Conure Odd Biting Behavior

[Caitnah]

My Pineapple is 14 months old. I live alone and he has had no other human contact. But lately he has been showing some odd behavior.
About six months ago, I was lucky enough to meet a very nice lady which has developed into a serious relationship. Obviously I introduced her to my Pineapple who immediately took to her. For awhile we had no problem.
But then, whenever my GF was with me in the house, and my Conure was out with us, he began biting me hard when trying to get him to step up. He would sit with her and bite me sometimes when I put my hand near him.
Now, of course you might think that he bonded with her, but when he would be in this mood, he would bite HER also.
This has gone on for the last few months and has gotten worse. If she is around, he will bite me. He will even climb on my shoulder and bite my ear. If the GF tries to get him to step up, same thing.
HERES THE ODD THING...When she is not around, he goes back to being docile and friendly and does not bite me at all. Ever.

If GF and me are sitting on the couch, he will fly over to me, walk around and play. He will also walk over to her and play with no problem. But after about 15', he begins to get out of hand. But if I try to get him to step up, he will bite. If GF tries also, he bites her also.
GF leaves house, no more problem.
If GF has him at her house and I am not there, he rarely bites her either.
Any suggestions?

 

[Sunnyclover]

They just get weird about humans sometimes. I would try time outs...it has worked for me. Also if you can't get him to take a time out and he bites you please shake your hand like an earthquake... it's pretty hard to still bite after that (the is a common method in the bird community if a bird were to chomp down and not let go). For time outs just relocate you conure to the nearest surface and turn your back to him for 1 minute. The time outs worked for me and my Conures. I have 4 and 3/4 never bite ME (lol) and one...he is the biggest will give biting a try here and there but it is no longer a hard bite. Please be very consistent with this or it will not work.
One thing that's weird is that sometimes when I'm out of the room my Green Cheek will bite other people but if I'm around she won't bite anyone ever. I have many reports of her flaring her little tail and lunging at whoever but when I enter the room she unflares it and goes back to her sweet self. She also only does this sometimes...not all the time. So strange lol.

 

[ChristaNL]

I would only do this 'earthquake' when you see a bite coming and need to prevent the bite landing, in every other situation you just tell your bird that the perch (your hand) is an unsafe place to be.

Not something I would want to teach my birds- I want them to fly to me because I *am* the ultimate safe place for them to be.


I agree this is something you need to adres *every* *single* *time* it happens.
(both of you btw!)

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html

 

[noodles123]

It sounds like your bird has a crush on her...She is "the chosen one". Make sure that both of you are sticking to petting on the head only (no cuddles---cuddles=foreplay to a hormonal bird) and also, make sure that your bird doesn't have access to any shadowy places (huts, piles of paper, blankets, under furniture, low ledges, under clothing etc). Shadowy areas stimulate hormonal nesting behavior and can increase the bird's drive to mate (along with consequent aggression, biting, screaming, egg-binding in females etc). Also, try to see if you can make your interactions with the bird as positive as possible when she is around..