New turquoise GCC EXTREMELY nippy

[quackerz]

I got a baby turquoise GCC from a breeder yesterday. The breeder claimed that it's 4 months old but it came without a leg band.

The little guy is pretty friendly. He would step on my fingers and fly to my shoulder when I left him on the cage - all on the same day he came home. I believe the breeder treated him well.

Now my primary concern is that he bites HARD. My previous pineapple GCC (also 4 months old when I got it) bonded with me quite peacefully. This dude already drew out blood on my fingers multiple times. However I'm 66.7% sure it's not aggressive biting. Firstly because it doesn't make that screech sound (I pissed him off a few times and he screeched while biting me). He also doesn't bite straight away. He kinda "explores" my fingers with his beak and lip but suddenly gets me real good. This happened almost EVERY SINGLE TIME he explores my hand with his beak.

After googling a bit, here are some possible theories:
1. The bird is actually much older and has already bonded strongly with the breeder.
2. He is just a baby and is just exploring everything around him.
3. The bird is actually older and going through the hormonal phase.
4. We haven't spent enough time together yet. Things are gonna get better after we bond.

Here is a short video of him:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p9Z0wqINdvO6BHZiRW1pslxu7MroBjov/view?usp=sharing

Here are some photos:
https://imgur.com/oGHXZV3
https://imgur.com/6cBJP7X
https://imgur.com/L0xDQ2p

 

[Tami2]

Hello quackerz.

Welcome to the PFs and Congrats on your new baby, very exciting.

He'll need time and patience to get used to his new environment.
It can take a long time for him to adjust to a new person & a new home.
Read this thread it will get you on the right path.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Best of luck to you both and please share pictures.

 

[Laurasea]

1-3 don't apply or are just myths.
4 t yes takes time , effort , patience to earn trust and bond with your bird. To learn the birds body language, for the bird to learn your bumbling human behavior.
When the bird looks like it is going to bite, stand up move to a different area, transfer to a play station or top of cage. Wait a few minutes and come back and see if you can interact again.
When ever you get bitten say no bite, and put back in cage
Remember birds, especially young ones need a break from constant attention, need breaks to eat often, and get some water. Sometimes you can iver stimulate them , or they can bite you to try and save you from ( if you have) other pets or people, or if they saw something scary outside. Also only let the head and neck, the rest of the bird is off limits. Use treats to bribe , but not to reward biting
Green cheecks can go through a nippy phase, but with paying attention to the birds mood, trust, ect you can get were bites ate a very rare. I'm of the bites are humans fault and you need to figure out what you are doing wrong philosophy.

 

[Allee]

Welcome and Congratulations, quackerz! Sounds like defensive biting to me. Give him some time to adjust and some reasons to trust you. All birds are individuals, some adjust quickly, others not so much. We’d love to see photos of your GCC.

 

[quackerz]

1-3 don't apply or are just myths.
4 t yes takes time , effort , patience to earn trust and bond with your bird. To learn the birds body language, for the bird to learn your bumbling human behavior.
When the bird looks like it is going to bite, stand up move to a different area, transfer to a play station or top of cage. Wait a few minutes and come back and see if you can interact again.
When ever you get bitten say no bite, and put back in cage
Remember birds, especially young ones need a break from constant attention, need breaks to eat often, and get some water. Sometimes you can iver stimulate them , or they can bite you to try and save you from ( if you have) other pets or people, or if they saw something scary outside. Also only let the head and neck, the rest of the bird is off limits. Use treats to bribe , but not to reward biting
Green cheecks can go through a nippy phase, but with paying attention to the birds mood, trust, ect you can get were bites ate a very rare. I'm of the bites are humans fault and you need to figure out what you are doing wrong philosophy.

I do think I might be pushing a bit too hard. Tonight he seemed a bit more chilled. I guess I need to give him more room for adaption.

 

[quackerz]

Welcome and Congratulations, quackerz! Sounds like defensive biting to me. Give him some time to adjust and some reasons to trust you. All birds are individuals, some adjust quickly, others not so much. We’d love to see photos of your GCC.

Thank you! I'll definitely give it more time!