Behavioral problems, any suggestions?

[Miri]

First off, I'd like to say hello to everyone.

I have had my young lovebird for about a month and a half, and when I brought her home she was just finished being weaned. She's been a real delight, and comes with me everywhere.

However, just in this past week or so, she's begun to experiment with biting. At first, it was just putting her beak on things, and now, she's nipping anything and everything -- ears, fingers, arms, etc. I wouldn't mind the biting as much as I do if it weren't for the fact that once she grabs on, she doesn't let go.

So my big question is, can anything be done to help with the biting?

Any feedback would be a great help.

Miri

 

[pheobus]

Wellcome to the forum!

Since she is a baby this should be not so difficult to stop it.We have some wonderfull lovebird parronts here such as Indigo and Genlisae (sorry guys if I forget some of you) who may have give you more exact details.

I have an amazon (Y C A) who is a rescue and is responding really good to everything till now..So when she tried to nip or test me how far she can get, I said NO firmly, when she backed off I would talk gently afterwards and maybe give her a treat.This is what is called encouraging positive behaviour.Now she will not bite, will only play with my hand...
I have to tell you that is not so easy to get this with all birds..

Remember patience and persistance is the key...

As soon as the others get in the forum they may help you more!

Oh, almost forgot! We love pics in this forum, waiting for your fids pics!

Tell us how you get on!

 

[Miri]

Thank you!

I've tried saying "no" firmly, but it just doesn't seem to faze her much, she just sort of ignores me. I'll keep going, and try the positive reinforcement like you said.

I've been taking pictures, I just can't seem to get one that captures her well enough. As soon as I get some good ones of Kit and Squids, I'll put them up!

 

[Eclectica]

Yep, i also did the harsh no thing and it worked great. Welcome by the way, hope you enjoy it here. I think i'm a little on the more strict side, cause if my birds try to nibble me, i go up to them, in their face and talk so hard and keep on going till they let go. But i figured, they dont want to get hurt by slapping or smacking, so i took to talking to them very hard so their ears wont take it, and they let go, and once they let go i start talking real smooth and normal again and may sometimes give them a treat so they dont think i'm the mean one! But its just my way, maybe i'm a bit crazy!

 

[Deanna]

Welcome to the Forum and yes, yes we LOVE pictures!

I, too, am of the ilk that I do not like to be bit, nor tolerate it well. I speak very firmly, directly nose-to-beak when I get bit. The first thing I do is to not allow it to happen (well, I should say, I try to manage the situation to the best of my ability). Do whatever you can to head a bite off at the pass. If bitten, push your hand into your birds chest and they will eventually release (I have a vice-grip bitting Senegal, moving my hand firmly into her chest puts her just slightly off balance and it forces her to release my finger in favor of staying perched upright).

I keep my birds off my head, neck and shoulder (with the exception of Timothy my Parrotlet). And, except for when on the playtop or the hammock, they are chest high or lower.

But, try to do whatever is necessary to make it so that that initial bite does not occur. Take away the opportunity, if you will.

Best of luck to you and don't forget to post some pics, too!!

 

[Peta]

Welcome Miri,

Yep as she's a baby it shouldn't be too dificult to stop this now before it gets to be a habit.

Give her the firm no, and if that doesn't stop her, put her on her cage (or playstand etc) for a few mins, I'm sure she'll soon get the message that if she bites then she goes off you. Ignore her for a little while then ask her to step up, if theres no biting praise her up.

Reward good behaviour all the time.

Let us know how you get on. I'm sure Indigo will be on in a little while, and she has two no four lovvies now. so I'm sure she'll be able to give you some advise that works with her lot.

Hope you have fun here. If ya need anything then please just ask, someone will be able to help ya out.

 

[Deanna]

Miri...this is something you can do (after the fact of getting bit, appropriate action, and ignoring) ... it is fun for the bird, fun for you ... but it is something that teaches obeying and discipline (in a fun way).

If you have a persistent biter, use "step-up sticks" (sticks that are sanitized and have the appropriate diameter for your birdies feet/claws). Otherwise, you can just use your right and left index fingers. (Training to sticks is always wise, in case someone besides yourself must handle the birdie, so you can actually practice with both your fingers and sticks).

