Help For Biting

[Turquoise]

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

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.

[Luthien]

Aw thank you guys for the warm welcome!

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.