My African Grey attacked me

[North]

Hi everyone,

I have an african grey parrot and she's just over three years old. Ive had her since she was 3 months old and shes generally a very happy bird - she gets time out her cage every day, fresh vegetables etc everyday and she loves walnuts.

She has bit me on my hands a few times, mainly when ive been trying to get her back in her cage and she doesnt want to go in.

But tonight, i told her her tea was ready and i needed to put her back in her cage. I put my hand out and she happily stepped up as normal, but as i carried her back to her cage she suddenly launched at my face and bit the side of my nose really hard.

My face was automatically covered in blood and although it happened an hour ago, its still bleeding slightly and really hurts.

I shouted 'no' at her and put her back in her cage, but she didnt even seem fazed - just went over to her food bowl and started eating her tea as if nothing had happened.

I cant stop crying, im really shocked and cant believe she did this. I love her so much but im even considering rehoming her because im so scared she could do this again, there was no warning signs at all and she'd been acting completely normal until that point.

My face is a mess with a massive cut and swelling, and i have a professional job that i have to go back to on monday.

Has this ever happened to anyone else and what did you do? I need some advice because I'm so upset and dont know what to do...

 

[Jerseyjeff62]

wow North really sorry about the attack.Hope your injuries heal quick! both of you need some time to settle down,don't make any hasty decisions i wish i could tell you more,but i'm sure people will post more experiences

 

[Doublete]

I would suggest clipping her wings until you and she get through this. Also you can begin moving her using a perch so you can hold her away from your body. At least until you trust her again.
I have found greys to be incredibly easy to read so maybe you missed the warning. She may be testing her boundaries.

Birdman will hopefully reply with actual help.

Good luck.

 

[Doublete]

Bumping this up so you get some help

 

[greytness]

I'm not certain that she needs to clip her wings because she was bit. If putting your hands inside her cage is ticking her off, I'd avoid doing so while she's nearby. I'd also not allow her to perch on your shoulder as well as be extra vigilant with reading her cues.

I, too, have an African grey, and know that they can be very temperamental at times, especially when they're molting. But I have learned to read my boy's language in order to avoid becoming bit.

Please don't give up on your bird because she's bitten you once. There's always a reason as to why a behavior has occurred. Hang in there, and please let us know how we can help you move forward.

 

[Flboy]

Yes, greys can be tough!
Look at this,
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

 

[Birdman666]

Every now and again CAGS act up. They don't want to do something, and they bite.

I've gone through it with mine as well. When it happens you just go back to square one. Rehoming isn't the answer. Reinforce the basic training.


http://www.parrotforums.com/congo-timneh-greys/54692-happens-everyone-time-time.html

 

[North]

Thanks for your advice and kind words.

Things have calmed down now and I know I was being hasty when I said I was considering rehoming her - I dont think I could ever bring myself to!

She can be tempremental like all birds (especially in spring!) and I've had a few good cuts on my hands when e.g. I've needed to get her back in her cage and she has other ideas haha, but I think I was just so shocked that she'd bite my face.

I can normally read the signs and stay away when she's in a mood but I'm sure there were absolutely no warning signs this time! It was so random.

Ah well, I'll just be more careful around her now and I've been carrying her round at arms length so she's away from my head!

Thanks again

 

[mtdoramike]

ALL BIRDS ACT UP every now and then, it's just what they do. They can have off days just like people, be moody and not want the same thing you want. The key words might have been you putting her back in the cage where she might not have wanted to be.

Birds usually get frustrated and can act out especially if they are hormonal. Mac climbed up my arm twice and bit me in the same ear puncturing it to the point that I could hang an earring from my ear. This happened on two separate occasions, but both do to me removing her from my wife when he started to get frisky with her.

This might be your first good bite, but if you continue to own birds, it will not be your last. The only suggestion from me would be to try and minimize the injury and MAKE THE BIRD EARN YOUR TRUST again. Remember, you can forgive but don't you forget it.

mike

 

[Hawk]

I have a Grey roughly around the same age, and had that happen, though not as bad.

As birdman pointed out, when greys don't want to do something, they basically act up, or act out. Funny you mentioned tea, my Grey Loves tea, de-café. Basically it's retraining time, time out time, and or play the give and take. Offer a good treat for them to have when it's tea time for you or quite time I call it.

They are basically a little kid, and they act up.

 

[Sheeji]

I am not as experienced with birds as other members but I know rehoming and or clipping the wings is not the solution.
What I would suggest is
1. Don't distance yourself from her because of this incident whatever reason she's done this for she still needs your love and attention
2. Make sure she has plenty of toys in her cage and doesn't see being in the cage a punishment
3. Have a word or phrase that you would always use when you serve food so she looks forward to going in the cage at that time " teatime" or something like that
4. Start target training her
Sometimes Leo refuses to go in his cage to eat and I just put him on top of the cage while saying the phrase he is used to so he knows lunch is served and he eventually makes his way in.
Hope you feel better soon

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Thanks for your advice and kind words.

Things have calmed down now and I know I was being hasty when I said I was considering rehoming her - I dont think I could ever bring myself to!

She can be tempremental like all birds (especially in spring!) and I've had a few good cuts on my hands when e.g. I've needed to get her back in her cage and she has other ideas haha, but I think I was just so shocked that she'd bite my face.

I can normally read the signs and stay away when she's in a mood but I'm sure there were absolutely no warning signs this time! It was so random.

Ah well, I'll just be more careful around her now and I've been carrying her round at arms length so she's away from my head!

Thanks again

Smokey my TAG was the same way! GET IN YOUR HOUSE,NOW!! SMOKEY!!

"NO!! I WILL NOT!! DADDY!!"

I SAID NOW!! SMOKEY!!

" AND I SAID..NO!! DADDY"! CHOMP!!

Or putting my hand inside her house..chomp!

Sheeesh!! African Greys! lol


Jim

 

[Doublete]

FYI
Clipping wings on an aggressive bird is not something to say no to as some of you are saying it is not the answer. It will "knock the bird down a peg" so it doesn't feel superior to it's human.
And wings grow back.
When faced with rehoming because you have bleeding wounds, wing clipping is hardly the enemy.

 

[Birdman666]

FYI
Clipping wings on an aggressive bird is not something to say no to as some of you are saying it is not the answer. It will "knock the bird down a peg" so it doesn't feel superior to it's human.
And wings grow back.
When faced with rehoming because you have bleeding wounds, wing clipping is hardly the enemy.

I whole heartedly agree...

Aggressive birds who are attacking, especially faces, need to be clipped until the behavior is under control. It is a safety issue.

And once their behavior is under control, the next molt the wings grow back, no harm, no foul.

 

[JerseyWendy]

About the wing clipping ( I WAS gonna refrain, but my fingers got the best of me...):

Wing clipping 'may' not be the right solution. Most of you know I've got a male DYH who makes it his mission to occasionally dive bomb my face. I took some air out of his wings (gave him a light clip), which helped a LITTLE. He would still try and 'get me' when he was in a foul mood, but he couldn't get to the face. Well, wings have grown out, and Sammy is once fully flighted, and he's a happier bird. I have learned to keep an even keener eye on him, in an attempt to read/predict his mood - and so far so good. No, I won't jynx myself here. I know it's only a matter of time before he'll have a go at my face again, but I will never clip him again for it. Time-outs work for me. And the evil eye.... and a firm 'knock it off'.

 

[Dopey]

The evil eye works with most of my birds. I won't say all of them because sure as I do it won't work the next time but the evil eye works most of the time.

 

[mtdoramike]

FYI
Clipping wings on an aggressive bird is not something to say no to as some of you are saying it is not the answer. It will "knock the bird down a peg" so it doesn't feel superior to it's human.
And wings grow back.
When faced with rehoming because you have bleeding wounds, wing clipping is hardly the enemy.

Very well put!

 

[KevH]

Wing clipping isn't the answer it has attacked once the bird isn't aggressive the bird dosant attack you for no reason you missed the signs sounds like you got in the same routine when putting him back in his cage mix it up a bit. When putting him in cage leave the door open let him come out again remember he's stuck in that cage for most of his time can you blame him for wanting to stay out I'm having same problem so i put his favourite treats in his bowl I'm sorry but clipping will just isolate him to his cage

 

[Hawk]

About the wing clipping ( I WAS gonna refrain, but my fingers got the best of me...):

Wing clipping 'may' not be the right solution. Most of you know I've got a male DYH who makes it his mission to occasionally dive bomb my face. I took some air out of his wings (gave him a light clip), which helped a LITTLE. He would still try and 'get me' when he was in a foul mood, but he couldn't get to the face. Well, wings have grown out, and Sammy is once fully flighted, and he's a happier bird. I have learned to keep an even keener eye on him, in an attempt to read/predict his mood - and so far so good. No, I won't jynx myself here. I know it's only a matter of time before he'll have a go at my face again, but I will never clip him again for it. Time-outs work for me. And the evil eye.... and a firm 'knock it off'.

I actually agree with that, that tone of voice is a powerful tool to use, a firm loud No, or Step up is sometimes necessary. The basics are always my first go to.

 

[sandra67]

Oh wow…I had my CAG for 9 years and not once did she bite me. Unfortunately, she got out of the cage and flew away. Never saw her again but the more I read on Greys, the more I come to realize, that I had an awesome one. I did have her since she was 10 weeks old and maybe that is why I was her chosen one.

I think that if she ever bit me, especially on my face, I would have gotten rid of her immediately though. This could be the start of an aggressive and dangerous pattern, and I for one would not risk it.

I would be afraid of it doing it again. Just my thought