What do you you do when they bite?

[Emery]

Like the topc says, what do you dowhen they bite? I'e read lots, but there are so many different options. Ignore..say no...tap the beak...

My lovie doesn't bite hard, but tonight I was sitting by the cage and slowly moving my hand towards the cage (within a half hour time period) and when I got my finger up to the cage she kept trying toreach through the bars with her beak. I put my finger through and she started nibbling/chewing my finger (I'm guessing it's because she wasn't ready for my finger being that close just yet). Anyway, with that type of nibbling, should I just ignore it?

[butterfly1061]

My lovies nibble differently when I put my fingers throught the bars. Molly nibbles gently and then rubs his head against my finger. Piper yells and the bites, but not hard enough for me the get hurt. Daisy doesn't bite your finger at all. She just looks at you - funny girl. Olivia rubs her head against my finger, but if she does bite it isn't hard. I think she's just "tasting" my finger to make sure it's me. Olivia is only a biter when I pick her up and she doesn't want to go. :2cents:

[bellarains]

Lovies will nibble your fingers, to them, this is preening, and if they have no mate, you are it. If the soft nibble becomes more intense, you can teach them to be easy by saying softly, "Easy". Some birds however do not like fingers stuck through the cage bars, and then some take beak pets through the bars, that is something you will have to see how she reacts to, as they are all different.

There are many methods to teach "No Bite", but if your lovie does bite, she most likely is trying to tell you something, and in time, you will learn to tell what she's telling you. Your lovie though, seems to be just nibbling, as babies will do. Now is the time however to teach her to be "Easy" with the nibbles:)

[LauraO]

I was recently looking over a site related to parrot rescue and they mentioned biting. According to them, if there is no blood or scarring it is not a bite:rolleyes: . In a lot of ways I agree with this. Birds, including lovies, use their beaks for a lot of different reasons and it's not always appropriate to teach a bird it's not okay to use their beak ever.....It sounds as if your lovie was just exploring and had no intention of hurting you. It's important to spend as much time as possible with your lovie because it's only with time that you can know your bird and it's intentions. I usually know when my bird are exploring, biting, cranky, mad, etc. Of course, knowing my birds doesn't always help me cause I get bit daily, but I don't really try to stop it so it's my fault and I mostly don't care.

[Emery]

Thank you all for the helpful replies! After I took my finger away, so she wouldn't nibble it anymore, she squeaked - whic to me, sounded like a "i'm a little scared" squeak. Also, when my finger was about an inch away she was reaching her beak through the bars, so when I finally got my finger to her, she had her mouth open... what does that sound like to you guys? Scared or friendly? I'm such a newbie. >o

[LauraO]

It's really hard to say what her intentions were. Of course, if she were really mad she would be lunging at your finger. I just read back your introduction and your lovie is so young I doubt she was going to hurt you. I would have her out of the cage as much as possible because she needs daily out of the cage time and cuddles especially at this age. I know it's hard when your not used to beaks but it's best to get used to the movement and the feeling of them because it will be harder to manage when she gets older.

I'm just curious, is your lovie weaned. Six weeks is really really young for a lovie to go to a new home and they are rarely weaned at six weeks.

:D :D

[Janie]

I have one that bites and one is enough! :D He does "use" his beak for climbing onto my finger, etc. and sometimes the pressure just gets away from him. What I do is to gently hold his beak and say "no bite Big Boi".....and it doesn't do a bit of good! He really is the sweetest little bird and I can't help but love him, bites included! :) He has a biting personality and that's just that! ;)

[Z28Taxman]

My lovies nibble differently when I put my fingers throught the bars. Molly nibbles gently and then rubs his head against my finger. Piper yells and the bites, but not hard enough for me the get hurt. Daisy doesn't bite your finger at all. She just looks at you - funny girl. Olivia rubs her head against my finger, but if she does bite it isn't hard. I think she's just "tasting" my finger to make sure it's me. Olivia is only a biter when I pick her up and she doesn't want to go. :2cents:

Ditto loves it when I stick my finger through the bars. He'll give himself head/beak rubs, nibble once in awhile and occasionally use my finger as a perch. :cool:

[Angelwing]

It doesn't sound like your baby is biting hard, but rather, exploring or 'preening' your fingers. If she starts to bite harder, repeat 'no' or another similar word, and give her a suitable item to chew on instead.

[Buy A Paper Doll]

At this age she is very much a baby. Even human babies are constantly putting things in their mouths as they explore the world around them. I would say let her nibble and taste your fingers. You can also kind of tell your bird's intent by her body language: When my birds are about to bite me and they really MEAN it, they lower their heads a little, raise the feathers on their backs, and charge like little bulls. Then I know I'm really going to get it.

[Z28Taxman]

. You can also kind of tell your bird's intent by her body language: When my birds are about to bite me and they really MEAN it, they lower their heads a little, raise the feathers on their backs, and charge like little bulls. Then I know I'm really going to get it.

I've seen that look. Everytime Ditto's former owner tried to touch me. He didn't like that one bit!:rofl:

[mjm8321]

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mjm8321/detail?.dir=/7b58&.dnm=1a39.jpg&.src=ph&.tok=ph9ewjEBPk_4QG3f

The tell-tale sign that a bite is forthcoming. :)

[LauraO]

I love that look :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[butterfly1061]

There it is...They look so cute, but watch out! :omg:

[Janie]

You all, I have never seen that look! Big Boi, my sweet little bitter, never gives me a look, just creeps up the back of my shirt or walks down my arm and digs in. The only warning that I have is that I know he'll bite....yep, that's my warning!

When this thread started, I was sitting her laughing and thinking I'd like to say....."When your bird bites you, spank him and put him to bed with no super!" but I know I can't say that cause someone might think that would be a good idea and as we all know, that's what you do with your kids, not your fids!!! ;)

[Mandolin]

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mjm8321/detail?.dir=/7b58&.dnm=1a39.jpg&.src=ph&.tok=ph9ewjEBPk_4QG3f

The tell-tale sign that a bite is forthcoming. :)
Oh i know that look. Might as well be an angry bull and you are wearing red pyjamas :lol ... they're coming no matter what you do so watch out. Thats such a great picture!!!:D