Help For Biting

[Luthien]

Ok so here the back story, I inherited a Scarlet Macaw from the SPCA who rescued him from an abusive home. He was about 5 months old when I got him, he had been physically and mentally abused and had absolutely no trust in humans anymore. I've been working with him and he's been doing very well, still a bit thin but that's coming nicely. I can hold him and take him out places now and he LOVES being free of his cage and playing on his "jungle gym", my only issue is he still wants to nip at me. He doesn't mean to hurt me anymore because when he does get a hold of my fingers or hand it's so light that I feel it but it doesn't hurt. I just want to know if anyone out there has some suggestions on how to break him of this?

Also I have another friend that has a Scarlet as well that is close to a year old now, is that when hormones start to kick in? Her boy never used to bite but now he's becoming nippy as well, does she just have to deal with it for now and will he stop on his own or what should she do?

Thanks!1010

[Debra]

Hello Luthien and welcome to the forum! I don't own a macaw so I have no advice for you there. We do have several knowledgeable macaw owners on here and I'm sure one will chime in soon. BTW -- your baby is so pretty!

[Honesty]

Hello Luthian and :pp_welcome:I am not familiar with Macaws either, but I am pretty sure some of our members will be along very shortly to give you some advice.

[josiesmom]

I've seen a video on a forum (not sure if it was this one or parrot forums) of how to encourage your Mac to be gentle. I could be wrong but for some reason, I think plax may have posted it. It is really a good thing to watch if you can find it. I'll look when I have a chance. It has helped with Josie.

[plax]

Ok so here the back story, I inherited a Scarlet Macaw from the SPCA who rescued him from an abusive home. He was about 5 months old when I got him, he had been physically and mentally abused and had absolutely no trust in humans anymore. I've been working with him and he's been doing very well, still a bit thin but that's coming nicely. I can hold him and take him out places now and he LOVES being free of his cage and playing on his "jungle gym", my only issue is he still wants to nip at me. He doesn't mean to hurt me anymore because when he does get a hold of my fingers or hand it's so light that I feel it but it doesn't hurt. I just want to know if anyone out there has some suggestions on how to break him of this?

Also I have another friend that has a Scarlet as well that is close to a year old now, is that when hormones start to kick in? Her boy never used to bite but now he's becoming nippy as well, does she just have to deal with it for now and will he stop on his own or what should she do?

Thanks!Hi Luthien... Welcome to our community and sorry for my delayed reply - I had a rather busy day today.

As for large Macaws and hormonal behaviors, their approximate age of sexual maturity is 5 years. However, hormonal behaviors can begin to manifest (to an extent and in various ways) years before a Macaw is sexually mature. That said, I think it's safe to say that 1 year of age is too young to notice hormone aggression. There are a multitude of other things that can cause a Macaw to be "nippy". Among them are playfulness, frustration, or distrust. I'd really have to know more about your friend's situation to have an opinion on what's going on.

As josiesmom mentioned, I did indeed post some Macaw no nip training videos on Parrot Forums. The clips are here as well but they're embedded in a long list of links within a thread in the video section. It appears to me that you may not need them, though. If your Scarlet is beaking you and it's not painful, you may want to reassess whether or not it's a problem that requires a corrective solution. I say this because beaking objects (including the fingers of human caregivers) is normal behavior for most Macaws. In many cases it's a sign of affection, playfulness, and/or curiosity. Until I learn some more about your situation I'll be uncertain why you're interested to deter your bird's beaking behavior, considering that it doesn't include any aggressive, uncomfortable squeeze bites. I'm thinking right now that he's just being a Macaw :)

[coltfire]

Hi Luthien, welcome to the forum , i do not have a macaw as yet , but as plax said if he is not biting down it sounds like its affection, my eckkies do the same, they grab hold of my fingers, they could take them off but they are so careful not to hurt me, the only other time is if they are on my hand and lose balance they may grab hold with there beak but again never to hard.

[josiesmom]

Actually Josie always has my fingers in her beak when I hold her or play with her. She doesn't hurt me at all. Tonight before I covered her, it dawned on me that she does this constantly with me and I think it is affection so perhaps, yours is just trying to show you some affection, too. If she is on my arm and trying to get to my fingers, I always tell her 'gentle' and follow to pointers from the video. I hope this helps.

