"Demand" biting

[Elizabeth]

I got my IRN at 4 months old (he's 11 months now) and he was very hand shy, running away screaming any time you opened or even got near his cage. I have worked with him a lot in the last 7 months and he is now stepping up without hesitation (and talking a lot!). I used seeds as a reward in training him to step up.
Recently he has started biting my fingers when I take him out. It's not immediate--he steps up and I bring him out of the cage and a few seconds later he starts nipping my fingers. I am almost positive he is doing this because he now expects to be treated immediately for stepping up, and when he doesn't get a reward he gets "mad." I think he is essentially trying to "demand" a treat.
I just don't know how to stop this behavior. Should I ignore the bites (I try to but some of them hurt like heck!) or put him back in his cage when he nips? I would greatly appreciate any tips, thanks!!

 

[SharonC]

Levi was really into biting to get his way...he wanted what he wanted when he wanted it. I took him to his cage every time he bit, and spoke firmly to him when I did so. He learned quickly that it is not acceptable...

 

[antoinette]

Sharon has given exactly what advise I would have given.
Continue with back in the cage, ever single time he bites.
He will soon get the message.

 

[Elizabeth]

I will do that (it's also easier than ignoring the bite!) Thank you!

 

[SharonC]

It is extremely difficult to ignore a bite. It's advice given often, but no one explains how to do it. It's natural to pull away from pain....

 

[Bluesaphire]

"demand" biting
My new Galah bites but only sometimes,thank you i'll try the returning to cage thing. Can anyone tell me why she (angel) keeps going for my mouth, she likes to nibble my lips and if I let her my tongue! is this coz sdhe thinks I'm her mum, she is only 4 months old and fresh from the pet shop.
bluesaphire

 

[Bobby34231]

Hi Bluesaphire and welcome to the forum, you'll find that galahs as a rule can be a bit bitey especially as babies, I have 2 galahs that are just about a month older than yours, to me its not really a bite or a nip, but a strong testing of beak usage.....lol, mine just slowly reach down a do a hard pinch more so than a bite, I belong to a yahoo group for galahs and it seems they pretty much all go through this phase, some grow out of it some don't, as for the going to your mouth, it sounds more a learned behavior, I know many breeders while socializing their babies just love to hug and kiss up on them, and having managed a couple of pet stores in the past it is not unusual to see people come in a kiss the birds, so many people think that its such a natural thing to do, its not a very hygenic thing for you or the bird and can acually transmit harful bacteria and some viruses, chances are if you let the bird to continue to be near your mouth this behavior will also continue, good luck with your new fid

 

[Birdamor]

Well, if you got your bird used to getting a treat, his 'demanding' one is to be expected. Birds need their routines unchanged to feel secure. That's why people should never start off doing something that they don't plan on continuing for the rest of the bird's life (and, unfortunately, we all fail them in this as time goes by).

I would not put him in a cage because, think about it, in reality, he is not doing anything wrong. He is just following the routine you taught him (open cage, put your hand in, he steps up, you reward him) and punishing him with a time out when he is just following your cue doesn't seem fair in my eyes (I always try to look at things from their point of view). He might be nipping your fingers but it's not that he is been naughty, it's that he is disappointed and confused by your changing the rules cold turkey. Why don't you offer him something else instead? Like a piece of dry fig (make sure they are the kind without sulfites), my birds love figs and dates and they are very healthy for them. I also use these organic graham crackers made with sugar cane juice instead of sugar as a treat. They are not the healthiest thing in the world because of the high sugar content but they are not that bad if you just give them a tiny piece at a time. Or the organic wasabi dry peas. There are lots and lots of stuff you can offer him that is not as unhealthy as a seed and would still satisfy him enough so he would not feel the need to nip you.