Biters on a scale of 1 to 10

[Asue]

I've read many of these "biter" posts, I'm lucky enough not to have a real biter.... I believe that if you really think about biting birds, you can pretty much tell why they bite ( most of the time ). :p
Mikey doesn't bite me... but he will bite others. He does bite everyone who stuck their fingers in his cage, but not me... I can do this all day long without a single nibble.
His biting has dimenished since he finished his molt. He can fly and he's pretty much told everyone that I belong to him with a bite. So, I guess on a scale of one to ten, ten being a feathered shark. I'd say Mikey was a 4. He'll let you know when he's upset.

[BarbieH]

That's a neat rating system. Gracie used to be my 10, but she's mellowed to an 8, or maybe even a 7. Sam is a 4 or 5 (though he doesn't break skin), Didjit is a 3 (purely social nibbling), and the KGBs don't bite fingers at all.

[carmelcandy11703]

Man I wish my Puddy would stop biting! She just wants to go at anything that comes near her!

[BarbieH]

Sounds like the way Gracie used to be. We solved it by not putting our fingers near her, or toys, or anything else that triggered biting when she was out of the cage. She learned to trust us, but she also got out of the habit of biting. It's an ongoing process.

[lara]

How did you put her back in the cage then? My guy is very very social but gets mad when you try to take him off your shoulder cuz he does not like going in his cage. unfortunately I must take him off once in awhile and I am getting tired of being bit!!

[bellarains]

Lara,

I have to admit that I resort to bribery to get mine back in the cage, especially my GCC. I work, so I have minimal time with them in the morning. I use the birdy bread as a bribe to get them back in, and in the evening, I use Nutriberry popcorn. I use whatever I have that they love to get them back in without any confrontation:lol

[Janie]

Oliver doesn't bite (me) and Shy doesn't bite (anyone) but Big Boi does and it's just part of who he is and I love him just as much as I would if he never bit! :D His bites can range from a 1 to a 10 and are never, IMHO, associated with anything going on. He bites when he's happy, when he isn't, just....whenever! :lol

I am lucky that all of mine are easy at this point to get back into their cages. They don't like to go back in but they will all step up. ")

[BarbieH]

With Gracie and George, I can manipulate them to go back into the cage. Usually Gracie is so territorial, she will go back readily, and George follows her *always*.

Samson is a tough customer. Again, the dowel is our friend (Not so much a dowel but the handle of a wooden spoon.) Scoop him up and in he goes! Gotta be quick, so he can't jump off the dowel or out of the cage again. :)

[Elle]

I would have to say I am very lucky. I either have a lovebird that is so easy going or I have a lovebird that doesn't have a clue yet as what type of control she could have on us if she was a little more hormonal. Blu's bites would be a 2. The annoying thing is how she likes to pluck the skin off our hands.
I spend 3 hours home before going to work in the morning. When she sees that we are putting our coats on and her nutrieberries are in the treat bowl, she goes in the cage on her own. I will stick my finger in, give her a little scritch and close the door.
At night, we spend lots of time together. When I notice she is tired, I put her on top of her cage, where she will have a little bite to eat then make her way in her cage, cuddle her cuddle buddy and she's all set. Again, I will stick my hand in the cage and give her scritches. Danny did that for the first time last night. She loves it.
Maybe I have it al wrong too and she's a he and will never be as hormonal as Sam was :)

[Mummieeva]

When i first got Baggy she never bite. But after losing her mate and raising a baby for 3 months she started to bite. No clear reason why but I belive it is because I took her mate away when he died. Her bites were a 9 for a time(she only drew blood a few times). Now she is a 5. Has gotten a lot better. But she rarely bites for same reason.lol. Some days if my hand goes in cage she will bite.Other days she is fine. Only sure thing is she bites my hands only. Whisper has only bitten me one and it was my lip.


Steph

[mjm8321]

Much like my bite, it depends upon mood and circumstance. Any bird can be a 10, just depends upon what is happening. For instance, a youngster, which never bit, being attacked by siblings to the point of bleeding, bit me harder than I've been bitten by a lovebird before when I removed him from the situation. He's never bitten me since.
Most in my flock are not chronic biters, however can deliver a good chomp if they feel the situation merits one. The real biters haven't necessarily stopped biting but rather we've learned the warning signs and avoid the big bite.