[alnoble89]

I don't have macaws but I have had a baby bird. The holding your finger as I call it is what my little CAG does. She doesn't try to hurt me just holds it. Their beaks are like their hands so maybe your little one is just exploring.

[ShellyBorg]

Grabbing fingers is also something young birds do to there parents to show affection and to ask for food. I have a amazon who chews on me like a dog! Even if he does not want to be petted he wants to chew on my fingers...

[plax]

I've added the 'no nip' video clips to a thread here and made it a sticky. However, Luthien, if all your Macaw is doing is gently squeezing your fingers within his beak, please DO NOT consider using the techniques shown in the clips. It could result in a degree of psychological harm to your bird if he is not being aggressive toward you.

[Turquoise]

Welcome to the forum Luthien. It's good to see you over here and to hear that Phoenix is doing really well. :th_greet13:

It does sound like he is wanting to let you know he loves you if he is being gentle. My Roscoe is almost 2 now & he can be impish at times. He does like to nip my arm when I have him out when he is in the mood to, but he is not really being mean about it. He is just trying to be playful & doesn't realize he hurts when he does it.

They do go through what we like to call the terrible twos like human children go through where they think they are independent of their parents, namely us and want to do things their own way. Then the next instant they are poofing their head feathers & wanting to be cuddled like the baby bird they really still are. Roscoe goes through this a lot right now, but not every day.

Keep us informed as to how it is going and if you are still having issues. And more photos are in order. We are having a photo contest this month & you still have time to enter. :th_biggrin:

[Luthien]

Aw thank you guys for the warm welcome! :th_hug8:

I figured that the "nibbling" part was just normal Macaw behavior I'm just trying to figure out how to stop the "excited nipping" that he does once in awhile. He'll nibble and everything but then when I go to stop him (example: Put him down or back in his cage) he tends to "nip" a little harder which borders on pain. I know he just doesn't want me to leave him which I think is so precious!! But I can't be with him 25/7 LOL What advice do you guys have to make the parting sequence a little easier and less painful on us?

[ShellyBorg]

Have a treat on hand. When you go to put him back in the cage hand the food to him, then while beak is full put him down on a perch. I have had to do this with a couple of mine. A bucket of Lafber's Nuti Berries now lives on the top of one of the cages.

Oh and welcome to the group!

[Luthien]

Thanks for the tip ShellyBorg! I will try that next time.

Other then fruit what is your parrot's favorite treats guys?? I want to try him with several to see which he likes best!

[Blancaej]

My Quincy is a biter and when I know he is a "mood" I always give him a treat when I put him in his cage to avoid a bite. It works very well!

[plax]

Other then fruit what is your parrot's favorite treats guys??Salsa's is by far air-popped popcorn (with nothing on it). He'll move the Universe to get a kernel!

[Debra]

Salsa's is by far air-popped popcorn (with nothing on it). He'll move the Universe to get a kernel!

One of my quakers starts dancing when she hears popcorn popping. That's the only time she doesn't try to bite my hubby when he gets near her cage. She's always too busy making her way to her bowl. lol

[Luthien]

Yup Phoenix will all but jump through hoops for popcorn and kiwi he loves them! And I use grapes as a treat

[Pinkbirdy]

Phoenix is Beautiful !!!! Ive found with my younger birds [its almost like pent up energy ,and their excited].Its what the nips sometimes mean . Try when you take him out putting him on a playstand first . With something to keep him busy . Then go see him . If his still real nippy keep your interaction short [slow your energy say Gentle] Then increase your time as things get better. Gush over him ,treat him like a celebrity [he wont be able to not want to be with you] Good luck.:)

[ConureGuy]

Jinx picked up the biting behaviour i tried loads of methods to get him to stop then i found that ignoring him worked if he stared to bite i placed him on his perch told him no and ignored him for 5 to 20 seconds then i would turn back to him ask him if he wanted to step up if he did without biting he got a treat and a head scratch now me and him have this communication where he let's me know by raising his foot when i ask him if he want's to step up if he don't want to he let's me know by turning away this way it has kept me and him happy and me injury free for ages now. :th_LOL: