Ouch! That hurts, you little stinker....

[caklock]

I am having tons of fun with my new little Bourke parakeet who 'landed' at my house last week after being passed around from home to home. He's 2 years old and 1/2 tame - is hand shy and doesn't like to step up but we're just starting to work on that.

I was told he lived in a small cage for the past 6 mo (not sure before that) and was never let out. So it's been fun to see him get his wings back and fly around. He loves to land on my head and shoulder. Here is the problem:

He 'nibbles' at my neck and ears and pinches a very small amount of skin. It feels similar to a sting and is not pleasant!! His 'real' bite is minimal and doesn't hurt at all. It is the nibbling/tiny pinch that has me on edge.

Why is he doing that? What can I do to stop him? Thanks!!

 

[SoCalWendy]

awww love nibbles... just remove him immediately either before he is aloud to nibble or if he nibbles. Kiwi used to do this, thankfully she doesn't do it anymore. But who's to say that she won't ever do it. So you just have to act accordingly.

 

[caklock]

I think he is trying to remove my freckles. He has a BIG job in front of him! And it's actually becoming MORE of a PROBLEM - he is very insistent and already fairly hand shy. I feel like I am just making him more hand shy when I remove him from my shoulder - he's getting to the point where he flutters away from my hands regularly. Any other ideas?

 

[Mimsy01]

Will he take food from your hand?

try to associate your hands with happy things, not just removal when he's freckle removing. Foofanny messes with freckles, dry skin or anything she feels needs to be removed or at least inspected heavily. Love nibbles do hurt however, so I discourage it as well.

He sounds like he already wants to be your friend, so just be patient, he'll come around.

 

[Praenuntius]

Lovebites... Try to discourage the behavior without being aggressive, or punishing the bird.

 

[caklock]

Nice to know they are love bites! I've taken to wearing a light scarf and that seems to have done the trick - I think better to 'manage' it right now than to shoo him away. Don't worry all - I am a Force Free trainer - no punishment will be given!!