[Buy A Paper Doll]

I'd say my Milo ranges from a 1 to a 4 depending on his mood. Melody, I'd say 4-8 with a few occasional rabid moments of 10-ness. Like this weekend when she bit me - through my jeans - hard enough to leave a black and blue mark.

[lara]

Huki has a temper and will bite anytime you try and stop him from doing something he wants to do or make him do something he doesn't want to do. Nothing tics him off more than going back in his cage. He spends 90 percent of his waking time that he is in there trying to get out . The other 10 percent of the time he is eating!!!It is not like he doesn't get enough out of cage time. He is only in cage a couple of hours a day when I am not home or he is being too bitey.Other than that he is very loving and a total velcro birdy.

[kimsbirds]

Neat scale idea:)
My worst biter is Beaker, who, through no fault of his own, cannot judge his strength and grabs HARD for balance. His mama almost killed him when he was 2 weeks old and caused neurological damage, leaving him with the shakes and some balance issues. Beaker would be a 9.
Scooter CAN bite, but isn't at all, he'd be a 2.
Dutchess used to be my wild girl...she would've rated an 11, but is now a 1:)
George and Dawn are not biters...both getting a 2.
Cinny and Blue have honestly never bitten, and they both get a 0.
Daisy is learning not to bite, but she's still about a 6.
Snickle and Fritz are wild wild wild birds, and both would drain my veins dry if they could reach me...both get a 10+.
Plucky and Sunny also get 10's....OUCH.
My GCC Abbey rates about a 2...she only bites when she's being ignored:roll: :lol

Kim

[lara]

Neat scale idea:)
Daisy is learning not to bite, but she's still about a 6.

KimWhat are you doing to teach her not to bite?

[kimsbirds]

Mostly, when she does bite or go to bite, I redirect her attention with millet or wheat grass sprouts. I also try not to give a reaction if she does get my skin, as she thinks it's just WONDERFUL to see mommy jump and shout and be an idiot:rolleyes:
She's getting better day by day, little by little, and I can't expect it any quicker or easier.
:)K

[Z28Taxman]

Fortunately Ditto doesn't bite anymore so he'd be a 0. The only person he used to bite is my ex-girlfriend/his former owner. After he decided I was more fun and decided I belonged to him, he'd try to rip her apart if she touched me. :rofl:

Anyone else is his friend. Even my little nieces (6 and 9 I think) can reach right in his cage and he'll hop on their hand and come on out to play.

As for going back in his cage, he's not a problem at all. I just put him at the opening and say "go on in" and he hops right in. At night many times he'll fly right in as I'm walking toward it. :cool:

[Mandolin]

The annoying thing is how she likes to pluck the skin off our hands.

I agree. Kameko will sit on the back of my hand when i am on the computer and nibble on the back of my hand around the nuckles. It doesn't hurts but it is sooo irritating.
I would rate Kameko as a 5-10 depending on the circumstance. When she is tired, cranky or hungry she gets a pretty potent bite but we try to get her back in her cage before her behavour gets too painful. I think any bite to the ear with any force turns into an automatic 10 and that is Kameko's favorite way to get your attention :evil: .
As for going back in her cage, she definately has her moments. She dos not like to be taken off shoulders so will bite as hard as she can just to stay on. She will normally go back in her cage without too much fuss but some days she will hold onto anything to stay out and that anything is usually skin :wink: .

[Asue]

I agree that a bird's bite ranges from casual preening to a really heavy chomp... I guess when I asked about the scale of a biter, I should have put up a "moody-biter VS the not-so-discriminating bite" :confused:
Anyway, I've noticed that a female lovebird is more of a harder bite than males... or is this just me??

[mjm8321]

I think Barb and I will agree that in our cases, the hens bite is worse! :lol

Honestly, I do believe, with my lovies anyway, the hens are the real biters.

[Janie]

I think Barb and I will agree that in our cases, the hens bite is worse! :lol

Honestly, I do believe, with my lovies anyway, the hens are the real biters.

