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Post by Tam on Mar 24, 2005 8:18:50 GMT -7
Everytime we stroke paddy he tries to bite us..we just say NO & he stops..but this morning he bit my little girl quite bad...i know he"s still a baby..& were trying really hard with him..i really dont want him to get in the habbit of taking our hands off everytime we touch him
Does anyone have any advise...
Thanx in advance
Tamm
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Post by Jane on Mar 24, 2005 8:44:04 GMT -7
Exactly how old is he? Sometimes biting starts because they are using the beak to explore and test things out.
When you say no and he stops, give him lots of praise.
Try to avoid getting bitten by watching his body language, he may look slightly fluffed or he may flash his eyes. Keep your daughter away for now because as you have found out, greys can bite hard if they want to. He may also be biting out of jealousy.
If he does bite try not to give a reaction because this will make him bite more, and ignore him for a while. Praise the good behaviour and ignore the bad.
Jane
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Post by Tam on Mar 24, 2005 8:53:32 GMT -7
Hi thanx for your reply..he"s only 10 weeks...i havnt really spoken to him since he bit her..but im not sure he"s that bothered...lol..he"s shouting at his toys why i sit here...lol....i will take on boared what you have said thenk you
Tam
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mrswork35
Weaned Todd
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 60
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Post by mrswork35 on Apr 1, 2005 12:56:16 GMT -7
Yes, watch his body language. You can usually tell when they are getting upset. Little nips or growls and then the attack sometimes. Lily did not like my husband for about a year. When he would come into the room she would get all in a huff and lunge at him if he came too close and bite him. I kissed him goodbye one morning not thinking she was on my shoulder and she bit him good!! BUT she's never tried to bite me. Birds will chose a favorite and not want others around sometimes. Lily has gotten better with hubby and he will ask her if he can pat her head and watch her body language and she has been good about letting him. It took alot of time though. BUT as soon as the dog or cat come near me she is either yelling at them to "go lay down" or "shut up"! And she will not think twice about biting their noses or ears,etc, !! I think jealously is a big thing with birds. They want their favorite all to themselves. Just take it slow and don't move quickly as they startle easily also. Talk to the bird and let him know you are his friend and have the others do the same, but maybe at a distance for awhile to see what happens. Then gently reach into the cage and see what happens. Be prepared to be bitten and make sure you remove your hand soon enough to not be bitten. It takes time. good luck!!  |
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Post by Africanewbie on Apr 26, 2005 18:43:35 GMT -7
MY EXPERIENCE (Hopefully this doesn't bore you but help you instead)
The first day, he was in a snit (maybe rabid is a better word) and threw everything upside down so I gave him his time to settle in. The second day, he was a lot calmer, I was like most new owners, wanted to touch, cuddle and most of all get him to sit on my hand. And not wanting to waste any time, I placed my hand close to his feet so he could step up onto it but instead he offered me his beak. He bit me so hard that it left a hole in my thumb. I did not scream or shout, all I did was jerk my hand a couple of times and very quietly but firmly said 'NO". After he released my finger, I quickly ran into the bathroom, grabbed a towel and screamed the bedevil into it. Not one to give up so quickly and maybe a bit thick skulled, I tried four more times with the same result. The pain was both excruxiating and numbing which made me laugh after the tears. Don't get me wrong, LOL, I am no masochist. The third day, I decided to try a different approach I removed his seeds after his morning meal, after an hour or so I placed a few sunflower seeds into my hand and placed it under his nose, he would look at it but not take any. Like I said, I am not one to give up so easily and patience was the name of the game. I can't remember exactly how long I kept my hand on his perch, all I can remember is that I wanted to go bathroom and my hand was stiffening but yet I left it motionless there and continued to read my novel. I was trying to get him to trust my hand. Finally, after several chapters he slowly approached my hand, I could see him at the corner of my eye, not wanting to scare him I remained perfectly still. He came within distance where he could stretch his neck and pick up the seeds or take another chunk of protein from my hand. I guess I wasn't that tasty, he went for the seeds. I waited until he finished and then said to him "Good Baby". For the rest of the evening, I was able to feed with my hand. Whenever he attempted to bite I would say "no" and and when he took the seed from hand I would say 'That's a good Boy/baby". By the next morning I had tricked him to stand on both my hands. During this time I taught him the "UP' command going from one hand to the next. There is only one small problem now. He allows me to scratch and pat him with my left hand (the one I first left in his cage) while standing on my right hand but would not let me do it the other way around. Can birds really distinguish left hand from right? He does. And who says birds are not intelligent. Well, I hope this helps others in the forum. Just remeber these words... "PATIENCE", "PERSISTENCE" and "LOVE" . Good Luck
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Steph
Weaned Todd
Joined: April 2005
Posts: 51
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Post by Steph on Apr 27, 2005 5:15:04 GMT -7
Hello, That was interesting thanks! Silver has always preferred my hubby to me. Mind you, in my opinion I am far more patient and calm with her, so I don't know why! She flies onto my lap occasionally, and has no problem taking food from me, but if I try to scratch her head or get her to come up on my hand she goes a bit mental. Any advice of what I should do next?
