Carmine Bites

[My Conure Bites]

Hello everyone-

I'm new to BYC.

I have had companion parrots and other birds for over 30 years. I didn't think there was a bird I couldn't train until I met Carmine.

I bought him from a good pet store when he was a little over 1 year old. He was very cute and exceptionally tame but he exhibited unprovoked biting behavior. Although I tried everything in the book, he continued to bite and the frequency increased over time.

I'm the only one who can handle him. Everyone else is afraid of him because he always bites. He loves being petted and rubbed under his chin. But I can't pet him constantly and that is truly the only time he never bites.

He's seven years old now and has not grown out of the behavior. I've tried putting him in his cage immediately after an episode telling him "bad." I've also tried putting him in his cage without responding.

I've tried holding him and petting him in an attempt to calm him.

I've tried distracting him.

I've tried "towling" him (simply wrapping him in a towel while I hold him).

I've tried not responding at all to the behavior.

The list goes on and on.....

I love the little guy but he seems unable to learn that biting is bad.

Please someone suggest something. I'm at my wit's end.


~laura

 

[Basskids08]

Hello and welcome!

I'm sorry your having this issue and I'm sure you have tried it but how about getting another one? They tend to like to be with others of their kind. Putting him back in cage and using the same word to reprimand him is good to.
Feel free to ask questions!

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Parrots bite for a few reasons....number one is that they don't feel secure. They can also bite because they have health issues or don't feel good, they will bite when they are bored and frustrated, when they are stressed and they can also just have rotten personalities. And because you got him from a pet shop, he probably came from a home that never worked with him and he developed a lot of fear. They respond to instant negative reaction after biting. So putting the bird back in the cage is not all that negative to the bird and you are only training him that you will go away after he goes into the cage.

What breed of parrot is this?

So you need to figure out which one of these is causing him to bite. More than often, rehomed parrots become biters. First you need to make sure he is not suffering from any health issues that might be making him cranky. I know that parrots don't tolerate vet visits, but if you do have an avian vet nearby, you might take him in.

Next, you need to work with making him feel secure in his new home. Does he know the step up command? Get him on the living room floor and teach him to get up on your finger every time you put your finger at his breast. Work with him every day until he knows this command instantly. This can save their lives. My birds are already reaching for my finger when they see it coming. Use food as a reward every time he does it right. This command alone will make him feel more secure.

Get him out of his cage and into a neutral zone. He will be less likely if at all to bite if you have him on the living room floor or on the couch. The biting is going to happen in his comfort zone. So get him out, walk around the house with him on your finger, (do not put him on your shoulder, keep him on your lap or finger so he knows you are above him in the pecking order) , put him on a window sill so he can look outside, get him a play stand, just get him away from the cage.

Include him in on breakfast, lunch or dinner. They love this and makes them feel part of the flock. So a tiny piece of bread or dry cereal at breakfast, some lettuce at lunch and some of your rice or pasta at dinner. Feed him on top of this cage, not in it.

Every day, get him out of his zone, put him on your lap when you are sitting at the pc, (my cockatiel is sitting on my lap as I type this) and just spend time with him.

Now, he will still bite. Do not scream or make a big deal, no matter how badly if feels!! LOL When you do, they realized that it did cause pain. Just ignore the bite and continue on.

I had a really bad biter years ago. And I used the drop method, which is not really recommend when you are working with a nervous bird. But this one just was rotten right out of the egg. LOL Every time he bit me, I instantly dropped him. After a couple days of this, he never bit me again. But in your case, your bird may not feel secure yet and this may scare him more.

So all this being said, just be gentle with him, get him out of the cage a lot, teach him the step up command, include him in on all activities and eating, keep him on a play stand for as much time during the day as you can, (with food and water of course) and give him time. This may take several months to a year to calm him down.

Many birds mate for life so to speak and you MAY BE the only one that can EVER handle him. So don't expect him to be friendly with the entire family. You will be lucky to tame him up to you.

Good luck with your bird. Oh, and we do have a caged bird section too that you can post this question in as well...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/57/caged-birds-finches-canaries-cockatiels-parrots-etc

Welcome to our flock!

 

[gander007]

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to the flock. I don't even have a caged bird but, 2Crows writes such interesting posts, I learn from them every day. I hope her suggestions work for you. Personally I'd be afraid to come near a bird that bites. They have very strong beaks -