biting a game?

[travis]

I think biting has become a game for Archimedes. He started biting a few weeks after I brought him home, and has gotten more and more active with it. Recently, when I'm in our room, he comes to the cage when I am near and starts to climb around as I talk to him. I open the cage, and he sits and rocks on the edge, getting that momentum for the big flutter to my lap. Once he's on me, though, nothing is safe :evil: Fingers are a definite, but now he's targeting ears, neck, and pretty much anything he can get to. I don't react to it at all, sans one time he got me on the inner ear when I wasn't prepared for it. If I reach for him while he's doing it, he'll run to my back, and snip until I stop, then continue his climbing and biting fun. I think it's something of a game for him, and was wondering on any advice to break him of this habit. He is still young, so I am not worried too much at all, but I would like to have less puncture wounds on my cuticles after a short out of cage session. The last two times he's done it I've simply returned him to the cage for time out for 5 to 10 minutes, then go back and let him out again, where he starts again. He was biting when I invaded his cage to bring him out, but once I realized that's a big no no, I stopped and now open the door and let him come out on his own. I would think maybe some of this is carry over, but he has that playful disposition while he bites me outside the cage :rolleyes: . Any thoughts?

[butterfly1061]

Since he is young it seems he is testing you like a two yr old. My Molly did this off and on for a while when he was young too. When you let him out, keep a few noisy toys nearby to distract him from a biting situation. It did take a bit of persistant toy playing, but Molly finally fell for it and things got better. Others will have ideas too, so check back :)

[Janie]

If you figure out a way to stop this "fun" behavior.....let me know! I also have one that bites for "fun".....fun for him but not for me! :eek: I adore him, he really is a sweet little lovie but he bites, period. He uses his beak, automatically, before anything else. I've tried "no bite" and put him back in his cage, I've tried the little earthquake move and put him back in his cage, I've tried packing my suitcase and telling him I was moving out.....I've tried everything and so far, nothing has stopped him! But....I still love him! :D His brother, same clutch, does not bite. Oddly enough, his brother is not nearly as sweet and cuddly as he is but at least, his brother is not a biter! :D

[Mummieeva]

One thing to try is wear a long sleave shirt and hide fingers in there. That way when he tried he gets shirt and not you. Baggy my oldest bird(and a hen)bites a good bit and I learned ways to slow it down. Another is when he goes on your back put hands like before in shirt sleave and put hand up to him and say step up. If you do it fast enough you get him by suprise and then praise him. When baggy does this without biting me I always say " thats my good girl". As for ear biting my way of stopping it will not work ..lol. I always make sure my hair is down and ear covered with it. With my birds that seems to stop it.



Steph