My first real Henry bite.

[itchyfeet]

And I totally deserved it.

He's bluffing at the moment, but nothing major, or anything we can't handle. It's been kind of a breeze really. Loud, but easy to deal with.

Disclaimer: Just because I 'think' I've had it easy with my bird doesn't mean I'm saying bluffing is something to ignore when considering an IRN. Hubby and I are both used to handling 'too's.

Last night though, I made a whopper mistake. We were eating tea at our dinner table and he was down on his pellets, eating as well, but with his left foot up. Not sleepy up, just, kinda hanging off to the side. It didn't look unnatural, but nor did it look normal. Then I saw it was covered in red. I freaked, and told myself to stay calm.

When towelling him, I fumbled it and he got me well enough to draw blood. It hurt, and I felt awful for not doing a calming job of it. Poor things going to hate it. I NEED to learn to do it far better than I did!

Anyways, after extreme observation and detective work, it turns out Henry's just left footed. I 'shower sprayed' the birds yesterday, as opposed to bath or in the shower with me. He'd had a foot toy in which the dye had leached a bit, and also carrot and red capsicum in his fresh stuff. A combination of the three was a heck of a fright, but he was safe and sound. God knows how he managed to make that kind of mess with it, but never the less.

It was a wake up call in the amount I need to improve my skills before a real emergency hits. On the other hand, at least we're over the dreaded first good bite milestone

 

[Flboy]

Hang in there, many more to come!

 

[itchyfeet]

Hang in there, many more to come!

LOL thanks, I think :54:

 

[Kyoto]

The same scare happened to me last week!! Poor Kyo couldn't figure out what my problem was.

 

[Dinosrawr]

They certainly can pack a nasty bite! I've been very fortunate with my ringneck. He came to us bluffing, and it's been over a year since I've had him and I've yet to experience a real bite. He's never once drawn blood or, for a matter of fact, broken the skin. I can towel him and clip his nails without him trying to bite us and without screaming bloody murder, but it's a whoooollleee different story for the vets. They stick a popsicle stick in his beak to stop the screaming/biting, hahaha!

I'm with you though, I'm certainly dreading the first real bite... I highly doubt in the potential 30 years he'll be with me that I won't experience one. I'm sure his hormones will be a nightmare Though I'm thinking a ringneck's bite isn't nearly as terrifying as a too's can be! The nice thing is with IRN's you can see their brain working behind those brightly coloured eyes. But good for you for staying calm and addressing the situation appropriately, it's so important to stay calm. It's amazing how quickly they pick up our nervous energy and behaviour.

 

[StephenAndKyleigh]

My first good bite didn't even come with my own bird! I got bit by a Scarlet macaw today...ignored his warning signs and got me goooood.

Glad you and your bird are safe and sound!

 

[itchyfeet]

They certainly can pack a nasty bite! I've been very fortunate with my ringneck. He came to us bluffing, and it's been over a year since I've had him and I've yet to experience a real bite. He's never once drawn blood or, for a matter of fact, broken the skin. I can towel him and clip his nails without him trying to bite us and without screaming bloody murder, but it's a whoooollleee different story for the vets. They stick a popsicle stick in his beak to stop the screaming/biting, hahaha!

I'm with you though, I'm certainly dreading the first real bite... I highly doubt in the potential 30 years he'll be with me that I won't experience one. I'm sure his hormones will be a nightmare Though I'm thinking a ringneck's bite isn't nearly as terrifying as a too's can be! The nice thing is with IRN's you can see their brain working behind those brightly coloured eyes. But good for you for staying calm and addressing the situation appropriately, it's so important to stay calm. It's amazing how quickly they pick up our nervous energy and behaviour.

Lol my inlaws have a too....I reckon on a scale of ouch! it went budgie, too, ringneck! Maybe time heals