:lol.....which is why I have three males. Hoping I won't get as many hard bites! :D

Poor little Big Boi. He's had to go back into his cage several times in the last couple of days. He hates that but I hate the bites. I am absolutely positive that he means no harm when he does it and just has not figured out how to beak something (like my skin!) w/o "over beaking." I compared his beak to Shy's today and it is definitely a tab bit longer and sharper. I will ask my vet about it the next time he goes in but haven't I been told that it is NOT good to file their beaks????? :confused:

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Yep, my hen definitely bites harder and holds on longer. I think she just has a feisty personality. I call Milo "Baby Doll" all the time. Melody? Her nickname is "Jaws."

[HeatherH]

my hen has taken chunks out of my husbands hand... she is vicious!!!! he is now trying to calm her down and found these really thin gloves that she cant bite through to try and handle her

[LauraO]

NO MORE HEN BASHING ALLOWED!!!:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: I love my bitey hens. They are great! They have so much pride and spunk you got to love and respect them. Besides with a lot of my males, they are so wimpy, there's no one else to protect house and home but a bitey hen:D .

Actually, I rate my birdy life as a 10 as I get bit all the time for various reasons. I do have hens who never bite, but most only bites when they are in their cage or nestbox or some other space they've marked as their territory. I get bit so much because I don't really care if I get bit or not. When I do care and they're getting a little too hard I break out a stick/dowel and get the birds where I need to get them.

[BarbieH]

NO MORE HEN BASHING ALLOWED!!!

Here here!! :rofl: :rofl: I also find they are easier to manipulate (trick) back into the cage, and I know what to expect from them.

[mjm8321]

I also find they are easier to manipulate (trick) back into the cage :rofl: :rofl:

You are sooooooo right there.

Laura, I had to laugh extra hard at the "wimpy males" comment. Yep almost all the males in my house would let you come in , take all the seed, millet and even your lovie mate without any problem. Heck, two or three would fly to your shoulder and let you take them along with you!! :rofl:

[Buy A Paper Doll]

NO MORE HEN BASHING ALLOWED!!!:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: I love my bitey hens. They are great! They have so much pride and spunk you got to love and respect them.

Oh, life wouldn't be the same without my feisty little hen. Nothing is more entertaining than watching her beat the tar out her "kitty" toy when she's p***ed off about something.

But fact remains: She bites. Hard. Bit me to the bone on my knuckle the other day, the little monster. ;)

[butterfly1061]

Maybe I shouldn't say this cause sure as I do - everything will change. Daisy, with all her fiestyness, doesn't bite me very hard at all. When I hold her (a whole hand grip) she will fight with all her might and go at me with her beak, but she has never bitten me hard. I don't know why as fiesty at she is to the other birds. She goes into birdy-timeout a lot, so maybe she knows what mom is capable of. Now Molly on the other hand, can bite to the bone if you pi** him off. Piper doesn't bite too hard and Olivia can when when she wants to. They are all so different, but it amazes me how Daisy is most of all. :2cents:

[Martha]

Martha is about a 3. Ha! Yeah. She doesn't bite that hard. But if I make her made (Not on purpose) she will give me a nice hard bite. But not drawing blood.

[thebubbleking]

My baby boo is a 10 1/2 (the half being the pain factor!) but sunshine is a 2 he bites sometimes but its real soft:)

[Kirby]

Kirby WAS a 9 but has now diminished to a 3 (giving you VERY obvious warning signs and running away because he knows he'll get in trouble for biting, so if you ignore his signs, you'll get bit VERY hard)

Skittles is a 2... I've been gnawed on as a warning... but nothing that I can say has "hurt"

[Tutti's other mommy]

Tutti would normally be about a 3 or 4-he might nip, except taking him off a shoulder:omg: that leaves an almost draw blood mark.
Now hes molting and is about 4.5- oh well, he'll get over it.
& hes probably a boy-no offense to those hens out there,but i hope he is.

[Tutti's other mommy]

sorry! i made a mistake on the first post-instead of changing it i made another- i forgot an important " ' " in the 1st and now it looks very strange.

[Mummieeva]

It is ok I took care of the other post for you.



