all of a sudden hard biteing

[pinkylee]

ive had my bird 2 weeks now , been playing with her everybday , talk to her , she has plenty of toys she walked around on my shoulder , let me hold her an pet her, the last two days she is biteing me very hard an i cant stop her i have to put her back in her cage tryed giveing her things to keep her ocupied while in my hands but it dosent work she was hand tamed when i took her home, tryed pushing her beak away and sharp no still nada

[Joanie Noel]

Hi. How old is your lovebird? When I bought my lovebird Squeaks at 3 months old, he was a very hand-tame lovie. He still is. But he got into the habit of biting me for no apparent reason. He would sit on my hand and just bite and bite and bite. He doesn't do it anymore (he's over 5 months now) but I think it might have been a kind of "teething" thing. Other than that, I've been told that when a lovebird bites you, he/she is always trying to tell you something. :confused:

~ Joanie

[Buy A Paper Doll]

Joanie's right; when a lovebird bites you it's usually that they want something, whether it's that they're itchy because they're molting, or they're hungry/thirsty/tired, or they're bored and looking for a reaction out of you.

One thing I've learned with mine is that if you react in any way to the bite, that reinforces the biting behavior. For example, if I make a face or yell OW or something like that, my lovebirds' little eyes light right up and the game is ON. It's easier said than done when you're finger's bleeding but it's important to to give your lovie the reaction she's looking for.

Also, I know it is very frustrating to have a bitey bird, but try not to put the your lovie back in the cage every time she bites. That only teaches your bird to bite you when she wants to go back in the cage.

Hope this helps,

[LoveBugs]

lol. Yeah. Miss Lily here has learned to bite me suddenly too! She isn't very tamed and besides from hoping on my arm so I can put her to bed at night, I dont pet her, and she just watches me from a distance.

I pet PP bird every night, and he usually give me a nibble on my finger every now and then, especially when I'm not quick enough tying up the millet spray. Well, now she has been sneaking in little nibbles of her own as well! They're more like... hmm... I wonder what those scary things taste like! Usually when I'm not looking, I feel a little nibble on my pinky and look down to see a yellow little feather butt scurrying away. lol

[LauraO]

When you say "Hard Biting" does that mean there's blood, because that's what I consider hard :x . I have all kinds of lovebirds who bite for various reasons, but more often than not it's a means of communication. I do agree that a lot of the younger birds I've had and have had go through a bitey stage that seems to resemble teething. Some are more bitey than others during this time but usually grow out of it.

Could describe when and how your lovie bites. Is it more of a gnawing on your finger thing? Is it more of a lashing out? Is it only when he/she has been out a long time, etc.?

[Carmela]

This is why I am getting out of Lovebirds. I hand fed two Luvs and spent alot of time and effort to socialize them and I can't handle the biting. I have Cockatiels and even if I don't handle them every day...like breeders, I can still pick them up and no biting. They seem really mean with each other too. Wow lots of luck to all of you.

[bellarains]

Hi Pinky,

Unfortunately biting is something that comes with all parents. Some bite to different degrees, but this is a defence mechanism for them, and also the way they test things out for safety. In teaching a lovie that biting is not acceptable, you will take a few nips, but hopefully you can teach your lovie to not bite hard(draw blood). You will always get a few nips though. What I call a "nip" is a bite than leaves an indention, but does not actually draw blood.

Lovies will bite for many reasons, tired,hungry,thirsty, does not like the room you are in, or if startled they may also bite. You will learn to watch the body language, and this will help you avoid a bite also, but for the most part, they do bite for a reason, and as you learn to communicate with your lovie, you will also learn what they are trying to tell you.

Don't get too frustrated, it will get better, and if the biting becomes too much, put lovie back in the cage with a few nice words, and try again later. I say nice words, as you don't want her to associate being put back in the cage with biting, so that she won't bite when she wants to go back in.

Let us know how it's going.

[Paulette]

I think the smaller birds are more high strung and have to be for self defence so there is no verbal noise before biting. Cockatiels are very sweet, but they huff and make an impressive "I'm going to Bite you" (Bluff) demonstration with their bigger body that usually gets the response that want rather than really biting.
paulette

[BarbieH]

I think the smaller birds are more high strung and have to be for self defence so there is no verbal noise before biting.

That is very profound. It describes Gracie's behavior perfectly, particularly when she first came to us. She had been living outside for who knows how long, and she was in total self-defense mode. We had to be VERY careful around her, the bites came with little or no warning at first. :eek:

[LadyHvnly]

my "chance" bites :eek: and can nip too :( .. but i am familiar with him.. as my g'children fear him.. :( chance bites them on the lips.. :cry: but i keep telling my g'children to work with him.. and my youngest g'son now puckers up to kiss and chance will now kiss him.. to me the birds are trying to tell you something.. after you have them for a while you can figure out what it is they are wanting..

when chance flitters and yells.. usually if i place him over a napkin or the garbage can.. tell him to go "poopee" and HE DOES!! :wink: i praise him each time and kiss and cuddle.. but i have done this since he was born.. something i am proud of.. :D

i raised cockatiels too and found i dont have the same comfort with them as with my lovebird.. i love how the lovies do the splits.. their habits and dispositions are different. :)

the "yelling" in my ear i find is the worst :eek: .. but that is only if i am ignoring him.. if i talk to him.. he looks at me sideways and runs right in front of my face and watching me talk.. makes me laugh :lol

i dont have any remedies.. but i have to agree with others.. there is a "reason" for the biting.. you just have to learn to read your "baby".

[DeepLikeNin]

Mercuri started biting at about 4months, and she's now...8 months, and is still going at it. Some days are good days and i'll get a couple of nips, but some days are no good and she doesn't let go. Luckily she hasn't made me bleed yet... *knock on wood* Since I'm shy about the biting and I dont want to be bitten if i touch her in a way she doesn't wanna be touched (my boyfriend risks it and she lets him scratch her for EVER...if i put my finger close, if she's in a bad mood, my finger is food), it's kind of a slow process to get her out of it, i think... but I think she is still molting a bit, so...