But, get your little lovie on a step-up on your finger (or stick), then after a short moment, offer your other finger (or secondary stick) slightly "tapping" their breast and say "Step-up" ... do this (without stopping) about 10-12 times. I call it the step-up ladder game. If you do it repeatedly, they are learning to comply with a simple command of what you are asking them to do.

After doing the step-up ladder game, you can perch them or place them back in their cage for a short spell, before bringing them out for free-play.

I love playing the step-up ladder game with my fiddies and they (Timothy is reluctant, but doing well with it) enjoy it to. It is a focused interaction with a learning lesson.

 

[TexDot33]

Maybe I missed it, but is this actual BITING, or just that "beaky" stage that all young birdies go through ... could be just a phase that this little one will grow out of!

 

[indigo]

Miri:

Okay, nippy female lovebirds ... yep, I've got me one as well

First, hens tend to be nippy little so and so's, it is part of how they tend to be. That said I think they can be taught what's too hard because they (lovebirds) are very very smart. My femme fatale (Serenity) is about 18 months old and has already had babies. When she was a little baby herself she was snuggly, and sweet, then she got a little older and she stopped being as snuggly. She stopped wanting hugs and tickles altogether when she got married to my rescued male Pix (the babies poppa).

Anyways I also have a biting budgie - also female. She is actually more manageable and when I need to I hold her in a face cloth and speak real soft to her. She is completely untamed (she was a pet shop bird - never again) and has anxiety and nervousness issues. Anyways, I take the gentle speech approach as some have recommended. It works some times, it doesn't other times. I don't really push the issue with them. I figure they are healthy, happy, and when I need to I do handle them (with the aid of 'protection').

Seeing as your baby is still young, I'd recommend NOT getting another lovebird. I am very confidant in saying if I had not gotten Pix (who I'd never not have) then Serenity would be more tame. She was a hand raised baby, but spent a few months in the breeders store (from what I have seen he is a good breeder and they - the staff - love the birds allot, but by default they cannot handle all their birds as much as it takes to keep them perfectly tame).

When my girls go to chomp me I try to avoid it ... even if it means spilling water or bumping something - I make it look like I was meaning to do that and I have not actually had a beak IN my flesh in about a year now. If they get really close, then I scold them telling them "NO" and that that is naughty and bad. First and foremost though I do avoid a bite altogether.

Hope this helps.

Oh, and ....

WELCOME!!

 

[Keupi]

Hi Miri!

New to the boards, fid-slave for life!!

Up-front, I've never had a lovebird but I have read that they are known for nippi-ness. I own (am owned LOL) a Senegal. A few years ago I saw a show about parrots on Animal Planet and one of the things that resonated with me was, a cutesy baby is a problem child. The trainer on that show (I wish I could remember the name) mentioned that in training, what you set up now you deal with 10 years from now.

Given that, with Keupi, I decided in his baby days to only use the word NO for serious circumstances (life-threatening, immediate stop, etc.). However, in baby days the tone of the the word NO could set up other commands. During Keupi's 'beaky' days - when he was learning to beak - in the same tone as 'NO' I would say 'Skin.' The tone of the word was similiar but the command was different. Once he released, I would say 'Nicely Now' in that 'mind your manners' tone and he would do his natural beaking (if necessary) but wouldn't bite. To this day, 'nicely now' is a mainstay as when it gets said, he backs off and reevaluates (eg, the lunging). "Skin" is still one I can use at brief moments when he's in 'chew' mode. "NO" however, stops him. (This was especially useful when I moved and didn't realize the cable guy connected an extension cord into an outlet near his house - and I had plugged off that outlet.)

Fids are so intelligent. They're also so devilish yet cute. What you want is a spoiled bird NOT a spoiled brat. For me, in the past, I had noticed the overuse of 'NO' with training animals, often times to combat natural instinct.

Again, I don't know lovebirds, and I didn't do this with just my Keupi - it also worked with my (RIP) parakeet Fritzy. But, it might help with the beaking/biting thing, as well as open up a whole different level of communication.