Steph

[Gene]

I'm beginning to suspect that Bekke's a girl. (S)he rates at at least 9 - took a chunk out of my wrist the other day (ouch!!! :( ), I still have the wound! And (s)he'd bite for no apparent reason at all, and the next moment just be the nicest birdie, all talking/chirping to me and giving me the wolf-whistle and stuff! ;)
Funny though: (s)he has never bitten me when I picked him/her up with both my hands (like a cocoon), but spare the single hand that dares come near at certain places of the house / whenever Bekkie's feeling like (s)he's needing some more protein... :omg:

[Tutti's other mommy]

thanks for fixing the post.
tutti gives me bad bites sometimes, but he is not nesting etc.
i wonder if hes just not old enough to be nesting yet and is a hen?

[Pips mom]

This is an interesting thread to read----all the posts about biting, when and why, and the hen factor. Lovebirds seem to be quite the little biters when they want to be! My Pip rarely bites, and he will be one year old in oct. We don't know for positive if he's a he, but pretty sure he's a boy, and now this is one more clue to his sex. He has bitten before a couple of times pretty hard, but not breaking the skin. He has never bitten while being handled or when he steps up onto hands-----although he rarely will get on hands! He was nipping at my fingers there for a while, I think out of pure interest or curiousity, not because he was mad or upset that my hands were nearby-----but I just got the feeling it was a friendly kinda bite! like he is getting to know me better or something-----but I guess I would have to rate Pip as a 3.
As far as getting him back into the cage goes----which is also very interesting reading what everybody has to say about it-----Pip does NOT want to be in a cage! but he doesn't really give too hard a time about going back in. He won't get on hands to go back in, so I just have to get him to fly back over there and maybe land on something that I can pick up with him on it and stick near the door! Either that or I can lure him to the door with a toy, just shake it, and he comes running to check it out! nosey little monster! or maybe shake a toy inside his cage. At night when pip gets tired, he goes in his cage by himself for the night-----he is out at all times when we are home. Problem lately though-----I just got Pip a new cage and he doesn't seem to like the change much and won't go back in at night now-- I have to get him back in. The cage is twice the size of his old one and I tried to set it up similar, but he's still adjusting to that cage! I was kinda surprised he's been having such a hard time adjusting to a new cage because he adjusts to everything new likes it's a new adventure! Just not the cage I guess! I don't even think he sleeps as well in it, because in the morning when he comes out, he naps soon after he is out, and that's not like him. He's usually all rested up and running around like the energizer bunny. I know it's the cage because the rest of the day he seems like his normal self. Funny how birds are----you can do anything with pip and he don't care, but get him a new cage and such a big adjustment!

[Minna]

Akira's about an 8 -she's broken skin before, but doesn't do it consistently. She always does it for a reason, and I usually know what that reason is -usually tiredness or frustration (but I don't WANT to step up! I'm happy HERE!) and lately a sort of I'M KING OF THE CASTLE :|. A sharp "AKIRA!" gets her to let go,though.

Caspian's not a biter at all. Well, he does bite, but only when he's really, really freaked out, which I think is a fair cop. I'd say a two -it takes a **** lot to make him bite, and when he does it's nothing next to Akira's bites.

[Tutti's other mommy]

is this the longest thread in Biters Not So Anonymous?

[Tutti's other mommy]

heh heh just asking

[Teri]

I would rate my Cooper as a 10, she's a pitbull. Her style of biting is the grab on chew and don't let go method. She draws blood 85% of the time. However she does seem to be craving more interaction with me lately so i hold out hope i'm begining to see a bit of mellowing. If not I still love her to pieces and we have fabulous girl talks!

[thebubbleking]

Finaly Finaly!!!!! someone who has a lovie who bites like boo does!!!!!
People just dont understand when me and terri say bite we mean bite,latch on and dig and grind untill they take out divots of flesh 2-3 layers deep!
Thanks terri i feel better knowing i am not the only one here with a shark lol
P.S. i use diveing gloves when i get boo in and out of her cage has saved me from many bites:)

[Teri]

lol yep that sounds familiar! I tried leather gloves with Cooper but her bite is so strong that she still could give a really good pinch with them and they scared her so that i just stopped using them. now i put two layers of long knee sox on my arms. i look rediculous when i've had Cooper out and have to answer the door. all my neighbors know the get up I wear and just laugh and ask "had the bird out?"

