Behaviour ?? (Multi thread)

just another little problem, as most know, Bert has been stepping on his T perch for sometime now, won't step from cage but that's fine, he comes down onto the floor and has always stepped up onto T perch to go back, this last week he's decided this perch is pure evil and must be killed at any chance he gets.

If we offer it, he instantly attacks the carpet or runs at it wings a spread, now I also know that every time I move it away I'm reinforcing the attack means it goes away, but I don't want to stress him, so I move it, calm him down and try again.

But its becoming an issue getting him back to his cage, nothing to note happened, he never went straight to his cage when on it, normally had a fuss for being good, a treat and sometimes a little walk around and every time he went back in his cage he got a big treat.

Im assuming I go back to basics and start again with holding it near him and giving him a treat ??

but its a lot harder now as before he was nervous of it, now seems to hate it and every time I pick it up I can see him saying "evil thing must die" ;)
 
Yes it sounds like what I call the honeymoon period is over, on the good side he has gained a lot of confidence as he knows he is not going to get hurt by you, but you still need to be the flock leader although he will challenge it, ok keep to a regular training routine and going back to basics I will agree with. still use the treat affect but start to be a bit strict only give them when and as he reacts properly.
 
Just a little update, I've mostly managed to remove his target stick and started to use my finger (I hope this is right, but if not let me know), we still use the stick everyday and he has to move to all his different perches to get his reward.

I assumed it will get him more used to my hand and also me more confident, we've been doing this a few days now but most other days he just tries to eat my finger and I remember Micheal saying to make him work harder for treats, kind of make them more special, so I have been and he only gets a treat when he's extremely gentle.

So now we're here.
 
Looking at that video Scott you are really progressing. I only use a stick when I teach new tricks then I associate my hand, just looking on how you both inter act its a pleasure to watch, I notice his leg being raised this can be turned it to another interaction I would say Hi and put my hand flat towards him or hi five keeping your hand flat but close to his foot being raised. love the way he reacts to you
 
He is getting fruity, leave him alone it will eventually pass. My boys make up to their toys/perches etc when they feel they need to.
 
Little bit of help/advise please.

nonidea what, if anything has changed or maybe it’s just normal, but over the last few days Bert has been a bit bitey.

Sunday he bit me twice, not hard more little warning nips, he was out of his cage and just didn’t want to go back, I managed to entice him down the side and back in but when I gave him a treat he snapped at it/me, not a big deal.

yesterday my youngest came in and went to touch his beak through bars and he went for his finger.

today I walked in and went to play our touch game, he was relaxed and sat calmly, as I put my finger in he bit it, a few minutes later I tried again and he seemed fine.

then an hour or so later my wife tried to give him a treat (through bars) and he went for her.

he hasn’t done this for months, couple of off days maybe ? normal ish for a grey ?

Nothing I can think of has changed, he still comes to the edge of the cage and wants attention and chats.

routine is the same.

Any ideas of stuff for me to look for ?
 
At the moment many greys are going through there hormonal times, I cannot get to close to Mollies and Reggie with out Reggie growling at me, they soon get over this time, until next year
Lol seems he’s been going through harmonies for ever 😂😂

do they have spikes in hormones, like some days hormones will be higher than others and cause good/bad days ?
 
so just a little update, nothing massive for most im sure but a big step for us, he's still hit and miss with his T perch but were working on that.

I've never really been able to touch him outside his cage, he'll take treats but outside his cage he's very shy/nervouse of hands still.


by all means if you see me doing something wrong or maybe something that may lead to bad things down the line please say, i'm here to learn.
 
This may be one for @Roz ?

as you know im still nervous of his beak, doesn't really cause any great issue as he's generally calm and nice, so today I decided to let him nibble on my finger (he tries often but I avoid the beak)

So when I pet him or play sometimes he leans in with his beak open, all very slowly and calmly, today I forced my issue and let him get his beak over my finger.

now he didn't really bite, more chewed on it for a few seconds but it was with some pressure, I done nothing and let him carry on for a few seconds, it didn't feel like it was deliberate, but enough pressure to make we wince and leave a few small bruises, I could be wrong but I don't feel like he wanted to hurt me.

any ideas, im thinking it was just a bit rough but I could be wrong ?

if it was him generally trying to be nice but just not knowing the pressure, how do I go about letting him know its a bit hard ?
 
