Biting?

[Angela]

I was hand feeding Tango and Gypsy this morning, they seem to like veggies more when I hold them out for them. Tango was nibbling on a cherry tomatoe when he reached just a little further and started to nibble on my finger. He didn't bite, or use any pressure, or make any noise, and both Tango and Gypsy never seemed to be afraid of hands. I am at the point with them were they can't wait to see what treat I have for them and they jump closer to see without hesitation:) . Was Tango just checking my hand out or is this the start of a possible biting problem? As soon as he put his beak on my finger I removed my hand and the treat from the cage, I wasn't sure if he was biting but I didn't want to encourage it if it was by still giving him the tomatoe. Gypsy did a simalar thing last night when I was feeding her through the bars.
The good news is they both now eat colesaw mix, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, grapes and banana:)

[Elle]

If they didn't put any pressure while nibbling your fingers, I doubt they attempted to bite you. When they will try, believe me, you WILL know that they tried to bite you! There will be no doubt in your mind:lol
Keep in mind that tasting is a way for lovebirds to explore waht is around them. I would not pull my finger if they try again.
With my lovebird, when she is exploring and is very gentle about it, I encourage her. When she is being a little rough, I tell her in a very gentle tone "easy" or "be gentle" and she does relax in her nibbling.

[sdgilley]

I agree with Elle!:lol When you get bitten, there will be no doubt in your mind about it!

Sometimes Peepo nibbles my finger to make sure it's sturdy and held for her to step onto. Sometimes if Peepo is around food (she was hand-fed from day one) she'll nip hard. That is my signal to let her have her food without my hand around.

Biting, soft or hard, can be communication. They have a few tools to communicate, and this is one. Watch your baby and if you are getting nipped, tell her to be easy. Avoid getting a full bite if she gets too rough. Peepo will bite easy to tell me something. If I don't "get it" she'll bite harder (like me raising my voice to my kids). I'd better get it the second time or a harder bite will follow. Lucky for me, she makes her desires pretty clear and I am her dedicated servant. :)

[Angela]

Thanks!
I had to ask to make sure>o . I was told they were biters, but they have been with me for over a week now and I havn't been bitten..yet.. I have been expecting it.

[sdgilley]

Angela,
I have three birds and one is a very determined biter. Peter draws blood if he "gets" me. I keep my hands CLEAR of his beak reach. He's a sweet bird, but he is a real hand-biter.

My other male, Luka, will bite if I try to put my hand on him, but he doesn't usually go after me serously. His bites are like really hard pinches (they do hurt, but don't draw blood).

Peepo is my baby (although she's 1.5 years old). She doesn't bite me - BUT she'll bite anyone else! I get kisses.:)

Your birds will have their own relationship with you. Perhaps the person that told you that they were biters was not their favorite person. >o When a bird gets ready to land a good bite, their body language will show it. They kind of hunch up their shoulders and slightly lower their head. Good luck with your babies. They sound sweet.

[Janie]

Angela, of my three, Oliver is a total NON biter, Shy doesn't care too much for me but does not really bite, just nibbles, and then.....there is Big Boi! Wowzier! His beak pressure is just a tad too much. He really IS the sweetest bird and wants to be on me any time he can but his nibbles are powerful, to say the least. He uses his beak to "step up" and for just about every other thing he does. There is no doubt in my mind (and I may be kidding myself, :lol) but I think he bites by accident and is not doing it because he's unhappy about anything I'm doing or anything he wants that I'm not giving him. He just happens to have a heavy beak pressure and I have the wounds on my arms and hand to prove it! :eek: Oh boy, I do love him so much but I keep telling him to lighten up on that beak "pressure!" :D When he gets totally out of control I return him to his cage. I've read that some lovies bite so that they can go back to their cage but with him, that is NOT the case. He loves to be out, he loves to be on me and he loves to bite!

[Angela]

I left my hand in when Tango decided to nibble my thumb between bites of spray millet, he did start to put a lot more pressure then he did before, it seems like he wants to step up on my hand, he nibbles my finger then finds the best place to hold on and presses harder with his beak lifts his foot up a tiny bit like he is going to put it on my hand, then remembers he still doesn't know me that well, lets go of my finger and starts making a grumbling noise. He also tries to pull my fingers away from Gypsy because he wants the treat to himself and she is always in his way :lol . Gypsy is surprisingly gental when nibbling my fingers:)

[Elle]

Gypsy is surprisingly gental when nibbling my fingers:)


Remember to encourage the good behavior and say things like "good bird" "yes, you're gentle" and other things like that. The tone of your voice will also be associated with the behavior. Parrots love to be praised! :lol

Sounds like with patience, Tango will climb on your hand very soon. Are you working one on one to teach them the step up command? You can start with a dowel if you are unsure.

