Help new to this

[crosales01]

Hello world, I just recently got myself a Sun conure, the little sweetie is friendly loves to be handled, BUT once on my shoulder he BITES my neck, now at first i thought maybe he was trying to preen me, but nope he broke skin, he wont bite my hands or arms.

When he was on my shoulder the last couple of days i thought i could redirect his attention by holding his food out near him and it worked for about 5 minutes then he goes back to biting me. He broke skin this time. So Im just lost at what to do now? everytime he bites me I place him in his cage, hes a free flyer so he knows when hes in the cage its an issue...

 

[antoinette]

Hi and welcome
My best suggestion do not let your bird on your should.
Birds are unpredictable, never knowing when they are going to bite.

 

[crimson]

Hi there- welcome to the forum

One of the members on here gave me some very good advice one time, don't let the bird climb up on your shoulder.
they need boundaries just like children do.
my senegal did something very similar. he would climb up on my shoulder and lung at my face.

once I stopped him from climbing up, the lunging stopped. I only allowed him to go up the crook of my arm, no further.

Now he's allowed on my shoulder with no issues.

 

[antoinette]

Unfortunately there have been many "accidents" where birds have bitten their guardian when sitting on their shoulders.
One guardian had part of his ear bitten off and another a section of his nose was bitten off.

 

[crosales01]

Great advice, but now the issue is, as he is allowed to free fly through the house, He flys onto my shoulder. If clipping his wings is a must then I will, but its more of a last resort.

Any technique or suggestion as far as teaching him his boundaries to be limited to just my arms?

 

[antoinette]

Great advice, but now the issue is, as he is allowed to free fly through the house, He flys onto my shoulder. If clipping his wings is a must then I will, but its more of a last resort.

Any technique or suggestion as far as teaching him his boundaries to be limited to just my arms?

Perhaps train him to land on a stick, rather than your shoulder.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Antoinettes advice will save u some heartache. U dont want to set up your bird to br made the bad guy, which canhappen when he does his natural bird thing and get snippy or territorial on your shoulder. That shoulder will become like his branch in a tree to be in charge of and protect. Pritti and i have been bonded over 20 yrs and he has been perching on my shoulder for a long time. I maintain eye contact regularly, i make sure there is no jewelry or other distractions on me or hair to get him curious and exploring. So he just hangs and either snuggles, preens my hair, or turns hus head and sleeps. Stlll amazes that he can stand like that. But we know ea other and thats not to say he hasnt given me a half dozen blood bites over the years, but that was usually because of an abrupt movement or sound on my part. Read up on the subject.

 

[KCJames]

I held my friend's Amazon once, He tried to go for my eye. I have since assumed that pirates had an eye taken out by the parrot on their shoulder.

 

[birdman7]

Unfortunately there have been many "accidents" where birds have bitten their guardian when sitting on their shoulders.
One guardian had part of his ear bitten off and another a section of his nose was bitten off.

I'm not sure a Sun Conure can bite part of an ear or nose off with just one bite...sounds like something a larger parrot can do though.

 

[Mayden]

Unfortunately there have been many "accidents" where birds have bitten their guardian when sitting on their shoulders.
One guardian had part of his ear bitten off and another a section of his nose was bitten off.

I'm not sure a Sun Conure can bite part of an ear or nose off with just one bite...sounds like something a larger parrot can do though.

My senegal (similar size to a sun conure) might not be able to take off my nose, but he'll sure shred through my ear lobe without a doubt. Don't ever underestimate the strength of a birdy beak, they're used for cracking open the toughest of nuts and difficult fruit, stripping bark from trees...

I'd just keep the bird from your shoulder, offer up your arm or a stick if he lands there, reward when he steps on the stick. Keep that up until the biting has calmed down.

Merlin is allowed on my shoulder, he's occassionally nipped at my neck when grumpy, but I know my bird and I'm more likely to lose a digit then I am suffer any serious injury to my neck/ears/etc. So shoulder over hands any day for me.

 

[MonicaMc]

Suggestion other than keeping him off your shoulder and clipping his wings?

Give him something to do! Maybe he's doing it because he's bored! Here's some ideas!

Polly Wanna Necklace Bird Toy | Bird Toy | Parakeet Toys | Sun Conures Toys | African Greys Toys | Parrot Toys
Treat Cup Necklace-Medium Bird Toy
A Toy Enjoyed?. | The Bird Mama
Bird Toy Necklace


Although, it may be a good idea to wear a turtle neck or get a scarf or something to protect your neck and hide your skin, then wear a 'birdy necklace' and have your sun with you. Play with him AND the necklace. Encourage him to interact with it. Reward him for doing so. Make it fun! With enough time he may learn to enjoy playing with what's around your neck rather than your neck itself.


Just another idea.... don't know how well it may work.

 

[antoinette]

Unfortunately there have been many "accidents" where birds have bitten their guardian when sitting on their shoulders.
One guardian had part of his ear bitten off and another a section of his nose was bitten off.

I'm not sure a Sun Conure can bite part of an ear or nose off with just one bite...sounds like something a larger parrot can do though.

Yipe it was a Sun Conure that bit off a piece of his guardian nose.

A friend of mine had a Ringneck Sterretjie, she was quarter the size of Mishka and she bit me worse than what Mishka has ever bitten me.

Remember dynamite comes in small packages.