Ekkie biting - but not violent

[Anya]

Hey, it's me, back from the metaphorical grave. I have a question that doesn't seem to have any answers yet from anywhere I've looked.
Zephyr is being really bitey, but it doesn't seem like he's upset with me. He just keeps biting at my nose and lips (and my ears, but I wear earrings, so I'm not really surprised there.) I don't think he does it to be mean, he just doesn't seem to know control over that sharp candy corn beak of his.
I've tried both how I trained the dogs not to nibble (by yelping and ignoring him for a minute. He always gets pet after this so he knows I'm not too upset) and how we trained Vandal (by simply yelping "Ow!") but he doesn't seem to get it.
I'd love to take him out more often, even just for little things, but this is making it hard as I constantly have to worry about keeping him away from my face. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[LordTriggs]

the dog method I found seemed to egg them on above all else, kind of like pressing a button that makes funny noises happen

Try each time he nips too hard a firm no then put him down away from you (not on the cage) then let him make his way back to you without paying him any mind, each nip gets a repeat process from you until he learns that too much strength means he gets ignored

 

[chris-md]

Simply that he probably doesn’t belong on your shoulder. It’s killing me but I’ve had to revoke shoulder privileges from my ekkie after two ear bites and two face bites. If he’s particularly calm, like at 10pm, I will let him chill but I’m very uptight about it.

Some birds just can’t be trusted near the head.

 

[Scott]

Be very careful with an Ekkie on the shoulder! They are capable of "grinding" bites that get progressively deeper.

I had two Ekkies for roughly 20 years and the male was never trustworthy for shoulder privileges.

 

[clark_conure]

I let clark act out at times but he is a small bird... What I reccomend is if you trust you bird to put his head in your eye socket and cuddle and you feel safe opening your eye...then your fine....if not then I would be a little cautious at all times.

I know I couldn't handle a large bird, I mean I can handle them but i couldn't be a good owner to a large bird because of my schedule etc.

The time out method lordtriiggs mentioned is something we both agree with. The bird needs to realize biting is not ok unless you are wrestling. I wrestle with my bird because it's a good reminder of bite pressure training. when he bites to hard I stop and say no... then he's like oh...right...sorry then we wrestle some more then I put him back on my shoulder and we do kissy.

 

[coopedup]

I get some "healthy" ear nibbles from Wrangler every now and then. For a while it was every time he was on my shoulder, he'd start with a chomp on the top of my ear. He's moved away from this behaviour for the most part. Recently he's been raking his beak across my face...like a taste test almost, a bit of nibble/regurge/tongue action. I feel it is possibly hormonal so Ive been carrying him more on my arm than shoulder. He's never lashed out at my face, but I dont trust him being held above waist level with anyone but me. Since he snuggles with me at night under my chin for a few hours, I feel pretty comfortable with him around my face. Not sure if the hormone angle has any relevance to you but thought I'd toss it out there

 

[davefv92c]

yep i have had to start keeping Max away from my face he seems to be going for eyes.
he wants my glasses,but he is doing it when i have them off now. also he gets mad when i cage him and has started to bite at my fingers when im trying to get him to step off.
food is my answer, he will do anything for food at any time.lol

 

[Anansi]

Very good advice thus far. I agree with Chris that shoulder privileges need to be revoked until such time as he proves he can be trusted that near to your face. In the meantime, bite pressure training is needed. He needs to understand what constitutes acceptable beaking vs uncomfortable pressure.

Also, he needs to understand what areas of your face are off-limits. In the avian world, such things are clearly and unmistakably expressed via body language. Since we humans aren't quite so adept at such modes of communication, we need to rely on clear and consistent responses to unacceptable behaviors.

So first thing, no fanfare. The whole yelping thing is definitely working against you. Many birds harbor an inner scientist that LOVES testing hypotheses. "Hmmm... that was an interesting sound. But can we duplicate the results by reapplying the stimulus?" CHOMP! "Fascinating! I can control the volume as well with beak pressure! Sweet!"

Yeah, you get the idea.

Say "No" in a firm, yet even voice. If the behavior is continued, put him on timeout. Personally, I use the cage for this. As long as the cage has been well established as a good place where he gets his best meals and such, he won't come to see the cage itself as a punishment. To ensure this, I only feed them their major meals inside their cages. Cages = shelter and food source. (I don't use the floor, as I actually discourage them from walking around down there. Floor walking for Maya would inevitably lead to a search for dark, nesty areas beneath couches #wholeothercanofworms. And Jolly finds enough ways to get his beak into things at flight height without bringing the floor into the mix. Lol!)

Anyhow, timeout should last between 5 and 10 minutes. And during that time, he must be ignored completely. Not even eye contact. Leave the room if at all possible. And then, once the timeout is over, welcome him back as though nothing has happened. But if he commits the infraction again, be consistent. Every time. Same response. Depending on how stubborn he is, it could take some time. But he'll get it.

This method has worked exceedingly well with Maya and Jolly both. Jolly, of course, has never bitten or even nipped in his life, but he had an OBSESSION with nibbling gently on my ears. I don't like ear nibbling. (Well, by birds, anyway. Lol!) So I clearly set my boundaries and he has come to respect them... just as I respect his.

Some links for additional reading on the topic:
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/58911-bird-bites-always-2.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html