Always trying to bite

[Boniface]

So I have a senegal about 10 months old.

We've had him since October. He's mostly well behaved except he's always trying to bite me hard.

It can be when we're playing he goes for my fingers instead of the toy, or grabs the toy and lunges at me or when offering him food.

I think it's excitement rather than fear but I would like to stop him from doing it, it hurts.

Would anyone be able to advise please?

 

[RavensGryf]

If you feel he's getting wound up, stop for a time out til he calms down. When he bites, all fun is over and stopped for the moment. Tell him a stern no and put him down until his body language shows he's calm.

What I do with Griffin who is a close Sennie relative, I say a stern "no biting!" Then immediately with an index finger held just out of reach... when I have his attention and he's done snapping, I gently touch his beak with that finger and say again, (softer, but still sternly) "no biting" and look him in the eye.

When he's calm, I say "gentle" softly and calmly (with the index finger on his beak), and my body language calms, which further conveys what the word means. Griffin will 90% of the time stop biting, or beaks softly. If he starts going harder, the above method starts over again until he gets it.. then he gets set down. Read him, if Patrick is too wound up, set him down for a little while.

Griffin is smart, and so is Patrick. Griffin now knows what it means when I tell him no biting or gentle, and he also knows that biting for everything is unacceptable. Sometimes he needs a reminder before stepping up when I think he's going to try. While he 'knows' his boundaries, and is much better now, he still tries at times. With Poi's it's just part of their nature to bite as a first reflex as compared to some species, and any Senegal or related species owner who has owned a mature one for enough time knows this. BUT, as with Griffin, it can be reduced and managed. This is what has worked for Griffin so I thought I'd suggest it.

Even after he's trained, just like a strong willed breed of dog, training for boundary setting may be something he'll always need a little reminding of here and there.. if you slack off, he'll try you! Good luck

 

[thekarens]

I'm beginning to think we need a stickie for "My Poi Is Trying To Eat Me" ;-)

Julie gives excellent advice, so I have nothing to add.

 

[Hawk]

So I have a senegal about 10 months old.

We've had him since October. He's mostly well behaved except he's always trying to bite me hard.

It can be when we're playing he goes for my fingers instead of the toy, or grabs the toy and lunges at me or when offering him food.

I think it's excitement rather than fear but I would like to stop him from doing it, it hurts.

Would anyone be able to advise please?

For one...it's a Senegal...(I have One).....and they are know to bite....Then all parrots will bite from time to time, it's sometimes their means of communicating. At 10 months it's still a baby....It has not learned control of the beak yet. Lunging is common as well in Senegal's...

They out grow it, training helps as well as time outs inside their cage....when they learn that biting will give them a time out, they back off. My senni is going on 3 and has calmed down now from hard ( rip the flesh biting) to nibbles now. They learn, trust me, and they end up being your cuddle bunny....They are stubborn but adorable.

If a person wants a parrot that doesn't bite....news flash....they have not been discovered yet.