Meet Marcy

[Marcy_14]

Marcy is 3 1/2 years old. She's a pacific parrotlet queen  We've had her for almost a week and half...she's such a joy!

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[Casper's 2nd best friend]

How cute :)
Welcome to PP. Marcy looks to have an inquisitive eye, I suspect she will have mastered all apps on that smartphone in no time, as soon as she learns that she has to touch the screen with her tongue not her beak.

[Dragonlady2]

:pp_welcome:. Marcy is a cute little thing. I have a male blue parrotlet. They are such sweet little beings. I can't wait to hear more about Marcy as your relationship with her develops.

[kendrafitz]

Hi and welcome! Marcy is adorable!!


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[PlaxMacaws]

Marcy looks to be quite a sweetheart. As Jean-Pierre mentioned, she has a look of intrigue in her eye. And I love her coloring... she seems to match our forum's default hue quite well :D. Welcome to both of you!

[Quakerella]

Hi and welcome to PP. Marcy looks absolutely adorable. Looking forward to hearing more about her.

[Marcy_14]

Thank you all, she definitely has her sweet side. But boy can she bite. lol She is scared of hands, we are being patient and not pushing her, but every now and then she gets a crazy look and then bites. Any suggestions??

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[Dragonlady2]

Ahh...parrotlets are feisty little beggars. One of the best ways not to get bitten is to avoid situations that may encourage biting. Easy enough said. What is happening when she bites?

[Marcy_14]

My phone seems to be a trigger...lol so now I have it put away when she's out. Last time she bit me was yesterday she was on my shoulder chattery away and then starts going down my arm and before I know it she's got my finger.

[Marcy_14]

When she bites I stay calm so I don't freak her out, but boy does it hurt! I krinkle plastic to get her distracted and release me...

[Quakerella]

You have the right idea of staying calm and trying not to react. I know it is hard, been bitten many times.

It may take a little time for her to trust you. Very slow movements around her so she doesn't feel threatened. She needs to know that you are not going to hurt her.

Do you know anything about her background?

[Dragonlady2]

My phone seems to be a trigger...lol so now I have it put away when she's out. Last time she bit me was yesterday she was on my shoulder chattery away and then starts going down my arm and before I know it she's got my finger.

Does she step up onto your finger without biting? Is it only your hand she bites?

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

My phone seems to be a trigger...lol so now I have it put away when she's out. Last time she bit me was yesterday she was on my shoulder chattery away and then starts going down my arm and before I know it she's got my finger.

Casper has come to hate cameras. Maybe he is self-conscious of his image that he sees on the laptop. And coffee cups - we can't pick up a cup whilst he is on us else there is a coffee apocalypse as he attacks the hand holding the mug.
Just letting you know you are not alone :)

[Quakerella]

My son's lovebird bird is protective of his rubix cubes. He had a set sitting on his dresser. As a joke I go in and mix them all up, but if quaggy is out of his cage he will charge right at me, head down, beak open, wing slightly raised.

[Marcy_14]

Casper has come to hate cameras. Maybe he is self-conscious of his image that he sees on the laptop. And coffee cups - we can't pick up a cup whilst he is on us else there is a coffee apocalypse as he attacks the hand holding the mug.
Just letting you know you are not alone :)

Glad I'm not alone...lol we will get her figured out. She still a sweetheart, just has her moments lol

[Marcy_14]

My son's lovebird bird is protective of his rubix cubes. He had a set sitting on his dresser. As a joke I go in and mix them all up, but if quaggy is out of his cage he will charge right at me, head down, beak open, wing slightly raised.
oh boy! I think she may think the phone is hers. Crazy lil birds....

[Lady]

Hi, welcome to you both. So nice to see Marcy as we love pics :th_smile:. From my experience Marcy may be "testing the waters" so to speak. She has to learn what is tolerated and what will get her a "time out". I'm sure in time she will become more trusting and learn what makes both of you happy. Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures.

[Marcy_14]

Does she step up onto your finger without biting? Is it only your hand she bites?

She doesn't like hands or fingers. She'll step up on ur arm or shoulder.

[Marcy_14]

You have the right idea of staying calm and trying not to react. I know it is hard, been bitten many times.

It may take a little time for her to trust you. Very slow movements around her so she doesn't feel threatened. She needs to know that you are not going to hurt her.

Do you know anything about her background?

That's what we do, slow movements lol. Don't know except he said she was hand trained since he had her at 3 months. But he hasn't had much time in the last few months to spend time with her with him working and going to school. And now dislikes hands and fingers which kinda makes everything difficult lol.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Try holding a pencil and getting her to step up onto that. If she tries to attack your hand from the pencil just drop it so she has to fly to the floor. Then offer her a finger to get up from the floor to eye level so you can have a chat about what she did wrong. Keep trying and hopefully she will see sense and just wander casually along the pencil onto your finger pretending that there never was a problem.

[kendrafitz]

My advice with the hands is then just have her step up on your arm. Rosie sometimes gets testy when I use my fingers. She generally prefers climbing into my arm or shoulder. I think it gives her more of a sense of control/security. Which is fine with me, whatever works.

I feel for you, those little beaks can HURT! I am actually more nervous with the little beaks than the big ones. The little ones go for blood.

When Rosie pinches me I tell her Ouch! That is not nice, you are hurting Mommy. I don't really subscribe to the whole ignore it theory. But obviously I think everyone should do what works for them.

The reason I do this is if one parrot hurts another, they don't ignore it. Rosie needs to know she hurt me and needs to be more gentle. If she is playing I will grab her beak and tell her to be GENTLE. If she is mad, I tell her that wasn't nice and she is removed from my person.

Marcy probably just needs time to figure out you love her and she is safe. :)


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[Dragonlady2]

I am with Kendra on this. My Ekkie will not step up on my fingers/hand, but will on my arm. Same as my peach front conure. I too will not let a bite go without giving the offender the stinkeye and a firm no.
I am sure you and Marcy will figure out what works the best.

[Stephen12]

Marcy is such a sweet little bird.

[Quakerella]

I did try the reprimand approach with our quaker. It could just be in their personality, but he liked to go for my ear. I would pull away and say "No, that's my ear." Now he says "That's my ear" as he is foraging through my hair looking for it.

IMO, I think every bird seems to respond differently, some the reprimand approach works, and some the ignoring approach works. I think you need to try different ways until you find what works.