Hand reared but biting?

[henlobirb]

Hi all I got 2 yellow sided GCCs a couple of days ago but i have one issue, they were sold to me as hand reared and in the shop did the usual nibbling that I am used to with cockatiels however once home they decided to go after my fingers and ears relentlessly, it doesnt seem to be aggressive biting but they clamp down HARD to the the point ive had to pry their beaks from my ears to stop them drawing blood. I tried the earthquake method and it seems to be improving one birds behaviour however the other is still insistant on biting me. It doesnt seem logical to me that hand reared birds would bite humans that hard so is it possible they arent hand reared but are simply tamed? Yet saying that i cant let them out the cage without them wanting to be on me, its not good enough being near me they have to be ON me, which with 2 dogs, despite them being well behaved is a bit of an issue as having a bird bite a dog then in return a dog bite a bird is not my ideal situation so now im having to rotate who i spend time with which is getting tiresome. Is it possible to teach the birds to enjoy their own company so all my animals can be in the same room without me stressing about them being too close or are they likely to become more clingy as time goes on? My dogs are also clingy but its not fair to tell them to go away when the birds are out when theyve been by my side 24/7 for 3 years

 

[Kiwibird]

Parrots are not the right companions for everyone. They need to be trained and their trust EARNED even if they were hand raised. They are not feathered dogs who've been bred for thousands of generations to live with people. They are still wild animals, only a few generations out of the wild at most. I think you need to carefully consider if they are really "right" for you. Parrots NEED several hours a day with their human family, even with a bird friend. If you cannot provide that, they need to go back to the breeder before they form any kind of bond with you.

To me, it sounds like a more hands off, happy with their own kind aviary species, such as finches, canaries, doves etc... may be better for what you're looking for in birds. Parrots are like toddlers attention-needs wise and if you can't make time for them, they deserve to go to someone who can.

 

[PickleMeDickles]

First of all, your birds have no point of reference regarding bite pressure. At this point, all biting is just seen as biting. They need to learn that a certain amount of pressure is acceptable and then no more. Come up with a phrase or word that means stop (I use quit). And try, no matter how hard it hurts, to just stay calm and carry on. Our birds LOVE to see us all worked up screaming and jumping. It's like, look at the giant hairless monkies go bonkers, can we do it again?

This is very much like puppy teething and most dogs take to training quite well, but they have had 10,000 years to practice living with us and reading our body language. As KiwiBird stated above, our birds have a few generations. Not enough, at all, to learn to live with humans. And since we are the ones who have condoned having them snatched out of their environment and bred in captivity, we need to be the ones to learn about them.

Look up bite pressure training on this forum or another reputable site and set up a little program. You will get through it but nothing is free

 

[itchyfeet]

All of our birds are great wee self entertainers. Except for Skittles, the cage doors are open morning until evening, they have the run of the cages and the playstand. Occasionally, they'll climb the curtain just behind them to run along the curtain rail too. We switch out foraging toys and toy boxes regularly so there is always something's to throw off the side / explore.
We have a cat, and skittles is a tad smaller than the others. We've seen the cat watch him ever so subtlety, so he's only out when we know exactly where the cat is. He's afraid of all of the other birds. If one accidentally makes a floor landing he shoots off and hides.
We also have a miniature poodle. He's been taught to not go near the birds or their area, unless food is being thrown off the side of the cage. Our birds have their area, raised and in the line of sight. the cages are flight cages in stands, the playgym is on a stand - the other animals have the rest of the space and the harmony - but it's a cautious, diligent harmony that's been a work of process over years.

Bird beaks are used for exploring, understand and communicating, much like a mouthy toddler. They just need to learn what's appropriate. I used the 'forum method' of bite pressure training from my daughters lovie to the folks 'toos, and they've all been safely responsive.

It takes a barrel load of effort to have a dog be a safe and well trained member of the family, it doesn't just happen. Same with the parrots

 

[Flboy]

I tend to agree with Kiwibird, you may have rushed into a situation that isn't a right fit for all of you! I side with the birds, and I want what is best for them!

 

[T00tsyd]

If you have only had these guys a couple of days ago don't you think you are asking a bit much from them? They don't know who you are - friend or foe - they are trying to assess you to see if you are worthy of being part of their flock. They can only do that by getting up close and personal.

When I brought my chap home he was in his cage for 3/4 days with me just doing the essentials like feeding and cleaning and lots of talking, until he looked a bit more comfortable. I have a dog too. He's German Shepherd size so not a tiny one and although he is obedience trained he needed careful training with this new intruder. It has to be tiny steps and at present it looks as though you feel that as long as they are in your home then job done.

I would suggest you read until your eyes ache. I have had to do that and it is the only way. If you get it wrong at this stage you risk a disastrous relationship that you will regret.

I find dogs easy compared to birds - they are a whole different story - don't underestimate them.

 

[LordTriggs]

it sounds to me like you didn't actually look into what owning a bird is like and possibly got them on a whim. For one thing hand-reared birds can and do bite. In fact every bird you have EVER seen as a pet has drawn blood, even those little parrotlets/budgies.

I would agree with Kiwibird that you need to really think if you're right for them. With the dogs taking up your time and jumping straight into 2 of them I honestly think it'll be better for everyone involved to take the birds back and leave it

 

[Grubsich]

i've only had my ggc about 2 weeks but i also agree, it might take months of daily training to start to get them to be the bird you want them to be, but they also might never be what you want, and you have to accept that and continue training them basic commands so they have a happy and safe life. i truly recommend reading up on how parrot psychology works. i also recommend reading stories of rescue parrots and the effort people go into working with them to make /them/ happy and comfortable, obviously those are rescues, but its a good insight onto the problems that can happen. if this all sounds too much for you, return them to the breeder, the birds health and happiness always comes first.

 

[SassiBird]

"Hand reared" just means they were fed by a human instead of their avian parents. It does not mean "well socialized" or "tame". However, a well socialized conure would want to spend as much time with you as possible. Which it sounds like yours do. It depends what you mean when you say "teach the birds to enjoy their own company". If you mean 24x7, then you are doing them a disservice. If you want a bird to observe only, then conures aren't right for you. If you mean an hour or two where they are expected to entertain themselves, then yes, you can and should strive for that.

P.S. "Biting" too hard (e.g. playing too hard, not from aggression or fear) is normal for a young conure. There are lots of threads with advice on biting.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I also agree with Kiwibird. Parrots are very needy animals and need to be out of the cage with you for several hours each day playing, flying, cuddling, training, or just sitting on you while you go about your household chores. And handfed parrots do bite. If you aren't willing to get bitten, earn their trust, and spend several hours with them each day, maybe parrots aren't the right pets for you. But IF you are willing to earn their trust, get bitten at times, and spend a lot of time with them, then parrots make wonderful companions.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Some wonderful replies above but just to point out that you have to earn the trust of two birds who are probably going to bond with each other better than you. Not impossible but it will be an uphill struggle. If you think that two will entertain each other? Yes, there is something in that but they will then shut you out in all probability.

If the dogs are out and about when you are with the birds then they will clamp you as probably very nervous of them. Keep both types of pets separate before something happens that cannot be undone.