Regards

[Angela]

Tango will climb on your hand very soon You were right about that, after some serious nibbling Tango decided that I passed the test and rewarded me by hoping onto my hand:happy: I have pictures of the whole event:D ! Tango is a complete ham in front of a camera:lol ! Gypsy wanting whatever Tango is interested in, like always :rolleyes: , jumped right onto my hand too but she didn't stay long enough for me to focus the camera. It seems like I'll only have to tame Tango and Gypsy will follow his lead.
I'm not sure about the dowel training, both Tango and Gypsy seem afraid of a moving perch, it may be easier to train them with my hand. Letting them nibble on my fingers, hands and wrists (they were very thorough;) :lol ) seems to have been a break through in gaining their trust. Later when they came out of their cage they explored more and lower in the room, they didn't just stick to the curtains or the top of my book shelf:)

I'll post the pics from work tomorrow or tuesday I'm not sure if I will have to go in tomorrow and my camera will not download the pictures on this computer:confused:

[Mummieeva]

Just do be sure if they bite hard you tell them No firmly. Whisper does those little exploring nibbles.But nevr bites hard. Baggy does also but she will turn it into a bite if I am not watching(I have vampire looking bruises from yesterday..lol).Sounds like your little ones are trusting you alot.


Steph

[Janie]

Steph, so you're saying that telling Baggy "no" helps? I say "no bite" to Big Boi and I don't think he understands that at all. I also hold his beak gently and say it again. That sweet little bird just jumps right back on some body part of mine and chows down, again. How can you love a bird that bites? EASY! :D

Angela, great progress! I'm looking forward to photos! :)

[Z28Taxman]

Steph, so you're saying that telling Baggy "no" helps? I say "no bite" to Big Boi and I don't think he understands that at all. I also hold his beak gently and say it again. That sweet little bird just jumps right back on some body part of mine and chows down, again. How can you love a bird that bites? EASY! :D

Angela, great progress! I'm looking forward to photos! :)

When Ditto's nibbles on my fingers and he nibbles a little to hard I just say "no!" and he looks at me like "who me?" and goes back to nibbling gently. Or he comes up in my face and stares me down. :rofl: I win the staredowns since he has a short attention span.

[LauraO]

Steph, so you're saying that telling Baggy "no" helps? I say "no bite" to Big Boi and I don't think he understands that at all. I also hold his beak gently and say it again. That sweet little bird just jumps right back on some body part of mine and chows down, again. How can you love a bird that bites? EASY! :D

Janie: I'm with you! Telling my lovies not to bite does NOTHING so I've developed the motto that ALL birds BITE and it's part of bird ownership8o . Luckily, I can deal with most lovie bites (even the bloody one8o ) and know my birds well enough to know what to expect. To be honest, I've actually become a little tooooo comfortable with lovie bites and often go out looking for them. I mean when I grab Shy or Cuddlebunny, hold them in my hands and give them massive kisses, or I go up to Spike's nestbox and put my hand in front of the hole, or take Eva into the bathroom to look at her feathers without toweling her, I know I'm getting BIT and sometimes very HARD!

[Janie]

"I've actually become a little tooooo comfortable with lovie bites and often go out looking for them."

Laura!!!!! :lol I do the same thing with Big Boi! I stick my finger in the cage and pet that little bird knowing full well that at some point, he's gonna bite me! :D I try to keep my finger in a position that I can remove it quickly and w/o a puncture! ARE WE NUTS, OR WHAT? :D Funny thing, when I hold him and kiss, kiss, kiss him, he doesn't bite at all. That little bird is so sweet but I'm pretty sure he will remain a biter and that's just that! Shy does not bite but is not nearly as sweet and loving as Big Boi is. There is no doubt in my mind that he doesn't mean to bite, just can't help himself! It's that "beak pressure" thing! :D My husband asked me what happened to my ear and I asked him why, did it have blood on it and he said yes, a little. I told him that it must have been Big Boi and his beak pressure! He over preens me so much and so often that I hadn't noticed. Either I'm getting tougher or all feeling has left my body! :rofl:

[Mummieeva]

LOL on Baggy no way. She still bites hard but not as often. Only got 2 hard bites from her in a long while(and one was my fault). Nothing works on her except putting her on top of cage. On Whisper it seems to stop the hard bites. But Whisper never really bites hard.I have gotten use to bites thanks to Baggy(I still love her to pieces though).


Steph

[Angela]

No bites for me yet:) I've been well chewed, and throughly nibbled but no bites:p My nails are getting a bit sore, they like to pinch either side...over and over;)

[Elle]

Blu doesn't bites but since she develloped a fascination with hands and other body parts not covered with clothes, she will climb on your hands and nibbles and pinch a little tiny piece of skin with teh tip of her beak and ripp it off :eek: . My husband looked like he had chickenpock the other day on his hands. All these red little spots. But no blood.
We are trying to get her to stop it but not that easy when a lovebird has their mind set to something:lol

I have a lot of moles on my shoulders. Or should I say HAD! :lol