How do you tell people not to touch your bird when they won't take no for an answer?

[NotSoSilentHill]

Bud doesn't like certain people, I don't know what his thought process is, but if he doesn't like you, he doesn't like you. He can also be unpredictable even when he's comfortable and just with me, so.

Whenever some family comes around, they always want to hold him or pat him but he doesn't like these people. The main culprit is a 6 year old niece who wants to hold him or pat him every time she comes over, her dad (my brother) doesn't help because he doesn't listen when I say he bites, so she doesn't either (she wouldn't listen even if he did, she's very demanding). Bud has bitten both of them before and they still try. I tell them over and over "he's shy", "he bites", etc. But they just don't listen. I can't simply keep him away from them because.. This girl gets what she wants. If she wants to go in my room- she's going in my room. No discipline.

So how do you deal with people who want to touch your bird when your bird doesn't want to be touched and they won't take no for an answer? :gcc:

[2birds]

People who don't respect my home, the contents in it, or how my things are handled don't come into my house. But, just saying he bites or he's shy isn't exactly saying no. "Do not go into my room and do not touch the bird" That's saying no.

[kendrafitz]

I have to agree with Lori. Bud is little and needs you to be his voice, I think. So maybe just say, Bud really doesn't like being touched or held by anyone but me. He is always stressed out for a while after you leave and I have decided he is off limits. So please just ignore him.

I really don't have too much of a problem. Rosie is a GW and her beak is huge (about the size of my fist) so MOST people are nervous or will ask before going near her. I had her outside in the front yard in a huge dog crate a few weeks ago while doing yard work. Two new neighbor families came over to see her. It was two dads and 3 boys (8 & under). The boys were boys, rambunctious. They were yelling and sticking their hands in the crate. Dads said NOTHING! So I finally said as sweetly and casually as I could - aimed at the kids, but looking straight at the dumb Dads, "I don't think sticking your hands in her crate is a good idea. Rosie is friendly and has never bitten anyone. BUT, she has 300 pounds of pressure behind that beak and I don't want to tempt fate." Smiling the whole time. The look on the dads faces was priceless. They got the kids away ASAP! Lol!

[NotSoSilentHill]

People who don't respect my home, the contents in it, or how my things are handled don't come into my house. But, just saying he bites or he's shy isn't exactly saying no. "Do not go into my room and do not touch the bird" That's saying no.


I have to agree with Lori. Bud is little and needs you to be his voice, I think. So maybe just say, Bud really doesn't like being touched or held by anyone but me. He is always stressed out for a while after you leave and I have decided he is off limits. So please just ignore him.

I really don't have too much of a problem. Rosie is a GW and her beak is huge (about the size of my fist) so MOST people are nervous or will ask before going near her. I had her outside in the front yard in a huge dog crate a few weeks ago while doing yard work. Two new neighbor families came over to see her. It was two dads and 3 boys (8 & under). The boys were boys, rambunctious. They were yelling and sticking their hands in the crate. Dads said NOTHING! So I finally said as sweetly and casually as I could - aimed at the kids, but looking straight at the dumb Dads, "I don't think sticking your hands in her crate is a good idea. Rosie is friendly and has never bitten anyone. BUT, she has 300 pounds of pressure behind that beak and I don't want to tempt fate." Smiling the whole time. The look on the dads faces was priceless. They got the kids away ASAP! Lol!

Thanks, guys. You're right, I just need to practice actually saying the word 'no' and leaving them zero room for choice.

Haha! That's a funny story.

[Mare]

I have a six year old niece, just like that, Adelaide. Very frustrating indeed, when neither the mom or kid listens! It finally took Amigo, grabbing her finger, to straighten her out. Thankfully, she didn't need stitches but still has the scar. Now, when they come over, the birds are the last thing on her mind!
That's it!! You need a BIGGER bird! :th_biggrin:

[94lt1]

My opinion.. Be the bad guy... Here's my story as to why you need to be forceful and say NO!!
A friend had a golden conure.. Beautiful bird.. Smart and very friendly.. She had a younger neice that wanted "the birdy" all the time.. And her parents were the.. "what harm can it do" type.. Well.. She didn't want the neice or parents touching the bird.. But they didn't listen and my friend wasn't good enough at saying no..

Fast forward a few hours of their visit... The bird was handed to the neice, nipped the neice.. And it was flung from her hand with a hard thud on the floor.. And split open at the keel bone.. And no vets around to save it..

Saying no to your bird being handled is your responsibility.. You're the birds protector..
Gory story.. But true..

[jessicas94lt1]

NO NO NO Touching. Don't mean to sound rude but I am always more concerned about our birds getting hurt than the people. You must be stern and if the want to be pushy they don't need to be in our home... Just my opinion...

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[Pablola]

Kids need to be told in no uncertain terms
You gotta get annoyed and put stop to it. , if you angry she soon get message,
What I do is take the bird ways and say ,your are scaring it do he going I side


Sent from my iPad Air

[shel]

there is a time and a place for spanking. sounds like this kid needs it. i would not give a flying rat's a** if she was my brother's kid.