I don't know how to help my bird

[kiwicoated]

My new conure bites me no matter what. It's very clear to me that she wants attention as she comes to the door of the cage when it's open and chatters. If anyone else comes near she'll step up (occasionally bit if that's not what she wanted, but usually just steps up). For whatever reason she really really doesn't trust my hands. I'm working with her slowly, giving her food from my hands so she associates my hands with good things, but she bites my fingers even when there is food in them.
I want to give her space but she really does want attention and gets really excited when my dad comes in to spend time with her. If you leave her alone for too long she comes to the door and chirps a while for you to open int. This is my bird though and I can't rely on my dad to give her the attention she needs.

Are there other ways to work with her so that she isn't left alone all the time but I don't get bit? My hands are so torn up and it's getting to the point where I can barely handle being around her. She's bit me so hard that I've cried a couple times.

 

[Phlox]

Wait, isn't she 8 years old? And you've had her for two days?

She's a bird. Give her some time to adjust. You are pushing way too hard. Working slowly means weeks and months of working on it, not 2 days.

 

[kiwicoated]

It's just that I know she wants attention, her body language is clear, but I can't give it to her. Is it okay to just leave her in her cage?

I've never had a bird before and research can only go so far.

If she acts like she's happy to see me but then chomps down should I leave her alone? What is the best way to get her used to me in the future? I've completely stopped handling her since last night because biting is her way of telling me no (obviously), but even when I try to give her food so that she has some interaction she bites.

 

[kiwicoated]

I would like to make it clear that if she wasn't coming up to the cage door and asking for attention I would be leaving her alone entirely. Even though I've never had a bird before, I've had animals that didn't like people and over time while just sitting with them they slowly warmed up. Booka just acts like she wants attention (and accepts it from others) but bites me. This is not me being desperate for her to love me, I'm really trying to help her.

At this point all I want to know is what is the best way to give her the attention she wants without upsetting her the way my hands obviously do?

 

[Phlox]

She might want out of the cage but not want to be touched. Hands are scary to birds who haven't been handled a lot.

 

[Kalidasa]

Just wondering, are you putting your hands in the cage? Because many parrots hate people (even the ones they love) screwing around in their cages. It might be best to let her out, and deal with her away from her cage. My conure had severe biting issues when I first got him, and he was 4 yrs old at the time. It works out with time, positive reinforcements, etc.
My conure now is the sweetest thing in the world, but if I put my hands in his cage and he's in there, or even outside on my shoulder, I get nailed pretty good. I can only clean and work on his cage if he's another room. Many birds are cage-aggressive, and perfect sweethearts away from their cage.

 

[Frumpydumple]

I agree with Phlox. I think you're pushing things too much with her. I think you should start some simple target training through the bars and feed her treats through the bars to build trust before starting to let her out.

 

[4dugnlee]

My BFA Sassy would take treats from me and would come to the side of the cage whenever I would sit and talk to her. However, she would NOT step up and would BITE hard if we tried to touch her or tried to get her to step up to our hand/arm or a perch. She is scared to death of gloves also. I would let Sassy out of her cage and be there but not touch her. It took 2 months for her to fly to me, and now she steps up to me and doesn't bite me. She has come so far, but she had to learn to trust me. Give your bird attention, but take it very slow and let her learn to trust you. You can give her attention without touching her. Work with her, talk to her and spend time with her. Try target training her. Like I said, it took 2 months with mine...it could be shorter or longer than that, depending on the bird. Patience is key! Good luck.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I know what your talking about with the biting a begging for attention. I call mine "The beggars ". I couldn't figure these guys out. They wanted to see you so bad ,but once on me would bite the crap out of you. I chalked this behavior with them to be something due to being overexcited. What I do with mine now is [really learn them]. My sun wants to interact with me on a play stand [and not in my lap] .My Greencheek I let him climb out of his cage [on top] .Then he wants to step up on me. We do it this way every time. If I were to reach in his cage he would bite me. He likes to only be pet on the back of his head . Im not saying that these things will help your guy . But I bet theirs things hes going to like . Your going to have to figure it out with your guy and try things. I do get how there big beggars for attention . Not every bird wants the same thing I guess. Good luck to you.