[Janie]

i put two layers of long knee sox on my arms. i look rediculous when i've had Cooper out and have to answer the door. all my neighbors know the get up I wear and just laugh and ask "had the bird out?"

Teri, I'm sorry about those hard bites but I did have to LOL when I read that, ^ there! :rotfl

[Teri]

lol that's ok Janie I have to laugh at myself in that get up. I can't get over how such a small creature can coerce something as large as a human into going to such rediculous means just to interact. Gotta give that lil gal respect, she's made every grown man I know squeel!

[thebubbleking]

Lol yeh funny how a 20 gram hen can bring a 300 pound man to his knees with tears in his eyes!

[beckyg]

Luna was just a 4 up until last night. My husband never really spends time with Luna, he just isn't interested. Last night, though, he went to pick her up for some strange reason and she bit him (she doesn't like hands and she didn't know his). He got mad so I jumped to get her, not that I thought he would hurt her on purpose. I stuck out my finger and said "step up". She did and sunk her beak into my thumb. It was definitely at least an 8. No blood, but her first skin breaking bite. I guess I would have bit me too if I had been in her shoes. She was pretty shook up.

[thebubbleking]

I would mention to your husband the many threads of lovie owners leaveing thier significant other and keeping thier lovie lol

[gigi]

gigi is a ten. she doesnt let go. but i know her limits and shes starting to know mine. shell bite my hand so now we only do "step up" onto my arm and thats how i get into the cage. occasionally shell bite totally unprovoked but i think this is more to get my attention. when shes having one of her "sweet days" or more like sweet hours, shes a definite zero. shell nudge me until i pet her etc. also, when she gets startled, like today she knocked a bell off of my nightstand, shell come to me to be consoled. its very sweet. shes my special little love.

[Asue]

Hope is definitely a 10.
It's a combo of my hubby not spending time with her and the fact she loves Mikey. I fear her because she will bite me. She likes to lock down on fingers.

[michael]

Well, after reading through this thread and having to put up with such remarks as "wimpy males" I guess I'll confess on behalf of my poor Goofy lovebird :(. He rates in at a definite 0. Maybe even a -5. Yes, thats a minus five >o. Of course to him and me this is an unlikely debility because of all the attention he gets from everyone. He sure is a far cry from the lip biting finger gouging little rascle he was from the start :) ..............Goofy and Michael

[Cooper]

Cooper's a 10, definitely. Territorial hen, but will pretty much go after any hand within sight, makes it easier to pet her. Distract her with a finger and use the other hand to give her head a stroke. Hah! I just pet you, nya nya!

[lucky melatonin]

francis is getting better (i think???). he doesn't bite as much, but does bite harder. he's never broken skin though. he only bites me though when i try to stop him from doing something he's not supposed to (like chewing the keys on the laptop). or when i'm trying to get him out of my shirt to put him in his cage. or when it's bath time...ooooo. when the water starting running, so does he!

he's a lot better about letting me pet him and stepping up without biting though. although he does still sometimes. however, he's come a REALLY long way. he used to not come near me or anyone without severe biting attacks and fluttering. now he's glued to my body.

he is a nibbler though, but i know he's not doing it to be mean. like he'll try to nibble on my ear lobe. he pulls my brother's hair on his chin. but i think all of that is playful....

[carrier]

he is a nibbler though, but i know he's not doing it to be mean. like he'll try to nibble on my ear lobe. he pulls my brother's hair on his chin. but i think all of that is playful....

Not mean at all....he's preening you! :D

[thebubbleking]

Yes thats preening and let me tell you nothing feels more weird then a lovebird trying to preen your chesthair!

[Christian]

I think Estrella, on a good day is probably a 3 or 4. However, on some days he is definetly an 8. Recently he has taken to biting my lower lip...I am not sure if this intended to be mean, or if he's just trying to give me a kiss and gets too aggressive, but either way it HURTS!!:mad:
See, he gets a lot of little beak kissies around the house, and I am thinking that he is really just trying to kiss back, and doesn't realize that I have cushy lips not a beak!
Wing clipping really does do wonders! Before our last vet visit, he was getting about 6ft off of the ground, now its about a foot..and he was a little angel for the first few days after his wing clip :rolleyes: