Help! Tips to train my new blue crown conure to stop biting me?

[dragonsmoonflight]

Hello, I'm new to the parrot world and I just got a new blue crown conure a few days ago. I got him from someone, so I dont know how his previous owners treated him. He is overall a charming and friendly bird but when I stick my hand in the cage he will bite me. He doesn't know how to step up. I don't know how to teach a biting bird to step up. I tried and I got not quite a bit tonight. He will bite if I try to pet him too much. Does he not like me? Could I get tips on how to stop the biting and training him to step up?? If you need any info on him and the way he lives just ask. Thank you all in advance!

Breann

 

[Grenage]

Touch/clicker training is probably what will be recommended by most (Google for some nice videos). Don't take it to heart, aside from it being only a couple of days, he's most likely just protecting himself and his space.

It's probably best to avoid petting until he's comfortable with you.

 

[MonicaMc]

I agree with Grenage. I'll go into a bit more detail though....


I got him from someone, so I dont know how his previous owners treated him.
How a parrot is previously handled can affect how they'll interact with people in the future. If a bird has been raised well and is sweet, loving and affectionate with his/her owner may not act the same way to strangers. Likewise, a bird that "can't be handled" and is "aggressive and loud" in one home may be the complete opposite in another.

Birds are not like dogs or cats. Dogs and cats either like you or they don't. A dog may be like "Oh, a stranger? New person! How fun! Pet me and love me! I love you!" (if a friendly dog) A cat may be like "New person? -sniff sniff- You smell different. Eh, who cares, I'm going to go bask in the sun." A bird would be more like "I don't know you, I don't trust you, go away."

He is overall a charming and friendly bird but when I stick my hand in the cage he will bite me.
When you stick your hand into the cage you get bit. If you repeatedly stick your hand into the cage, you will be teaching your bird to bite every time you stick your hand into the cage.

First off, stop getting bit! Second, try to learn to read your birds body language. Is he afraid? Does he not trust you? Is he aggressive? What is his behavior prior to him biting. Are his eyes pinning? Does his stance widen? Does he fluff his feathers up and raise the feathers of his nape? Or does he back away? Does he appear like he's trying to make himself small?

Your conure is in a new home with a new person. He's probably unsure of his surroundings. He may not know if the environment he has been moved to is safe or not, then there is this new person that he doesn't even know trying to get him to do things.

Suggestion? Try and figure out what his favorite treat or food is. Then, start feeding him the food by hand (if he'll accept it). Don't put the food right in front of his face, put it off to the side away from him and let him decide if he'll come over and take the food or not.

He doesn't know how to step up.
Doesn't know, or refuses? It's possible he knows how to, but refuses to do so because he doesn't trust you yet. Trust must be earned.

I don't know how to teach a biting bird to step up.
As Grenage said, target training is a great tool! You can teach a bird a *lot* of behaviors if they know how to target! I highly recommend clicker training and positive reinforcement!

I tried and I got not quite a bit tonight.
Chances are, you are pushing him out of his comfort zone which is leading to the bites. Each interaction with him should be fun, interesting and good! And I don't mean fun and interesting for you, but him, too! If you find it fun but he doesn't, then it's not the right thing to do!


He will bite if I try to pet him too much. Does he not like me?
Stop trying to pet him so much. When he's comfortable with you, he'll let you know! And you can also train him to accept *appropriate* petting. If a bird really doesn't like you, they'd let you know by going out of their way to attack you. He just hasn't had the chance to get to know you in a positive way yet.

Could I get tips on how to stop the biting and training him to step up?? If you need any info on him and the way he lives just ask.
Besides target training, here are some links that may help you to earn his trust.

Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Help! My Parrot Wont Step Up!
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Respecting the Bite
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: How to Address Fear in Parrots

Living With Parrots Cage Free: Bucky and Strider - Millet Eating Fiends!

A ?Bird Attacking? Question | Lara Joseph
A Question About an Issue with Nipping | Lara Joseph

Positive reinforcement | Learning Parrots

 

[cthulhus_minion]

Give him some space and slowly introduce yourself to him. Sit by the cage and talk to him and let him know you aren't a threat. Most important thing is to be patient. And yes its hard to not take it personal when you get bit, it was one of the hardest things for me to learn. I have a blue crown Conure as well and she is very sweet and talks up a storm now. I had to tame her down a little at first but it was well worth it.