anyway... enough sadness... I love the normal peachies... even if mine only had wing and head feathers... and occassionally one beautiful,frayed tail feather! He was my first and all time most favorite.

Crystal

[Mummieeva]

I never liked Normal greens til Kiowa. he was a beauty.


Crystal I had a run of bad luck also. My first lovebird a masked died due to egg binding,and Kiowa Whispers father died also. So far Bagy and Whisper are 100%.


Steph

[LauraO]

Lovebirds are actually quite gross when you think about it; scabs, moles ... you name it, they'll pick at it.

They also like to lick sweat :x :eek: :x . Whenever I come home from working out, the birds won't leave me alone until I shower.

[Paulette]

Janie......so sorry for your initiation......what a way to get initiated!....just today I was trying to pour some seeds in the food cup and pulled my hand out with Tweety attached to the pad of my thumb....serves me right, I guess....since I have to pretend to be messing with stuff in the cage to get her to come out of the nest box so I can take out the 2 oldest babies.....only I don't grin and bear it.....I shook my hand and she landed on the side of the cage.....seeds went flying everywhere.....all I could say was, see what you did?!....nice, real nice.....offered her the food cup to step up on....she wasn't quite sure about that, but stepped up like a good girl. :D Sheesh!....I wish I got a grrrrr....as a warning, but No....it's the Laudy Da I'm a Good Girl---Lunge & Strike method with Tweety!.....Just remember, peroxide or stype-dyke work well for injuries. :p