Also, I know exactly how you feel about nasty bites - Silver has caught me with 3 nasty ones. All left skin hanging off ,drew blood and left scars. Ouch! I think she picks up on my nerves now though which is my next task...
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Post by sarah67 on Apr 27, 2005 7:26:10 GMT -7
rocky used to bite so we stopped giving him a reaction and now he doesnt bite at all.i think its the same as a child having a tantrum,if u ignore it they stop.
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gusmom
Just Hatched
Joined: April 2005
Posts: 3
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Post by gusmom on Apr 27, 2005 7:37:45 GMT -7
I have the same problem with Gus. He's definately "Daddy's Boy", but I'm Mommy and Mommy spends more time with him. He will eat with me at the table, take treats from my hand, get ready in the morning, preening and such with me, and call me when I'm out of the room. But he will not come up for me, only my husband, and he won't let me scratch him. But we have come a long way in the last three months! In fact, I told my hubby last night that in a year Gus will love me just as much as him, lol! It just takes time, and I've decided since we didn't get Gus until he was 5, and his previous training wasn't the best, patience and time are going to be very important. He's so great and I love him so much, even if he bites me...but we are working on that!
Jan
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gusmom
Just Hatched
Joined: April 2005
Posts: 3
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Post by gusmom on Apr 27, 2005 14:47:42 GMT -7
Just like everyone else said, watch her body language. I can tell by the way Gus is standing whether he will step up for me or not, and it's ususally "not". However, I did make him a new play gym this last weekend that doesn't stand as tall as the other one he has, so now when he's playing he's not taller than me and he will step up for me most of the time from that. I think that also has alot to do with territory. He hasn't claimed this new gym as his territory yet so he doesn't feel the need to defend it against me. Just keep trying, but give her some space if that's what she's wanting. She will come around in time.
Jan
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Steph
Weaned Todd
Joined: April 2005
Posts: 51
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Post by Steph on Apr 28, 2005 5:38:22 GMT -7
Hi Jan, thanks for that. So you haven't got any secrets that have helped you over the last 3 months? Just love a patience I guess! Shes coming to me more and more recently but sometimes I think she is just coming to test me and gain dominance.
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Post by Tam on Apr 29, 2005 10:12:27 GMT -7
I won paddy over...he doesnt bite me now..he kisses me , all i did was not give up..every day i put my hand in..when he went to bite i took my hand out the cage..& closed the door..i did this a couple of times a day..talking nicley to him all the time..untill one day..he just got on my hand & now he doesnt wanna get off..lol..i love him so much..& i love it when he gives kisses
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Steph
Weaned Todd
Joined: April 2005
Posts: 51
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Post by Steph on May 3, 2005 5:06:08 GMT -7
Right I'll try that! Thanks!! I'll let you knowif she gets up!
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Post by liza on Jul 28, 2005 13:02:06 GMT -7
hi everyone i am not on my own then,its really starting to get me down now,as madge is really biting hard now and she looks at me really evil,i really do think she dose no like me.Its really strange though when i had her i could take her off the cage,and she would sit with me,but would not let me stroke her head,then all that was it she wont have me anywhere near her.yet my hubby can do anything with her.She is mating him i think,from what i have read on other pages.thanx
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Post by barryrendell3858 on Jul 30, 2005 0:58:06 GMT -7
hello all.we were lucky when we got sparky.he came out of his cage happily on to our hand without biting any of the family,but i guess now he has got to know eveyones personality he has chosen who and who he dont like in the family.he has bitten both the children before.when they have food he will attempt to get some from either child but overall he prefers our 3 yr old son to our 8yr old daughter.If sparky is on my wifes head then neither of them can get too near her as he dont like it.
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