Holly used to put a lot of pressure on my finger but as you noticed it was not biting, I started the stick training and only rewarded when she was gentle or just touched the end. now she has become more gentle on my finger and I reward her with a kiss to the top of her head and a neck scratch
 
Holly used to put a lot of pressure on my finger but as you noticed it was not biting, I started the stick training and only rewarded when she was gentle or just touched the end. now she has become more gentle on my finger and I reward her with a kiss to the top of her head and a neck scratch
hi, yes I took your advise and started to be a little more strict with treat's and he only gets them when he touches the stick if he nibbles or bites he doesn't get one, took him a few days to realise but now he generally touches the stick with the outside off his beak.
 
And reset the bite calendar :crybaby2:

things were going so well, not a nip or even attempt since April (above)

first one I felt he really wanted to hurt, no idea why, same routine as always came home went in opened his cage, he came down for a head scratch as always, had a tackle, had a little play and I always give him a pellet from my hand.

tonight just latched on and held as I pulled away he kind of came with my hand.

been an hour is so and still bleeding, may need a stitch in this one:thinking:

this is the first time I felt he really wanted to really hurt me.

I’m really gutted feels like a massive step backwards, more so in my confidence, I was happy to have my hands near/under/over him he’s nibbled my hair a few times when I’ve been changing his paper, I had 90% trust in the little lad and know Im back to being very edgy and twitchy near him.

Is this just something I need to get used to ?

edit:
Should I try to carry on as normal, I normally do training around now or should I maybe give him a day or so ?

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And reset the bite calendar :crybaby2:

things were going so well, not a nip or even attempt since April (above)

first one I felt he really wanted to hurt, no idea why, same routine as always came home went in opened his cage, he came down for a head scratch as always, had a tackle, had a little play and I always give him a pellet from my hand.

tonight just latched on and held as I pulled away he kind of came with my hand.

been an hour is so and still bleeding, may need a stitch in this one:thinking:

this is the first time I felt he really wanted to really hurt me.

I’m really gutted feels like a massive step backwards, more so in my confidence, I was happy to have my hands near/under/over him he’s nibbled my hair a few times when I’ve been changing his paper, I had 90% trust in the little lad and know Im back to being very edgy and twitchy near him.

Is this just something I need to get used to ?

edit:
Should I try to carry on as normal, I normally do training around now or should I maybe give him a day or so ?
No your dissapointed but i really would not take it as a massive step backwards. Since bringing the hahns home hes bitten me a few times an ive now realised its when ive been fussing the ringnecks. Did anything change today when you walked in new item of clothing or anything that could of triggered him? Could of just though sod it im gonna have a chew i guess. We all get bitten i think as much as we dont want to be parrots are tempremental an we all get bitten at points we just try to avoid it. Pick yourself up and dont take it as a huge negative its happened an now you move forward. I have followed your posts an i think youve done really well.
 
I'm with Zoe on this :)
Some of my birds I have had more years than I care to mention and every now and then I do something dumb and don't read them properly and its a reset of the bite counter and yes I end up wary for a day or two but things soon return back to normal
Put a double plaster on that and strap it tight to hold the edges together and don't mess with it also don;t let him see it have found that plasters are something to be attacked as well! Then check it in the morning with a new plaster you can get butterfly plasters from the chemist but they don;t usually stitch the finger pad I have had glue a couple of times on fingers (errr not from parrot bites before you panic)
 
@Lollie @Tollie
Have a nosy at Scotts videos on this thread about how he and Bert are going reference training
Err and yes all parrots can bite we just have to work out reading what the bird is saying and why we got a bite and above all else .... don;t take it personal even if it feels that way can be something as random as a pin feather irritating them and we then touch it without knowing and BAM!
 
This one was strange, I follow the same routine every day when I get home, almost by the minute, I think as Zoe says, tonight he just decided it was time.

Yes an hour later we done his training as normal, opened cage door, down he came, as normal, he’s definitely on one, took his nuts as normal but was a little aggressive with touching his stick and taking the nuts, kind of snatchy

I must admit he had bigger pieces of nuts tonight, I was a little worried about him and had to use my middle finger and thumb to hide the plasters on my index finger :risas3: :risas3: And i reallydidn’t want to have to go to my third choice finger.

but everything seemed fine, he’s certainly a little wired for some reason, he’s also nervous of me know.

I reacted badly to the bite, pulled away quite quick when he latched on and he held on tight and came with my hand almost out of the cage, he grabbed the side on the way by, I feel bad as I think I scared the little lad:crybaby2:

he’s had his normal bed routine, no head tickles for me tonight but he came down and had a his twinkle twinkle sing song before bed
it’s all a learning curve and tomorrow we start again.
 
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