New, happy owner of a black headed caique!

[BHCowner]

Hi all,

New here so will first say hi and look forward to having some good discussions with you all!

I have a couple of questions for my 4 month old caique. he is very cute and at that age where he is very "beaky"...

What is the best way to stop him beaking too hard... its never aggressive but as he grows in confidence in us and his environment he seems to be beaking slightly harder.

I want to step on this quickly so he doesnt think hard play is ok. what i do to combat this at the moment is to say no firmly, not loud and put him down. i am reinforcing good behaviour when he steps up nicely with a little bit of macadamia nut!

Is there anything i can do to prevent him playing too hard? As i say, he has never bitten out of aggression!

thanks in advance!

 

[Birdieboy]

What you do is instead of saying no and putting him down. Al you do is when he bites you stop what your doing with him and stay there for a minute until he stops. Do not say anything. Just stand and wait for him to stop biting. Do not pull him away either. He wants a reaction from you. If you say no he gets a reaction. If you touch him to get him to stop he gets a reaction. Putting him down is also a reaction.

 

[BHCowner]

Hi birdieboy,

Thanks for the reply. He is not biting as such, its more playing than anything else. nibbling etc.... sometimes he likes to nibble around the nail on my hand for example and sometimes can get a bit carried away.

He does seem to be coming round a little bit. I will try your idea but i think he is just playing and not after a reaction.

 

[Pheonix Rising]

I think your doing well a great one also is the cold shoulder turn your back on him for about a minute no talking or anything birds hate to be excluded from the flock

If he does it when you go to pick him up however say no and continue in doing what you set to do so he dosent learn that biting gets him his own way

Hope this helps and good luck

 

[Beilana]

What I did with my extremely beaky GCC was time out. If he started playing too rough and nipping I would put him ON his cage, ignore him and then go pick him up in 5 minutes or so. I kept repeating this and eventually he stopped nipping because he realized...ok nip means no fun! Good luck!

 

[bogo1]

Agree ...I withdraw from the bird for long enough for bird to recognize that bite means less fun. Doesn't take long if you are consistent.

 

[BHCowner]

Thanks guys... all the replies have been helpful...

He's becoming extrememly playful all of sudden and the putting him down "time out " sort of exercise is working... not all too quickly but it is!

He is now flapping his wings while hanging upside down and well just about anywhere he can...

Seems to have started like a mating dance with me on my hand aswell which i am stepping on... i think this ones going to be a tough but fun nut to crack lol... hes crazy!

at least hes not being viscious! lol.