Got bit 8 or 10 times yesterday

[gracebowen]

I got up for the day and Cora flew over and landed on me. She bit me at least 5 times for no apparent reason.

Shes a fairly Smart little bird. She knows my morning routine LOL. Ugh why can't she also figure out that I am not going to hurt her.

I finally get her off of me and go into the bathroom to brush my teeth accidentally leaving the door open.

Here comes Cora. She landed on my and bit me again then flew to the shelf. I turned on the water to brush my teeth. Oh no Cora's back but she didn't bite me yet. She is on my head. She begins climbing down and bites my neck while clinging to my hair.

I reposition my hair and she climbs down to the sink. I give her a bowl of water but it's clear she wants the running water.

I cup my hands and place them under the water. She comes over and bathes a bit. Then she bites me 3 times. She resumes bathing. When she is finished she bites me again and flies to the shelf.

Can anybody explain to me how the last 3 bites we're my fault?

 

[Tami2]

Hi Grace,

I can’t figure it out. However, I’m interested to hear from the elders of the group.

As you know they use their beak as another leg/foot. Even though I rarely get bit these days. There are times when Levi is moody & will clamp down when stepping up a tad harder. I think he’s just letting me know he’s annoyed about something. But, as much as I can read his body language, when he does do this it’s pretty much out of the blue & for no fault of my own. It’s not a serious bite, but firmer than usual.
I tell him no and return him to his cage for about 5 mins.

 

[Jottlebot]

I guess I'm wondering about your response to her biting. You're obviously tougher than I am because I couldn't handle repeated bites! I know the guidance is to ignore bites, but I'm guessing you don't react at all in which case she might not realise she's done anything you don't like. I think don't do anything fun (screaming, shouting, throwing yourself about, flapping at her, etc), but I would think a gentle negative consequence (time out, certainly getting her off you or a firm "no" ) might help. It sounds like we know biting isn't desirable, but she doesn't and if she bites and carries on doing the fun thing she wants to (climbing about on you or bathing) you're not giving her the message that it's not ok.

 

[gracebowen]

We still haven't bonded but she has started landing on me more and being more tolerant of my hands.
The first few bites I did say ow and things like don't bite me. Then I tried gently shaking her off.

The bathing bites I said ow but tried to ignore them.
Some things to note.
I've had her about a year. When she first came to live with me I couldn't walk by her cage without her lunging. Her previous owner rescued her from an abusive situation. I get bit for feeding her but that is starting to improve.

She will occasionally take food from my hand.

If I forget to feed her she let's me know. I don't forget often. I am trying to restrict access to plentiful food to curb hormones. I think she is finally done trying to hatch eggs.

 

[gracebowen]

Oh and I usually only get bit when putting food in her bowl. What usually works is to reach in the big open door and dump her food in her bowl real quick. Yesterday she didn't even try to bite me.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I have had some success with using the "earthquake" technique for biting. When he bites, I give my hand a swift shake. The idea... every time he bites, a mysterious earthquske shakes him up.
Other than that, I have reduced biting to almost zero over the decades... not because I've changed the bird, but I have changed me. And a lot of that has involved giving up on a lot of my desires/expectations. After years of battle, I surrendered. I don't do stuff that gets me bitten. I don't scratch his head much, ever... tail is okay. I NEVER do stuff that makes him mad... I don't touch others when he's out; I rarely try to get him to step up onto my hand first. Hand-held perch first, then hand. In some ways, I swallow my disappointment at having such a little monster for a pet, but he is what he is. I ALWAYS wear my hair down when he's on my shoulder, so all he can bite is hair. Really, I don't involve hands much... he doesn't like them. He seems to think the real ME is my head, perched on a weird moveable tree with questionable appendages.
Since he's fully flighted, the ONLY way I get him into the cage is to toss a chile pepper in and he flaps in after it. So food reward is a necessity for me. Time-out doesn't exist in the Rb's kingdom.
I like your idea of simply starting NOT TO DO what gets you bitten, like with the food bowl.
Over time, i've given up on a lot of "perfect pet" aspirations. It's enough, for me, to know that a parrot loves me and shares my home. I find peace in that.

Good luck to you!

 

[GaleriaGila]

P.S.
I love your attitude... so patient and loving and tolerant.
Hang in there.

 

[gracebowen]

Gail love your attitude too but I see some disappointment still.

I get why she bit me the first few times. I think I just got the last 3 too. She is scared of hands but bathing distracted her for a bit.

I'm not mad at her or all but it sure was something getting bit so many times so quickly. No blood though. And she just let me put a new feeding bowl in her cage with no problem.

 

[itzjbean]

I'm assuming at some point you're letting this bird that you have not bonded yet out of her cage without properly hand-training her.

Sounds like she needs to be caged until you can gain some of her trust. What is her background? In my eyes, she seems to be biting you to maybe be reminding you that 'hey! I may be little but I aint afraid of you!' ...

It's time to back up....way up. I don't want to tell you not to let her out because birds need that...but until you can hand-tame her it will be easier and safer for the two of you to work on your bond while she in in her cage. In this state in the cage it will give you more control over where she is, instead of letting her fly around at her free will and do fly-by biting.

The first thing she needs to understand is that people are friends. Right now it doesn't seem like she sees this. So, you need to make every single interaction with her a positive one. Treats will be your best friend here. Basically you want to work your way to putting your hand into the cage with no biting, have her step up onto your hand. This will come with just sitting next to her cage and getting her more used to you and gaining her trust.

Only when you have taught her to step-up should she be let out again. Flight recall is also important, and should be done after step-up training. Basically telling the bird to come to you from any location in the room.

Patience, love and commitment are needed! Don't give up!

I also highly recommned this thread: Tips for Bonding and Building Trust

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I got up for the day and Cora flew over and landed on me. She bit me at least 5 times for no apparent reason.

Shes a fairly Smart little bird. She knows my morning routine LOL. Ugh why can't she also figure out that I am not going to hurt her.

I finally get her off of me and go into the bathroom to brush my teeth accidentally leaving the door open.

Here comes Cora. She landed on my and bit me again then flew to the shelf. I turned on the water to brush my teeth. Oh no Cora's back but she didn't bite me yet. She is on my head. She begins climbing down and bites my neck while clinging to my hair.

I reposition my hair and she climbs down to the sink. I give her a bowl of water but it's clear she wants the running water.

I cup my hands and place them under the water. She comes over and bathes a bit. Then she bites me 3 times. She resumes bathing. When she is finished she bites me again and flies to the shelf.

Can anybody explain to me how the last 3 bites we're my fault?

You must be tasty to Cora


Jim

 

[gracebowen]

Ok. Any suggestions?



The problem is she wants a bath under runnimg water but doesn't want to get down in sink. She won't use a dish either.

She wants me to cup my hands under the water for her to bathe.

But since she's scared of hands she will bathe a few seconds the bite me. Bathe a few seconds then bite.

Today's bath was 3 bites.

Not hard enough to break skin. Similar to a strong pinch. Also each bite seemed a little harder.