Just a bad mood?

[Gingerchezy]

So my baby conure, Chewie, was lovely this morning. We shared an apple and all was happy. I went out for sunday dinner and ever since I got back she's been in such a mood! She'll step up a bit, but mostly seems to be going at my hand, beak open, ready for attack! And she's unusually jumpy.

Do you think this is just a random mood? I'm so scared of her getting bad habits! I have had her for just a week so I'm probably a little over sensitive and worrying a lot.

Please put my mind at ease! lol

 

[MaraWentz]

Could be just a bad mood or maybe she is just like this and is finally figuring you out to see what she can get away with. Either way, don't let her. What I do with my birds is give them no choice, pretty much. Elvis my first RFM was aggressive to everyone and eventually became my bird but a one person bird, and I used the same approach on Erin and she was practically wild when I received her- unhandable, very nippy, fluttered away, bonded to another parrot,and now she is friendly to all.

Know you're going to get bit a lot, or if its just a bad mood- for the day. Either way know it's going to hurt and wont be a one time thing and when you do get bit don't wince, or draw back suddenly or get mad or scold. Simply say no and go on like it didn't happen. If you ask your bird to step up he has no choice to step up- even if he lunges and bites, you must pick him up anyway, so he doesn't think that biting will get his way. But obviously, if he bites when you pick him up, don't walk around or try to cuddle him. Simply say no when it bites, pick it up, say good bird, set him down, and give him a treat if he isn't too mad and if he is still mad, putting him back down is reward enough. By 2 weeks of ignoring the biting- which is hard to do at first because it is painful, he will see that it doesn't help him get his way or even a reaction.

I've been doing this with Erin and she hardly goes to bite ever and if she isnt in a mood to be picked up she goes to open her beak and all I ask calmly is -are you going to bite? and she immediately closes her beak and steps up. She realizes that biting doesnt get her way. Biting me is not going to get her out of her command.

 

[MacawGuy]

yea it could be a bad mood. but always remember never let her push you around. you have to take charge so shes knows who is boss.

 

[lene1949]

I never pull my hand away, if Max looks like he's going to bite, and he never does... He will grab a finger and then push it away from him, and that's fine... I'll leave him to it...

I have taught Max not to bite - or be gentle - but... I still respect his wishes...

 

[greenbutterfly81]

I agree with Mara. Make sure you are not pulling away when Chewie goes at you. My sun has done this a time or two, if she has been out for a while I chalk it up to a tired fit and she just goes back into her cage (And usually falls right asleep).

If I just got her out and she's being nippy she goes on top of the cage with her toy basket and I leave her be until she calls me ("mama") or flutters over to me. She has played on top of the cage for over an hour before she's wanted to interact sometimes. These little guys need their space too.

The hardest thing has been getting my six yer old daughter to leave her alone when she's in time out on top of the cage. We're working on that one.


Keep in mind also that Chewie is just a baby. Think of him as you would a 6 month old human, everything goes in the mouth. He needs to learn how much is too much. I've let Kiyomi chew on my fingers a bit and tell her when she chews too hard. Consider also, did your breeder hand feed from fingers like mine did? My girl licks on my fingers sometimes so I give her water off my fingers and she makes what we call her "happy baby" noise.

 

[Gingerchezy]

Thank you for your comments, they're all really helpful!

I've really tried not to react when she nibbles me too hard but... it hurts! I read somewhere that if you wobble your hand to make them unsteady that can distract them from biting and maybe help?

*sigh* I had no idea looking after parrots was so hard. And noisy, yesterday she screamed for about 20mins while I went for a shower :-\ I.m starting to think maybe i'm not cut out for this :'(

 

[dawnkyung]

My first GCC, Aki, was sweet as can be when I first brought her home (at around 3 months old). She was sweet and never really bit me. After about 2 weeks, the honeymoon was over and she was very nippy. At around 6 months, she was an all out terror. I was in tears because I was sure that she hated me and I couldn't handle her without getting bit.

Eventually I sucked it up and just kept up with being non-reactive and she grew out of it. She knew what "be nice" meant and would release if she was chewing on me too hard. Stick it out, it'll get better. You will have to get used to being chomped on a bit, though!

I'm waiting for this phase to start with Pino. I can't wait <sarcasm>.

 

[AFP520]

Lucy's on a biting binge herself. My fingaz are takin a beatin!

 

[MaraWentz]

It's difficult. TO cut the screaming to a minimum give her something to do when you leave- like foraging food, or a toy, or put on radio or tv. i read ignoring the screaming helps (which it probably does more than giving it attention), but i doesnt seem to stop it in my experience. lol and yes i read the wobbling helps. However it helps with some and others jsut bite harder

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

I've had chichi 2 days. He's so Bitey today too. yesterday he was fabulous. I'll try these things as well. Good luck to you too!!

 

[Gingerchezy]

Wow you guys are great thank you for all your tips. I don't think she's biting because she's mad - maybe a little nervous, but she's biting EVERYTHING! I know they go through beaking but this is insane! lol I put her on my knee before and she was off, anything that was within reach was chewed to death. The only thing I could find to calm her down was some carrot which she shredded and threw around the room xD Crazy lady.

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

Hehe! She's really bein a sassy girl!!